Tax collectors in Seminole County will soon openly carry guns on the job. 

  • Seminole Co. tax collector to allow guns at work
  • Joel Greenberg says the policy will protect employees, county assests
  • Tax collectors will also wear badges

County tax collector Joel Greenberg says he’s implementing the new policy to protect his employees and the county’s assets.

At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Greenberg didn’t mention any specific incidents that may have prompted the new policy.

“Have you been watching the news lately, this is a crazy world we live in,” said Greenberg. “And there are certain times when this office has hundreds of thousands upon millions of dollars of cash.”

Greenberg says when he took office a few months ago, one of the main things his employees asked for was security.  But he says that would’ve been too expensive, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.  So he decided to have his field tax collectors openly carry firearms.  Greenberg was asked if field tax collectors would be required to openly carry guns.

“Somebody will have firearm protection,” said Greenberg.  "This is something we’re going to ease into.  If somebody doesn’t want to take part in field operations, then that’s probably not the spot for them.”

Greenberg says most clerks behind the counter at tax collector branch offices won’t openly carry.  He says the policy is for about 15 to 20 field agents who have to go out and execute warrants and seize people’s property.

“Keep in mind the intent of this, this is security,” said Greenberg. “We’re not looking to be law enforcement officers anytime soon.”

Greenberg says all collectors will have a badge that identifies who they are.  He says he hopes his employees never have to fire a gun on the job.

“I hope we never have to,” said Greenberg. “I pray we never have to. But I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.”

Greenberg sent a letter to the Seminole County Sheriff and all seven police chiefs in the county on June 16,  notifying them of the new policy.  The letter cited the Florida statute that allows tax collectors to openly carry guns.

Greenberg says he hopes to have the new policy in place by early August. He says he will provide employees with training.

News 13 reached out to Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph.  A spokesperson for Randolph says his office doesn’t see a need for arming tax collectors because they’ve seen no instances of violence.