As we closeout year two of the Strategic Operations Plan, the Sheriff’s Office and it’s members have realized successes that have brought about significant change and positive attitudes within the agency and community. These changes and advance-ments are helping move our agency from good to extraor-dinary as we improve our delivery of public safety ser-vices. The 2006-2009 Plan includes 105 objectives. By September, 2007 we have completed 86 of the objec-tives, or 89%. Our annual community meeting to re-evaluate the plan vision, mis-sion and goals was held on September 21st. Limited changes were made and new strategies were created; as many are completed, and to accommodate for 2010. The new plan covers the fiscal years 2007-2010. Our plan, though clear and concise, must at the same time be fluid to accommodate ever changing demands that come with budget constraints, legal mandates, new crime pat-terns, and the professionally imposed higher standards placed on law enforcement and detention. The following are some of the accomplish-ments during the 2006-2007 year:

• Major information tech-nology upgrades to include in car computers, cameras, tag recognition equipment, SmartCop software imple-mentation with document imaging, initial website design, and many addi-tional tools and training to increase our ability to fight the national rise in violent crime rates. • Introduction of mental health and substance abuse programs into the Detention center. • Upgraded the jail video surveillance Master Con-trol system. •Installation of video/audio recording for the inmate visitation system. • Installation of a HEPA-filtered negative air pres-sure system for our jail holding cells for enhanced health protection within our facility. • Two additional K-9 Units to Patrol. • Organized and imple-mented Operation Safe Neighborhood. • Consolidated dispatch, which now includes Se-bring and Lake Placid Po-lice, Fire and EMS. • Opened substations at Lakeshore Mall and North

Sebring/Avon Park area. • Completed a re-write of agency policies in line with State Accreditation Stan-dards • Initiated the preparations for a new Special Victims Unit to work in partnership with other state and local agencies, for the comprehen-sive joint investigations of child and adult abuse, do-mestic violence and sex crimes, and enhancing col-laborative community care and efforts. • Increased sworn staffing in Patrol, Investigations, and Detention. Over the next couple of weeks we will identify spe-cific objectives to support strategies under each goal. The 2007-2010 plan will be available in late November following the Sheriff’s Of-fice annual development meeting.

Volume 3 Issue 3

S H E R I F F ’S O F F I C E AN N O U N C E S S E C O N D SU C C E S S F U L P L A N YE A R

October 2007 - 4th Qtr VISION

Our vision is a safer High-lands County where citizens and law enforcement are joined together; the rights of all persons are respected; and community values are re-flected.

MISSION

The Highlands County Sher-iff’s Office is committed to protecting life, property, and individual rights while main-taining peace and order.

GOALS

Goal 1: Create safer neighborhoods by reducing criminal activity and conditions that foster crime and fear within the community.

Goal 2: Enhance the safety of Highlands County roadways through en-forcement and education.

Goal 3: Assure accountability by effec-tive and efficient use of person-nel, equipment, and technology.

Goal 4: Provide a professional work environment that attracts and retains a diverse group of qual-ity applicants, rewards em-ployee excellence, and promotes leadership through education and training.

Goal 5: Assure effective Judicial and Detention processes and ser-vices.

Quarter ly Report of the

SHERIFF’S OFFICE HIGHLANDS COUNTY

INTEGRITY QUALITY SERVICE PROFESSIONALISM

Dr. Jim Sewell and Sheriff Susan Benton address the community and Sheriff’s Office staff members during the September 21st plan-ning session.

Sheriff Susan Benton

PREPARING FOR ACCREDITATION

In mid 2005, the Sheriff’s Office set out to raise the standards of professionalism by working towards State accreditation. This process involves align-ing our policy and practice with more than 260 professional compliance standards set by the Commission on Law Enforcement Accreditation. Our agency will host a mock on-site assess-ment in January 2008, in preparation for the final assessment. A mock assessment team has been assembled from Florida Sheriff’s Offices that includes Team Leader Lt. Jerry Rothman from St. Lucie County, Ac-creditation Manager Diane Hill of Her-nando County, and Inspector John Rankin f r o m S e m i n o l e County.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FLORIDA MODEL JAIL STANDARDS, GO TO www.flsheriffs.org.

Page 2 Volume 3 Issue 3

As of last week, the Sher-iff’s Office has brought in just over one million dollars in “new” funding for pro-jects that were not budgeted from the general fund of the County. Highlands County Sheriff’s Office received notification that we had been recommended for funding by the U.S. Attor-ney’s Office. The grant pro-gram through the U.S. De-partment of Justice required that agencies be considered for funding based on past performance and recommen-dation. Asst. U.S. Attorney Robert Waters of the Fort Pierce office made the rec-ommendation. Highlands

County has worked closely over the years with our federal partners on the enforcement of illegal narcotics. In this case, we were funded in the amount of $392,000, to fight methampheta-mine. These funds will cover a two year period of a joint project with Hardee County. The use of this powerful drug de-stroys families, most us-ers do not contribute to the County’s workforce, and choose to steal and victimize innocent peo-ple to support their ad-diction. Since Highlands shares borders with three

major distribution points for methamphetamine, a strong emphasis will be placed on gathering intel-ligence and investigating trafficking organizations. Additionally, the Sher-iff’s Office will continue to form community part-nerships and will main-tain programs such as the Jail Alternative to Sub-stance Abuse and Mental Health in an attempt to help drug dependent in-mates successfully rejoin our community. Other projects funded by grants include patrol car cam-eras, and our Victim Ad-vocate program.

S H E R I F F ’S O F F I C E TA K E S A G G R E S S I V E A P P R O A C H TO A LT E R N AT I V E F U N D I N G

H I G H L A N D S PA RT I C I PAT E S I N A N N U A L J A I L I N S P E C T I O N

inspections are also used as a way to police our-selves; to be sure that we are consistently provid-ing for the care, custody and control of county inmates according to ac-ceptable professional standards.

Florida Model Jail Standards were created in 1997, when the State Department of Cor-rections no longer conducted county jail inspections. To continue the inspections, Re-gional Jail Inspection Teams were formed throughout the state to insure compliance with the 228 standards for the jail and the 42 standards for the medical facility. Lo-cally, our team consists of members from Glades, Har-dee, Hendry, Okeechobee, and Highlands Counties. On Aug. 23, 2007, the High-

lands County Sheriff’s Office Detention Facility received its annual facil-ity and medical inspec-tions and again, there were no serious viola-tions with either the de-tention facility or medi-cal services. Annually, the team meets in February to plan the annual inspection dates for the year ahead. The team travels the region throughout the year to complete the inspections of the facilities. These

Jail Inspection Regional Team con-sists of the surrounding counties of Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Okeechobee, and Highlands Counties.

Sheriff’s Office members attend Accreditation Training at SFCC

SHERIFF’S OFFICE Page 3

Public Safety Highlight

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

All over the country, victims’ advocates, government officials, corporations, unions, health care providers, and faith-based groups are concentrating special focus on domestic violence in order to raise the consciences during Domestic Violence Awareness Month which takes place in October. Sadly, children are often the direct or indirect victims. Just witnessing violence impacts children’s lives, especially as it usually takes place at home, a place where children should feel safe. If children have been exposed to domestic violence, it increases the chances that they will take on the role of either a “batterer” or a “victim” in their adult relationships. Abuse can seem “normal” to youth who witness it in their own homes. This year the Sheriff’s Office is initiating a Special Victim’s Unit to further concentrate efforts on child and elder victims, cases of domestic violence and sexual violence. Investigations of this nature take specialized training and expertise to successfully prosecute offenders, while helping to restore the lives of victims. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there is help to STOP the VIOLENCE available here in Highlands County. Call the Sheriff’ Office Victim Advocate at 402-7200 or the Safe House at 386-1167.

July 1, 2007—September 30, 2007

Q U A R T E R LY I N F O R M AT I O N — L AW E N F O R C E M E N T

Q U A R T E R LY I N F O R M AT I O N — D E T E N T I O N

Court Related Services: Cases In Court 8,019 Inmates Taken to Court 1,198 Arrests by Bailiffs 182 Persons thru Security Station 34,596

Pre-Trial Release Services: First Appearance Attendance 645 Pre-Trial Release 78 Inmates Referred for Treatment 27 Cost Effectiveness Savings $ 64,625

Inmates Booked into Jail 1,980 Inmates Released from Jail 1,826 Instructional Program Hours 2,036 Inmate Transport Miles 34,111 Transports to State Prison 90 Transports to INS 14 Community Maint. Participants 178 (monthly average participants) Dollars Saved in Labor $90,125 Dollars Collected in Fees $8,445 Inmate Meals Served 130,032 Average Cost per Day $2.25 Inmate Farm Produce (lbs) 3,938

Inmate Farm Eggs Harvested (DZ) 3,545 Alcohol Breath Tests 73 Average Daily Population 481 Net Commissary Earnings $5,848 Medical Fees Charged $164,106 Medical Fees Collected $16,607 Subsistence Fees Charged $73,750 Subsistence Fees Collected $20,452 Inmate Per-Diem Charged $15,766

Inmate Per-Diem Collected $ 9,852 Labor Hours by Trusties S/O 25,669 Labor Hours by Trusties 5,307 Dollars Saved in Labor $206,610

Q U A R T E R LY I N F O R M AT I O N — A D M I N I S T R AT I O N & C O U R T S E R V I C E S

Calls—Communications 50,391 Crime Scene Lab Cases 117 Investigations Assigned 325 Investigations Open 96 Investigations Closed/Inactive 238 Special Operations Investigations 98 DCF Cases 297 Narcotic Arrests by Task Force 57 Business Security Surveys 0 Neighborhood Watch Presentations 37 Crime Victims Served 114 Victim Advocate Services 451

Computer Aided Dispatch 29,667 HCSO 20,121 SPD 5,618 LPPD 1,813 FIRE 606 EMS 1,498 Offense Reports 2,311 Traffic Citations Issued 1,926 K-9 Searches 15 Judicial/Civil Process Services: Received 2,599 Served 2,599 Active 240

New Member Hires: Civilians 6 Sworn 4 Applications Received this Qtr. 72 Applications Processed 33 Payroll Checks Processed 2,368 Payable Checks Processed 965 P-Card Purchases 882 Citizens Fingerprinted 436 Information Services Requests 678

For more information visit National Coalition Against

Domestic Violence@ www.ncadv.org/

Sheriff Susan Benton requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Office to conduct a security survey of the Highlands County Courthouse, in October of 2005. The survey results were discussed with the Courthouse Security Committee and the Sheriff’s Office began the process to prioritize identified improvements, including them in the Sheriff’s Strategic Operations Plan. The Marshall’s Report was based on current security standards and several new levels of security have recently been implemented within and around the Courthouse, following are some of the improvements: • Installation of a high tech video camera systems • Installation of a new x-ray machine to open a second door for staff and court officials • Installation of an alarm system to protect the facility 24 hours a day • Installation of a combination I.D. card, limited access system Thanks to the combined cooperative efforts of the Sheriff’s Office staff, the Board of County Commissioners Admini-stration and Facility Management, Clerk of Courts, and the presiding Judges of Highlands County; these improvements are a welcomed sense of safety. The Courthouse is a grand ole’ building operating at a much higher level of security for the wellbeing of judicial officials, jurors, employees, citizens, and visitors to the courthouse.

HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Susan Benton, Sheriff 434 FERNLEAF AVENUE SEBRING, FL 33870

OFFICE: (863) 402-7200

FOR MORE INFORMATION COURTHOUSE SECURITY GO TO www.usmarshals.gov

For drug prevention info: go to www.justthinktwice.com

C O U R T H O U S E S E C U R I T Y U P G R A D E S

Before we know it the holiday shop-ping season will be upon us. Among the Hal-loween pumpkins and goblins, the

Christmas lights twinkle on the shelves. Even on a daily basis, we make several trips a week to grocery stores, general merchandise outlets and malls. The criminal element is always present in our society and the shopper can present a viable target. Here are some tips from Florida’s Attorney General to make you safer while you go about your shopping: ♦Try to shop with a friend or relative instead of going alone. The addition of another set of eyes to peruse your sur-roundings is always helpful.

♦Park your vehicle in a well-lighted area. Put cellular telephones out of sight or take them with you.

♦Know your surroundings. Watch the people in front of you as well as be-

Keeping Safe While Shopping thing suspicious or if something just doesn’t feel right, go back into the store and contact security or law en-forcement.

During the holiday season, shoppers often visit malls and shopping centers that are new to them. It is important to make note of where you have parked your car, especially on which side of the mall or shopping center you entered. It may be easier to remember where your car is parked by noticing the first store you visited, and in which depart-ment in the store the door was located. Often large stores have several parking lot entrances and simply going out the wrong door can cause confusion in lo-cating your vehicle. Wandering through the parking lot attempting to locate your car can make you a suitable target for thieves. If you cannot locate your car in a relatively short period of time, go back into the store and request that se-curity assist you. This is a common re-quest so please don’t be embarrassed! Better to ask for help than become a victim!

Highlands County Sheri f f ’s Off ice

CRIME PREVENTION October 2007 Insert for Volume 3 , Issue 3

For more info on missing children, go to www.missingkids.com

Over the Counter (OTC) and Pre-scription Drugs Awareness Over the counter and prescription drug abuse is on the rise in many communities. Unfortunately High-

lands County is no exception. In an ef-fort to better educate parents and the public in general, the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Unit has developed an OTS and Prescription Drug awareness and abuse prevention program for presentation. Sergeant Monica Sauls and Lieutenant Greg

Pearlman team up to provide a plethora of information for the identification of how these drugs react in the body, signs of abuse and availability of treat-ment within the Highlands County community. To schedule a program, contact the Crime Prevention Unit at 385-0024. Live Safe The abduction of a child is an occurrence that no one wants to think about, however it does happen. The Live Safe program was developed by

hind you. As you look at merchan-dise in store windows, check the re-flection to see people who may be approaching you from the rear.

♦Carry your purse close to your body and keep it closed. Don’t flash your cash!

♦Walk with confidence. Avoid con-versations with people you don’t know. A simple request for direc-tions can distract you for long enough that an accomplice would be able to relieve you of your wallet.

♦Try not to carry too many packages. Place all packages out of sight in your vehicle. If you are going to drop packages in your car trunk and con-tinue shopping, re-park your car in another location – possibly on the opposite side of the store or mall parking lot. (Just remember the latest location of your vehicle!)

♦Keep your vehicle doors locked and your windows closed.

♦Check the area around your vehicle before approaching it. If you see any-

New Highlands County Crime Prevention Programs Corporal Denise Nestor of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Of-fice in response to the Carly Brucia abduction. The program teaches fundamentals of abduction preven-tion for children. There are two presentations, one for adults and one specially focused towards chil-dren. Sergeant Monica Sauls and Crime Prevention Specialist Nell Hays have been trained in this presentation and are making it available to the citizens of High-lands County. To schedule a pres-entation for your group, contact Crime Prevention at 385-0024.

Neighborhood Watch The National Sheriff’s Association website explains the neighborhood watch program as follows: Neighborhood Watch is undoubtedly one of the oldest and most well known crime prevention concepts in history. While the modern day concept of Neighborhood Watch came into prominence in the late 1960s in response to an increasing burglary rate, its roots in America can actually be traced all the way back to the days of Colonial settlements when night watchmen patrolled the streets. Throughout the years, Neighborhood Watch has grown from an "extra eyes and ears" approach to crime prevention to a much more proactive, community-oriented endeavor. The adoption of community policing by local law enforcement agencies has also contributed to the resurgence in Watch groups over the years. Neighborhood Watch fits nicely within the framework of law enforcement/community partnerships, and Neighborhood Watch meetings can be a useful forum to discuss neighborhood problems and practice problem-solving techniques. Here in Highlands County, the Neighborhood Watch program is a main stay of crime prevention initiatives. There are over 85 Neighborhood Watch groups throughout the county in some stage of development. The participating residents are making an invaluable contribution to crime prevention in their respective neighborhoods. In an effort to reward the chairpersons of these Neighborhood Watch groups as well as provide additional training and encouragement, a county-wide Neighborhood Watch meeting will be held on December 3, 2007 at 7:00PM at the Agri-Civic Center in Sebring. This meeting is open to all Neighborhood Watch Chairpersons and Block Captains. Anyone wishing to start a Neighborhood Watch group in their community can call the Crime Prevention Unit at 385-0024 to get more information. All groups in any stage of organization within the Neighborhood Watch initiative are invited to send representatives to the county-wide meeting. Speakers will in-clude Sheriff Benton, Sergeant Monica Sauls and Crime Prevention Specialists Nell Hays and Paul Hinman. Reservations will be requested. For more information on this or any other crime prevention program, please contact the Crime Prevention Unit at the Lakeshore Mall Community Service Center at 385-0024.

KEEPING HIGHLANDS COUNTY’S NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE Don’t Be A Fishing Victim There have been numerous vehicle burglaries in residential neighborhoods in Highlands County during the past month. In most cases, there has been no sign of forced entry to the vehi-cle, indicating the perpetrators may have simply been on a “fishing expedition.” Not to be confused with “pfishing” which is a term that refers to personal information scams on the inter-net, this mode of operation relates to car burglary and consists of the criminal(s) simply wandering through the neighborhood and trying car doors at random. When an unlocked vehicle is discovered, the criminal(s) proceed to help themselves to what-ever they want! There are two basic concepts to keep in mind regarding your vehicle when it is parked in the driveway of your home. The first and most important thing to remember is to remove any valuable items from your vehicle when you go into your home. Please do not leave your wallet, personal identification, credit cards, cash, cell phone, CD player or satellite radio in your vehicle. Second, lock your vehicle! If the thief must break glass to gain entry to your car, there is the potential that some-one will hear the break in and notice the crime in progress. The thief does not want to take this chance therefore simply having your car locked can be a deterrent for this crime. Taking these two simple steps can reduce the chance that you will be a vic-tim of vehicle burglary. Residents are also urged to call law enforcement if suspicious activity is noticed within the neighborhood. We would much rather check these folks out and have it be nothing than to work several burglaries later.

Walking Safety Cool autumn nights and mornings are prime time for residents to enjoy the Florida lifestyle and get their exercise at the same time. Many Highlands County residents have a regular routine of walking through their neighborhood on a daily basis. The health benefits of this activity are obvious but there are some safety precautions that should be considered: • Walk with a friend! It makes the activity much more en-

joyable and safer. • If you are using headphones, keep the volume to a setting

where you can still hear approaching vehicles. • Avoid taking short cuts – stay on well traveled roads and

paths. • If you choose to walk at night, always walk in well-lighted

areas. Stay away from large bushes or doorways where someone could be lurking.

• Always stay near the curb and walk in the direction of oncoming traffic so that you are more visible and can take evasive action if needed.

• If someone in a vehicle stops and asks for directions, an-swer from a distance. Do not approach the vehicle or get close enough that you might be pulled in.

• If you believe you are being followed, go immediately to an area with lights and people. If needed, turn around and walk in the opposite direction. Your follower will also have to reverse directions.

• Take a cell phone with you in case you need to call for assistance. Be aware of your location so that you can give the dispatcher accurate information as to your where-abouts.

Happy safe walking!