SHERIFF S OFFICE HIGHLANDS COUNTY

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Quarterly Report of the HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHERIFF S OFFICE INTEGRITY QUALITY SERVICE PROFESSIONALISM VISION Volume 2, Issue 1 April 2006 Our vision is a safer Highlands County where citizens and law

1 Quarterly Report of the HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHERIFF S OFFICE INTEGRITY QUALITY SERVICE PROFESSIONALISM VISION Volume 2, Issue 1 April 2006 Our vision is a safer Highlands County where citizens and law enforcement are joined together; the rights of all persons are respected; and community values are reflected. MISSION The Highlands County Sheriff s Office is committed to responding to the needs of its community through the delivery of professional services. Our mission is to protect life, property, and individual rights while maintaining peace and order. GOALS Create safer neighborhoods by reducing criminal activity and conditions that foster crime and fear within the community. Enhance the safety of Highlands County roadways by reducing traffic-related crashes and deaths. Increase accountability by effective and efficient use of personnel, equipment, and technology to meet or exceed community and state standards for service delivery and organizational performance. Provide a professional work environment that attracts and retains a diverse group of quality applicants, rewards employee excellence, and promotes leadership, education, and training. J AIL OPERATIONS THE PURPOSE AND R OLE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM C ELEBRATE NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WEEK MAY When you mention the jail in the community, often times it is viewed as narrowly as a place to lock up bad guys. Rarely is it looked upon as a primary function of local government and a unique responsibility and business operation of the Sheriff s Office. How are the jail operations unique? The jail is required to provide a wide range of services to satisfy minimum constitutional requirements. Because inmates are confined against their will, the jail is responsible for and in total control of inmates health, welfare, and safety. Not minding this would put the local government at great risk for costly civil liability. The jail operates 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, making it one of the most staffintensive functions of local government and resulting in a high level of wear on the facility and its equipment, fixtures, and furnishings. Jail operations require specialized facilities that are expensive to build and maintain. Recent unprecedented growth in jail populations has required fast-paced construction of new and expanded facilities. When a government building under normal operations is 3 years old, the jail facility in that same 3 year period has experienced the wear and tear of a 9 year old facility. The jail has little to say as to the types and numbers of inmates placed under its control or how long they stay because those decisions are made by judges, prosecutors, lawmakers, and others in the criminal justice system. The local jail facility serves as a place of confinement for persons before or after adjudication. Inmates sentenced to jail usually have a sentence of 1 year or less, but jails also incarcerate persons in a wide variety of other categories such as those awaiting arraignment, trial, conviction, or sentencing. Jails readmit probation, parole, and bail bond violators and absconders. We temporarily detain juveniles pending transfer to juvenile authorities, hold mentally ill persons pending their movement to appropriate health facilities, and hold individuals for the military, for protective custody, for contempt, and for the courts as witnesses. The public s thought on inmates generally is that we lock them up and there is little more to it than that, other than releasing them. That simply is not the case. Inmates have a fundamental right to basic services that include food services, medical and mental health care, visitation, and exercise at minimum. Additional inmate service programs along the line of education, faith based programs, and substance abuse treatment can assist with inmate reintegration into the community and the families which can help reduce recidivism. Effective inmate supervision is key to reducing problems commonly associated with jails such as assaults on inmates and staff, vandalism, introduction of contraband, unsanitary conditions, and disregard for any agency imposed rules of orderliness. Adequate staffing is fundamental to effective supervision of inmates along with an industry standard compensation and benefit package to assure recruitment and retention of qualified jail staff. As we know, the costs incurred through staff turnover and the constant need to upgrade skills of staff are often found to be greater than the cost of reasonable compensation in this 24 hour 7 day a week operation. Given the public safety implications and high-liability nature of incarceration, jail operations are one of the most critical responsibilities of local government. Major David Paeplow, Detention This article includes information and excerpts from the U.S. Department of Justice/National Institute of Corrections Jail Resource Issue and Bureau of Justice Special Report.

Page 2 V o l u m e 2, I ss u e 1 Sheriff s Office Seeking New Funding for Highway Safety Needs Heacock Insurance Recognizes Employees Each year Heacock Insurance company honors Sheriff s Office

The members receive an individual plaque noting their recognition and a $100 donation to the DARE program in their name.

Pictured is Detention Officer James Murphy, Detention Officer of the Year, and Mr. Hensley of Heacock Insurance who presented the plaques.

2 Page 2 V o l u m e 2, I ss u e 1 Sheriff s Office Seeking New Funding for Highway Safety Needs Heacock Insurance Recognizes Employees Each year Heacock Insurance company honors Sheriff s Office members in Administration and Detention who exemplify excellence in their respected fields. The members receive an individual plaque noting their recognition and a $100 donation to the DARE program in their name. Their names are also added to the wall plaque on display at the Sheriff s Office. Thank you Heacock Insurance for your continued support of excellence at the Sheriff s Office. Pictured is Detention Officer James Murphy, Detention Officer of the Year, and Mr. Hensley of Heacock Insurance who presented the plaques. The agency has applied for several new areas of funding for highway safety. The target points will be speeding, driving under the influence, seatbelt & child seat education and enforcement, as well as aggressive driving. The equipment requested will include radars, lasers, in car cameras and video equipment, car seats, and an unconventional pursuit vehicle to specifically target aggressive driving along our roadways. The new Move Over Law enacted to help reduce officer s roadside related injuries and fatalities recently catapulted one of our local Deputies, Roger St. Laurent to the national TV level. He was struck by a vehicle on US 27 and was invited to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show to share his experience. Officers Bring the PEACEs Back Together National Police Week, May & Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15 In 2005, 153 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty with shootings and traffic related accidents being the two leading causes. This is lower than the averages in years past, and that reduction can be attributed to advanced training for officers, safer automobiles, better safety equipment, and the public being more attentive to officer safety while driving, most notably with the recent highly publicized Move Over Campaign. Despite the reduction this past year, the sad fact remains that a law en- forcement officer is killed somewhere in America nearly every other day. We must do all that we can to honor and remember the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice and their families. In Central Florida alone, we lost 4 officers in the line of duty (right). During National Police Week May 14-20, Law Enforcement Personnel and citizens are encouraged to tie blue ribbons on their vehicle antennas as a reminder to honor those that have made the ultimate sacrifice and those that serve our communities. In Honor of our Central Florida Fallen Officers Deputy Wayne Koester Lake County Sheriff s Office EOW: Deputy Mariano Lemus Orange County Sheriff s Office EOW: Officer Roy Nelson and Canine Deputy Caesar New Smyrna Beach Police EOW: Officer Mario Jenkins University of Central FL Police EOW: EOW End of Watch Sheriff Congratulates Staff for Excellence in Facility Safety A recent letter Pictured is Anita Worden, Finance Director, Administrative Person of the Year and her daughter, Lindsey. from the Florida Sheriff s Workers Compensation Fund to Human Resources Director, Kathy Fluharty and staff, had great things to say about the recent field visit for a safety audit of the administrative facilities. The letter stated that The overall condition of the jail is very good, particularly housekeeping. It appears there is excellent supervision with good staff participation. It is recommended that the current interest in safety be continued and built upon when possible. The Sheriff points out that your vigilance in safety means lower liability to your governing body and public. Thank you.

SHERIFF S OFFICE January 1, 2006 March 31, 2006 Page 3 Q UARTERLY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION & COURT SERVICES New Members Civilians 7 Sworn 3 Applications Received this Qtr.

Inmates Booked into Jail 1,788 Inmates Released from Jail 1,660 Instructional Program Hours 948 Inmate Transport Miles 34,994 Transports to State Prison 67 Transports to INS 1 Community Maint.

3 SHERIFF S OFFICE January 1, 2006 March 31, 2006 Page 3 Q UARTERLY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION & COURT SERVICES New Members Civilians 7 Sworn 3 Applications Received this Qtr. 59 Applications Processed 34 Payroll Checks Processed 2,035 Payable Checks Processed 562 P-Card Purchases 684 Citizens Fingerprinted 317 Member Training Hours 1552 Information Services Requests 576 Inmates Booked into Jail 1,788 Inmates Released from Jail 1,660 Instructional Program Hours 948 Inmate Transport Miles 34,994 Transports to State Prison 67 Transports to INS 1 Community Maint. Participants 155 (monthly average participants) Dollars Saved in Labor $103,168 Dollars Collected in Fees $10,075 Inmate Meals Served 98,657 Average Cost per Day $2.19 Inmate Farm Produce (lbs) 4,499 Court Related Services: Cases In Court 7715 Inmates Taken to Court 1206 Arrests by Bailiffs 117 Persons scanned 29,174 Pre-Trial Release Services: First Appearance Attendance 650 Pre-Trial Release 99 Inmates Referred for Treatment 32 Cost Effectiveness Savings $ 73,649 Q UARTERLY INFORMATION LAW ENFORCEMENT Calls for service 8,550 Investigations Open 50 Traffic Citations Issued 2,092 Investigations Closed 41 K-9 Searches 20 Affidavits Filed Total Charges 361 K-9 Apprehensions 21 Special Operations Investigations 68 Judicial Process Services 2,802 Narcotic Arrests by Task Force 78 Warrants: Received 446 Property/Evidence Intake Items 2,359 Served 711 Business Security Surveys 4 Active 4,673 Residential Security Surveys 1 Calls Communications 32,415 Crime Prevention Presentations 11 Crime Scene Lab Cases 19 Crime Victims Served 110 Investigations Assigned 93 Victim Advocate Services 353 Q UARTERLY INFORMATION DETENTION Inmate Farm Eggs Harvested (DZ) 6,055 Alcohol Breath Tests 89 Inmate Visitations 4,162 Average Daily Population 372 Inmate Medical Services 102,767 Medical Fees Charged $350,400 Medical Fees Collected $10,909 Subsistence Fees Charged $53,284 Subsistence Fees Collected $16,801 Inmate Per-Diem Charged $16,270 Inmate Per-Diem Collected $9,481 Labor Hours by Trusties S/O 1,568 Labor Hours by Trusties 4,696 Public Safety Highlight National Crime Victims Rights Week April Each and every day in America, 45 people are murdered, 45 people are killed by drunk drivers, 575 women and men are raped, 12,249 people are assaulted, 1,612 women are battered by an intimate partner, 2,482 children are abused or neglected, 3,775 people are stalked, 9,391 homes are burglarized, and over 25,000 people become victims of identity theft. When individuals are victimized by crime, strength is something that is ripped away from them. They have no control over the act, and often feel helpless in its aftermath and are left hopeless and alone. For more information on your local services, contact Victim Advocate Linda Astacio at On May 15th, Peace Officers Memorial Day, flags will be lowered to half-staff in honor of all fallen law enforcement officers. To leave a tribute for a fallen officer, or a message of condolence to their families, please visit

4 Old Problems...New Solutions 911 Consolidation Becoming a Reality Congratulations Communications Staff! Through the shared wisdom of the Highlands County Board of County Commissioners, the Sheriff, the City of Sebring, and the Town of Lake Placid, a major step towards improving response to emergency events has occurred. On Monday, April 3 rd, the switchover for 911 dispatching from the City of Sebring police took place without a hitch. Consolidated Centers not only make sense but represent a huge step in inter-jurisdictional cooperation and improved cross-agency resource sharing, which will better serve the citizens of Highlands County. Although there originally was some hesitation and skepticism about this consolidation, it was not long before everyone understood the importance of this opportunity for better public service. Even though local governments will most likely see a reduction in cost for these services, that was secondary to the benefits to the public when it comes to emergency response. Consolidation of local communications allows each agency to be on one team and synchronized for fast action. Consolidated centers have separate agencies becoming a single organization that shares human and technological resources. Sharing data also allows us to share critical information with other public safety agencies without delay. Another major focus is to improve local preparedness for multi-agency response to all types of emergency incidents and recovery from major events. The responsibility for responding to emergencies, both natural and man-made disasters, begins at the local level, in our cities and towns. Ultimately, citizens will make one call and speak to one person. The dispatcher will in turn muster all of the needed resources to help with the emergency. There will no longer be four separate answering points based on geography or type of emergency response. Whether the need is for fire, ambulance, or law enforcement, central dispatch will have all resources at their fingertips; who is available for call, what fire trucks, which ambulance, or what law enforcement officer is the closest. Further, information such as a missing child or a bank robbery will be known by all responders at the same time, affording a better opportunity to protect victims and catch bad guys. Another advantage of this effort is that we expect to see a reduction in staff shortages of 911 positions. Due to the 12 hour shift work, and high stress nature of the job, it is sometimes difficult to fully staff the 44 positions in 4 agencies. If full consolidation occurs, there will be a reduced need in the number of positions and the agencies will not be competing against each other to fill the vacancies. All things considered, this move seems to be a win-win for all. Crystal Downs Annette Trachok HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHERIFF S OFFICE Susan Benton, Sheriff 434 FERNLEAF AVENUE SEBRING, FL OFFICE: (863) April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. For more information, Contact Prevent Child Abuse America at or visit the website at

5 Highlands County Sheriff s Office C RIME PREVENTION April 2006 Insert for Volume 2, Issue 1 LEAVING FOR THE SUMMER? It is that time again when many of our Highlands County residents return to their northern homes for the summer. With your continued safety and protection in mind, we would like you to consider the following suggestions: Instead of turning off your power altogether, simply disconnect appliances such as your water heater. This will allow you to have outdoor and interior lights. The interior lights may be placed on a timer to come on at different times throughout your home. This will give the appearance that the home is occupied. Outdoor lights may use a photocell, or motion sensor that would activate them automatically. You should also request that your neighbors check on your residence periodically to remove unsolicited newspaper, mail and other publications that may give the appearance that there is no one home. While you have undoubtedly stopped your newspaper there may be other publications or promotional items distributed in your absence. Ask your neighbors to park a car in your driveway a time or two during the weeks that you are gone. This will also give the appearance that you are here, even if you leave a vehicle at the home year round. Due to recent summer weather trends in our area, we would suggest that you secure all objects that may act as projectiles in a storm. We would also suggest that you inventory and photograph your home before you leave. Lastly we would request that you update your emergency contact information. Sometimes the unthinkable happens whether it is a storm or just a broken window; you would need to be contacted. This should be done with a neighbor and/or the office at your mobile home park. Also the Sheriff s Office has developed an Evacuation Information Form for the manufactured home parks in the county. This was developed to assist our office in an emergency situation and the evacuation process. You can obtain a form by contacting the Highlands County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Unit at or Enter the hurricane season prepared While the summer brings an end to the long lines at your favorite restaurant, it also brings on the onset of hurricane season. From June to November the conditions are favorable to develop very dangerous storms. Storm preparations should begin early. Keeping a disaster kit is recommended for all residents. This should contain nonperishable food items, battery powered radio, flashlights, batteries, water, medications and means to prepare food for at least three days. This could be used for storms or other emergency situations. If a generator is going to be used always be aware of the hazards; never use a generator in the home or garage. Make sure that the generator is far enough away from the home so that fumes are not coming into the living area. This poses issues with carbon monoxide poisoning that could lead to serious injury or death. Keeping your home in good repair is always suggested; a leak Continued on Back For information on Seniors and Law Enforcement Together go to:

6 Enter the hurricane season prepared CONTINUED in the roof during a rain shower could be a minor incident, but a major problem during a storm. If you have medical conditions that require special attention you must pre-register with the special needs shelter in your area. You should also make preparations for animals as the shelters do not allow pets. As a storm approaches it is suggested that you keep your car fueled. Many gas pumps are inoperative during power outages. Outdoor objects such as patio furniture should be secured as they may become projectiles in high winds. Windows may be boarded up or protected with storm shutters. During a hurricane remain indoors until the authorities have stated that the storm has passed and it is safe. Do not drive unless it is an emergency. Avoid dangling or loose wires. Report all downed lines, water line breaks, and gas leaks to the proper authorities. Remember to plan ahead; supplies are in strong demand if you wait until a storm is approaching. Share your plans with family members. Include a system to notify family of your well being. Hurricane preparedness is a team effort for everyone. CRIME PREVENTION UNIT MEMBERS ON TRACK As reported in the last edition, Crime Prevention Unit members Nell Hays, Robyn McIntyre and Paul Hinman are seeking additional qualifications during the year. To date Nell has completed her Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Practitioner certification. Robyn successfully completed her last class to obtain her Crime Prevention Practitioners certification. She still has two more courses scheduled this year in order to complete her Practitioner designation in Elder Services. Paul will be taking the last class required for the Crime Prevention Practitioner designation by attending the Commercial Security training scheduled for June. These advanced certifications will allow for new programs and presentations to be available for those groups needing speakers. Contact the Crime Prevention Unit at to find out what s new and how to schedule a presentation. News About Nell Nell Hays, Crime Prevention Practitioner has been nominated for the 2006 Ladies Professional Golf Association, Teaching and Club Professional membership Hall of Fame. Nell has held numerous positions in the LPGA and was LPGA National Golf Professional of the Year in Nell has been head golf professional and teaching professional at several of our local courses.

SHERIFF S OFFICE INTEGRITY QUALITY SERVICE PROFESSIONALISM

Quarterly Report of the HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHERIFF S OFFICE INTEGRITY QUALITY SERVICE PROFESSIONALISM VISION Volume 2, Issue 2 July 2006-3rd Qtr Our vision is a safer Highlands County where citizens and