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The Fort Lauderdale Police Department Community Support Division hosted a Home Security Workshop on Thursday, October 24, 2002. Topics included home safety tips and how to protect your home and/or business. Guest speakers included Sergeant Thomas Harrington, Detectives Nate Jackson and Gary Gorman. Officer Michael Stitt and Maria Elbreisus served as Creole translators for the workshop. This class was offered as a means providing methods that may be utilized in self, home or business protection. Additional classes will be scheduled. If you are interested in attending a future class, and would like to be put on a waiting list please call (954) 828-6418.

Enrollment is currently underway for the 19th Community Policing Academy scheduled for February 19 – May 21, 2003. This 14-week program is open to City residents, civic and government organizations members. The academy is designed to foster active partnership with the community by addressing a variety of operations in the department. In addition to the scheduled classes, an eight-hour “ride-along” with patrol officers is available. For more information please call (954) 828-6428. Applications can be downloaded from the City of Fort Lauderdale website.

PERSONNEL

On Friday, October 18th, Component I Officers, with the assistance of State Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Agent Mike Fraher, conducted an undercover operation to combat the sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors. We visited 25 stores in the northern part of our City and made 8 arrests. The arrests were the result of store clerks selling alcohol or tobacco products to minors. We will continue to conduct other operations of this nature in the future. If you know of a convenience store or gas station that sells alcohol or tobacco to minors, please call us at (954) 828-6416 and give the name and address of the violators.

Component I Officers assisted SID with a daytime P.E.T. (Prostitution Enforcement Team) operation on Thursday, October 31st. Most of these operations are conducted during the night but in an effort to clear the streets of prostitution activity for the children on Halloween, we did the operation during the day. The operation yielded three arrests for soliciting prostitution.

Component I Officers, along with District II Patrol and the Special Investigations Division, continue to work the 13th Street Action Plan. The following are some of the statistics contributed by Component I Officers: 14 traffic citations, 13 bicycle citations, 11 bicycles were seized, seven arrests, 20 investigative stops, and two trespass affidavits were updated.

Officer Martinez also red tagged 11 derelict vehicles. Three of those vehicles were towed for not correcting the violations. Remember, a vehicle cannot be legally parked on a roadway: therefore it is considered derelict and will be subjected to being red tagged and towed. Other examples are: vehicles with no tags, flat tires, or vehicles on concrete blocks. If you see vehicles in your area that are derelict, please call Officer Hector Martinez at (954) 828-6416.

Officer Martinez responded to a complaint of noise from juveniles loitering in Middle River Terrace Park after hours. No arrests were made, but several warnings were issued. A reminder, the park closes at 9:00 p.m.

Officer Martinez continues to monitor the activity in the area of 1128 Northeast 5th Avenue. He continues to notice drug activity in this area and made 2 arrests during this month. Also, several vehicles were red tagged at this location. The owner has been notified of the activity and is cooperating with Officer Martinez.

Component I Officers participated in four community related events in the Middle River Terrace area. These events are the weekly bicycle rides on Wednesday nights and the weekly crime walks on Friday nights. Both events begin in Middle River Terrace Park. The bike ride starts at 8:00p.m. and the walks at 7:30p.m. It would be nice to see some new faces at these events, so come out and join your neighbors. For more information, contact Cindy Smith at (954) 728-9290.

During the month of October, there was a dramatic decrease in unlawful activity at the Livingston Manor Apartments and Motel as it prepares for demolition. Officer Feldewert arrested Barry Jean Baptiste, a street level drug dealer, for possession of cocaine. Baptiste was on community control at the time of his arrest and was an active distributor.

With the activity declining around the Livingston Manor, Officer Feldewert has noticed an increase of activity at the 7-11 store, 1637 East Sunrise Boulevard. Jeff has been issuing trespass warnings and conducting field interviews in an attempt to discourage illegal activity in the parking lot.

Officer Feldewert continues to enforce the City Bicycle Ordinance. During this month seven bicycle citations were issued and six bicycles were confiscated.

Officer Feldewert has been searching for James Jenkins for the past year regarding an active warrant. He spotted Jenkins at the corner of Northeast 17th Way and East Sunrise Boulevard. Officer Feldewert asked for identification and Jenkins produced an I.D. card with the name Gregory Holmes. After a thorough investigation, Officer Feldewert was able to get James Jenkins to confess to his real identity. A search incident to Jenkins arrest revealed a container filled with crack cocaine.

Officer Fontalvo has been working with District II Patrol Officer Mario Diaz on several problem areas in the Flagler Heights area. One area is the Swiss Village Apartments. They located a drug dealer who was arrested by the Street Narcotics Unit that recently moved in to one of the apartments. The officers met with the manager of the Swiss Village and informed him of their findings. The manager was cooperative and the drug dealer was evicted.

As a result of the recent increase of auto thefts in Flagler Heights. Officer Fontalvo began distributing Crime Prevention pamphlets to the residents. As he was distributing the pamphlets, he learned of several properties in the area that are unoccupied and are attracting the homeless. Officer Fontalvo contacted several of the neighbors and advised them to call him if they notice any homeless trespassing on the properties.

The Action Plan for the Victoria Park area has been terminated. The action plan was in effect for three months in an effort to reduce residential burglaries in the area. A combined effort by Component I, Motors, Mounted, Crime Prevention, Burglary Detectives, District 1 Tactical, District 1 Patrol Officers and members of the Citizens on Patrol program. Residential burglaries were reduced 60%.

The following are some of the statistics as a result of the group effort:

• A total of 11 arrests were made.
• 120 investigative stops were made.
• 203 traffic citations were written.
• Crime Prevention pamphlets were distributed to every household in Victoria Park.

The officers will continue to monitor Victoria Park and take action when necessary.

PERSONNEL

Sergeant Anthony Williams 828-6420 South Middle River Officer Rosalind Wilson 828-6406 Officer Brian Kaplan 828-6404 Sailboat Bend Officer Rick Temple 828-6405 Dorsey Riverbend Officer Jeff Alexander 828-6405 Durrs Vacant 828-6409

PERSONNEL

Sergeant Mike O'Connor 828-6430 Patrol Officers Shady Banks River Oaks Edgewood Officer Wayne Swenson 828-6407 Sunset Civic Melrose Manors Officer Darren Ogden 828-6403 Riverside Park Croissant Park Officer Darren Ogden 828-6409 Riverland Poinciana Park Officer Sal Vasi 828-6409       Crime Prevention Det. Nate Jackson 828-6422 Det. Caryn Cleary-Robitaille 828-6419   Code Team Det. Estelle Abrams 828-6535 Det. Keith Kotrady 828-6551 Det. Paul Allen 761-5147 Narcotics K-9 Officer Jon Appel Narcotics K-9 "Iris" 828-6415 Officer Paul Ostrikis Narcotics K-9 "Kelly" 828-6415   Alarm Specialist Evelyn Moran 828-5476

Component III Officers attended a Career/Safety Day at Saint Ambrose Episcopal School, 2250 Southwest 31st Avenue. Officers and Police Safety Aides provided information and gave demonstrations on Gun Safety, Bicycle Safety, and Stranger Danger. Coloring books, stickers, videotapes were given to the students. There was also a question and answer session. We look forward to making this a regular event at private schools in the area that do not have a school resource officer at their schools.

Members of Component III assisted the Motor Unit with a traffic safety checkpoint in the 900 block of Southwest 31 Avenue. The purpose of the checkpoint was ensure that each vehicle stopped had equipment that worked properly and to check for invalid driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations, and auto insurance. This resulted in 75 citations being issued as well as one arrest and a towed vehicle.

Officers of Component III are in the planning to meet with the owners of the newly renovated apartment building located in the 600 block of Southwest 16th Avenue. These properties were previously closed down for various code violations. The new and previous owners have done a great job in cleaning up the buildings. The improvements range from new doors, windows, new paint job, and several of the buildings have new architecture designs, which have enhanced the neighborhood. We would like to update the building’s trespass affidavit and provide the new owner and tenants any needed assistance to maintain their new level of quality of life.

Riverside Manor Apartments’ Crime Watch Program has been successful. Recently residents informed our officers of problematic behavior regarding non-residents congregating around their building in the late afternoon and into the night. This resulted in tenants being harassed by the non-residents. As a result the non-residents were identified and issued trespass warnings, which led to one arrest made for an active warrant. The tenants were pleased with our response and this matter was resolved. We would like to thank the tenants for their assistance in resolving this problem and we strongly encourage their continued support.

Due to a small increase in property crimes in the Riverside Park area our routine patrol and bicycle patrol were increased and we encourage residents to keep their cars and residences secured at all times.

Twelve red tags were issued for various violations that resulted in all the vehicles complying.

In response to a resident’s complaint of a house that has an ongoing problem with teenagers congregating and creating disturbances in the early afternoon, one arrest was made. The residence became a congregation point for students after school during the workweek. The efforts made on the part of the resident by asking the teens to quell their disturbance were ignored. Officers made contact with the students and a routine records check revealed that one of the students had an active warrant.

Thirty-five vehicles were red tagged in the Riverland area only two of the vehicles were towed for non-compliance, while the others did comply.

The debate over whether to place “no parking signs” or fence in the lot on the northeast corner of Davie Boulevard and State Road 441 resulted in “no parking signs” being posted. These signs are to prevent the parking of vehicles that are for sale as well as various people selling merchandise from their vehicles. We are currently attempting to have the signs changed to “no parking tow away zone”.

There were six vehicles red tagged in the Sunset area for various code violations. All of the vehicles complied with our requests.

PERSONNEL

Sergeant Harvey Jacques 828-6412 Sunrise Middle Officer Robert Bolden 828-6408 Dillard High Officer Art Jones 797-4800 Fort Lauderdale High Officer Charles Livingston 765-6921 Stranahan High Officer Dennis Nelson 765-6893 JAM Project Officer Pete Balcunas 847-3434 D.A.R.E. Officer Mary Gillis 828-6408 D.A.R.E. Officer Clay Barrett 828-6408 D.A.R.E. Officer Duval Madrigal 828-6408 D.A.R.E. Officer Ernie Pagan 828-6408 D.A.R.E. Officer Ivory Nelson 828-6408 Truancy Unit Officer Bill Jacobsen 828-6400

Officer Mary Gillis is D.A.R.E./School Resource Officer for Thurgood Marshall Elementary, Lauderdale Manors Elementary and Sunland Park Elementary. The schools celebrated Red Ribbon Week/Say No To Drugs October 23-31st., 2002. Several units of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department made this eventful for the students and the staff, such as the K-9, Motor and Mounted units. Our Community Support Division PSA's also participated in the event.

The students are enjoying the D.A.R.E. Program. They are now in the final stages of their lessons. The students are very excited because they are preparing for the Fall D.A.R.E. graduations; the dates and times are listed below:

• Thurgood Marshall December 10, 2002 at 8:45 a.m.
• Lauderdale Manors December 12, 2002 at 8:30 a.m.
• Sunland Park December 18,2002 at 9:00 a.m.

The bicycle giveaway contest continues. This contest is open to all youth in the Fort Lauderdale area. The main objective of this program is for youth to introduce themselves to the various School Resource Officers, and in turn request a trading card. If you not able to track down a particular Officer, then refer to your list and send that officer a letter, introducing yourself and requesting a trading card. Remember each officer needs there own letter. The address to send that letter to is 533 Northeast 13th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. So far ten bikes have been given away. Good Luck and remember you only need to collect 12 trading cards to win. Once you have collected 12 cards call the Community Support Division at (954) 828-6400 for further instruction. Listed below are the names of Officers/PSAs featured on the trading cards, and the schools they service:

Sergeant Harvey Jacques
(Community Support Division)

Officer Mary Gillis
(Lauderdale Manor Elementary, Thurgood Marshall Elementary, Sunland Elementary)

Officer Ivory Nelson
(Walker Elementary, Dillard Elementary, Northside Elementary)

Officer Clay Barrett
(Westwood Heights Elem., Riverland Elementary, North Fork Elementary)

Officer Dennis Nelson
(Stranahan High School)

Officer Ernie Pagan
(Former S.R.O.)

Officer Art Jones
(Sunrise Middle School)

Officer Jeff Alexander
(Dillard High School)

Officer Duval Madrigal
(Bayview Elementary, Bennett Elementary, Floranada Elementary)

Officer Rob Bolden
(Sunrise Middle School)

Officer Charles Livingston
(Fort Lauderdale High School)

Officer Bill Jacobsen
(Truancy)

Detective Eddie Robinson
(Auto Theft Task Force)

PSA Teresa Bryant
(Community Support Division)

PSA Laura Todaro
(Community Support Division)

If you want a code inspector to investigate an illegal dumping site or a bulk trash violation, please call Community Inspections at 828-5207. To address trash on City property, or to find out what your bulk trash pick up days are, you can call the City of Fort Lauderdale Public Services Department at 828-8000. Please help us to keep Fort Lauderdale clean!

To report a problem area in your neighborhood, send the following info to the Community Support Division. Remember, be specific with the information that you provide so that we may take the appropriate actions. Send info to: Community Support Division, 533 NE 13th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. Or e-mail us with the following information:

Address:
Business Name(& Type):
Problem Observed:
Date:

PSAs Bryant and Blackmon are assisting Code Enforcement in their efforts to reduce the number of derelict vehicle violations throughout the City. These are quality-of-life issues which devalue the neighborhood as well as present safety hazards.

To report graffiti, contact the graffiti hotline at 828-6402. Or, click here to send an e-mail to PSA Teresa Bryant.

Bicycles can be registered at the following locations:

Community Support Division Center 533 NE 13th Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Snyder Park 2800 S.W. 8th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 Wednesday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. By appointment only! Please call first 954-828-4585

Contact PSA Bryant if you would like to schedule bicycle registrations during a community event.

Call 463-BIKE for more information.

Demonstration Center
Project Director Alesia Cappuzzello (954) 828-6433
Training Coordinator Rosa Vazquez (954) 828-6428	Community Information Specialist Blanca Alvarez (954) 828-6429
Volunteer Coordinator Omayra Tavarez (954) 828-6432	Records Clerk Treciann Collman (954) 828-6431

The Community Support Center offers various events such as workshops, training classes and community forums. The Center is also available to the community as a meeting place. Some of the courses that are offered to civilians and law enforcement personnel are outlined below.

Community Calendar

License Plate Theft Prevention Program, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., while supplies last, at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Community Support Division, 533 Northeast 13th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is distributing, free of charge, special screws that are created to prevent the theft of license plates. The screws are affixed with a regular screwdriver, but can only be removed with a special tool held by the Police Department. For information, call 954-828-6400.

Landlord/Tenant Training, Wednesday, November 20, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Community Support Division, 533 Northeast 13th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Topics include keeping illegal activity out of your property, screening applicants, the Federal Fair Housing Act, Section 8 Housing and more. Certificates of attendance will be issued upon completion of the course. The workshop is open to all interested. Captain Kiley and Sergeant Kridos of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be presenting the class. Call (954) 828-6428 for more information and to register.

18th Community Police Academy, Wednesdays, August 21 – November 20, 2002, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This 14-week program is offered to residents of the City of Fort Lauderdale, civic and government organizations members. The academy is designed to foster active partnership with the community. Topics addressed include Community Policing, Officer Selection/Recruiting, Drug Enforcement, Special Investigations, Range/Firearms, Detention Tour, Communications and more. In addition to the scheduled classes, an eight-hour “ride along” with Patrol Officers will be made available to the attendees. For more information and for applications please call (954) 828-6432. You may also download an application from the Fort Lauderdale Police website.

***ALL WORKSHOPS ARE FREE OF CHARGE***

Briefing Room