FLORIDA STATE LODGE
FOP PAST PRESIDENTS

President James Mann moved to the Miami area from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1972. He began his professional law enforcement career in 1981, joining the Miami Police Department.

James currently holds the rank of Sergeant; he is currently assigned to the Communications Section (he has worked in Communications twice before). Prior to his recent assignment to Communications President Mann worked in the Accreditation Detail. He has worked Uniform Patrol as an officer and later as a sergeant. He has been a Field Training Officer and Field Training Supervisor. In addition to Uniform Patrol, James has worked as a supervisor in the Traffic Enforcement Unit (overseeing the Hit and Run, Wrecker, and Auxiliary Police Officer Details), The Property Unit/ Confiscation Detail.

During his previous assignment in the Communications Section, President Mann became a certified trainer, after which he developed the first regular in-service training program for dispatchers and call takers. Sworn personnel assigned to the unit were also included in the training. His goal in developing the program was to give the sworn and civilian personnel a better understanding of each others job function, and to assist the personnel in improving their chances for job advancement. President Mann received an Administrative Excellence Award for his program. During this previous assignment to Communications he also served as the Acting Project Manager during the installation and testing of a new, multi-million dollar, radio system. He has also taught post orientation and in-service training classes for new police officers graduating from the academy.

In addition to the previously mentioned assignments, James has worked as a detective in the Robbery Unit investigating all types of robberies, kidnappings, and extortions. Later he was a detective in the Homicide Unit, assigned as a Traffic Homicide Investigator. During the early 1990’s the Miami Police Department had disbanded the Crime Analysis Unit, January 1997 President Mann was asked by the Chief of Police to establish and staff a new Crime Analysis Unit.

President Mann is a founding member and past president of the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team for Region XI of Florida. During his tenure as CISM Region XI president, James and the team were activated by Florida Governor Lawton Chiles to respond to and work at the site of the ValueJet plane crash in the Everglades. He has been a guest lecturer at the American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Conference, and at the Florida Highway Patrol Academy.

In addition to the previously mentioned Administrative Excellence Award President Mann has received several other awards from the Miami Police Department, including the Silver Life Saving Award and the department’s highest award, the Medal of Honor. He has been recognized by the City of Miami Commission and the Miami-Dade Delegation of the Florida Legislature for his participation as part of the first Florida law enforcement team to respond to New York City after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Upon graduation from the police academy in 1981 James Mann joined the FOP (Miami Lodge 20). In 1987 he was trained to act as an employee representative and began representing member at departmental disciplinary review boards, and during statements to investigators. He was also appointed to Lodge 20’s Constitution and Bylaws Committee; they were directed to conduct a major review and rewrite of the constitution and bylaws. He also chaired the Legal Defense, Political Screening, and Scholarship Committees. He also served as a trustee and Chairman of Miami Lodge 20’s Health Insurance Trust. James became a member of Lodge 20’s Executive Board and held many positions, including Vice President. In 1996 the lodge president was sent to the Southern Police Institute in Louisville, Kentucky. James served as his lodge president during that time; it was during this period that the City of Miami suffered a severe fiscal crisis.

President Mann has served on the Florida State Lodge’s Constitution & Bylaws, Labor, and Training committees. He was also appointed to the Labor Council Committee as an advisor on collective bargaining issues. In December 1994 District Six Director Robert Anderson resigned his position, members of the district unanimously selected James as a replacement. He served as District Six Director until the June Conference in 1996 when he was elected 2nd Vice President, he was re-elected (unopposed) twice before being elected 1st Vice President in 2002. June 2004, at the 55th Annual June Conference in Tampa, James was elected President of the Florida State Lodge.