CITIZENS CRIME ALERT OF FORT LAUDERDALE INC.,
Honors Detective Estelle Abrams
the receipient of the
Paul Urschalitz Award for Community Policing.

Officer Estelle Abrams

Each year Citizens Crime Alert of Fort Lauderdale Inc. presents the Paul Urschalitz award for Community Policing to an officer who has done an outstanding job in the Community.

This year we have selected an officer that is not assigned to a particular neighborhood. This officer works throughout the city and is very special to most everyone that has had the pleasure of coming in contact with her. She displays genuine concern and compassion for each and every person, area, problem, and neighborhood citywide, and her tireless efforts epitomize the true meaning of Community Policing. Her job as a Fort Lauderdale Police Detective is of great pride to her. She truly cares as she strives daily to make Fort Lauderdale a better place to live and work.

When I first met this Detective I was impressed with her dynamic, and caring personality.

We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated Detective.

She has, on many occasions, suggested ideas to solve problems in neighborhoods throughout the City. Our group, always look forward to her presentations.

I am very proud to have the honor to announce Detective Estelle Abrams the recipient of the Paul Urschalitz Award 2002 – 2003.

Pat Mayers, President
Citizens Crime Alert

The 20th Annual National Night Out is scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, 2003.

National Night Out is a nationwide event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and is designed to raise the awareness of crime and drug prevention, generate participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood police and community partnerships, and to send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are fighting back.

Along with traditional displays of outdoor lights, cities, towns and neighborhoods join together and celebrate with a variety of events such as block parties, cookouts, crime walks, parades and other fun events. Additionally, members of both the Police and Fire Departments join in the neighborhood celebrations.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department encourages you to participate in National Night Out. National Night Out has proven to be an effective inexpensive program to promote police-community partnerships as well as an effective crime-fighting tool. Over 9,000 communities across the United States are expected to participate in this year’s annual National Night Out.

If you are affiliated with the Citizens Crime Alert of Fort Lauderdale or any of our neighborhood associations, we would like to help you plan a National Night Out event. Any special requests for the Police Department should be directed to Alesia Russell, Project Director at (954)-828-6433 or via email Alesiar@fortlauderdale.gov. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department looks forward to seeing you at National Night Out.

(L to R): Captain D. Ecklund, Junia Jeantilus-Robinson and Rolanda Joanice

On June 5, 2003 the Broward County Chiefs of Police presented Rolanda Joanice, a Fort Lauderdale High senior, a $1,000 college scholarship during Fort Lauderdale High’s senior breakfast ceremony. Rolanda is in the top ten percentile of her class. She was nationally recognized by Who’s Who Among American High School Students for her scholastic abilities and she is one of four scholarship recipients in Broward County.

Rolanda is a Haitian descendant who speaks fluent English, Spanish and Creole. She comes from a single parent household with two older siblings. She is an active member of Fort Lauderdale High’s student body and earned over 150 community service hours this past year. Rolanda was accepted at the University of Florida and plans to pursue a degree in Criminology.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department would like to congratulate Rolanda and others who are making great strides in our community.

Pat Mayers, President (954) 768-0850 or e-mail pmayers007@aol.com

Each meeting is designed to educate the citizens and provide important information for the safety and welfare of our communities. Every Civic Association should have at least (1) participating member to bring back this valuable information to the meetings or newsletters.

PLEASE JOIN US AT 7:00 PM on THE EIGHTH FLOOR of CITY HALL IN THE CAFETERIA. BRING A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR

Let's make 2003 the best year ever Fort Lauderdale Citizens Crime Alert Inc.,

Pat Mayers introduced the guest speaker Officer Scott Russell, who spoke about the Homeless Outreach Program.

Officer Russell brought his civilian assistant Richard Courtney. Richard a one time resident of Tent City had been homeless for a long time. He is now a crusader, so to speak, that tries to assist the homeless in handling drug, mental, and financial problems that keep them on the street.

There are approximately 5,000 homeless in Broward County. Many of the homeless come to Fort Lauderdale to take advantage of the many social services that are available. There were businesses on the Beach and Riverfront that did not want the homeless in their area. People were frightened due to their appearance. Officer Russell would talk with them and tell them where to go for assistance. For example, if they wore clothing like the other people wore to the Beach and Riverfront, they blended in and the problem was solved.

Scott and Richard would start their nights off (early morning hours) visiting known areas frequented by the homeless, the beach, parks, and Riverfront. In the past, the Police would arrest the homeless when they found them. Scott and Richard changed the game plan and would talk to them and try to determine their problems. Many of these people do not want to be bothered and are not ready to change their lives. When they came across someone who wanted a helping hand and the opportunity to clean up and re-enter society, they would try to get them in a shelter for that night. If needed, they would go to different social services that would assist them to get off drugs, alcohol, or help them get cleaned up, trained and find a job so they could support themselves.

The Homeless Assistance Center is located at 920 NW 7th Avenue and West Sunrise Boulevard. They let a homeless person stay 60 days, and provide food, clothing, shelter and teach them new skills. They even have classes in how to search for a job and prepare a resume. This center has a 54% success ratio. People are putting their lives back on track and becoming active, productive members of the community. If you want more information you can go to the web site at www.FLPD.org.

NEW BUSINESS There will be no meeting in August. The September meeting will include Officer Scott Russell - CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM

In an effort to reduce unwanted telemarketing calls, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a national “do not call’ registry. In July, consumers who would like to block unwanted sales calls may begin registering their telephone numbers for free online or by calling a toll-free number. For more information and to register, visit http://www.ftc.gov/donotcall or call 888-382-1222.

The Community Support Division will participate in the City of Fort Lauderdale Beach Community Center’s first “Back to School Bonanza” on Saturday, August 16, 2003 from 11:00am – 4:00pm. This free event is open to all parents and children.

Parents and kids will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. There will be a bounce house, face painting, arts activities, kids fingerprinting, children safety seminars and lots more.

While at the bonanza, two sessions of Escape School, the child safety and abduction prevention seminar, will be offered. In addition, a K-9 presentation by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Narcotics K-9 Unit will be featured.

So come out and join in the fun, meet your Fort Lauderdale Police officers, and pick up some children’s safety information. The Beach Community Center is located at 3351 N.E. 33rd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale. For information, call 954-828-4612.

Component One continues to proactively address the problems in Middle River Terrace. We are active in targeting the area’s street level drug dealers and maintaining a zero tolerance for state and municipal violations. During the month of June, 4 suspected drug dealers were arrested for non-drug related charges.

The family of the problem juvenile who reside at 503 NE 16 Street has not moved. The landlord assured Officer Studders that improvements would be made to the property and the problem tenants would be evicted. However, Officer Studders has not noted any improvements. The violations were documented and forwarded to Code Enforcement for follow-up.

Officer Studders cited the properties at 1676 and 1680 North Dixie Highway for bulk trash violations. The property owner responded by correcting the problem.

Officer Studders referred the property at 735 Holly Heights Drive to Code Enforcement due to a large portion of its roof missing tiles. Code responded and a notice of violation was issued. Officer Studders issued 11 red tags to derelict vehicles in the area with total compliance.

The following information was mentioned in last month’s newsletter; however, we want to reiterate the location and times of these events to encourage residents to participate.

• Bicycle Rides are scheduled every Tuesday at 8:00 pm.
• Crime Walks are scheduled every Friday at 7:30 pm.

Participants for both events meet at the Middle River Terrace Park, 1400 North Dixie Highway. If you plan to attend the bicycle ride, please bring a legal bicycle. Each bicycle must have a light on the front and a red light on the rear. It also needs to be registered per City Ordinance 26-183. Bicycles can be registered at the Community Support Division, 533 NE 13 Street, Monday- Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Your bicycle, one dollar, and a legal state identification are required for the registration process.

If you own property in the area and would like to file a trespass affidavit, please contact Officer Studders at (954) 828-6416. An affidavit gives police officers the right to ask undesirables to leave your property if they are loitering or trespassing. If the individuals refuse to comply they can be subject to arrest for trespassing. This is a great tool for law enforcement and it keeps the Police Department updated with your emergency information.

We continue to have a problem with derelict vehicles despite the numerous red tags and tows. If you see vehicles that appear to be derelict, please report them to Officer Studders by e-mail at charless@fortlauderdale.gov or call him at (954) 828-6416. The location and description of the vehicles need to be included in your message.

Component One continues to provide high visibility in the Lakeridge area. During the month of June 11 arrests were made. The majority of the arrests ocurred in the area of the 7-Eleven Store, 1637 East Sunrise Boulevard and Wendy’s Restaurant, 1631 East Sunrise Boulevard. The individuals arrested were previously identified as juveniles and adults who were constantly the subject of complaints from area residents.

Component One also continues to monitor the Walgreen’s Plaza, 1030 NE 15 Avenue and has noted a reduction in suspicious activity near Walgreen’s and the Dunkin Donuts.

• 15 traffic citations issued
• 3 unregistered bicycles
• 7 bicycle citations issued
• 4 derelict vehicles red-tagged

During a P.E.T. Operation with Special Investigations Division’s Vice Unit, 3 prostitutes were arrested in the area. A prostitute, known by the street name of April, was one of the three arrests. April is an associate of a felon known as “Dirty White Boy.” April and Dirty were spotted by a Shift One officer operating a stolen vehicle. Dirty fled from the officer and was later arrested; he is also a suspect in other auto thefts that are being actively investigated by the Auto Theft Unit.

To report any non-emergency problems in the area or to speak to your community officer, please call Officer Martinez at (954) 828-6416 or e-mail him at hetorma@fortlauderdale.gov

On June 19, 2003, Officer Galt attended the monthly homeowners meeting along with Street Narcotics Detective Todd Jackson. Approximately 20 residents were in attendance. No complaints were voiced at the meeting and residents were given an update on the action plans that are being worked in the area.

Street Prostitution continues to be the chief complaint of residents, which primarily takes place in the Northeast quadrant of the neighborhood. The activity appears to be on a downward trend and the area’s aesthetic look has improved with the re-finishing of the parking lots at Sears.

Component One, the Special Investigations Division and District II Patrol have continued to address the prostitution problem. Prostitution Enforcement Team Operations were conducted in an effort to apprehend prostitutes for solicitation charges. Additionally, Officer Galt arrested 2 well-known prostitutes in June, (1 for trespassing and the other for possession of cocaine).

During the month of June, Component One wrote 13 traffic citations, 3 bicycle citations, and made 7 arrests to support District II’s Flagler Heights action plan. In addition, 46 investigative stops were made and 9 code violations were identified.

In June, the Special Investigations Division arrested a prolific street level drug dealer in Flagler Heights. The information that led to the arrest was obtained from a resident and forwarded to the Street Narcotics Unit for follow-up. If you see suspicious activity, please report it to Officer Galt at (954) 828-6414. Your information can lead to an arrest.

Officer Galt continues to work with Community Inspections to address the unsecured vacant house at 501 NE 3 Avenue. During the month of June, the house was boarded up by the City since the developer failed to secure it. Two weeks later, the developer demolished the residence and it is no longer a problem in the community.

As mentioned in May’s newsletter, Officer Galt has been working closely with the landlord and other tenants on resolving a problem with a tenant at 437 NE 5 Avenue. The problem tenant was attracting suspicious people to the area at all hours throughout the day and night, which is consistent with illegal narcotics distribution. On July 1, the problem tenant was evicted.

Officer Galt initiated an action plan that addresses code violations at 719 and 721 NE 2 Avenue. Both locations are garages with numerous unregistered vehicles parked in front and behind them. The rear of the properties is adjacent to an alleyway and the derelict vehicles were attracting suspicious people to the area. This complaint was received at the May homeowners meeting and Officer Galt has taken several steps to solve the problem. Most of the vehicles on the property have been red-tagged and removed. The cooperation of the landlord is being solicited and a trespass affidavit was filed.

Additionally, Officer Galt initiated enforcement action against 13 properties for code violations in Flagler Heights. If you have any questions regarding code issues, please call Community Inspections at (954) 828-5207 or Officer Galt at (954) 828-6414.

Component One initiated an Action Plan in May to address the increase of burglaries in Victoria Park. During June, Detective Caryn Robitaille conducted a burglary prevention workshop at the monthly homeowners meeting. Component One distributed home and vehicle security literature throughout the neighborhood. District I Patrol, the Burglary Unit, and the District I Tactical Unit have also been working on this problem. As a result of everyone’s efforts, burglaries were reduced in the month of June. In the meantime, please make sure to secure your vehicle and place your belongings out of sight. It is equally important to secure your home and take the necessary steps to reduce your chances of becoming a victim. If you see a suspicious person or vehicle, obtain a description and call the Police Department at (954) 828-5700. If you have any questions, please call Officer Galt at (954) 828-6414.

The parking problem action plan that was implemented in May throughout Victoria Park was terminated on July 1. The action plan addressed parking problems along NE 7 Avenue near the Waverly Apartment Complex, and along the 1100 block NE 6 Street. The problem has substantially improved in this area due to the cooperation of contractors and other community members. Component One will continue to monitor the area and if you have any concerns please call Officer Galt at (954) 828-6414.

Component One participated in two P.E.T. Operations during the month of June. Both operations netted a total of 12 arrests. The first operation was held on June 5 and was city-wide. The operation yielded 9 arrests, including 2 from Flagler Heights and 2 from the Victoria Park area. The second operation was held on June 11. This operation yielded 3 arrests in the Lakeridge area, 1 arrest was for prostitution the other 2 arrests were for lewd and lascivious acts.

OFFICER JAIME COSTAS

Officer Jamie Costas

During the months of January and March 2003, you self-initiated contacts with individuals that led to the recovery of stolen property, stolen vehicles and subsequent arrests.

On January 1, 2003, you initiated a traffic stop in which the driver was arrested. Your thorough inventory of the vehicle led to the discovery of numerous items, which appeared to have been stolen. Further investigation confirmed your suspicions.

On January 17, 2003, you initiated a traffic stop in which both occupants attempted to unsuccessfully flee on foot. You confirmed the vehicle was stolen in Plantation ten days earlier and fit the description of the culprit vehicle from an armed robbery that had occurred earlier. You discovered a loaded handgun in the vehicle which was accessible by both occupants. Both subjects confessed to committing the armed robbery.

On March 17, 2003, you responded to a bank robbery. While obtaining the description of the culprit, you observed him entering a vehicle and flee the area. You stayed with the vehicle until the culprit abandoned it and fled on foot. As the culprit approached a fence, he dropped the bag he had been carrying. You observed U.S. currency and what appeared to be an explosive device fall from the bag. You secured the culprit and removed him from the immediate area until appropriate assistance could respond. The victims positively identified the culprit and the explosive device was determined to be a fake. The culprit subsequently confessed to the bank robbery as well as four in other jurisdictions.

Due to your professionalism and tenacity, three armed robbers and a prolific thief were removed from the streets of Fort Lauderdale. You are to be commended on a job well done.

Bruce G. Roberts
Chief of Police

My husband and I reside in the South Middle River area. We are members of the South Middle River Civic Association (SMRCA), and are the "Zone Captains" for Zone 7 of SMRCA, covering the area bordered by Sunrise on the south, Andrews Ave. on the east, N.W. 5th Ave. on the west and N.W. 13th St. on the north.

We wanted to let you know how much we appreciate Officer Brian Kaplan and the work he is doing in our neighborhood to help make it a better & safer place to live. John & I have worked closely with the Raiders (particularly with Det. Pat Hart and Capt. Paul Kiley) and other Patrol officers who have worked in SMR (Shane Colvey and Jamie Costas, just to name a few) pertaining to crime here. But Officer Kaplan's presence, I think, has made, by far, the biggest difference here. Just as an example, no sooner had Officer Kaplan been temporarily transferred to "Beach Duty" during Spring Break, the drug dealers suddenly resurfaced in force -- which was quite a set-back to the progress that had been made. As soon as he returned to duty here, it began to slow back down.

While we provide information to both the Raiders as well as the non-emergency police number pertaining to problem areas in our neighborhood, we also provide the same information to Brian -- he is faithful in following up, and has had more success in deterring a lot of the crime/drug dealers just by his continuing presence. The kids in the neighborhood love him -- he's always a "hit" at our monthly crime walks! Brian's also done a lot (in conjunction with Code Enforcement's Ursula Thime) in ridding our neighborhood of derelict cars as well as getting abandoned houses boarded up. We also had an article this month in the SMRCA newsletter about Brian, highlighting many of his successes in our neighborhood.

We just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate Brian and his dedication to our neighborhood. He is truly an asset to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Thank you.

John & Sherry Markopoulos

On June 24, 2003 Officer Brian Kaplan attended South Middle River’s monthly homeowners meeting. Many of the residents complained of speeders in the 100 to 600 block of NW 17 Street. Officer Kaplan will monitor this area and report his response at July’s meeting.

On June 27, 2003 Component Two attended South Middle River’s monthly crime walk. Thirty residents were in attendance. This month the crime walk focused on the 1300 to 1600 blocks of NW 8 Avenue and NW 6 Terrace. As a reminder, the next crime walk will be held on Friday July 25, 2003. For more information regarding the next crime walk, please contact Carmen Smith at (954)-523-6900.

On June 27, 2003 Officer Kaplan terminated his action plan at 1238 NW 5 Avenue which reflected a reduction in calls for service. There have been only two calls for service since January 2003, compared to the 14 calls for service in 2002. Officer Kaplan worked with the property owner and established a trespass affidavit. He issued 10 trespass warnings to suspicious persons. The property owner repaved the parking lot, painted the building, repaired the windows and cleaned up the loose trash from the property. Please note before and after photographs below.

1238 NW 5 Ave Before

1238 NW 5 Ave After

On June 28, 2003 Component Two conducted an action plan targeting underage drinkers in the 100 to 400 block of SW 2 Street. As a result, 4 individuals were issued notices to appear for alcohol consumption under the age of 21 and 1 individual was arrested for resisting arrest without violence.

Traffic concerns continued to be an issue for the Riverside Park residents. Problems with motorists running stop signs and speeding were discussed at June’s homeowners meeting. Officer Scelfo responded by issuing 33 traffic citations, as well as numerous warnings. The majority of the citations were for stop sign violations. Because school is out for the summer, the after school dismissals at Stranahan High School is no longer a problem for residents traveling along SW 18 Avenue.

Component Three hosted a Shop with Cops Event at Winn-Dixie Supermarket, 941 State Road 84. Residents were provided information on child safety and were issued free children fingerprinting kits. Residents also had an opportunity to register their bicycles.

In response to the increase of auto thefts in the Riverside area, Officer Scelfo distributed 10 steering wheel locking devices to area residents. Officer Scelfo completed police bicycle training so he can patrol Riverside Park on bicycle. This will allow Officer Scelfo to be more accessible to the residents and provide an additional means to observe suspicious activity.

Officer Swenson continues to ensure that residents in the Sunset and Riverland areas will have well trained police officers to serve their communities by training 5 new recruits in community policing.

Over one hundred derelict vehicles were red tagged in the area and three vehicles towed for non-compliance; 4 homes in the area received code warnings and have begun to clean up their properties. Officer Swenson also posted no trespassing warnings at 2 businesses to discourage loitering.

In response to the increase in auto thefts in Melrose Manors, Officer Pasker distributed 20 steering wheel locking devices to area residents. He contacted 16 residents, warned them of code violations, and two code complaints were initiated for non-compliance. He also issued 6 traffic citations for various traffic violations.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be hosting its annual FREE summer youth program. This program was initiated several years ago to offer youth and their parents an alternative to summer boredom. Youth compete in friendly competition, play games, and interact with one another. The best part of this program is it takes our youths off the streets.

This year the program has a new name. In previous years it was called C.O.P.J.A.M. (Community Oriented Policing Juvenile Alternative Motivation), now it will be called G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training). To participate in the program, students must be between 8 and 17 years of age. The program offers youth the opportunity to participate in games as well as educational activities. Additionally, high school students interested in enhancing their driving skills will be able to participate in a driving course. All students, with the permission of their parents, will be afforded an opportunity to go on field trips throughout the program.

The host schools this year are Sunrise Middle, New River Middle, and Stranahan High. If you would like your child to participate in this year’s program please register them soon, as there are only 400 spots available and they will be filled on a first come first serve basis. The program begins June 30, 2003 and ends August 6, 2003. The hours will be 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Registration information can be obtained from any of the host schools or by contacting your child’s School Resource Officer. If you need additional information please call (954) 828-6400.

Officer Bob Grant, a twenty-five year veteran with Fort Lauderdale Police Department, wrote the following “article”. Bob has served in Patrol, K-9, and recruiting. When he was asked by the homeowner president, for the area he patrols, to give her some suggestions that she could relay to her homeowner members, he spent hours of his own time compiling this list based on his personal police experience.

The document below is a tribute to the “community partnership” and the professionalism of Patrol officers in general:

The criminal’s worst fear is the chance of being detected, either visually or by sound. Time is his enemy and your ally. Help your neighbors and the police help you. Short of completely deterring and scaring him away, the more you can do to expose and force him to work for his reward, the more you will lessen your chances of becoming a victim. Protection starts at home. From personal experience, the following considerations are offered:

RESIDENTIAL:

• Doors:
• Don’t leave any door standing open, especially sliding doors, garage doors and small side garage doors. Your being at home is not the deterrent you might expect and those bordering the golf course, alley right-of-ways, parks and schools are more vulnerable, especially often forgotten waterways.
• Lock all doors whether home or not. Periodically check that the locks are functional. They can become worn or broken internally. Check the door jam for grooving. If the locking tongue or bolt hasn’t sufficient depth to penetrate, then the integrity of the door is greatly weakened.
• Periodically check that all locks are engaged. Family members may have used them without your knowledge or they may not have been properly seated initially. This inspection may also save you money on alarm charges. Too many false alarm calls result from this.
• Make sure that all your exterior doors are solid core construction, including any interior door leading to a room with access from the outside, i.e. the side patio/pool bathroom or shower facility, the utility room and the garage.
• If the door opens inward consider having it reversed. Without the doorstop protecting it, the door can easily be kicked in.
• Deadbolt every exterior door. The longer the bolt the better.
• Use auxiliary locks, screws and pins for sliding glass doors to prevent them from being opened and/or removed.
• Install a 180-degree peephole viewer on all exterior solid face doors.
• Windows:
• Close and secure all windows when not at home.
• When not at home, cover windows from outside observations especially those near the front door and along alley right-of-ways. Don’t advertise your valuables.
• Use auxiliary locks and pins for sliding glass windows, either vertically or horizontally.
• Make sure that all awning windows seat properly. If they are loose, they are easily popped or sprung open.
• If you have the old fashion jalousie windows insure that they are properly seated. They have a habit of slipping down and are the easiest windows to penetrate. Consider replacing them if possible.
• Lighting:
• The ideal situation is to have all sides of your home lighted or at least wherever there is an exterior opening.
• Strategically place your lights so that they illuminate the criminal, act as a back lighting or cause him to form exaggerated shadows which can be seen from the street or by your neighbors.
• Insure that all lights work. It will not only lessen your chances of becoming a victim. It should also raise your guard when finding one out when approaching your residence. Stay aware of your lighting at all times when arriving home.
• Whether to leave your interior lights on or off is up to your personal discretion. There are many pros and cons for either.
• If you travel, consider placing your exterior, and possibly your interior, lighting on some type of timer.
• Exterior property:
• Privacy is a wonderful thing, but often comes with a price. High solid fences, thick foliage and decorative walls will lessen the criminal’s detection. It will allow him a free hand once he has gained access behind it and it will thwart attempts by the police to thoroughly search your property when required, or in apprehending him.
• The ideal situation is to keep all thick foliage equal to or lower than the bottom of your windows and keep at least a partial unobstructed view of all sides of your residence.
• Alarms:
• Most residential burglary alarms are comprised of perimeter and interior motion detectors. Most are audible, but some are silent. The ideal situation is to stop the criminal at the earliest point rather than after he succeeds in entering. This would dictate that an audible perimeter alarm should be the minimum protection. All other types should be considered support.
• Make sure your system is checked periodically.
• Make sure your call-out information is always up to date with the alarm company.
• When alarm companies can’t reach a call-out and entrance to the residence was afforded and necessitated by the police, a search of the residence is mandated. Leaving a phone number in an obvious location would be beneficial to all concerned. Generally speaking, the kitchen counter near the phone is ideal.
• If one’s neighbors are trusted and well known to the resident, leaving a phone number or instructions in the event of an emergency is an additional option to consider.
• If you have people working inside the residence and you are not going to be there when they arrive, make sure that they have your code or some way to identify themselves with your permission to be on the property to the alarm company. A large percentage of the false alarms involve this and could be avoided.
• Carports and Porches:
• Don’t leave anything of real value exposed to view, especially bicycles. They are a prime target for thieves of all ages.
• Dogs:
• The fear of being bitten or at least the constant bark of a dog can be a strong deterrent, but don’t rely on it. A knowledgeable or bold criminal can defeat any dog.
• The more that you can allow your dog to roam the entire interior of the residence the better. If you keep your dog restricted to a particular area or caged, keep the criminal guessing. A view to the interior should be avoided.
• Two dogs are better than one. They will revert to pack instinct and the braver of the two will support and usually strengthen the will of the weaker.
• If a dog responds positively to friendly voices or gestures, he should not be utilized or considered for protection. If your primary purpose for a dog outside is protection, its personality should be the type that stands his ground when suspicious or threatened.
• Extended trips:
• Don’t advertise that there is little or no chance that you will be home. Keep the criminal wary. Cancel your newspaper and have your mail held Get neighbors, friends and local relatives involved. Have them collect the flyers and assorted paperwork that collect at your door or in your yard. Contact your homeowners association and be sure to cancel your monthly newsletter should you be gone during its normal delivery.
• Awareness:
• Don’t live in a bubble. Being aware of your surroundings at all times is a learned process and doesn’t have to be a chore. This includes at or traveling to and from your residence. Casually glance around and keep an open ear to suspicious activity or sounds. If your curiosity isn’t quickly alleviated, don’t investigate yourself. Immediately phone the police and report the incident with as much detail as you can provide, then remain vigilant until their arrival. In some instances you may even be asked to remain on the phone line to provide ongoing information as the police respond. Never worry about embarrassment should the activity prove false. False alarms are better than actual crimes.

Shop with the Cops

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be hosting a “Shop with Cops” event on Saturday, July 26, 2003, from noon to 4:00 pm, at the Winn Dixie supermarket located at 1035 NW 9 Avenue. Stop by and meet Fort Lauderdale Police Department members. Officers and personnel will be available to answer questions about important issues such as crime prevention. The main goal at “Shop with Cops” is to provide a willing ear to our citizens. Bike Registrations and police reports will also be available at this event.

6th Street Corridor Action Plan

One of the top priority areas for enforcement is the NW 6 St corridor. District and CSD Officers have concentrated efforts in that area to include consecutive Patrol Officer action plans, significant plainclothes TAC Squad operations, multiple traffic enforcement operations and high visibility uniform operations to include the Mobile Command Vehicle. The purpose of this message is to advise you of the latest action plan that was concluded this month. The action plan which was in operation for 30 days included high uniform visibility from Patrol and CSD Officers. Patrol centered this specific plan around two officers who were assigned to the 6 St corridor every day on Shift 3.

Results:

• 123 Arrests
• 474 Uniform Traffic Citations
• 2 Seized Weapons
• 1 Stolen Auto recovered

The District and CSD Officers will continue to deploy assorted police assets along the 6 St Corridor in order to stabilize this street as well as the surrounding neighborhoods. This will also be a priority with Sgt. Furdon who will soon take over the District 2 Component in CSD.

District II Shift I
Captain Lee Spector

Over the last two months, the Officers of District Two, Shift One have been targeting the transvestite prostitution issue along Sistrunk Boulevard and NW 5 Court, specifically between NW 9 Avenue and 21 Avenue. We had received numerous complaints from residents in the area of NW 11 Avenue and 5 Court in regard to these individuals invading their properties and alleys at night committing inappropriate sexual acts.

Sergeant Greg Salters, the Sergeant responsible for the central sector, created an action plan to combat the problem. This plan required a coordinated effort among Patrol Officers, CSD Component Two Officers and Detectives from the Raiders and Vice Unit of the Special Investigations Division (SID).

Patrol Officers Joe Mogavero and Chris Collins created picture identification books of all known transvestite prostitutes who have been observed loitering in the area. These books contain the individuals’ legal and street names. In an effort to increase the effectiveness of our efforts, the books and pictures were made available to all midnight shift officers and SID Detectives who would be conducting follow up operations and investigations. CSD Officers assisted with posting trespass affidavits for the local residences and roving patrols on midnight shift that targeted the “johns” who used the services offered by the prostitutes.

Midnight shift and CSD Officers imposed strict enforcement of all loitering and prostitution ordinances and traffic statutes on the offenders and their customers. Sergeant Salters identified a local club that catered to this lifestyle and helped develop further information in identifying more of these individuals.

Since the beginning of the action plan, dozens of lawbreakers have been identified, numerous arrests have been made and citations issued. SID Detectives are now in the process of filing felony charges on some of the prostitutes who were arrested more than once.

As this action plan comes to a close, its effects can be seen quite clearly. This problem, while not completely eliminated, is under much better control and visible signs of prostitution activities in the area have been minimized.

District II / Shift II
Downtown Sector
Captain Dave Ecklund

Action Plans throughout District II continue as a primary focus for police services and our goal to lower the Part I crimes and address quality of life issues. Within the District, the Downtown Sector, with its own unique problems and concerns, has continued to grow with tourism, businesses and residents. The transition taking place has been a continual challenge for the officers assigned there.

In 2002, the first five months after Shift Change (Feb-June) showed 54 Part I crimes taking place on Shift II, in the Downtown Sector. Part I Crimes were lower than were reported for the previous year. A great job was done by the Sector Officers throughout 2002 and was greatly appreciated.

Shift Change 2003 showed many of the same officers returning and the addition of several new officers has maintained an excellent enthusiasm. The officers assigned, work well together, are aware of the problems facing them, and have taken a proactive approach to ensure that theconcerns of the Sector are addressed.

This year, 44 Part I Crimes have been reported on Shift II, for the same five-month period. Although June did show increases in several Part I Crimes compared to May, the Sector has shown a 20% decrease in Part I Crimes compared to 2002. The great work done in the Sector can only be attributed to those who have bought in to their Sector.

What is also noteworthy is that until this year, the Downtown Development Authority had assisted with funding for additional officers to ensure adequate police services were provided to the downtown area. With the funding no longer being provided, Sector Officers have taken it upon themselves to ensure the quality of policing continues.

Congratulations to Sgt Larry Abrams, Sector Zone Officers, the Alpha Units and PSA’s assigned throughout the Sector for a job well done.

DISTRICT 2 / SHIFT 3
Captain Steve Kinsey

During the month of June, 2003, District 2 Shift 3 continued its trend of utilizing the many unique talents and skills of the sergeants and officers who work this area on a daily basis. Although these officers are tasked with handling a high number of calls for service, they succeed in developing problem solving strategies to combat crime and quality of life issues in their respective neighborhoods.

In the Downtown sector, Sergeant Dave Lewis supervises a squad of officers who deal with the unique issues relative to Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Despite the many downtown functions such as “Downtown Live,” which ran every Wednesday for the first 6 months of the year, and special events like the Air and Sea Show’s Fleet Week parties, these officers provide a safe environment for the citizens and visitors in Fort Lauderdale. They also utilized undercover operations and action plans to reduce Part I crimes and improve this area of our community. Much of the credit for these accomplishments goes to Officers Lenihan, DeGracia, Capano, Fontalvo, Meo, Siekierski, Newman, Foulks, McCarthy, Robinson and Gomez.

District 2 Shift 3 also has the benefit of a proactive Tactical team. This team, led by Sgt. John Bollinger, focuses on Part I Crimes throughout the district. Since January 2003, this unit has made over 150 arrests for criminal acts ranging from Armed Robbery and Auto Theft to Narcotics and Burglary. They also take an active role in identifying suspects who are engaged in criminal activity. They utilize the departments’ Field Interrogation (FI) cards, which allow FLPD to record important information about these suspects who are on our streets. The TAC Squad consists of Officers Hoffman, Florenco, Sousa, and Vetancourt. Their dedication and perseverance are greatly appreciated by the Police Department and the community.

I would like to thank the Mounted Unit for their assistance with a District Three problem. On March 7th, 2003, a community-initiated action plan was implemented to address the concerns of area residents and business owners regarding the behavior of Stranahan High School students as they walked along Southwest 18th Avenue and Broward Boulevard after dismissal time. The Mounted Unit was assigned to be present and remain in the area every day at the end of school to discourage unruly behavior or deal with any problems that arose. While the time frame of the problem covered only one-half hour, that one-half hour was in the middle of the afternoon. This required you to leave whatever area you were assigned that day, trailer the horses and respond to Southwest 18th Avenue. And you did this, day after day, until the end of the school year.

Your presence in the area was of immeasurable value to the citizens you served, residents, business owners and students alike. I would like to thank you for your understanding, cooperation, dedication and flexibility. You are commended for a job well done!

By Captain Ralph Nelson

June 10, 2003 Officer Mike VonStetina and his partner Officer Darian Burkholder were dispatched to a delayed burglary at 1300 NE 18 Street Apartment #4. They determined that forced entry had been made and the loss was sixty dollars. The victim said that he thought the suspects were local juveniles. After processing the scene, the officers checked the area and located two possible suspects. They made contact and asked the suspects if they had any knowledge of the burglary. After the suspects denied knowledge, the officers asked them to be honest and think about it for a minute. The juveniles approached the officers and admitted that they were responsible for the burglary. Officer VonStetina and Officer Burkholder’s actions resulted in the arrest of two juveniles responsible for committing a burglary. They are commended for a job well done.

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 Dube and Todaro-Gerity 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 Laura Todaro-Gerity.

Bicycles can be registered at the following locations:

Community Support Division Center 533 NE 13th Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 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 Laura Todaro-Gerity if you would like to schedule bicycle registrations during a community event.

Call 463-BIKE for more information.

New Employees	Anniversaries	Transfers
Kelly Blanchette Cathleen Carroll Valerie Florestal Ruth Harrell Kathleen Hayes Melody Lilliston Wesner Moise Antonio Ortiz Jeffrey Riche	Officer Frank Del Rio 20 years	Sgt. Larry Abrams From Dist 2/Shift 2 to Dist 1/Shift 3 Sgt. Mike Roddy From Dist 1/Shift 3 to Dist 3/Shift 3 Sgt. Kate Abrahamsen From Dist 3/Shift 3 to Dist 3/Shift 1 Sgt. William Johnston From CSD Comp 1/Shift 2 to Dist 1/Shift 2 Sgt. Harvey Jacques From CSD Comp 2/Shift 2 to Dist 3/Shift 3 Sgt. Mark Furdon From Dist 1/Shift 3 to CSD Comp2/Shift 2 Sgt. Victor London From Dist 3/Shift 1 to CSD Youth Services/Shift 2 Officer Tim Shields From INV/SID/SNU/Shift 3 to CSD Comp 3/Shift 3
RECOGNITION
Officer Edward Jackson was the recipient of the Officer of the Month Award for May Officer Jaime Costas was the recipient of the Officer of the Month Award for June Detention Officer Rolando Rivera was the recipient of the Civilian Employee of the Month Award for May PSA Paul Brown was the recipient of the Civilian Employee of the Month Award for June

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.

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 NE 13 Street. 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, Wednesdays, July 16 and August 20, 2003, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Community Support Division - Training Room, 533 NE 13 Street. 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.

20th Community Police Academy has been cancelled. For more information and for applications please call (954) 828-6428. If interested in attending the next CPA, please submit an application. You may download an application from the Fort Lauderdale Police website at: www.flpd.org/cpa.html.

Project Ecstasy Workshops have been cancelled.

Escape School, With the recent nationally publicized child abductions throughout the United States, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department is taking preventative action by providing a free safety education program for parents and children regarding abductions. Escape School is an hour-long presentation that teaches participants to trust their instincts, how to differentiate between good and bad strangers, what to do if confronted with an abductor (e.g. run, scream, disable car), and how to get people involved in their rescue. The program consists of video and role-playing exercises with the instructor, children and parents. Bob Stuber, a former California police officer, created Escape School. Dignity Memorial Funeral Providers provides this free class to the public. The class will be held Thursday, September 25, 2003, at City Hall’s Commission Chambers, 100 North Andrews Avenue, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please call (954) 828-6429 for more information and registration.

National Night Out - Tuesday, August 5, 2003, 6:30 p.m. The 20th Annual National Night Out is a unique crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW). The Police Department cordially invites you, your family, neighbors and community to be part of National Night Out 2003. For more information contact Alesia Russell at 954-828-6433.

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