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POLICE CAR/PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

February 1, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating a traffic accident involving a marked police vehicle and a pedestrian.

At 10:14 PM, Wednesday, January 31, 2001, Officer Mark Lenihan was driving northbound in the 500 block of North Federal Highway when William Thomas Bell ran into the path of his marked patrol car. Bell was crossing the highway from the west to the east and had already crossed the southbound lanes when he ran from the median into the northbound lanes. The area is lit with streetlights, however, trees in the median obscured Lenihan’s view of Bell until he was in the roadway in front of the car. Officer Lenihan braked to avoid a collision, but was unable to stop. The right front of the patrol car struck Bell in the legs. Bell slid across the hood of the car and impacted the windshield.

Officer Lenihan was on routine patrol returning to his zone when the accident occurred. There in no evidence of speeding or any other improper driving by the officer. The impact was at a relatively low speed resulting in serious, but non-life threatening injuries to Bell.

Bell was transported to Broward General Medical Center. Tests revealed Bell has no life threatening injuries, but received fractures to both legs and other possible lower extremity injuries. Surgery was performed Thursday morning to repair one leg and Bell is currently recovering in surgical intensive care.

Officer Lenihan was not injured in the accident.

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POLICE AWARDS BANQUET

February 6, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 31 in co-operation with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be holding its annual Awards Banquet on Friday February 9, 2001, 8:00 p.m. at the Marriott Harbor Beach, 3030 Holiday Drive, Fort Lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale Police Officers who have been chosen as Officers of the Month will be honored along with the naming of the Officer of the Year for 2000.

This year will also be very special as Detective Paul Allen, Officer Sam Bryant and Officer Robert Norvis will be receiving the Fort Lauderdale Police Medal of Honor, and Officer John Curry will be receiving the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Medal of Valor.

All members of the media are invited to attend, but must RSVP to myself, Detective Mike Reed at (954) 828-5464 so that ample seating and space will be available.

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TRAFFIC CHECKPOINT

February 9, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be conducting a traffic checkpoint/lane squeeze on Friday February 16 2001, in the 900 Block of South Federal Highway.

Officers will be out from 8:00 p.m. to midnight checking drivers’ licenses, proper vehicle paperwork and equipment violations.

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GUNLOCK RECALL

February 9, 2001

Contact: Alisa Cappuzzell
#954-759-6433

FORT LAUDERDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION AND THE NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCE RECALL TO REPLACE PROJECT HOMESAFE GUNLOCKS

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The Fort Lauderdale Police Department in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) announces the voluntary recall of about 400,000 gunlocks for replacement. Under certain conditions, these locks can open without the use of a key. This can give unauthorized access to a firearm.

The NSSF and its lock supplier, Adstar Inc., of Merrick, N.Y., are unaware of any instances of unauthorized access by adults or children.

The locks resemble a bicycle cable lock and have a red cable with a black padlock. Red vinyl bands around the top and bottom of the locks read, “PROJECT” and “HOMESAFE.” “MADE IN CHINA” and “30mm” are imprinted on the bottom of the locks. The gunlocks were distributed in clear plastic cylinders with Project HomeSafe literature. The gunlocks were distributed nationwide by NSSF as part of its Project HomeSafe Campaign for safe firearm storage. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department distributed over 4,000 gunlocks free of charge from May 2000 through October 2000.

Recipients of the Project HomeSafe gunlocks should call (800) 726-6444 anytime to receive a free replacement gunlock.

Until the replacement gunlock is received, keep the original Project HomeSafe lock installed on the firearm. Consumers are reminded to never put a gunlock on a loaded gun, and to take extra precautions to make sure the gun is secure to keep kids safe.

The replacement lock has an improved locking mechanism and a thicker braided-steel cable. With the announcement of this replacement lock program, NSSF is resuming Project HomeSafe.

The NSSF urges consumers to comply with all state and local laws requiring the use of gun locking devices. For more information on the safe handling and storage of firearms, visit the Project HomeSafe website at www.projecthomesafe.org or contact Bill Brassard, NSSF (203) 426-1320.

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MISSING ADULT

February 19, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is attempting to locate a missing adult. Shaunna Rivet, 09-28-82, is eighteen years old but has the mental capacity of an 8-10 year old child. Shaunna was last seen Saturday night at approximately 8:00 p.m. leaving her home in the 1200 block of NE 7 Avenue.

Shaunna is described as a white female, 18 years of age, 5’3”, 140 pounds, brown hair, and brown eyes. Shaunna is also slightly cross-eyed.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Fort Lauderdale Police Department at 828-5700. There is a photo of Shaunna available in the lobby of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department to be copied.

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MISSING ADULT FOUND

February 20, 2001

Eighteen year old Shaunna Rivet, missing since Saturday, February 17th, returned home late last night, Monday, February 19th. Shaunna was in good condition and had been with a friend. Family members of the “friend” had seen Shaunna in the local media and encouraged her to go home.

There does not appear to be any criminal charges pending at this time, and as always thanks to the members of the media for assisting the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and Shaunna’s family in getting her information out to the public.

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FLPD INVITES PUBLIC COMMENTS

February 20, 2001

A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive March 21 to examine all aspects of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief Michael Brasfield announced today. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has to comply with approximately 260 standards in order to receive accredited status.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency members and the general public are invited to offer comments to the assessment team. The public may e-mail the Department or call (954) 828-6051 on March 22, 2001, between the hours of 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CFA standards. A copy of the standards is available through Fort Lauderdale Police Department Public Information Officer in at (954) 828-5464.

For more information regarding CFA or for persons wishing to offer written comments about the Fort Lauderdale Police Department’s ability to meet the standards of accreditation, please write: CFA, 3504 Lake Lynda Drive, Suite 380, Orlando, Florida, 32817.

The Accreditation Program Manager for Fort Lauderdale Police Department is Sergeant James Wright. He said the assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies. The assessors will review written materials; interview individuals; and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed. The CFA Assessment Team Leader is Kim Bogart of the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission. Other team members are Richard I Gaylord, Deland Police Department and Lance Newman, Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to receive accredited status. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department accreditation is for 3 years. Verification by the team that Fort Lauderdale Police Department meets the Commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain or maintain accreditation--a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence, Chief Brasfield said.

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