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.

 

Trust Fund for Fallen Okaloosa Deputy

A trust fund has been set up for the family of slain Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputy Anthony Forgione. Deputy Forgione was shot and killed early Tuesday morning on July 22, 2008 while entering a home at 331 Plymouth Avenue in Fort Walton Beach along with other members of the agency's Special Response Team. Deputy Forgione, who had been with the Sheriff's Office for nearly three years, leaves behind a wife and two young daughters. Citizens can make donations to the Deputy Anthony Forgione Benefit Account at any branch of Beach Community Bank. Sheriff Charlie Morris and the other employees at the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office appreciate the outpouring of support for Deputy Forgione's family and other OCSO officers that is coming in from residents here and from across the state.

New 2008 Florida Statutes

Please click here for information on the new 2008 Florida Statutes. This information is provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The effective date of these laws range from July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2009 depending on the individual statute. For quick reference please go to the bottom of the page you pulled up and see the index.

 

SRSO Honor Guard Car Wash

 

SRSO Deputy Honored by MADD

Deputy Lance Bird of the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office was honored recently by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) for the arrests of twenty-eight violators during 2007. His arrests were part of 330 taken into custody by the SRSO as compared to Escambia County's 296 during the same period of time. Each year MADD selects law enforcement officers to honor for their efforts in eliminating those that cause needless deaths on the county's highways by drunk and impaired driving. The guest speaker during the ceremony at Chet's Restaurant was Chief Judge Kim Skievaski. The restaurant has become a shrine against impaired drivers since two of their employees were killed by one a year ago. Skievaski pointed out that someone is killed by a drunk driver every thirty-nine minutes and by the time someone is caught for their first DUI they have already driven impaired eighty-seven times. Sheriff Wendell Hall congratulates Deputy Bird for his recognition in a worthy cause.

 

Protection for Businesses

Sheriff Hall has urged all local businesses to take advantage of a new program to help keep them safe. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has entered into a partnership with Florida's seven Regional Domestic Security Task Forces and has launched "BusinessSAFE" to provide businesses of all types and sizes with new tools to keep them protected. Businesses have the option of registering to receive electronic alert notifications by email, cellular phones, or PDA's. These alerts will provide information about breaking news, possible threats, suspicious activity, and specific preparedness and prevention techniques for your business. To sign up log on to www.fdle.state.fl.us at no costs to the business. FDLE will periodically send out electronic alerts although each business can access pertinent materials on the FDLE website at any time. For more information go to http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/BSafe/ or you call FDLE at 850-410-8690.

 

Assistant State Attorney Harmon Massey Retires

On Friday June 27, 2008 Sheriff Hall and the members of the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office said goodbye to Harmon Massey, supervisor of the county's office of the State Attorney. Massey has been with the SAO since 1999 and has made tremendous contributions to the public through his commitment to the criminal justice system. Born in Lamar County, Alabama he was raised in Columbus, Mississippi before obtaining his BA degree in 1964. He enlisted in the US Air Force and obtained his pilot's wings in 1965. He became a B-52 pilot and flew 150 combat missions in Southeast Asia before entering the reserves in order to return to law school. He obtained his law degree and returned to the Air Force with the Judge Advocates Office. He retired as a Colonel in 1995. Sheriff Hall and all of those in law enforcement would like to wish Harmon the best of luck following a job well done. For photos click here of the ceremony.

 

New Hyperlink on Sheriff's Office Website

The Sheriff's Office has added a new hyperlink on the front page of their website for the convenience of family and loved ones who wish to provide funds for inmates located in the county detention facilities. On the left side of the website under "About Us" providers will find the new heading "Inmate Accounts & Mail." When clicked it will guide them through the process of being able to deposit money in the inmates' account by internet, credit card, etc.

 

Emergency Numbers on Cell Phones

Sheriff Hall is urging everyone to take a moment and consider adding an ICE (In Case of Emergency) number to their cell phones. June is National Safety Month and it is the perfect time to ICE your phone as an easy and quick way to save a life. To make this even simpler his agency has developed a MAD form (click here to access) for you to complete and give to your emergency contact that is attached to the alert. Please feel free to copy as many of these as you need and encourage your family and friends to ICE their phones. As an added safety measure you can place a copy in our wallet and in your glove box.

 

Sheriff Promotes Children's ID Cards

Sheriff Wendell Hall is promoting his third joint partnership this year 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 on 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. The cost to the public is $3.00 each. 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, (now we're number one) 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 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. Forphotos 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 t 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.

 

Sheriff Offers Next Teen Driving Course

Sheriff Wendell Hall of the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office has recently initiated a “teen driving course” to help reduce accidents caused by teenage drivers. This program is based on the startling statistics in America that shows vehicular accidents are the number one cause of death for young adults. The course outline covers such topics as vehicular maintenance, vehicular dynamics, aggressive and impaired driving, and recovering from spin outs. A driving course will be arranged and the young drivers will be required to traverse the course in a series of practical exercises to include braking, swerving and recovering their vehicle from spin outs. This class will be under the direct supervision of instructors from the sheriff's office. The program is twelve (12) hours long and the first class will be conducted on August 8, 2008 from 1600-2000 at the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office training room for the classroom portion of the course and August 9, 2008 from 0800-1600 at NAS Whiting Field for the practicum portion. Facilities at Whiting Field will be used for forward and reverse serpentine, threshold braking, figure eight, evasive maneuver and backing. The student's personal automobile will be used during the entire course. Each student will need to be a licensed driver (no learners permit allowed), between the age of 16-18, a Santa Rosa resident (out of county residents will be accepted if class is not full), and have all permission forms filled out and returned to the training division (or to the instructor the night of the first meeting). Each student will also need to provide their own motor vehicle and dress appropriately (no tank tops, flip-flops, “short-shorts”, etc.). Each class is limited to fourteen (14) students. Every student must complete permission forms provided by Cindy Sarver below. On the second day of the training, each participant should bring sun screen, sunglasses, a hat (if wanted) and drinks. An hour lunch will be taken around 11:30 “on your own”, with class commencing an hour later. The class will be limited to the first ten students who apply. A certificate of attendance will be given at the completion of the class. The class will be instructed by specifically trained sheriff's office personnel. For further information please contact Cindy Sarver at 983-1236.

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.