HOFFMAN'S FATHER SEEKS 'RACHEL LAW' TO PROTECT YOUNG INFORMANTS

Rachel Hoffman's father wants state legislators to pass a law that
will help ensure what happened to his daughter won't destroy another
family.

"I don't think kids should be doing police work," Irv Hoffman said
Monday from his Palm Harbor home. "I am going to try to get a Rachel
Law going so kids aren't used in this way."

Rachel Hoffman, a 23-year-old FSU graduate, was killed nearly two
weeks ago after a Tallahassee Police Department drug sting went bad.

Facing several drug charges, she was working for police as a criminal
informant. She was sent with $13,000 to buy drugs and a gun from two
suspected dealers May 7. Her body was found in the woods of Taylor
County 36 hours later.

"How do you send a kid in to do a deal like this?" said her father,
who appealed to any lawmakers or lobbyists to help in his effort.
"Rachel was not an undercover police officer. This is not a civilian
job."

State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, whose district includes
Palm Harbor, said his heart goes out to the Hoffman family. He offered
to meet with them.

"There are reasons she did what she did," Fasano said. "However, we
don't want young people like her, who are naive to the risk they may
be in, to be taken advantage of by any state agency."

It is unclear, however, what rules lawmakers could impose on a fluid
law-enforcement practice that is different in every case, said Gerald
Monahan, president of the Florida Police Chiefs Association.

"It is an inexact science because there are so many variables dealing
with human beings and how their information is being used," said the
Port Orange police chief. "That would be a daunting task for
legislators."

Still, Monahan added, his association would consider any proposed
legislation and weigh its practicality and feasibility.

"They might come forward with a few good ideas," he
said.

Tallahassee state Sen. Al Lawson said Hoffman's death preys on his
mind. He does not understand how police could have lost the young
woman. Lawson is awaiting the results of an attorney general's
investigation into how TPD handled the case to help clarify what
should be done.

"This is embarrassing to the city and this area that something of this
nature would occur," said the incoming Senate Democratic leader. "I'm
willing to do whatever I can make sure something like this doesn't
happen again."