INSIDE the Lakeland Police Department

Looking At The Cost of Crime

LakelandPD gave a presentation this morning to the City Commission regarding the cost of crime, specifically the business cost to crime calls and the amount of resources needed to investigate reported crime. Titled "Looking At the Cost of Crime", our message was how we can lower our business costs, particularly in the area of burglaries, if the public would just practice some common sense and basic crime prevention strategies.

You're heard it here before - Lock It or Lose It in other words.

Half of our vehicle burglaries occur to unlocked vehicles and nearly all involve valuables left in plain sight in the passenger compartment. Nearly 500 people could have avoided being a car burglary victim last year if they locked their car and put their valuables in the trunk.

I won't steal the thunder from the presentation that can be downloaded from the link above, including the PowerPoint slides and the prepared commentary for the Commissioners. We are once again asking everyone to remind their family and friends just how important it is to Lock It or Lose It before you become a crime victim and experience the cost of crime from a victim's perspective as well as from a business cost point of view.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Apply for 2010 Citizens Police Academy

We are now accepting applications for the 2010 Citizens Police Academy that starts on August 19 and graduates November 18. This year's academy will be on Thursday evenings from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM at the police station. Visit our CPA website for more information.

To apply, complete a 2010 CPA application and mail it to the address listed on the application.

Class size is limited to approximately 50, so we encourage you to apply early.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

And the Winner Is...

LakelandPD celebrated the exceptional service of our members in 2009 during our annual awards presentation last night. Recognized for their actions included members receiving Meritorious Service Awards and Lifesaving Awards, as well as naming the Officer of the Year, Detective of the Year, and Civilian of the Year.

Officer of the Year went to Officer Mark Eby for his courage during an encounter with an armed subject threatening suicide. Officer Eby was forced to give up his location of cover and approach the armed subject on foot who deliberately aimed a shotgun at him. The personal courage required to face such imminent danger is part of what makes Mark such a respected member of our organization. We applaud his willingness to expose himself to a lethal threat in order to keep our community safe.

Detective of the Year went to Detective Jim O'Neill with our Criminal Investigations Section. Det. O'Neill works frauds for us and is known as someone who will take a single case and follow all available leads to the point that he often ends up with multiple new cases that spin off from the original crime. Jim was recognized for a case where the suspect not only defrauded a local bank using a stolen credit card but subsequent investigative efforts revealed the same suspect, originally from California, used the stolen card in Gainesville, Jacksonville, and St. Petersburg. The investigation did not stop there. Additional evidence showed the card was also used in New Hampshire and New York. The total take was estimated to be $37,000. Tenacity and attention to details, including two latent fingerprints lifted from a fraudulent receipt in New York, helped bring this case to a successful conclusion.

Civilian of the Year recognition went to two Crime Prevention Practitioners in our Community Services Unit. CPP Anna Ricks and CPP Cindy Sharp were named Co-Civilians of the Year for their tireless efforts to conduct crime prevention programs throughout the community. In addition to working with local Neighborhood Watch Groups, Ms. Ricks and Ms. Sharp were involved in planning and conducting such events as National Night Out, Citizens Police Academy, Cops for Kids Christmas program, LPD Open House, Back to School Bash, Red Ribbon Week, and the Amscot Bike Helmet giveaway just to name a few. These dedicated professionals work hard to demonstrate that "by working together we can make a difference."

We could not be more proud of our department if we wanted to be. It is indeed an honor to attend these award ceremonies and listen to the cases for which we bestow awards. This is not to suggest that other acts of courage, dedication, and commitment do not occur everyday here, but these are truly the cream of the crop. Our congratulations to the award winners.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Lakeland Police Claim First Place at International SWAT Competition

It is with great pride that we announce LakelandPD has once again claimed top honors at the International SWAT Roundup completed last week in Orlando. Lakeland's team came from behind on the final day to take first place by one point over the team from Alachua County SO. A total of 52 teams from agencies across the state, the US, and from other countries participated in the annual Roundup. Final standings show just how close the top teams were to each other.

A video of the final event, the obstacle course, is available on YouTube. It shows many of teams as they struggle with the challenging "O-Course" and the physical demands required to not only excel in this event but just to finish it. It's a great video to watch.

We are exceptionally proud of the team's accomplishement along with their dedication and commitment to train throughout the year so they can represent our agency in this international competition. Training for the Roundup and practicing the skills necessary to win there also helps prepare our team to win in the real world when called up to handle dangerous tactical situations.

Job well done guys!

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Celebrating 16 Years of Filling Playgrounds, Not Prisons

Lakeland PAL, the Police Athletic League, this evening celebrated 16 years of service to the youth in our community during their annual dinner at Tigertown. PAL's mission to fill playgrounds, not prisons, is achieved through athletic and academic programs that focus on providing opportunities for youth to engage in wholesome activities rather than less desirable ones.

The keynote speaker for this evening's dinner was retired four star general Lloyd "Fig" Newton from the United States Air Force. General Newton told the audience his story of being a young child from the small town of Ridgeland, South Carolina, and becoming the first member of his family to attend college. He went on to serve our nation as a pilot in the Air Force and eventually became a member of the distinguished Air Force Thunderbirds. General Newton noted how comfortable he was addressing the audience in a hangar where pilots from Great Britain and the United States trained during World War II.

General Newton had a message for the PAL kids in attendance - to dream of what you want to do and accomplish in life and then set specific goals, in fact to write them down, in order to achieve your dreams. He reminded the kids that goals require hard work and dedication if we want to achieve them.

Chief of Police Roger Boatner thanked the many PAL staff members and volunteers who make our program such a success and gave recognition to the Lakeland City Commission who continues to provide funding so Lakeland PAL can carry on serving the youth in our community.

PAL's athletic programs include football, basketball, track and field, baseball, and cheerleading. Academic programs, such as after school tutoring at Simpson Park help students excel in school, while the Youth Directors leadership program shows aspiring leaders the importance of giving service back to one's community.

Congratulations to Lakeland PAL for 16 outstanding years of service and thank you for your commitment to the youth of Lakeland.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

CPA on the Shooting Range

One of the highlights for participants in the annual Citizens Police Academy is the Saturday morning session at the LPD Training Center where they visit with some of our Special Operations equipment, watch a K-9 demonstration, and get to shoot a police handgun. The 2009 CPA got to experience the thrill of training on the firing range this past Saturday.

   

Under the watchful eye of our Rangemaster, Officer Mark Patterson (center photo above), the class "sent some lead down range" toward paper training targets. For some members of the class, this was the first time they have ever shot a weapon. I am told a few of the classmates are pretty good shots!

More important than simply being able to fire a handgun, the class learned first-hand what officers go through with our ongoing firearms training and the skills required to maintain proficiency with our weapons.

The year's Citizens Police Academy is scheduled to graduate on November 19th.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere
 
 
 
 

LakelandPD Celebrates Two Well-Deserved Retirements

We celebrated a couple of well-deserved retirements late last week as two of our long-tenured members retired from our department.

Captain Tom Day ended his 32-year career with LakelandPD with a celebration event on Thursday, and Ms. Connie Bowman retired on Friday with over 30 years of service to our community.

      

As for Captain Day, he was well known in Lakeland for his commitment to physical fitness and competitions. Tom was the driving force behind our highly successful Police Olympics teams and our running teams in annual events like the Corporate Cup Run. He also had a special place in his heart for the Olympians of the Special Olympics as he coordinated our annual Torch Run. Tom served in every bureau of our department, with his last assignment being as a Patrol Captain and SWAT Commander, having been a former SWAT and K-9 Officer. He plans to continue his drive for physical fitness by participating in a couple of international triathlons. We wish him well.

Ms. Bowman was one of those members whose work behind the scenes as an Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Chiefs helped keep our department moving. She was my assistant for six wonderful years, through which she kept me on time and on task. Her 30-year career started in our Records Section, but Ms. Bowman worked as an Assistant to many of our former Assistant Chiefs over the years. I first met Ms. Bowman when I applied to become an Auxiliary Police Officer in 1980, never realizing that one day I would have the privilege of working so closely with her. Rumor has it she will be taking extras trips to the beach now to get some of that wonderful Florida sand in between her toes!

Both of these retirees will remain part of our extended LPD family. We wish them well in their retirements and look forward to many return visits to the police station whenever they want ot come back and see old friends.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

LakelandPD Awarded Florida Crime Prevention Unit of the Year

One of the services we strive to provide our community is the prevention of crime long before it happens. Crime Prevention programs have been around for many years as police departments worked to educate the community on ways to prevent home burglaries, keep our children safe from strangers, or women safe from sexual assault.

And so it is with great pleasure that announce LakelandPD's Community Services Unit was awarded the Crime Prevention Unit of the Year distinction by the Florida Crime Prevention Association.

LPD Community Services Unit 

Our unit's members, including Supervisor Dr. Greg Robinson, Mr. George Butler, Ms. Cynthia Clifford, Ms. Anna Ricks, and Ms. Cindy Sharp, received the award at the Association's annual meeting last week. All of the members are Certified Crime Prevention Practitioners as designated by the Florida Attorney General's Office.

To be recognized by your peers for ongoing excellence in efforts to prevent crime and raise awareness in our community that crime prevention is everyone's responsibility is a tremendous honor. We salute our Community Services Unit for this distinction.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Lakeland PAL Runners Qualify for National AAU Meet

Catching up on some bits of news from around LPD and wanted to share the good news from our PAL program. Four of our young runners from the PAL track team qualified for the AAU Junior Olympics next month in Iowa!

You can read the online article from The Ledger here.

PAL's vision is to fill playgrounds rather than prisons by providing athletic and educational opportunities for youth to enjoy. The staff of PAL, including a large number of volunteers from the community, are responsible for the program's success by ensuring our youth have a diverse array of sports programs and educational tutoring to help them succeed in life. We are grateful for the many volunteer hours provided by the community.

Congratulations to the runners and good luck with your upcoming track meet.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

School Resource Unit Annual Golf Classic

We would like to take this opportunity to invite you participate in the Lakeland Police Department's annual School Resource Unit Golf Classic. The event will be held at Grasslands Golf & Country Club on Friday, August 7, 2009. Registration is from 7:30 - 8:15 AM, with a shotgun start at 8:30 AM.

A buffet luncheon will be served following play. Awards for first place gross, first, second, and third net teams, closest to the pin and longest drive will be awarded.

Funds raised from this golf event go directly to help support our "Do The Right Thing" program, which is designed to honor children in our community who distinguish themselves through their accomplishments, attitude, or outstanding efforts.

Sponsorships are also still available should your company or organization want to make a donation in that manner. More information regarding sponsorships can be found in the attached golf brochure.

To register or for more information, contact by phone or e-mail:

Officer Wayne Skinner at 863-397-4377

Officer Jimmy Mock at 863-221-7331

- Asst Chief Bill LePere