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Boot Camps Abolished in Florida Save Email Print
Posted: 3:37 PM May 31, 2006
Last Updated: 3:37 PM May 31, 2006
Reporter: Mike Vasilinda

A | A | A

Legislation that abolishes boot camps and replaces them with academies that rely more on education and after care, and are limited in their use of force, became the law of Florida Wednesday.

The law is named after 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson, the Panama City boy who suffocated to death after drill instructors stuck ammonia tablets up his nose.

The family of the 14-year-old youth arrived for a private meeting at the governor’s office looking somber. A few minutes later they emerged with Jeb Bush, who publicly expressed sympathy for their loss.

Then, with the stroke of the governor’s pen, boot camps were abolished and replaced with STAR academies. Martin's family, while thankful, still wants arrests.

The family was reluctant to talk, but were sure that Martin would still be alive if the new law had been in effect when he went to the Bay County Boot Camp last January.

Jeb Bush continues to say he is frustrated by the pace of the investigation. His office is checking on its status every other day, which is a promise he made to the family.

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