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PROMOTION AND REORGANIZATION

March 5, 2004

On March 7, 2004, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department will bid farewell to Assistant Chief Charles Drago, Commander of the Operations Bureau. Chief Drago has accepted the position of Chief of Police for the City of Oviedo, Florida and is retiring after 29 years of service with the Department. During his tenure with the Department, he served in various assignments including Criminal Investigations, Special Investigations, Forensics and the Community Support Division.

During his career, Chief Drago received 44 public commendations and 20 Department commendations. His active leadership role with our Department as well as his service to the community is renown and he will be missed.

Major Sharon Anderson, the former District III Patrol Commander, has been promoted to the position of Assistant Chief of the Department’s Support Services Bureau. Chief Anderson, with a Masters Degree in Public Administration, will be one of three Bureau Chiefs with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the highest-ranking female officer in the history of the Department. Her areas of responsibility will include supervision of Information Systems, Crime Analysis, Records, Evidence, Training, Background Investigations and the Legal Unit.

Assistant Chief Al Ortenzo, Commander of the Investigative Bureau will replace (retiring) Chief Drago and Assistant Chief Jim Hurley, currently in charge of the Support Services Bureau, will assume command of the Investigative Bureau, which includes both the Criminal Investigations and Special Investigations Divisions. Major Bob Pusins of the Community Support Division will serve as Commander of Fort Lauderdale’s District III.

Access this link to obtain digital images Meet the Staff

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HOMICIDE

March 9, 2004

Fort Lauderdale – On March 9, 2004, the Fort Lauderdale Police and Fire Rescue units were called to 1220 Southwest 28th Street concerning a man that was not breathing. When Fire Rescue arrived they found 41-year-old Marco V. Zuleta dead in the home.

Fort Lauderdale Police Officers secured the scene and the Department’s Homicide and Crime Scene Investigations Units initiated an inquiry. Investigators are not releasing the specifics of the injuries suffered by Zuleta, only saying that he sustained a severe trauma to the upper portion of his body. He had been out celebrating with friends the night before, and was last seen at about 4:00 AM.

Detectives are investigating this incident as a homicide, and ask that anyone with information contact the FLPD Criminal Investigations Hotline at (954) 828-5511, Detective Carbo (954) 828-6014, Detective Jenkins (954) 828-5263, or Broward CrimeStoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.

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HOMICIDE

March 12, 2004

Near the time of 10:30 p.m. last night, 69-year-old Eugene Wilson was shot and killed as he was leaving the home of a friend at 611 E. Dayton Circle. Investigators believe that robbery was the motive for the attack.

It is believed that two males attacked Eugene Wilson as he was getting into his SUV that was parked in the driveway of 611 E. Dayton Circle. His car was a fully loaded and customized 2001 GMC Yukon, which may have been the target of the robbery. The occupant of the home heard a commotion outside and then gunshots. When the witness went outside they saw one male running and another getting off the ground where Wilson laid. It appeared that there might have been a struggle between the suspect and Wilson. The second suspect fled the scene leaving behind a black leather cap and what appears to be a German 9mm P38 Lugar.

Investigators do not have much to release in the way of a description of the suspects in this shooting. But, the gun used in this homicide is very unusual. We will release an image of the weapon and make it available to be photographed by media groups at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. If anyone has any information concerning this homicide they are asked to call FLPD at (954) 828-5511 or Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.

VICTIM: Eugene Wilson DOB: 09/11/1934---- Resident of Miramar

SUSPECTS: Two young black males who appeared to be in their late teens or early 20’s. One was wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants and the other was wearing A dark T-shirt and dark shorts.

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BANK ROBBERY

March 19, 2004

At approximately 11:00 a.m. today there was a robbery of the Bank of America at 901 SE 17 St. in Fort Lauderdale. The robber passed a demand note to one of the bank tellers and made off with an undisclosed amount of money.

The bank robber was described as a white male with blonde hair who appeared to be in his 20’s. He was thought to be 5’6” in height, thin build and was wearing a blue shirt. After taking the money, the culprit fled on foot east from the bank along SE 17 St.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is releasing images of the suspect. If anyone has information concerning this case they are asked to call Detective Richard Rodriguez at (954) 828-6020 or Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.

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BANK ROBBERY

March 24, 2004

Fort Lauderdale – Detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a bank robbery suspect. The robbery occurred at the Bank of America branch, located at 4012 N. Ocean Boulevard, at about 12:50 PM on Wednesday March 24, 2004.

The culprit waited patiently, and presented a note to the teller demanding money. The teller complied with the robber’s demands, handing him an undisclosed amount of cash. The thief was last seen traveling south from the branch on foot.

The culprit is described as a white male 5’09” - 5’10” medium build. He was last seen wearing a white long sleeved shirt, and a baseball cap.

Detectives ask that anyone with information contact the FLPD Criminal Investigations Hotline at (954) 828-5511, Detective Barrett (954) 828-6557, Detective McGowan (954) 828-6329, or Broward CrimeStoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.

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SUICIDE

March 24, 2004

Fort Lauderdale – Officers responded to 1440 NW 3rd Court, after receiving a 911 call of a man standing in front of this home armed with a gun. When officers arrived, they found 56 year old Glendell Savage (02/01/48) standing in the roadway with a loaded revolver at his side.

Officers quickly took cover behind their vehicles and attempted to talk Savage into putting down his weapon. Throughout the short negotiations, Savage was uncommunicative with the officers. They continued to appeal to him, asking that he allow them to help with his situation. After a few minutes, Savage fired his weapon, shooting himself in the head.

Fire Rescue personnel responded to the scene and provided medical care to Savage, but he died on the scene.

Officers fired no shots, and no other injuries occurred. Several people observed the shooting, and gave statements to detectives who are investigating this suicide.

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JEWELRY ROBBERY

March 31, 2004

Wednesday night, March 31, at approximately 9:30p.m., the Fort Lauderdale Police Department received a 911 call from the victim of an apparent robbery. The victim advised that he was at the Holiday Inn-Express at 1500 S.E. 17 Street and had just been robbed by three subjects in the parking lot.

The victim advised that he and a female co-worker were jewelry manufacturers, visiting south Florida in an attempt to sell their products to jewelry retailers. The victims had just arrived in the hotel parking lot after visiting several area jewelers in Broward and Dade Counties, when a vehicle stopped behind them, blocking them in their parking space.

Two occupants of this vehicle approached the victim’s vehicle, one on each side. One suspect smashed the drivers’ door window, threatening the driver with an unknown metal object to not move. A second subject then smashed the rear passenger-side window. This subject removed two bags from the back seat area of the vehicle; these two subjects, along with a third individual in the suspect vehicle, then fled the area.

There was approximately $225,000.00 worth of miscellaneous jewelry (diamonds, rings, necklaces, earrings, and pendants) in the two bags that were stolen. One victim had minor abrasions on his head and arm from shattered glass.

The suspect vehicle could only be described as a white, 4-door vehicle. Two of the suspects were described as white males, mid 20’s, with medium to dark skin complexion.

Fort Lauderdale Police Department Robbery and Forensic Detectives are conducting the investigation. Any persons with information regarding this incident are encouraged to notify the Fort Lauderdale Police Department by contacting the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Hot Line @ 954-828-5511, Detective Jack Dicristofalo or Broward County Crimestoppers.

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