INSIDE the Lakeland Police Department

Lakeland Police Arrest Three for Armed Robbery of Convenience Store

On January 14, 2011, at 3:21 AM, the Lakeland Police Department responded to a commercial  armed robbery in progress at the 7-11 Store, 290 Lakeland Park Drive. The suspect Jonathan Woods entered the store with a pistol grip shotgun and demanded money from the clerk and a customer. The suspect left the store and entered a vehicle driven by his brother, Jared Woods.

An eyewitness outside of the store followed the vehicle and alerted police to its whereabouts. Within one mile of the store, uniform patrol officers pulled the vehicle over at which time both suspects fled on foot. The suspect, Jonathan Woods was observed discarding the shotgun in a row of bushes. Both suspects were apprehended by LPD Police K-9.

Police discovered two passengers in the vehicle and after questioning, the suspect Jessica Lynn Brooks was also charged with Armed Robbery.

The clerk was not injured in the robbery.

- Sgt. Gary Gross

Read copy of media release.

Do I Stop or Be Careful and Prudent?

One of the nuances coming out of the new law permitting photo enforcement of red light running violations in Florida is the "careful and prudent" standard for right turns on red. A full stop is not required for photo enforcement activities. Drivers may roll through an intersection, provided they are careful and prudent, and will not receive a Notice of Violation from our red light camera program.

However, drivers need to understand careful and prudent only applies to photo enforcement and not when enforced by an officer on scene.

The statute for right turns on red still requires drivers to come to a full stop at the white stop bar before entering the designated crosswalk or the intersection itself. Careful and prudent is not the standard here - coming to a complete stop remains the standard.

Confused? Join the club.

Here is the bottom line - you are always safe if you come to a complete stop before turning right on red. After all, it is still the law in Florida. We will use the new careful and prudent standard for photo enforcement of red light running violations at the five monitored intersections. Officers working traffic in the field will still use discretion during their enforcement efforts, but an officer observing a driver rolling through an intersection may issue a uniform traffic citation for the offense regardless of whether the driver was careful and prudent.

It's best to stop before turning right on red.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Red Light Camera Update

The new state statute authorizing photo enforcement of red light running violations went into effect July 1, 2010. This statute preempts camera enforcement to the state, and thus puts all local programs under statutory guidelines rather than municipal ordinances. We completed our conversion process and started enforcement this week in accordance with F.S.S. 316.083. I thought we would take a moment to highlight some key points of RLC information this weekend.

• All violations occurring prior to July 1 have been reviewed and approved for Notices of Violation to be issued. If you committed a violation in June, you should be receiving your Notice in the mail soon.

• Appeals for violations prior to July 1 will use the process outlined in our municipal ordinance by scheduling a hearing before a Code Hearing Officer. We will utilize that process until all appeals for pre-July 1 violations are completed. Follow the instructions on the back of your Notice should you want to schedule a hearing.

• We started reviewing violations occurring on or after July 1 this week and noted approval of those events that are clear violations. Notices of Violation are in the mail at this time and should be arriving soon.

• Right turns on red are now being enforced under the new "careful and prudent" standard rather than the previous standard of stopping at the white stop bar (or at least significantly slowing down when rolling through the intersection). We fully expect to issue far fewer Notices of Violation for right turn on red violations under the new less stringent standard.

• Remember my earlier comment that photo enforcement was now preempted by the State of Florida? Among other things that means the fine amount is now established by the State rather than the City of Lakeland, and so the Notices contain a higher fine - $158 instead of the previous $125 - in accordance with the statute.

We will check in from time to time and keep the community updated on information related to the new red light camera enforcement procedures, but we continue to encourage everyone to Stop on Red and drive carefully.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

SPCA Recognizes K-9 Officer Bosque

We are celebrating National Be Kind to Animals week May 2 - 8, 2010, as proclaimed by the City Commission during this morning's Commission meeting. As part of the proclamation reading today at City Hall, the SPCA gave special recognition to K-9 Officer Jose Bosque and his family for their kindness to K-9 Bronko. This story is heartwarming to say the least.

K-9 Bronko nearly gave his life during a track of a burglary suspect last year. Bronko fell over 20 feet onto pavement while scaling a wall at Henley Field during a track. He suffered severe spinal injuries that paralyzed his hind legs. Rather than euthanize this wonderful animal, we made the decision to get him the treatment necessary to recover from his significant injuries realizing the prognosis for his recovery was uncertain.

A wonderful veterinary surgeon was able to repair the spine with the belief that over time Bronko might possibly be able to walk again. Officer Bosque, however, had bigger goals for his partner.

Following months of rehabilitation and special care by the entire Bosque family, Bronko has returned to police work as a narcotic detection K-9 and remains certified as a patrol dog. He walks with little evidence of his potentially devastating injury and works beside Officer Bosque daily with an endless desire to do his job - to find hidden drugs.

Words seem to fall short to describe the care, compassion, and kindness given by the entire Bosque family to helping Bronko recover. Even if you know the outstanding dog that Bronko is and his strong drive to work, you cannot help but be amazed that he overcame his injury to return to duty.

Our thanks to SPCA for taking the time to recognize Officer Bosque and his family.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Presidents' Roundtable Public Safety Awards Luncheon

We just got back from the 42nd Annual Presidents' Roundtable Public Safety Awards Luncheon where public safety professionals around Lakeland and Polk County were honored for exemplary acts of service.

The luncheon and awards are hosted by the many civic clubs in the greater Lakeland area who pause this time of the year to give recognition to law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical service employees for their acts of bravery and dedicated service to our community.

Agencies receiving recognition included the Lakeland Police Department, Lakeland Fire Department, Polk County Sheriff's Office, Polk County Fire Department, Polk County Emergency Medical Services, Florida Highway Patrol, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Congrats to LPD Officer of the Year Marvin Tarver and Honorable Mention to Jim O'Neill.

Special recognition was given to the family of PCSO Sgt. Ronnie Brown who died last year from injuries sustained while trying to restrain a combative prisoner in the jail.

Our thanks to the civic groups who helped present the awards and the numerous corporate sponsors who helped support the program and provided financial resources to offer four scholarships to students whose parents work in public safety.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Another Reason to Lock Your Car

Readers of this blog have repeatedly read my pleas for people to lock their valuables or risk losing them - thus, the catchy phrase Lock It or Lose It. Many will simply look at the victims as being an unfortunate victim of their own laziness thinking anyone who failed to lock their car or left valuables out in plain sight deserved to become a victim. Heck, what concern is it to me? After all, I lock my car all the time.

Well, here's another look at the problem - one that shows it is your concern, and it has to do with guns.

We investigated a vehicle burglary last week in which the victim "thought he locked his vehicle" and left a handgun in the unlocked glove box. Upon returning to his vehicle the next morning, the car door was open and the semi-auto pistol was gone. For the record, there were no signs of forced entry to the vehicle.

Car burglars not only take things like Ipods, GPS units, cell phones, or laptops, they also take guns left in cars. Lawful gun ownership is a good thing, but firearms in the hands of criminals that were obtained via illegal means is not so good.

We can all help to keep our community safe by taking a moment to lock our cars and secure our valuables - including our firearms. Doing so just might keep a weapon out of the hands of a criminal.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

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

Traffic Safety and Protest Marches

We want to let the public know about plans to close a portion of South Florida Avenue on Sunday afternoon as the Coalition of Immokalee Workers prepares to conduct a protest march in the road between Southgate and Munn Park that afternoon. Northbound traffic will be diverted from the roadway starting around 2:00 PM on Sunday and lasting until 4:00 PM or so as the protesters make their way up the road. Southbound traffic will not be affected.

Traffic will be detoured around the group as they make their way north on South Florida Avenue. The march will go north on South Florida Avenue to Walnut Street, east on Walnut to Lake Morton Drive, and then north on Kentucky Avenue to Munn Park.

Both the Lakeland Police Department and the Florida Department of Transportation reviewed the road closure application and subsequently approved the request.

I realize some drivers will be inconvenienced with the march occurring in the roadway on a Sunday afternoon (glad it's not on a Friday evening at 5:00 PM), but we checked with our General Counsel and determined the march was a constitutionally protected event that we would have a hard time denying. Additionally, the CIW is paying the overtime expenses required for the officers and supervisors needed to safely escort the protesters from Southgate to Munn Park. On-duty resources are not expected to be used for the event.

With the exception of some noise emanating from the people participating in the march, we do not anticipate any problems along the route or at the rally/concert at Munn Park that follows.

- 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