INSIDE the Lakeland Police Department

Lakeland FY08 Budget Workshop

The City Commission presented a public workshop at City Hall Wednesday night to discuss the impact recent property tax reform will have on upcoming budgets. City Manager Doug Thomas and City Finance Director Greg Finch explained how the new law affects the amount of money Lakeland will receive next year from property taxes. You can get a copy of their presentation here.

Members the audience were allowed time to address the Commissioners and offer comments as well. As LakelandLocal.com's Chuck Welch noted, the general message from the public attending this workshop seemed to be "don't lower our taxes if it means cutting services."

Mrs. Deane Palmer, President of the Neighborhood
Association Coalition addresses the City Commissioners
during the workshop.

Three programs from the Lakeland Police Department were on the list of possible service cuts being considered in order to balance next year's budget. They included:

• $300,000 from the Aviation Unit
• $3,000 from our PAL and DARE programs

These cuts are in addition to the hiring freeze we put in place for civilian positions within the department. Two positions will not be filled at this time to reduce expenses, a Domestic Violence counselor and a Secretary. Operating and maintenance costs in next year's budget will be kept the same as last year - no growth in this area.

We certainly hope the Commissioners find a way to keep funding for the programs being considered for elimination. The Aviation Unit is an important part of how we deliver public safety services to the community. Research shows our "eyes in the skies" are the equivalent of 10 officers on the ground. The helicopter allows us to see things from above that officers cannot possibly see on the ground while helping to keep our officers safe. The proposed elimination of funding would effectively shut down the aviation program and make it too costly to ever see again.

The Lakeland Police Athletic League is a crime prevention program that focuses on giving youth an alternative to crime through athletic programs, after-school tutoring, and more. Sports programs such as football, basketball, baseball, and cheerleading give youth an opportunity for recreational activities and help them make positive choices in their lives. The funding cut being proposed is used to cover supplies. We would need to find another funding source to replace those needed supplies, but the loss would not eliminate PAL which operates as an independent organization.

The Drug Abuse Resistance and Education program (DARE) is a crime prevention program taught by police officers in our local schools. Unlike the School Resource Officer program that is funded to a large degree by the Polk County School Board, DARE officers are completely funded by the City of Lakeland. The proposed elimination of the program would move four police officers back to the streets. DARE (and its accompanying program GREAT - Gang Resistance Education and Training) are offered to all local public and private elementary and middle schools. It is interesting to note that books, t-shirts, and other program supplies are funded through an annual golf tournament sponsored by the School Resource Unit. The City does not have a line-item budget for DARE except the four police officer positions.

We are fortunate that other police officer positions are not being considered for cuts at this time.  While we understand the need to reduce budgets to meet decreased revenues from property tax reform, public safety is one area that we believe cannot be cut. The quality of life within our community depends too much on public safety services.

We are also extremely fortunate to have members of the public who are interested in this matter and willing to spend an evening with their elected officials to discuss the matter of keeping taxes at currently levels in order to retain quality services. Their ongoing support and recognition of the efforts of our department members is appreciated.

-Asst Chief Bill LePere

Lakeland: A Beautiful Community

Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of doing police work, it's good to take a moment and look around at the beauty that is Lakeland.

-Asst Chief Bill LePere

Weekly Crime Stats for July 16 - July 22, 2007

Click the below link to view the Weekly Crime Stats.

Download weekly_crime_report_july_16_july_22_2007.pdf

-Faye Tarpley, Office of the Chief of Police

Weekly Crime Map for July 9 - 15, 2007

Here is the weekly crime map of significant events for the period of Crime Map - 07/09 to 07/15.
Our thanks to Chuck at LakelandLocal.com for producing the map.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Railroad Crossing Safety

Bill Rufty has a good article in Sunday morning's Ledger newspaper on railroad crossing safety. In it he writes about a railroad safety program known as "Operation Life Saver".

"The railroad industry has a major safety program known as "Operation Life Saver," said CSX spokesman Gary Sease. Railroad employees, retired rail employees and railroad clubs speak to school and civic groups and to law enforcement personnel on the dangers of trying to beat trains, especially the fact that it takes up to a mile for a heavily loaded freight train to stop."

In case you are interested in learning more about "Operation Life Saver", here is a link to the Florida program's web site. There you will find some interesting facts about railroad crossing safety. The national site is found here. You will find even more information and educational programs for your use in teaching young drivers about this dangerous hazard.

Please take a moment to discuss this topic with your young drivers - and for that matter everyone young and old so we can avoid anymore tragedies like this past week.

-Asst Chief Bill LePere

When Are Turn Signals Required?

Gabrielle Finley, a police reporter at The Ledger, has a post on her blog - Polk 911 - in which she asks why drivers do not use their turn signals. Good question - cops wonder the same thing - and here is the answer as to when a turn signal is required by law.

Per Florida Statute 316.155 -

316.155  When signal required.--

(1)  No person may turn a vehicle from a direct course upon a highway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety, and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided, in the event any other vehicle may be affected by the movement.

(2)  A signal of intention to turn right or left must be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning, except that such a signal by hand or arm need not be given continuously by a bicyclist if the hand is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle.

(3)  No person may stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle without first giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided herein to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear, when there is opportunity to give such signal.

(4)  The signals provided for in s. 316.156 shall be used to indicate an intention to turn and may not, except as provided in s. 316.2397, be flashed on one side only on a parked or disabled vehicle or flashed as a courtesy or "do pass" signal to operators of other vehicles approaching from the rear.

(5)  A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.

It is a common misperception among drivers that signals are required whenever a driver makes a turn or changes lanes. While it is a good idea to use your turn signal whenever you are making a turn or changing lane, it is only required by statute when the turn or lane change may affect another vehicle.

We strongly encourage all drivers to get into the habit of using their turn signals whenever turning or changing lanes.

As for why drivers do not use signal turns when they are required to do so - well that is one of the great mysteries of the universe for which there may never be a good answer.

-Asst Chief Bill LePere

Weekly Crime Stats for July 9 - July 15, 2007

Click the link below to view our Weekly Crime Stats.

Download weekly_crime_report_july_9_july_15_2007.pdf

-Faye Tarpley, Office of the Chief of Police

Red Light Cameras Making News in Orange County

The use of red light cameras for enforcement purposes in Lakeland is on hold as the legality of their use to issue citations is addressed by the Florida Legislature. Other communities in Florida continue to make news by issuing citations or local fines from the cameras.

Here is a link to a story out of Orange County by Local6.com out about a threatened lawsuit over the cameras use to issue citations.

An activist group is considering filing a lawsuit against the cities of Orlando, Apopka and even Orange County over red-light cameras on roads.

The Florida Civil Rights Association said red-light cameras that photograph and ticket drivers who ignore the signals are unconstitutional.An activist group is considering filing a lawsuit against the cities of Orlando, Apopka and even Orange County over red-light cameras on roads.

-Asst Chief Bill LePere

Weekly Crime Map for July 2 - 8

Here is the weekly crime map of significant events for the period of Crime Map - 07/02 to 07/08.
Our thanks to Chuck at LakelandLocal.com for producing the map.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Field Training Officers: Building Our Future Department Today

One of the most critical elements to the success of our police department is the training and indoctrination to our standards of ethics and excellence that new officers or public safety aides receive when they enter the field training program. A positive outcome in this area is predicated on the skills and commitment of our Field Training Officers.

Lakeland PD concluded a week-long FTO school on Friday that was designed to bring our training officers together (both new and old) to discuss methods of training, standards of excellence, and to brainstorm how to get the most valuable learning out of a new officer's time in training. Over 20 of our trainers, both police officers and public safety aides, participated in the training that focused on each trainer's responsibility to the community, the department, and the new officers/aides.

Led by Lt. Joe Henson, the school included classroom instruction, a visit by a U.S. Marine Corp Sergeant to discuss importance of leadership, a baseball coach to talk about teamwork, and break-out sessions to problem solve challenging scenarios that training officers face on a daily basis. Sgt. Chuck Nissen, Sgt. Ed Cain, and others helped with the training sessions over the past five days. Lt. Sammy Taylor is the overall coordinator of the FTO program.

While trying not to sensationalize the matter, it cannot be over-emphasized how important our training officers are to our success. We are most appreciative of their willingness to take on the additional responsibilities that comes with being a training officer. The extra work associated with training new employees can be both stressful and rewarding - here's to their devotion to building our future department by preparing today's recruits through our Field Training Program.

-Asst Chief Bill LePere