The Community Support Division would like to welcome Sergeants Mark Furdon and Victor London.

Sergeant Mark Furdon

Sgt. Furdon, who has been with the Department since 1981 is assigned to Component Two. Prior to his transfer, he was assigned to Patrol District I Shift III.

Sergeant Victor London

Sgt. London, who has been with the Department since 1995 is assigned to the Youth Services Unit. Prior to his transfer, he was assigned to Patrol District III Shift I.

When she started in December 2001 with the City of Fort Lauderdale’s new outreach to the Haitian population, Junia Jeantilus-Robinson was well prepared for her new responsibilities. She brought more than six years of former experience as a Victim’s Advocate in the State Attorney’s Office.

“I have a passion for working in the community and informing the Haitian population about available resources,” said Junia.

Almost three years later, Junia has a proven track record in establishing relationships with Haitian residents and building relationships with civic leaders. Attendance at the annual Haitian Town Hall meetings has increased with standing room only at the meeting held in the Spring.

Junia is a whirlwind of energy as she answers the telephone with an urgent request for assistance while briefing a visitor on the outreach. In January 2002, a 24-hour Haitian hotline was implemented.

Junia is on call 24/7. Her pager is always with her and she has a police radio with her own call number “Whiskey 9.” Whether it is helping to translate Creole for a car crash victim or a trauma patient being admitted to the hospital, or preparing for a seminar about the Haitian community, Junia is eager to be of assistance.

She cheerfully works with the Haitian community traveling about the City to assist people with a variety of needs. Other municipalities often call on her for her expertise.

Junia is proud of the City of Fort Lauderdale Haitian Information Manual, which was published in February 2003. The manual is printed in Creole and English with information ranging from schools, hospitals, where and how to obtain a driver’s licenses, and how to register to vote. More than 300 copies have been requested and distributed to various governmental and private agencies.

Additional Creole speaking Police and staff have joined the City ranks. Officers Michael Stitt and Steven Gelu are the first two Creole speaking Police Officers hired, along with three Public Safety Aides and a Detention Officer who recently joined the team. Their presence and bi-lingual ability have increased confidence in the City services.

A remarkable of the highlight for Junia is the recruiting trip she and Sergeant Alfred Lewers made to Haiti last year.

“We had an opportunity to meet with the Haitian Law Enforcement Association and to speak at two American schools about the work in the City,” said Junia.

The City of Fort Lauderdale Police Department is the first agency to recruit in Haiti.

The trip created a lot of interest on behalf of potential candidates as well as the news media, which featured an article printed on the Associated Press wire.

What is next for the Haitian outreach? This week Junia is conducting a seminar in collaboration with the Haitian Refugee Domestic Violence Advocacy Program. As she takes a new look at the needs of the outreach, she plans to spend more time working with the Police Officers in District II as well as the residents.

The 24-hour Haitian hotline is 954-828-3336.
(This article taken from the City Scene Magazine)

Fort Lauderdale Police Offers Civilian Canine Academy for Residents and Their Four-Legged Friends
Free Obedience Training for Dogs to Increase Interaction with Owners and Police

Fort Lauderdale – Calling all dog owners and their four-legged friends!!! The City of Fort Lauderdale Police Department will offer the Civilian Canine Academy this fall to resident pooches and their owners. This free obedience training class provides residents with basic hands-on tips and tricks to foster behavior modification with pets.

Hosted by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department’s K-9 Unit, the class consists of four two-hour sessions that will teach dogs the basic commands: sit, heel, down, stay and come.

In addition to training resident pooches to be well behaved, the program increases interaction between K-9 officers and residents. The K-9 unit is the only police unit that works primarily with criminal suspects and has little to no interaction with residents, said Fort Lauderdale Captain Scott Israel.

“This is a great way for the citizens to see the humanistic side of our K-9 officers,” said Israel. “The job of a K-9 officer never really ends and participants will have the opportunity to talk to the officers and find out how they take care of their police dogs at home and what they can do to provide a more comfortable environment for their pets.”

The inaugural Civilian Canine Academy was held in April 2003 with eight participants and their dogs. Lisa Slagle and Renegade found the program to be beneficial.

“The academy was a blast for me and my dog Renegade,” said Slagle. “The class was great, especially for people who have really large dogs. They are harder to control, and the canine officers did an outstanding job of assisting us. It was also great, because I actually had an instructor who assisted me with training the entire time, almost like a private instructor. The training was great and Renegade is a much better behaved dog because of it.”

Participating dogs receive the highest level of training. The Fort Lauderdale Police K-9 officers are all trained to handle a wide variety of dogs. Two members of the seven-member K-9 unit are Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) certified canine trainers, said K-9 Sergeant John Eaves.

“Our intent is to show owners how to train their dogs. We show, train and hope that they go home and practice,” said Eaves. “We use a variety of training techniques such as food incentives, properly fitted training collars and handler praise. This works because it’s done in a positive atmosphere with people who have a mutual interest in obedience training.”

Classes are limited to 12 participants. Dogs must be at least six months old to attend.

For dates of the next Civilian Canine Academy, contact Rosa Vazquez in the Community Support Division at (954) 828-6428. For additional information about the Fort Lauderdale Police Department’s Civilian Canine Academy, please call K-9 Sergeant John Eaves at (954) 972-1455.

“The short-term benefit is the citizen will learn techniques to better manage their pets,” said Captain Israel. The long-term benefit is the development of meaningful relationships and partnerships with K-9 officers and citizens.”

(City of Fort Lauderdale Public Information Office – Media Release)

Component One continues to provide high visibility to the Lakeridge area. This month 6 arrests were made, 10 citations were issued, 2 bicycle citations were issued, 2 bicycles were seized and a property owner was referred to Community Inspections. Three new trespass affidavits were signed, 6 vehicles were red tagged and twenty field interviews were completed regarding suspicious individuals.

There continues to be a noted improvement at the Holiday Park Plaza, 1030 NE 15 Avenue. Component One attributes the success of reducing criminal activity at this location to the zero tolerance of loiterers and trespassers in the parking lot near Walgreens and the Dunkin Donuts.

Officer Martinez attended Lakeridge’s homeowners meeting on July 30 and there were no new complaints. Officer Martinez distributed free anti-theft club locking devices to vehicle owners of cars on the ten most stolen vehicles list.

Junk vehicles deteriorate the area and Component One continues to red tag them. As a reminder, if a vehicle cannot be legally driven it is derelict. Flat tires, expired tags and vehicles being repaired are examples of a derelict vehicle.

There were three residential burglaries in the Lakeridge area west of NE 15 Avenue. Please remember that burglaries are crimes of opportunity. It is imperative that you check your doors and windows prior to leaving your home. Trim overgrown bushes that obstruct the view from the road and leave your lights on at night. Call the police if you see any suspicious activity in the area. We need to work together to minimize the number of burglaries in the area.

Patrol arrested three neighborhood juveniles as they were breaking into an abandoned house. The juveniles are the same group that Officer Martinez arrested last month at the Holiday Park Plaza for trespassing. To report any non-emergency problems or to speak to an officer, please feel free to contact Officer Martinez at (954) 828-6416 or e-mail him at hetorma@fortlauderdale.gov

During the month of July, Component One continued its efforts to reduce crime in Victoria Park and improve the quality of life in the neighborhood. Component One conducted 25 investigative stops, made 6 arrests and completed 11 field interview cards. In addition, 4 vehicles were red tagged, 4 properties were referred to Community Inspections and 2 bicycle registration citations were issued. One bicycle was seized and 16 beatwatches were completed throughout Victoria Park.

Two significant arrests were made. The first arrest was convicted burglar Catron L. Hall. Hall was arrested on a violation of probation warrant. The second was the unfortunate task of arresting a Victoria Park resident for driving under the influence. Not only was this subject driving under the influence, he nearly struck a patrol car and obstructed the arresting officer’s investigation. Residents are reminded that drinking and driving is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. If you plan on drinking, please do not drive. Designate a driver that has not been drinking. Following these simple rules can prevent an arrest and a potential tragedy.

As we approach the end of the summer, residents need to be aware of the occasional burglary problems in Victoria Park. Component One would like to remind residents to take the necessary steps to prevent these types of crimes. In 2002, there was an increase of burglaries in Victoria Park during the months of August and September. In order to prevent burglaries this year, the Police Department needs your help. Please make sure to lock all your car doors and do not leave valuables in your vehicle. If you have to store valuables in your car, do not leave them in plain view. This is especially important if you are dropping off or picking up children at school. In your homes, make sure that you have adequate lighting around your residence and that you properly secure all doors and windows. It is also equally important to call the Police Department when you see suspicious individuals or vehicles in the neighborhood. If the vehicle or person does not look right, do not hesitate to call. The Police Department’s non-emergency phone number is (954) 828-5700. If you have any questions regarding crime prevention techniques you can call Detective Caryn Cleary-Robitaille at (954) 828-6419. If you have any other questions please call Officer Glenn Galt at (954) 828-6410.

Officer Scott Russell, Fort Lauderdale Police Homeless Outreach Officer, is now assigned to Component One. Officer Russell specializes in dealing with the homeless and their needs. He travels throughout Fort Lauderdale seeking individuals in need of assistance. Once he locates them, Officer Russell attempts to refer them to appropriate shelters and treatment facilities. During July, Officer Russell contacted 468 homeless individuals and transported 265 of them to various shelters and/or treatment facilities.

Component One participated in two Prostitution Enforcement Team (P.E.T.) Operations during the month of July. The first operation was conducted on July 18 and it focused on Shift I prostitution activity. The operation resulted in the arrests of fifteen prostitutes. The second operation was conducted on July 31 and focused on apprehending “Johns” or prostitutes’ customers. This operation was divided into two locations, one at the north end of the City and the other at the south end of the City. Component One participated in the south operation in the 1400 block of South Federal Highway and arrested 12 Johns.

On July 10, Component One participated in a round up of juveniles with active pick-up orders. The operation was a cooperative effort between CSD, Patrol, Metropolitan Anti Gang Task Force and the Department of Juvenile Justice. The targeted group: 16 juveniles that lived in various parts of the City. Officers began this operation at 4 am in order to add an element of surprise to surprise the offenders while they were at home. Results, 5 juveniles were arrested.

By Detective Nate Jackson

1st place winner Darius Stewart, 2nd place Donovan Fort and 3rd place Wendell Metayer

Coordinators Sharlene Burke and Detective Nate Jackson with contest winners

On Tuesday, June 10, 2003, the Crime Prevention Unit hosted its third annual Alternative Intervention Methods to Help Improve Grades and Hope (A.I.M. H.I.G.H.) after school graduation ceremony. This event was held at the African American Research Cultural Center Library, 2680 Sistrunk Boulevard.

Fourth and fifth graders participated from the following elementary schools: North Fork, Sunland Park, Lauderdale Manors, Thurgood Marshall, North Side and Riverland.

AIM HIGH is a program designed to enhance students leadership skills by focusing on communication proficiency. Students are taught how to overcome the fear of public speaking by learning how to write and how to deliver speeches in the proper sequence.

The graduation ceremony was in a Speech Craft Module with participating students competing against each other. Darius Stewart, the first place winner, expressed his version of the qualities of a good father and gave some chilling examples of what a good dad should do. His remarks sparked an emotional reaction from the audience as many of the viewers had visible tears. For his first place prize, Darius selected a Sony Play Station.

Donovan Fort was the second-place winner. Donovan spoke about the person who inspires him the most, his father. He elaborated on the things his dad does for their family and boasted about his father’s preaching abilities. Donovan won a bicycle.

All of the participants received a sports watch that was donated by the Fort Lauderdale Police Evidence Unit.

On July 21, 2003, Officer Costas attended Sailboat Bend’s monthly homeowners meeting. Illegal parking along SW 2 Street was a concern. Officer Costas will monitor the issue and report his findings at the August meeting.

Officers Costas and Kaplan continue to combat under age alcohol violations along SW 2 Street. During the month of July, Officer Costas issued 6 traffic citations in the Sailboat Bend area.

Dorsey Riverbend’s July homeowners meeting was canceled. In response to residents complaints of transvestite prostitution activities along Sistrunk Boulevard, Officer Costas assisted the Special Investigations Division in a P.E.T Operation that resulted in 9 transvestites and a female arrested on solicitation charges. In addition, an action plan was initiated to curb open container and trespass violations along Sistrunk Blvd. On July 31, 2003, Component Two, with the assistance of District II Shift III Officer Frank Foulks, positioned the Mobile Command Center in the 1700 block of NW 6 Street. Results: 5 arrests were made for open container violations and 8 suspicious individuals were identified through field interviews. Officer Costas made an additional 4 misdemeanor arrests, 3 felony narcotics arrests, seized a firearm while apprehending an armed felon and issued 20 traffic citations in Dorsey Riverbend area.

On July 25, 2003 Officer Kaplan and Officer Calvey, along with 30 residents, participated in South Middle River’s monthly crime walk. The crime walk focused on the 1100 to 1700 blocks of NW 4 Avenue and NW 5 Avenue. As a reminder, the next crime walk will be held on Friday August 29, 2003 at The Church of the Intercession, 501 NW 17 Street. If you are interested in participating please join us.

During July, Officers Kaplan and Costas made 5 narcotic arrests in the South Middle River area. Four arrests were for possession of cocaine and one for possession of marijuana. Officer Kaplan issued 29 traffic citations. In response to the many complaints of speeding violations in the area, 14 of the 29 citations were issued in the 100 to 600 block of NW 17 Street. Officer Kaplan will continue to monitor NW 17 Street. Ten vehicles were also red tagged in the 1300 to 1700 block of NW 8 Avenue with full compliance by the owners.

Shop with Cops

Officer Jaime Costas at shop with Cops

On July 26, 2003 the Community Support Division assisted District II Shift III with a Shop with Cops event at the Winn-Dixie Supermarket, 1035 NW 9 Avenue. According to Sergeant Tom Harrington, Winn-Dixie has more calls for service than any other location in District II. Shop with Cops gives residents an opportunity to meet their community officers and receive crime prevention literature so they can better understand their role in crime reduction. In addition, the Urban League of Broward County conducted child safety seat inspections and distributed free safety seats and bicycle helmets.

Component Two was the recipient of Middle River’s Neighbor of the Month Award. Homeowners President Bob Young presented the award to Officer Studders at the July homeowners meeting. In attendance were the active members, as well as City Commissioner Dean Trantalis. This is the first time this award was presented to a non-resident.

The family of the problem juvenile at 503 NE 15 Street has finally moved. Immediately following their departure the property owner, who lives in Ohio, began interior and exterior improvements to the building. The overgrown hedge the drug dealers used to conceal their illegal activity was trimmed to three feet. It should be noted that the problem juvenile was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant.

During July, Officer Studders arrested 5 suspected drug dealers on non-drug charges; 2 of the 5 subjects were arrested for underage drinking in Middle River Terrace Park.

Officers Studders and Scelfo discovered that one of the known juvenile drug dealers has been using a false name. Under his real name, the juvenile has an extensive arrest record that includes drug charges.

Officer Studders arrested a suspected drug dealer at 824 NE 16 Street for possession of crack cocaine. Although he is not a local resident, he frequents the Middle River area.

Code Violations were noted at 1205 NE 5 Avenue, 1213 NE 5 Avenue, 1213 NE 6 Avenue, and 1238 NE 6 Avenue. All of the violations were reported to Code Enforcement.

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 rides, 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.

We continue to have a problem with derelict vehicles despite the numerous red tags and tows. If you see a vehicle that appears to be derelict, please call Officer Studders at (954) 828-6416 or email him at charless@ci.fort-lauderdale.fl.us. It is important that you provide the location and description of the vehicle.

Officer Steven Scelfo is Flagler Heights’ new Community Officer. At July’s monthly meeting, Officer Scelfo met the residents and they were pleased with the police service in their neighborhood.

Officer Scelfo continues to follow-up on code complaints initiated by Officer Galt. 4 prostitutes were arrested in the Northeast quadrant of Flagler Heights, and twenty-three field interviews were conducted. Several of the interviews were of suspected burglars and the information was forwarded to the Criminal Investigations Division. Officer Scelfo also obtained information on suspects selling illegal narcotics in the area of the Swiss Village. That information was forwarded to the Street Level Narcotics Division. Both Officers and residents noted a decrease in pedestrian traffic.

Officer Scelfo was injured last week while apprehending an armed robbery suspect. He is scheduled to return to work the beginning of August.

Component Three spent most of July in the Edgewood area. Although Edgewood is not one of Community Support’s targeted neighborhoods, Component Three responded to the complaints of residents increased juvenile delinquency in the areas of Floyd Hull Stadium and the 3000 block of SW 15th Avenue. The reported activities were acts of vandalism, assaults, batteries and the marijuana use.

Officer Mike Pasker initiated an action plan that is a cooperative effort between Community Support, Patrol, Criminal Investigations Division, Park Rangers and the Metropolitan Anti-Gang Task Force. Pooling resources, Officer Pasker identified the group of juveniles in question and met with their parents. It should be noted that the parents were supportive of the Police Department’s response.

Two trespass affidavits were filed in the area of Floyd Hull and along SW 15 Avenue. The Park Rangers are aware of the issues and have increased their presence in the area. Twenty-Two vehicles were red tagged and one was towed for non-compliance. Several residents reported that they were pleased with the Police Department’s response and have noted a change in their neighborhood. Component Three will continue to monitor this area.

Officer Steve Scelfo bids farewell to the Riverside Park residents. Officer Scelfo has been transferred to Component Two and Officer Pasker will serve as Riverside Park’s Community Officer until a permanent replacement is assigned. Officer Pasker may be reached at (954) 828-6403 or by pager at (954) 497-0275.

Officer Pasker continues to monitor the increase of auto thefts and vehicle burglaries in Melrose Manors. He distributed several anti auto theft clubs to residents. Nineteen vehicles were red tagged and two vehicles were towed for non-compliance. One stolen vehicle was recovered and two suspects were arrested on outstanding warrants. In an effort to beautify Martin Luther King Boulevard, parking citations were issued to vehicles parked along the swales. Several residents were also contacted and warned about dumping on the swale.

Residents are encouraged to contact Officer Pasker with their concerns.

Officers Swenson and Pasker responded to a complaint of trucks blocking the streets near Gunther Volkswagen, 1660 South State Road 7. Contact was made with the management of the dealership and the problem was rectified.

Additionally, twenty-five vehicles were red tagged and two vehicles were towed for non-compliance. In response to the increase of auto thefts and vehicle burglaries in the Sunset area, Component Three hosted a Shop with Cop event at Publix Supermarket, 3500 West Davie Boulevard. Crime Prevention information and anti auto theft clubs were distributed to customers. Our Department personnel pleased the shoppers and the management of Publix with the positive interaction.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department G.R.E.A.T. Summer Youth Program was held from June 30, to August 1 2003, at three Fort Lauderdale school locations. Broward County youth from the ages of 8 to 17 participated in the program, which was scheduled Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Over four hundred elementary, middle, and high school students were served by the G.R.E.A.T. program this year.

In addition to the Fort Lauderdale Police Officers who worked with the program, Broward County Public School Teachers and Counselors were available to lend their expertise in readiness skills reinforcement. The teachers offered an excellent curriculum designed to ensure that youth participants were afforded educational enrichment opportunities. There were a total of 5 teachers and 4 counselors who participated in the G.R.E.A.T. program this year.

Each day began with great anticipation! The youth participants were provided with a hot breakfast and lunch, as well as, wholesome and nutritious snacks each day.

Each day, approximately 35 to 40 elementary school participants were transported, via bus, from Stranahan High School to New River Middle School and approximately 10 to 15 high school participants were transported from New River Middle School to Stranahan High School.

The G.R.E.A.T. Summer Youth Program culminated August 1, 2003, with a “Fun in the Sun” picnic at Stranahan High School. Traditionally, this closing event is held at Snyder Park. Participants enjoyed good food, fun, and fellowship. While feasting on traditional picnic foods like hot dogs and grilled burgers, prepared by Coach Keith Skinner of the renown Skinner’s grill, the youth participants were able to enjoy contemporary hip-hop sounds which were provided by DJ William House. The magical day fun included: games, prizes, track and field events, swimming, and just good old fun!

This year’s G.R.E.A.T. Summer Youth Program was a resounding success, thanks to the collaboration and shared partnership of: Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Broward County School Board, teachers and counselors who participated in the program, the School Administrators of New River Middle School, Sunrise Middle School, and Stranahan High School, as well as the parents and students.

Officer Mary Gillis is known among her fellow colleagues for not just getting things done right, but for also getting the right thing done the right way. Her commitment to excellence shows in all that she does. She takes great pride in her work and it shows.

To express their appreciation to Officer Gillis for going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that this year’s Fort Lauderdale Police Department 2003 G.R.E.A.T. Summer Youth Program was a success, her fellow officers surprised Officer Gillis by presenting her with a plaque for her committed and dedicated services to the G.R.E.A.T. Summer Youth Program at their closing event on Friday, August 1, 2003.

Captain Dave Geyer
District I Shift II

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. The homeowner president for the area he patrols asked Bob to give her some suggestions that she could relay to her association members. He spent hours of his own time offering suggestions for home security; detecting and avoiding “scams”; and care of “man’s best friend”, all based on his personal police experience.

The document below is the second installment in Officer Grant’s “citizen safety tips”. Officer Grant’s commitment to his job and his responsiveness to the public is a tribute to the “community partnership” and professionalism of all officers.

SCAMS:

• A large percentage of the victims are elderly women, but all elderly people and women who reside alone are prime targets. The criminal can work independently or in teams. The gypsies are probably the best and the most prevalent. Do not be fooled by gender or appearance. The scam artist can be either male or female or any combination. They are generally older and more respectable looking operating newer model vehicles. Children can also accompany them. Some scams will involve uniforms, work clothing and marked business vehicles.
• Do not get caught off guard when being approached by strangers. Do not open your door. Speak to them from behind it utilizing a peephole or an adjoining window. Once the door is open they will thrust past you and immediately search for their reward. Never intentionally let anyone in your residence or give him or her permission to enter your yard if you do not know him or her. If they claim to be working for a particular company and need access to either, ask them to produce identification and work credentials. Call the business if necessary to verify. If in doubt, call the police.
• The main focus in residential scams is to gain entry into your residence. They usually use prefabricated lies and distractions. The following is a list of the more often used ploys:
• They may pose as termite exterminators working in the area and request to inspect either the interior or exterior of your residence. If they choose the exterior first, they will eventually work around to requesting entrance into your home. Frequently they will work in “teams”, with one subject making contact with you and then luring you into the back yard enabling a “team member” access to the home through the unlocked front door.
• They may pose as City utilities personnel working in the area and request entrance into your residence to check the water pressure.
• They may pose as members of a roofing company or repair crew that recently did work on your roof or installed a new one. They generally will let a short period of time lapse and then request entrance into your home to inspect for leaks.
• If you have an older vehicle on your property, they may boldly advise that they saw your advertisement in the local paper or magazine and are there to inspect it. Being that you did not have such an advertisement, they may catch you unaware and request that they enter your home to discuss it. The same scenario can be utilized for anything labeled for sale on or in front of your property.
• They may approach you and boldly advise you that they were former neighbors of yours and that they are in the area and need assistance. Relying on your not wanting to insult them by not remembering them, they may request to use your phone.
• They may request fruit from your trees, especially coconuts and mangos and request access to your yard.
• They may advise that they are working on lawns in the area and noticed that your hedge, bushes or trees appear to need trimming. They will request to enter your property to further inspect.
• When parked in a parking lot at the mall, grocery store or any retail establishment, they may approach you and offer quick repair to small dents on your vehicle. This will then give them access to the interior of your vehicle where your purse or items of value are located. They may even ask you to drive around to another location a short distance away to perform this work.
• They may pose as inspectors or repairmen from your local gas company and advise you that they need to check the interior of your home for gas leaks.
• When out and about, especially shopping they may observe you having problems such as loading your car and offer to help. Once they befriend you, they will eventually work themselves into being invited to your residence.
• They may approach you and boldly advise that they are there to rent a room. Even though you may not be renting, they will request to enter you residence in order to discuss it.
• This newest scam was detected on June 18, 2003

They will contact you through telemarketing and offer to environmentally test your residence. They claim to be affiliated with Florida, Power, & Light. If you agree, they will visit you a few days later and request entrance. They are not affiliated with Florida, Power, & Light and they also have no business license. One of the names used is Energy Conservation Services.

In this incident when the male culprit arrived, he had a company identification card with a photo displayed from his neck and wore a shirt with the company name. Also wore a pouch with tools around his waist but traveled in a newer model white Infiniti with no business signs and a Fraternal Order of Police medallion attached to his license plate. Luckily the potential victim was wary and asked the culprit to produce a business card. When he could not, the culprit became agitated and words were exchanged. This resulted in the victim immediately taking photographs of the culprit and the car with its tag. He then phoned the police. GOOD JOB!

Captain Ralph Nelson
District I Shift III

On July 10, 2003, PSA Miriam Delgado were monitoring her radio when a BOLO went out over all channels for an auto theft that had just occurred at the Shell Gas Station, 1800 North Federal Highway. Hearing the description of the vehicle, she began looking for it along East Sunrise Boulevard.

At the intersection of East Sunrise Boulevard and NE 7th Avenue, she observed a white BMW 325i drive by her westbound on East Sunrise Boulevard, which fit the description of the stolen vehicle. She immediately advised dispatch of the location and direction they were traveling.

PSA Delgado made sure to keep a safe distance behind the target vehicle so that she would not alarm the suspect fearing he would flee. In the unit block of West Sunrise Boulevard, the suspect noticed PSA Delgado following him. He immediately turned right onto NW 3rd Avenue right into the dead end, made a u-turn, and came back out onto West Sunrise Boulevard where the Fox units were able to take over.

Due to her professionalism and calm demeanor, PSA Delgado was able to direct units to the target vehicle’s location without delay. The suspect was taken into custody after a brief foot chase. The victim’s vehicle was recovered undamaged. She was commended for a job well done!

PSA Delgado joined the police department as a public safety aide this past year. She is currently working in District 3 / Shift 1. She was recognized for her actions in a shift level commendation.

District II, Shift I
By Captain Lee Spector

By far, the most frequent crime the Officers of District Two, Shift One respond to are vehicle burglaries. More than 50% of all Part 1 crimes attributed to the shift are vehicle burglaries. This is an astounding percentage for a crime that can be easily deterred if citizens take a moment and apply the appropriate caution in protecting their vehicles. The next time you leave your car, whether it is in the driveway of your home, Holiday Park, a restaurant or the local grocery store’s parking lot, consider taking these precautions. They may save you the time and headache of being victimized, repairing damage to your car and calling your insurance company and credit card agencies to report the loss.

• Always lock your car when you leave it, even if you are only leaving it for a few minutes. Check the trunk and make sure it is locked too.
• Close all the windows tight. It is easy to fit a lock pick through the smallest opening so make it as difficult as possible for the crooks.
• Never, ever leave your car running and unattended!
• Remember to take your keys with you. Do not leave a set of keys, even if they do not belong to the car, visible anywhere within the car.
• If you are parking in a public lot and it is at night, park in a well-lit area, preferably near a streetlight. Criminals hate to be seen committing crimes!
• Do not park in a space where the view of your vehicle is going to be obstructed by larger vehicles. When your vehicle cannot be seen, criminals will take advantage.
• Remove all your visible valuables. This includes purses, laptop computers, cell phones, packages, CD’s and DVD’s, backpacks, portable video games, and even spare change! If the car has a trunk, put the valuables in there, out of sight, and remember to lock the trunk.
• Attach lug locks to those fancy after-market wheels you purchased!
• If you have a steering wheel lock, use it! History and statistics have proven it is a great deterrent.
• When leaving your car, activate its alarm system. The noise of its activation brings undue attention to the criminal’s activity.

If you take these easy precautions, you should never have to call the police department to report your car being burglarized.

DISTRICT II/SHIFT II
Captain Steve Kinsey

During July, District 2/Shift 3 continued to focus a majority of its proactive resources on the five ongoing Action Plans that are in place in our district. The five action plans are as follows:

• Sunrise Boulevard
• Middle River Terrace
• South Middle River Terrace
• Flagler Heights
• NW 6th Street

Every day during our shift, Patrol Officers are assigned to these areas and, when not handling calls for service, are directed to be proactive in utilizing many problem-solving techniques. These include:

• Bicycle Registration Stops
• Motor Vehicle stops and citations
• Bicycle Seizures
• F.I. (Field Interrogation) Stops
• Narcotics Dog stops/seizures

By using these methods of proactive patrolling, these committed officers are ensuring that they identify and apprehend offenders and violators of the applicable statutes/ordinances. Although these officers and PSA’s handle the highest volume of calls in the City, they continue to excel in providing proactive patrol and community policing strategies throughout your neighborhoods.

I strongly encourage you to call me with any concerns/questions/or issues you or your Homeowners Association wish to discuss. I can be reached at (954) 828-5703 or at SteveKI@fortlauderdale.gov.

Major Sharon Andersen
District III

On Tuesday, June 17, 2003, an armed robbery occurred at the Wachovia Bank, 1100 State Road 84. The robbery suspect fired several shots upon entering the bank and also fired two shots at a witness outside of the bank while attempting to flee. An alert tone and a BOLO were broadcast.

Upon hearing the broadcast, SID Detectives Todd Bunin, Todd Hill, Robert Norvis and Officers Frank DelRio, Ian Sandman and Jerry Williams immediately responded to the area and spotted the suspect as he ran through an adjacent neighborhood. A short foot chase ensued and after a minor struggle with the suspect, he was apprehended still armed with a 25-caliber handgun. A search incident to arrest led to the recovery of the money that had been taken in the robbery.

Their attention to duty and effective police procedures led to the apprehension of a dangerous felon. 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.

New Employees	Anniversaries	Transfers
Recognition
Officer Mark Renner was the recipient of the Officer of the Month Award for June Sue Sheehan 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.