Car Rearended Oil Truck. Traffic is being diverted. Both Exits to 60 and road by Beef O’ Brady’s blocked as well. Take a different Route
Drive Safe
Be a citizen-scientist this horseshoe crab spawning season
Be a citizen-scientist this horseshoe crab spawning season
Spring is approaching and that means it is peak mating season for horseshoe crabs. Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are asking the public to report horseshoe crab sightings.
Horseshoe crabs mate year-round, and spring is the peak season to see them in groups along the shore. To identify mating pairs, look for a smaller male on top of a larger female. Beachgoers will likely have the best luck spotting horseshoe crabs around high tide, within three days of a new or full moon. The next full moon is Sunday, March 12, and the new moon is Monday, March 27.
For 15 years, citizens have reported horseshoe crab sightings to the FWC, providing important information about population distribution. Although horseshoe crabs have been around for approximately 450 million years, their numbers have declined in recent decades due to overfishing and loss of habitat.
If you see a horseshoe crab on its back, gently pick it up (holding both sides of the shell) and release it back into the water. Simple actions like this help conserve this species and the countless other species that depend on it.
The FWC asks the public to report sightings through one of several options. Go to MyFWC.com/Contact and go to “Horseshoe Crab Nesting Activity” for the “Florida Horseshoe Crab Spawning Beach Survey” link. You can also report findings via email at [email protected]or by phone at 866-252-9326.
Lakeland Police K-9 Best in the State
Lakeland Police K-9 Best in the State
Lakeland, Fl. (March 9, 2017) – The Lakeland Police Department competed in the 2017 USPCA Region 1 Field Trials between February 27th and March 3rd. The trials were held in Gulf Breeze, Florida at the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
The Lakeland Police Officer Chad Whitaker and K9 Nox took home the TOP DOG award once again and just a few points behind in second place was Officer Cory Bowling and K9 Valor.
The Lakeland Police K-9 Team also took home both the first and second place four-man team awards.
Individual (top 20)
#1 Ofc. Chad Whitaker/ Ron Bowling Top Dog Award
#2 Ofc. Cory Bowling
#6 Ofc. Jeremy Williams
#8 Ofc. Jeff Barrett
#9 Ofc. Travis Miller
#11 Ofc. Ryan Back
#18 Ofc. Virgil Cardin
#2 Ofc. Cory Bowling
#6 Ofc. Jeremy Williams
#8 Ofc. Jeff Barrett
#9 Ofc. Travis Miller
#11 Ofc. Ryan Back
#18 Ofc. Virgil Cardin
Out of 9 departments competing for the 4 Man Team, the Lakeland Police Department placed 1st with Officers Jeff Barrett, Cory Bowling, Chad Whitaker and Ryan McLaughlin. They also 2nd with Officers Virgil Cardin, Jeremy Williams, Travis Miller and Ryan Back.
Other awards went to:
Top Explosive – Aaron Peterman and K9 Blizzard 1st Place
Obedience:
Officer Chad Whitaker and K9 Nox 1st Place
Officer Cory Bowling and K9 Valor 2nd Place
Officer Chad Whitaker and K9 Nox 1st Place
Officer Cory Bowling and K9 Valor 2nd Place
Agility:
Officer Jeremy Williams and K9 Hyde – 1st Place
Officer Chad Whitaker and K9 Nox – 2nd Place
Officer Jeff Barrett and K9 Echo & Officer Ryan McLaughlin and K9 Aztor tied for 3rd Place
Officer Cory Bowling and K9 Valor – 5th Place
Officer Jeremy Williams and K9 Hyde – 1st Place
Officer Chad Whitaker and K9 Nox – 2nd Place
Officer Jeff Barrett and K9 Echo & Officer Ryan McLaughlin and K9 Aztor tied for 3rd Place
Officer Cory Bowling and K9 Valor – 5th Place
Search Work:
Officer Cory Bowling and K9 Valor – 2nd Place
Officer Cory Bowling and K9 Valor – 2nd Place
Officer Jeff Barrett and K9 Echo – 5th Place
Criminal Apprehension:
Officer Chad Whitaker and K9 Nox 1st Place
Officer Cory Bowling and K9 Valor 3rd Place
Officer Chad Whitaker and K9 Nox 1st Place
Officer Cory Bowling and K9 Valor 3rd Place
Fred Wheeler Award (top obedience and apprehension combined):
Officer Chad Whitaker and K9 Nox
Officer Chad Whitaker and K9 Nox
Photographs and information is on our Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pg/LakelandPD/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10155144226820159
Freeman names new Deputy County Manager for Public Safety
Freeman names new Deputy County Manager for Public Safety
Bartow, Fla. (March 9, 2017) — County Manager Jim Freeman today announced the appointment of Joe N. Halman, Jr. as deputy county manager, pending confirmation by the Board of County Commissioners.
Halman’s entire 30-year law enforcement career has been with the Polk County Sheriff’s office. Halman started his career as a deputy and steadily advanced to increasingly responsible leadership positions including detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major and chief of law enforcement. Most recently, he has served the PCSO as professional development director.
As deputy county manager, Chief Halman will lead the public safety operations that report to the county manager, which include fire rescue, emergency medical services, emergency management, 9-1-1 system infrastructure, 800 MHz radio communications system, county probation and code enforcement. These mission-critical services ensure that our citizens and visitors receive essential, quality public safety responses in their time of need.
Halman will lead a dedicated staff of 638 members and will oversee annual budgets totaling almost $90 million. He will serve as the county manager’s primary liaison with other state, county and municipal agencies in the public safety and criminal justice systems.
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to appoint Chief Halman to this important leadership position,” said County Manager Jim Freeman. “Joe is a Polk County native and life-long resident and is well respected within the Polk County government family. He is held in high regard as a leader in the community. As Joe joins the county’s leadership team, I look forward to working with him to continue the positive organizational change initiated in the county’s public safety operations in recent years.”
Pending Board confirmation, Hallman will begin work as a deputy county manager on April 11, 2017.
Lakeland’s Fallen Police Officers Honored with New Memorial
Lakeland’s Fallen Police Officers Honored with New Memorial
Dedication Ceremony Set for March 20, 2017
WHO: Lakeland Police Department, Families of Fallen Officers and the Public
WHAT: Lakeland Police Fallen Heroes Memorial Dedication
WHEN: Monday, March 20, 2017 at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Lakeland Police Department, 219 North Massachusetts Avenue
WHY: Honoring Lakeland’s Fallen Officers
LAKELAND, FL (March 6, 2017) – The Lakeland Police Department invites the community to join us and family members of our fallen officers at the dedication ceremony for the Lakeland Police Fallen Heroes Memorial on Monday, March 20, 2017, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Memorial is located at the front entrance of the Lakeland Police Department, located at 219 North Massachusetts Avenue.
The Memorial is a beautiful site that honors Lakeland’s five fallen officers: Patrolman William Barnett, Patrolman Thomas Nicholson, Officer Eugene DeBerry, Officer Carl Cushman and Officer Arnulfo Crispin. The centerpiece features a life-size bronze Honor Guard sculpture atop a granite backdrop watching over the names of the fallen officers. Attached to the granite are five glass plaques, each etched with a fallen officer’s name and photo. Also featured is a large glass badge, illuminated with LED lights, to serve as a reminder of those still serving. The foundation of the site is lined with personalized engraved bricks which were sold to help fund the project.
Assistant Chief Link, who also serves on the project team, stated “This memorial will forever honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the citizens of Lakeland. It has been very humbling to see the support from our community. Without their donations, the memorial would not have been possible.”.
To ensure safety for those attending the event, the main entrance to the station will be closed beginning at 4:00 p.m. Those who need to visit the station for police business should enter on Bay Street. (see attached map) The portion of Massachusetts Avenue between Cedar Street and Bay Street will be closed beginning at 6:00 p.m. Motorists will be detoured one block over to Kentucky Avenue. Detours will be clearly marked and traffic will be redirected. Parking for the event is available throughout Downtown.
For additional information, please visit www.lakelandpolicefoundation.com
Traffic Alert: Accident at 17 N and Winter Lake Rd (540)
At 17 northbound and Winter Lake Road (540) in front of RaceTrac there is a dump truck overturned after colliding with a cement truck. Traffic is moving slowly.
Drive with caution!!
PCSO Deputy Uses PIT Maneuver After Suicidal Suspect Rams Cars
PCSO Deputy uses PIT Maneuver After Suicidal Suspect Rams Cars
UPDATE: The name of the suspect in yesterday’s fatal crash on US 27 is James Sands, DOB 8/21/70, of 1951 Lake Daisy Rd lot 213, Winter Haven.
PCSO Deputy Uses PIT Maneuver After Suicidal Suspect Rams Cars
At 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday, March 8, 2017, the PCSO Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a call from a man requesting to speak with a deputy sheriff. The man told the dispatcher that he wanted to kill himself and was driving around Winter Haven. He refused to provide his address or location to the dispatcher, and then hung up the phone. Deputies responded to the Winter Haven area in an attempt to locate him.
At 8:09 a.m., a priority one (emergency) call came in to the PCSO ECC from On-Star, alerting them that a driver (the same man) was driving around in his truck, saying he was going to “kill himself and a deputy sheriff.” On-Star linked the call to the ECC, and the man hung up. On-Star remained on the line with the ECC and gave the dispatcher information from their conversation with the man, repeating that he said he was armed with a gun and was going to shoot himself and a deputy.
We have positively identified the suspect, however, we are still trying to locate his next-of-kin, who may be out-of-state. Once we are able to locate them and notify them, we will release his name.
Thanks to the information provided by On-Star, deputies located the suspect as he was driving eastbound in his black Chevrolet pickup truck on Dundee Road approaching US Hwy 27. They turned on their emergency equipment, but he refused to stop, and headed southbound on US Hwy 27, where deputies set up stopsticks. The suspect hit the stopsticks and continued south on US Hwy 27 with a flat tire. The suspect intentionally rear-ended a Toyota truck that was in front of him. He then intentionally rear-ended a Ford Explorer (whose driver was transported to Winter Haven Hospital with injuries) before being stopped during a precision immobilization technique (PIT) administered by Master Deputy Sheriff Mike Ard, who is a certified agency PIT instructor.
The PIT was successfully implemented, and the suspect’s truck left the roadway, then began to roll, ejecting him. He was not wearing a seatbelt. This occurred on US Hwy 27 halfway between Cypress Gardens Blvd and Thompson Nursery Road, in Winter Haven. The suspect suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to LRHMC, where he was pronounced deceased.
After the crash today, deputies responded to the suspect’s Winter Haven home, where they found notes he left behind, and his dog tied up with instructions. The notes indicate he was intent on killing himself.
“Deputies once again put themselves in harm’s way to protect the community from an out-of-control suspect set on killing himself and others. Thankfully, the victims who were intentionally struck by this suspect as he fled down US Hwy 27 were not more critically injured.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
The investigation is ongoing. US Hwy 27 southbound is re-opened to traffic at this time.
PCSO vice unit arrests four at county parks for lewd behavior
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PCSO vice unit arrests four at county parks for lewd behavior
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 On Tuesday, March 7, 2017, the PCSO Undercover Vice Unit conducted an operation at Saddle Creek Park and Gator Creek Preserve in unincorporated Polk County, in response to complaints about lewd activity. Four suspects were arrested and each were trespassed from all county parks.
 77-year-old David Teal, of Polk City, exposed himself to a male undercover PCSO detective at Gator Creek Preserve. Teal was arrested and charged with one count indecent exposure and one count of offering to committing lewdness. Teal has a previous arrest for performing Lewdness 5 years ago in Virginia Beach. He was released from jail on $750.00 bond.
 56-year-old Kenneth Avila, of Dade City, exposed himself to a male undercover PCSO detective at Gator Creek Preserve. Avila was arrested and charged with one count indecent exposure and one count of offering to committing lewdness. He was booked into the county jail with a $750.00 bond.
 45-year-old Roy Neal Campbell, of Winter Haven, solicited a male undercover PCSO detective to perform a lewd act, and grabbed the detective against (the detective’s) will at Saddle Creek Park. Campbell was arrested and charged with one count battery, one count offering to commit lewdness, one count possession of methamphetamine, and one count possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia was discovered in his car). He was booked into the county jail and is currently incarcerated.
 71-year-old Rhonnie Osborne, of Winter Haven, solicited a male undercover PCSO detective to perform a lewd act, and grabbed the detective against (the detective’s) will at Saddle Creek Park. Osborne was arrested and charged with one count battery, one count soliciting lewdness, and one count trespassing in a county park(he had already been issued a trespass order from all county parks). He was booked into the county jail with a $1,250.00 bond.
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UPDATE: Robbery Suspect Who Stole Cash From Save-A-Lot Grocery Store Collapses After Arrest
Robbery Suspect Arrested
Lakeland, Fl. (March 8, 2017) – On March 7, 2017 at 6:44 p.m., the Lakeland Police Department responded to Save-A-Lot, 2021 George Jenkins in reference to a robbery that just occurred. The suspect, Shavenski Green, entered the store, reached over the counter as the clerk was assisting a customer and grabbed cash out of the register. Green then proceeded to walk quickly towards the store exit but stopped and unexpectedly sat down on a display stack of bottled water. Green then threw the money into the air and another employee attempted to retrieve the money but was pushed away. Green grabbed some money off the floor and fled the store.
Green then walked into the Subway store asking for water and “acting crazy” and threatened to kill the employees. Green was asked to leave and he did at which time he entered the CVS store. While in the CVS store, he got a coke and opened it without paying. Employees stated that Green was speaking loudly and belligerently. They described him as disheveled and possibly chemically impaired. Green left the store, returned grabbed several items of make-up, and left again without paying.
Officer Jeremy Williams spotted Green in the intersection of Wabash Avenue and George Jenkins Boulevard. Officer Williams stated Green sat down on the median and was not acting normal or answering any questions. Officer Williams stepped behind Green to keep him from getting up and wait for back-up officers at which time Green grabbed Williams leg and actively resisted arrest. Responding back-up officers arrived and assisted in taking Green into custody. During this time, Green was shot with an electronic control device to assist in taking him into custody. Once handcuffed, Green continued to resist by trying to turn over, screaming, and not complying with the officer’s commands. Officers used an agency issued rip hobble (restraint device) and placed it on Green’s legs, pursuant to agency policy, to prevent Green from kicking officers.
After Green was handcuffed and officers were searching his pockets, they noticed that Green had stopped breathing and was unresponsive. Officers immediately began life saving measures which included AED and the use of an CPR. Paramedics arrived and took custody of Green and transported him to Lakeland Regional Health. Green remains at LRH in stable condition.
Green has been charged with Robbery and Resisting Arrest with Violence. Detectives responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses which corroborated the officers’ statements. A video of the incident taken from the dashcam of a patrol car is being released showing Green actively resisting arrest and the life saving measures LPD officers initiated. Redacted 911 calls are also attached in the Dropbox file at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/w94c0ahtwfg9rsl/AAB3SqZvG5Ne7sTitPAVWM_pa?dl=0
Shavenski Green, 40 yrs old, 2430 Chestnut Woods Drive, Lakeland, has a lengthy criminal record which includes:
20 Felony Charges
34 Misdemeanor Charges
For various offenses, such as:
Aggravated Battery on a Police Officer / 3rd Degree Felony
Assault Battery on a Firefighter / 3rd Degree Felony
Resisting Officer with Violence / 3rd Degree Felony
Carrying a Concealed Weapon / 3rd Degree Family
Numerous Felony Drug Charges including:
Possession and Sale Cocaine
Possession of Controlled Substance without Prescription
City Manager Richard H. Sloan selects Gary W. Hester as Police Chief
Haines City, FL – March 8, 2017 – Gary W. Hester, Deputy County Manager for Public Safety of Polk County has accepted the Police Chief position of his hometown and will start May 15, 2017 at a salary of $105,000. Gary has more than 22 years of service at the command or executive leadership level and is known as a transformational leader, dedicated to helping organizations and individuals succeed. His proven track record in employee development, productivity, customer service, morale and organizational effectiveness will be instrumental in helping the Haines City Police Department be the benchmark for law enforcement excellence in Polk County and the State of Florida.
Gary W. Hester received his undergraduate education at Saint Leo University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and furthered his education with a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Alabama. Gary is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute, Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police and is a State of Florida Certified Public Manager.
Gary has served as the Chief of Staff for Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Police Chief for the City of Winter Haven and is currently serving as Deputy Manager overseeing Public Safety for the Polk County Board
of County Commissioners.
City Manager Sloan stated: I am excited to have the opportunity to work the Gary again. He is the consummate professional leader that we need to lead our Police Department to the next level. Gary and I have worked together for 28 years and he will be a great addition to our executive team.”
About Haines City
Incorporated in 1914, Haines City is nestled in the “Heart of Florida” and is home to more than 22,000 year-round and seasonal residence. Haines City was ranked the number one location for “vacation home deals” and “golf nuts” by CNN Money, second in Florida for cost of living by onlyinyourstate.com, third in the nation for the “Most Affordable Snowbird Destinations” by tripping.com, and third out of the “5 Best Places to Picnic in Polk County” by the Ledger. The City set a Guinness World Record for the most sparklers lit simultaneously and is home to the world-class IRONMAN 70.3 Florida, Thunder on the Ridge Fourth of July Celebration, Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club, and located just outside of Orlando’s Major theme parks. We found our heartbeat in the “Heart of Florida” … come find yours.