New Sex Offender & Predator Alert System

On March 27, 2008 the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and local law enforcement unveiled a new and innovative feature of Florida's Sexual Offender/Predator Registry Web site. Citizens can now sign up to receive e-mail alert notifications when a registered sexual offender or predator moves into their neighborhood or within a radius of any other designated location.  Citizens can also opt to track address changes reported by selected registered offenders or predators.  The service is offered statewide and at no charge. Citizens may select an unlimited number of addresses and/or offenders and predators to track, and can update their selections at any time. The alert system will send e-mail notifications within 24 to 48 hours of an address change to the state's registry. Citizens are encouraged to register for alerts. Florida became the first state to list sexual offenders and predators on the Internet and to make the same information available through a 24-hour/day hotline. The FDLE Sex Offender/Predator Registry currently houses data on more than 47,000 registered sex offenders and predators and the Web site averages more than 500,000 searches per month. Citizens can register for the alerts by visiting www.flsexoffender.net.

New 2007 Florida Statutes

Please click here for information on the new 2007 Florida Statutes. This information is provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The effective date of these laws range from July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2008 depending on the individual statute. For quick reference please go to the bottom of the page and see the index.

Sheriff Promotes Children's ID Cards

Sheriff Wendell Hall is promoting his second joint partnership with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to provide identification cards for Santa Rosa children between the ages of 5 and 17 years old. If anyone is interested the event will be held at the FunFest on Navarre Beach on May 17, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The cost to the public is $3.00 each. A third event is scheduled for October 25, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Families Day Out festivity at the Milton Community Center at 5629 Byrom Street. Each child must have an original birth certificate and a social security card or a passport. Once an ID is issued, the parents can then go to our website at www.flhsmv.gov and enter emergency contact information. This new system is designed to give law enforcement officials immediate access to contact information in the event of an emergency. There will be computer terminals available for parents to enter this information on site.

 

Sheriff Provides Lesson for County Teens

As reported on WEAR Channel 3 on April 11, 2008, "Santa Rosa ranks fourth in the state, for a county its size, in the number of teens who are killed or injured behind the wheel. To help educate students about being better drivers, the Sheriff's Office brought in a speaker who knows the consequences of drinking and driving first hand. She hopes her loss will be a life long lesson for all of them. Renee Napier has a heartfelt message for these students at Pace High School. Her daughter Meagan and her best friend, Lisa Dickson, both twenty, were killed by a drunk driver in Gulf Breeze in 2002."I know that these kids can really relate on a more personal level because a lot of them have heard the story or maybe seen the billboard, for me to come back to the county where they died in, is huge," said Napier. Napier now lives in Tampa, but she speaks to students across the country about the accident and the man who caused it, Eric Smallridge." My name is Eric Smallridge or I guess I should say it was," Smallridge said in the video, dressed in his prison jumper. "I'm now inmate P22679. On May 11, 2002, I made the worst decision of my life. I chose to drink and drive." Smallridge is now a part of Renee Napier's message. He took part in a DUI prevention video Napier plays for high schoolers to help them understand the importance of making good decisions. Smallridge was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the fatal accident, but the court later cut his sentence in half at the request of the victims' families.” I believe that we live in a world that hurts," Napier explained, "and that people hang on to that hurt and that anger and they can't move forward and I think once you get to the point where you can forgive someone for something that they've done to you, that your healing begins and you can move forward and have a full life, and you're free from bitterness and anger and hatred.” Napier also travels with the car that her daughter and Lisa died in, hoping the visual impact will help drive the message home. Students are listening.” I’m not a big person about drinking anyways and partying," said Senior Dustin Retherford, "so if it was one of my family members, if I put myself in her shoes, it would be hard to deal with everything.” Of course it's not going to affect everybody and reach everybody," said Junior Tia Shallow, "but even if it stopped one more student from drinking and driving, then it was well worth it.” Napier has been speaking to high schoolers across the county all week. The Sheriff's Office paid for the program through a twenty thousand dollar state grant. They’re also using it to encourage students to buckle up.” My hope is that I at least touch some of them with a message that they will take with them forever and that when they do get into a situation that's uncomfortable, that they will think about what they've heard and they will learn from it," Napier said. With prom season approaching, law enforcement hope students will take this message seriously. You can see the full DUI prevention video including Eric Smallridge and Renee Napier on YouTube."

Sheriff Prepares for Hurricane Season

Sheriff Hall attended the Hurricane Expo at the Pensacola Civic Center on April 12, 2008 sponsored by BRACE (Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies). Available for everyone were certified experts in the field of disaster preparedness. Personal safety and education was stressed throughout the entire expo. The sheriff also sponsored a booth for the expo reference crime prevention and education of the public. Sheriff Hall has ensured that his department is ready for the upcoming season, which will begin on June 1, 2008. His staff has already attended several mock disaster exercises in addition to crisis scenarios sponsored by the Emergency Operation Center. Click here for photos of the expo.

SRC Inmates Receive GED Certificates

On April 23, 2008 Sheriff Hall's staff handed out GED certificates to six (6) inmates after their completion of all of the general education requirements. Each inmate was given a pre-test to determine what their grade level was and then they began attending classes, which lasted anywhere from three to nine months determining on the amount of work that needed to be completed. Sheriff Hall has encouraged every eligible inmate within the facility to take advantage of educational opportunities and self improvement programs in order to better prepare themselves to enter the work force as citizens of Santa Rosa County. Please click here for photos.

 

Sheriff Hall Honored by Police Hall of Fame

The American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens, a sister organization to the American Police Hall of Fame, presented Sheriff Wendell Hall with an award on March 28, 2008 for his excellent performance in the recent round up of undocumented workers in Santa Rosa County. Inspections of numerous businesses and restaurants in the county were made and over twenty-seven undocumented workers were found to have forged or stolen identification papers. Several have already appeared in court and been placed on probation and deported by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Sheriff Hall was the first within the First Judicial Circuit to take a proactive stance against the increasing spread of identity theft that is threatening the citizens throughout the panhandle. For photos please click here.

 

Sheriff Assists Underage Drinking Program

Sheriff Wendell Hall has provided his support in an attempt to reduce underage drinking in Santa Rosa County. The Underage Drinking Grant (UDL) was originally awarded to the Northwest Florida Prevention Coalition, of which Crime Prevention Specialist Cindy Sarver with the sheriff's office is a member. The grant was for Santa Rosa County only. Thus far, the grant has paid for billboards that target parents who are responsible for hosting parties where youths obtain alcohol. It has also funded radio/television media coverage on the topic and sponsored a club at Pace High School that was formed to address the problem. The club is called the “One Way Club – One Way To Live Responsibly.” In addition on April 30, 2008 they sponsored a Mock DUI crash video and demonstration at Gulf Breeze High School. This grant would have run out at the end of May, 2008, but it is being extended for one more year. Santa Rosa County is one of fifteen other counties in the state that has an underage drinking program. For photos of the Mock DUI demonstration click here.

Navarre Chamber Tours Jail

On April 29, 2008 members of the "Emerging Leaders" class of the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce visited the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office for a tour of the facilities. Sheriff Hall spoke to them about community safety and the overall security of the citizens of the county. Crime Prevention Specialist Cindy Sarver was the tour guide showing them the historical Wall of Honor with a tour of the county jail. Each member was able to learn first hand about jail standards and operations and to experience what an inmate's life is like behind bars. They were also able to view artifacts made by various inmates over the years. Group tours of the county jail can be arranged by calling (850) 983-1236. For photos of the tour click here.

 

Local Family Thanks Deputy for Help

A local Santa Rosa family made a special trip to see Sheriff Wendell Hall to thank him for the compassion shown to their family on December 29, 2007. On that particular day Deputy Mike Bell was summoned to their residence after their teenage daughter had run away from home on Old Bagdad Highway. While there Deputy Bell discovered she had been seen by relatives at Lowe's on Highway 90. He proceeded to the store where he located the young teenager. The child's family soon arrived and Deputy Bell counseled her concerning the support and love of her family that had all rushed to support her. The girl's parents felt that the deputy's words were of great benefit to their daughter. Accordingly the girl's father and grandfather made the trek to Sheriff Hall's office to present Deputy Bell with a heartfelt thank you card for both his compassion and his dedication to duty. The family's name cannot be listed because of the age of their daughter. Click here for photo.

 

Detention Deputies Wanted

The Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office is looking for certified detention deputies to fill vacancies in the county jail. Beginning salary is $29,670.16 per year with a 5% increase for the first five years and a 2.5% annual increase thereafter. Single medical insurance is provided for the employee along with a $25,000 life insurance policy. All persons interested in the position should click here and fill out all paperwork required. If you have any questions please contact Captain Paul Campbell at 850-983-1170.

 

VA Benefits Detention Deputies

Sheriff Wendell Hall of the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office has had the privilege of offering veterans he employs as law enforcement officers, veteran's benefits for training they receive in their first year with his agency. According to VA policy a new deputy's training, depending on each agencies requirement, during that first year qualifies them to receive payments earned during their enlistment in the military. These payments can only be received during the first year only. These benefits have been available to his law enforcement officers for approximately five years but Sheriff Hall can now offer the same program to his detention deputies assigned to his jail facilities. This amount can be as high as $12,000 depending on their rank, length of service and number of dependents. Sheriff Hall commends the VA representatives who, "have worked closely with us in putting this together." Only those detention and law enforcement officer that have prior military service can apply, which at this time has been less than five in the last two years. Sheriff Hall further stated that "these men and women have earned those benefits through their military sacrifices and I'm proud to make these benefits available for them within our agency."

Handicap Parking Regulations

Every year thousands of handicap parking tickets are written across the state of Florida, many of them because of the driver not displaying their permit in an appropriate manner. Sheriff Wendell Hall would like to remind every citizen in Santa Rosa County that the laws governing these parking regulations are there for a worthwhile reason. It is to provide a safer and more convenient parking space for those persons in need of them for medical reasons. Law enforcement would like to enlist everyone's help and consideration in assisting those that have been given the right to park in these handicap zones and for those with authorized permits to display them appropriately. For some of the do's and don'ts concerning your handicap permit please click here.