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Want to see how quickly thieves can take valuables from your vehicle? Click on this link for a public safety announcement to prevent vehicle burglaries this holiday season.
- Asst Chief Bill LePere
The Bloodnet Blood Mobile was at Lakeland PD on Monday for one of our periodic blood drives. There is generally a blood shortage during the holiday season, so we are happy to roll up our sleeves and donate.
Two LPD officers have gone above and beyond the call of duty, posing for the 2008 Bloodnet calendar and urging all of us to donate blood.
Detectives Richard Rose and Ed Mingus are also members of the LPD Hostage Negotiations Team, shown below posing in their HNT uniforms for the calendar shoot.
Our thanks to Richard and Ed for agreeing to help with this community effort - a couple of tough guys who aren't afraid of a needle and more than willing to roll up their sleeves.
- Asst Chief Bill LePere
Assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) started their onsite assessment of the police department on Sunday during the first day of their visit to Lakeland PD. The visiting team of assessors includes Team Leader Mr. Daniel Bruno from the Gwinnett County (GA) Police Department, Ms. Portia Swinson from the Georgetown University Department of Public Safety (Washington, D.C.), and Mr. Jack O'Donnell from the West Des Moines (IA) Police Department.
The first day of work for the assessors included a tour of the police station and a static display of special operations equipment and patrol units. Photos below are from the static display.
A reminder that employees and members of the public are invited to phone the assessors on Monday afternoon from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM at 863-834-8996 to comment on the police department's compliance with accreditation standards or visit the public hearing Monday evening, beginning at 7:00 PM at the police station. Learn more here.
We will post more on the assessment process throughout this week. In the mean time, we welcome the assessors and hope they enjoy their visit to Lakeland PD.
- Asst Chief Bill LePere
Here is the weekly crime map of significant events for the period of Crime Map - 11/26 to 12/02.
Our thanks to Chuck at LakelandLocal.com for producing the map.
- Asst Chief Bill LePere
Lakeland's annual Christmas parade was held Thursday night through the downtown and Lake Mirror neighborhoods. An estimated 30,000 people lined the streets to watch the many floats and bands in the festive parade.
The Lakeland Police Color Guard once again led the parade, including Officer Sheryl Jett, Officer Tye Thompson, Officer Ed Jett, Officer Will Long, and Sgt. Felicia Caldwell-Wilson.
The parade is always a fun time for the entire community, and it certainly helps kick off the holiday season in Lakeland.
While those who attended the parade know what it looked like from the sidewalks, I thought it might be interesting to show you what the parade looked like from someone who was in it - showing you what you looked like on the sidelines.
And so, here is a collection of photos from tonight's Christmas parade.
Season's Greetings to everyone from the Lakeland Police Department.
- Asst Chief Bill LePere
The Lakeland Police Department visited the offices of Thorpe Heating and Cooling Tuesday morning to thank three employees of that company for their recent citizen involvement as witnesses to a hit and run accident.
Employees Larry Arthur, Danny Newman, and Eric Powell recently witnessed a hit and run accident on US 98 North, which resulted in minor injuries and severe damage to a victim's car. The suspect fled the scene in his vehicle with the witnesses following him to the Home Depot where he abandoned his truck and ran. The witnesses gave chase on foot and detained the suspect until officers arrived.
We are fortunate to have people like these gentlemen who believe in doing the right thing. For their willingness to get involved when it was just as easy to look the other way and do nothing to help an innocent victim, the Lakeland Police Department presented Citizen Recognition Awards to Larry, Danny, and Eric today with our sincere thanks for making a difference in our community. Congratulations and thanks again guys!
- Asst Chief Bill LePere
Lakeland Parks and Recreation presents the 27th annual Snowfest this Saturday, December 8, 2007, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Lake Mirror Park. A new snow slide will be available this year, along with a snow mountain, children's entertainment, food vendors, and arts & crafts vendors. In other words, lots of fun for the family!
This holiday tradition is sponsored by Central Florida Eurocars and City of Lakeland Parks and Recreation. Hope to see you there.
- Asst Chief Bill LePere
The Lakeland community lost a dedicated public servant last week when Lakeland Police Detective Brian Shinn died unexpectedly while getting ready for work Monday morning. Members of the Lakeland Police Department lost a friend and co-worker. Brian's funeral service was held this past Friday, and so in memory of his life we are posting the comments made by Chief Boatner during the service. Our thoughts and prayers go to his family at this difficult time.
There are special people that God brings into our lives to bless us, even if only for a season. They are seldom the people that we think they would be, more than likely not the persons we would select; nonetheless, the right choice, the right person, in the right season.
It is clearly evident from last night’s gathering of family and friends, as well as this afternoon’s, that Brian was that special person for many. Quiet, unassuming, yet mischievous, more than willing to give of himself for others, yet not beyond scheming the best prank in the Detective Bureau, or at least as I am told.
While I didn’t get in on the pranks, I had the good fortune of riding on the elevator with Brian. An elevator seems like an unremarkable place to get know someone better, but I was blessed by the experience of riding with Brian. When I asked how he was doing, it was always “Good.” When I asked, “How is your family,” Brian would raise his eyebrows, then get what must be a Shinn family trademark twinkle in his eyes, and tell me how well Jeremy was doing with his music or how much everyone enjoyed the vacation out west to visit the sites and old friends. There was no doubt that the most important persons in Brian’s life were Tana and family. I thank you, Tana for sharing Brian with us.
There is no doubt as well that Brian touched the lives of his colleagues and friends at the Lakeland Police Department in a very special way. I have heard a number of statements this week describing Brian; the most frequent has been that Brian was a “really good guy.”
To many that may seem to be a common description, but I trust that those of you who are NOT members of the law enforcement profession, will remember that we do not encounter a lot of “really good guys.” Our world view leans much more towards the opposite. A “good guy” is one of the highest forms of praise that can be registered for a police officer and, in Brian’s case, exceptionally well-deserved and earned.
Brian was a trusted friend to those with whom he worked. He was an excellent teammate, always willing to help out with other’s investigations anytime, always willing to be there for them. He demonstrated that he cared and was going to do his part and then some. The loss that the Department feels, in particular, those close friends and members of the Detective Bureau, are deepened because of the quality of friend and partner that Brian is and will be remembered as.
Brian was not the man that he became because he was a police officer. Those qualities, that character, those values, are not taught at any police academy. They are developed and honed by family, friends and faith.
I know that Brian was long-time member of First United Methodist Church. Further, I understand that he was very active as a young man in the church and has remained actively involved with the choir, the hand bell choir and the youth ministry. Brian was the police officer that he was because of the man that he became.
I had the opportunity to sit in on a “pre-trial interview” with Brian for a pending cold-case homicide prosecution that Retired Detective Franson and Brian had brought to fruition. As I listened to Brain conduct the interview, it came to me that by the manner in which he undertook the questioning; the patience, the understanding of the witnesses’ reluctance, the compassion he displayed, that he “got it.” Brian had the “big picture!” This thing that we call law enforcement is about people; good or bad, victim or culprit, it is about people and how we care for people that we encounter; that truth and fairness will prevail when we care. Brian turned reluctance to success before my very eyes that night and I was blessed by the experience of his caring attitude. Brian was that special person for me that evening.
I am sometimes asked what qualities make a person a good police officer; my response has been love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In the future, I believe that I will summarize this by simply saying “the qualities of Detective Brian Shinn.”
May the fruits of Brian’s spirit never be forgotten.
- Chief of Police Roger Boatner
Here is the weekly crime map of significant events for the period of Crime Map - 11/19 to 11/25.
Our thanks to Chuck at LakelandLocal.com for producing the map.
- Asst Chief Bill LePere
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