CCSO Gearing Up For Summerfest 2012

SPRING 2012
Bullies Get The
Message In
Collier County:
DNTH8
The best way to stop bullying is
to tell someone it’s happening.
That’s why the Collier County Sheriff’s Office is
partnering with Collier County Public Schools and
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers to provide the
community with a text-messaging line to report
bullying and remain anonymous.
Cpl. Dan Rogers (far left) helps students launch their newly constructed boat near Naples Pier at the Build-A-Boat finale in 2011. The weeklong program, part of
CCSO’s Summerfest, pairs students with deputies to construct a boat while earning a boater safety certificate. CCSO file photo.
CCSO Gearing Up For
Summerfest 2012
It’s bigger.
It’s bolder.
It’s better than ever.
It’s Summerfest 2012.
New this year will be child fingerprinting events
and the “Have A Ball program” in which
deputies will keep footballs, basketballs and
soccer balls in their patrol cars so they can
engage in sports activities with kids between
calls.
Once again, CCSO Youth Relations deputies
will be assigned to summer youth programs
instead of being assigned to patrol duties. This
reallocation allows CCSO to expand its summer
youth offerings without additional costs to the
community.
communit
itty.
y.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s popular
summer youth program is returning for the
third year in a row.
Fishing, swimming, boat-building, movies,
sports, music and games are just a few of the
activities that combine to continue to make
Summerfest CCSO’s most ambitious summer
youth program ever. The program offers a wide
range of fun and free activities for all grade
levels in a safe environment at various locations
around Collier County.
Summerfest is made possible thanks to
partnerships with Collier County Parks and
Recreation, the Collier County School District
and more than 200 area donor businesses and
individuals.
“Thanks to the generosity of our community
partners, Summerfest continues to be a terrific
experience for deputies and young people in
Collier County,” said Sheriff Kevin Rambosk.
Here are some of the ways the Collier County Sheriff’s Office is reaching out to make sure our
community’s children and teens have a safe and fun summer.
Hot Summer Nights
This popular program will take place Friday
evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. at parks and other
locations throughout Collier County. Open to
students in middle and high school. Hot Summer
Nights includes water slides, music, dancing
games, sports, roller skating, and water park
events. Kids can snack on snow cones, popcorn
and hot dogs served up by deputies.
D.E.P.U.T.Y Club
D.E.P.U.T.Y. Club is a summer program for students
in first grade through fifth grade. It takes place
Wednesdays for seven weeks from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
June 20 through July 25 at St. Katherine Greek
Orthodox Church, 7100 Airport-Pulling Road,
North Naples. Transportation will be provided for
children in the Immokalee and Everglades areas.
Open Gym – Basketball
Kids enjoy the rock wall during Hot Summer Nights
programs at Vineyards Park on July 29, 2011. Hot
Summer Nights, part of CCSO’s Summerfest, takes
place on Friday evenings at different locations
throughout Collier County and includes activities
such as sports, water slides, music and games.
CCSO file photo.
Dr. Kamela Patton, superintendent of Collier
County Public Schools, said the School District
is eager to partner once again with CCSO in
Summerfest.
“While we very much appreciate the Collier
County Sheriff’s Office Youth Relations Deputy
Program, we know that ‘Hot Summer Nights’
and the other Summerfest programs are also
making a difference in the lives of our students
during the critical time they are away from
school and not in our care,” Superintendent
Patton said.
Summerfest 2012 gets under way Friday, June 8,
with Hot Summer Nights from 6 to 9 p.m. at King
Richard’s Family Fun Park, 6780 Airport-Pulling
Road N., North Naples.
Gymnasiums at Lely, Golden Gate and Immokalee
high schools will be open for basketball and
supervised by CCSO Youth Relations deputies
several afternoons a week. The gyms will be
set up to allow students, ages 11 to 18, to have
supervised recreation and interaction with law
enforcement.
Teen Driver Challenge
This is a 12-hour program that partners newly
licensed drivers with deputies to learn skills and
laws. This is both a classroom and hands-on
program. Approximately 12-15 participants are
involved in each monthly program.
a boat while staying active and earning their
boaters safety certificate. The Build-A-Boat
program will take place at Everglades City School,
the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and at I-Tech in
Immokalee.
Build-A-Chair
Students ages 11 to 14 will learn to work with
tools and work together to build a chair at
Lely High School, Golden Gate Middle School,
Immokalee Middle School, East Naples Middle
School/Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology,
and Everglades Community Center.
Middle School Community
Outreach Camp
CCSO is partnering with Golden Gate Middle
School to offer sixth- and seventh-grade students
a free day camp. Activities will include basketball,
lacrosse, softball, flag football, soccer, and track
and field.
Fishing
Go fishing with CCSO at the Naples Pier. This
program is a partnership between CCSO, City of
Naples and Boys and Girls Club that takes place
every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
from 8 a.m. to noon from June 18 through Aug.
2. Kids ages 10-16 will fish and learn about water
safety.
Have A Ball
Throughout the summer, the trunks of many
marked patrol cars will contain basketballs,
footballs, soccer balls, and volley balls. If a deputy
is between calls and spots kids congregating, he
Child IDs
or she will stop, take out a ball and toss it around
CCSO will hold child identification events at
with them while getting to know them. The
various locations over the summer. Deputies will
create photo IDs and take child fingerprints, which deputy will leave the ball with the children as a
memento. Have A Ball seeks to build relationships
can be used if a child ever goes missing.
between kids and deputies and to leave kids with
not only a positive impression of law enforcement
Build-A-Boat
This program is an opportunity for high-schoolers officers, but to keep them occupied in a positive
activity.
ages 14 to 18 to accomplish the task of building
A complete schedule of activities can be found on the CCSO website, http://www.
colliersheriff.org/. Click on the pull-down tab labeled “We Can Help,” then click on
“Youth Relations” then “CCSO Summerfest.” Or for more information call CCSO’s
Youth Relations Bureau at 530-9741 or e-mail summerfest@colliersheriff.org.
According to the Pew Internet Research Center, 33
percent of teenagers who own a cell phone text
more than 100 messages per day, and 11 percent
send more than 200 texts per day.
“We recognize that texting is a method of
communication that young people are comfortable
with,” said Sheriff Kevin Rambosk. “This tool allows
us to communicate with them on a platform with
which they identify.”
Using the keyword DNTH8 (don’t hate), anyone
wishing to report bullying can text a tip to 274637
(c-r-i-m-e-s). The software provider, TipSoft,
encrypts text message and routes it through several
secure servers, protecting the tipster’s identity. The
tip will come in through Crime Stoppers, whose
hotline is monitored around the clock, and then
be sent immediately to CCSO. Once CCSO receives
the tip it will be evaluated to determine the most
appropriate course of action. Potential actions
include everything from contacting the alleged
bully and victim and their respective parents, to
informing the school guidance counselor, principal
and Youth Relations deputy if the alleged bullying
is taking place at school.
CCPS Superintendent Dr. Kamela Patton said, “We
know how important it is for a responsible adult
to be made aware of instances of bullying. By
providing this new bullying reporting system, we
are meeting students in the digital world in which
they live. We would hope that by using this 21st
century technology as yet another tool, we will be
able to continue to maintain our schools as the safe
havens they are today.”
The system also allows a deputy to respond by text
message to the originating cell phone without ever
knowing the identity of the person who left the
tip. The user’s information is always assigned an
alias and a unique ID before being sent. This secure
application allows the tipster and the investigator
to have two-way dialog while keeping the user’s
identity anonymous.
The service is not for acts of bullying in progress,
which should be reported by calling 911 or CCSO’s
non-emergency line 239.252.9300, depending on
the seriousness of the act.
CCSO paid the cost of adding the DNTH8 keyword
to the existing TipSoft account of Southwest
Florida Crime Stoppers. This approach saves tax
dollars because it is less expensive than creating a
new account. In addition, it means that DNTH8 is
available to law enforcement agencies throughout
the Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers service
area of Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades
counties as a tool to address bullying.
“Teens who are being bullied may be hesitant to tell
a trusted adult, or even a friend, that they’re being
antagonized,” said Crime Stoppers Coordinator
Trish Routte. “Our goal is to provide a safe and
secure outlet for students to share that information
so that law enforcement can intervene and protect
them – all while keeping their identity anonymous.”
DNTH8 is the latest addition to the many bullying
prevention measures already in place through
CCSO, CCPS and Crime Stoppers. Youth Relations
Bureau deputies are assigned to all CCPS schools,
serving as a law enforcement presence to mentor
students and deter crime, including bullying. In
addition, teachers and deputies undergo training
to recognize and address instances of bullying.
CCSO also provides the school district with an
array of safety videos to play during morning
announcements. Several of these videos are on the
topic of bullying. Deputies also make sure students
are aware that they can report crime anonymously
and be eligible for an award by calling the Student
Crime Stoppers phone number, 1-800-780-8477.
CCSO Cell Dog
Program Honored
A Collier County Sheriff’s Office program that
pairs inmates with dogs has been honored
with the Humane Society Naples’ 2012
Animaltarian award.
pilot program in 2011 in coordination
with the Humane Society and its affiliate
Southwest Florida Professional Dog Trainers
Alliance.
CCSO’s Second Chance Cell Dog Program was
honored at the Humane Society’s annual Pet
Lovers Gala on Feb. 18 at the Naples Grande
Beach Resort in North Naples.
“But it didn’t happen without a lot of blood,
sweat and most of all tears,” Sgt. Fox noted.
The pilot program started with four puppies
and seven female inmates. The program
provides several benefits. The pets are
taught positive behavior characteristics that
make them more adoptable to the public
and less likely to return to a shelter. For the
inmates, the program teaches responsibility
and provides other life skills and benefits
potential employment pathways upon their
return to society. Additionally, the puppies’
presence at the jail has a therapeutic effect,
lifting the spirits of the deputies and inmates
alike.
The James P. Dellas & Cheryl Deering
Animaltarian Award, first awarded in 2007,
was established to recognize a community
member or family that goes above and
beyond in their compassion toward and
service to companion animals. Deering
said she and her husband modeled the
Animaltarian after the Humanitarian of the
Year award which typically recognizes a
person’s humanitarianism and community
involvement.
Sheriff Kevin Rambosk accepted the award
for the agency at the Humane Society gala.
Deering, a longtime member of the Humane
Society Board of Directors, said she has been
a proponent of a cell dog program in Collier
County for more than 10 years. These types
of programs have been shown to improve
inmate behavior and reduce recidivism, she
noted.
“I’m really excited we’ve finally been able
to do it because it’s certainly beneficial not
just for the animals but for the people in the
program, and it’s been uplifting for the jail
staff,” Deering said.
It all started with a vision seven years ago,
when Humane Society Naples Executive
Director Michael Simonik arrived at the
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s Second Chance Cell Dog Program was recently honored with an
Animaltarian Award by the Humane Society Naples. Members instrumental in the program are
shown with the award. Front row from left: Sgt. Tammy Ellsworth; Cpl. Portia Rix; Jail Mental Health
Director Anna Messano; Cpl. Maria Padilla, and Cpl. Cindy Donohue. Back row from left: Cpl. Patricia
Feria; Sgt. Christy Fox; Sgt. Adam Schank, Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, Cpl. Rachael German, and Cpl.
Yolanda Crawford. Not pictured are Sgt. Chris Wait, Cpl. Martha Craig, Cpl. Linda Devaney, Cpl. Stacy
Bence, and Cpl. Yadira Wheeler. Photo by Kristi Lester/CCSO
local pet shelter. Realizing the potential to
both pets and people and the value to the
community-at-large, he began the process of
promoting the value of an inmate sponsored
animal care program.
Jail Sgt. Christy Fox also saw the value in
pairing inmates with animals. Bringing a
cell dog program to the jail had long been a
passion of hers.
“I remember cornering the Sheriff in the
elevator a few years ago when I was so lucky
to have been taking him on a tour of the jail
and asking him what he thought about the
program,” Sgt. Fox recalled. “He said he liked
the idea and to submit the paperwork.”
With the blessing of Sheriff Rambosk and
Corrections Chief Scott Salley, Jail Captain
Beth Richards and her team launched the
Cpl. Holt
Honored
By Boy
Scouts
You Can Help Us Keep
Collier County A Great
Place And A Safe Place:
❯ Like us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/colliersheriff
❯ Follow us on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/colliersheriff
❯ Check out our safety messages at
www.ccso.tv and our Youtube channel,
www.youtube.com/colliercountysheriff
❯ Download our iPhone app, CCSO2go,
which is free in the iPhone App Store
❯ Call our Crime Prevention Bureau at
239.252.0700 to organize a Neighborhood
Watch group or schedule a free home or
business security inspection.
❯ Watch “On Scene,” a monthly television
show that provides an up-close look at
CCSO, information on how to stay safe,
information on wanted criminals and
more. “On Scene” airs on the Collier
County government television channel, the
Collier County School District’s Education
Channel and www.ccso.tv
❯ Go to www.colliersheriff.org
and subscribe to the Collier Star
e-newsletter, which delivers agency news
to subscribers’ e-mail in-boxes daily.
Page 2
Y
“I thought why would I be talking about this to
a group of good kids?” Cpl. Holt recalled.
Her instincts were on target.
The invitation was a ruse to get her to Hodges
University on Feb. 23, where Holt was presented
with the Boy Scouts of America District Award of
Merit by the Alligator District of the Southwest
Florida Council of the Boy Scouts. The District
Award of Merit is presented annually by districts
to citizens who provide exceptional service to
Scouting through idealism and citizenship.
Cpl. Holt was recognized for her work with
CCSO’s Explorer’s program, which she has
overseen for the past 16 years.
“I was so surprised,” Cpl. Holt said of the award.
The third cell dog class is under way.
For more information about the Second
Chance Cell Dog Program, or how to adopt
a dog in the program, visit the CCSO
website at www.colliersheriff.org.
Get A CCSO
Speaker
Did you know representatives of the Collier
County Sheriff’s Office are available to speak at
your next event?
outh Relations Cpl. Patti Holt
thought it was odd when she was
invited to speak to the local Boys Scouts
district about the juvenile pre-arrest diversion program she coordinates for the Sheriff’s
Office.
The program celebrated its first graduating
class Dec. 15, 2011, at an emotional
ceremony. A second class debuted Jan. 17
with four dogs and eight inmate trainers
followed by a graduation March 15. For all
of the inmate participants, it was bittersweet
to turn over the dogs to their new forever
families after such a period of love, training
and human-animal bonding.
Cpl. Patti Holt was recently honored with a District
Award of Merit by the Boy Scouts of America Alligator
District. The annual award recognized Cpl. Holt’s 16
years of working with local youth as coordinator of
CCSO’s Explorer program. Submitted photo.
“I think it’s fantastic. It was quite an honor.”
The Explorer program gives young men and
women in the community a hands-on chance to
determine if they want to pursue a career in law
enforcement. It also builds trust and
cooperation between youth and the Sheriff’s
Office.
Holt, a 25-year-veteran of CCSO, is also
coordinator of CCSO’s Civil Citation program.
The pre-arrest diversion program empowers
deputies to issue a civil citation to juveniles in
lieu of an arrest and prosecution for misdemeanor
offenses.
McGruff the Crime Dog welcomes the
opportunity to hang out with the community
and often makes appearances at meet-andgreets hosted by schools, businesses and
residential communities. Crime Prevention
Specialists are also available to speak at public
events or group meetings on a wide variety of
topics including burglary prevention and
personal safety.
For groups that want a more hands-on learning
experience about the operations of CCSO,
agency members from the Crime Scene, K-9,
Marine, Economic Crimes, Bomb Squad, Traffic
Safety, Human Trafficking and Internet Crimes
Against Children bureaus can offer presentations
outlining what a particular bureau does and
issues currently affecting the community. Tours
of the Naples Jail Center, 911 Communications
Center or any of the six sheriff’s substations
located throughout the county can also be
arranged.
To request a CCSO speaker for an upcoming
event or meeting, please fill out an online form
located at www.colliersheriff.org. Under the
“How Do I?” tab on the website, click on the “Get
A CCSO Speaker” link. Or to automatically go to
the form, scan the QR code next to this article.
Presentations and tours are subject to the
availability but public requests are often
accommodated. Please submit requests as early
as possible to help ensure a member of CCSO
can participate.
Be Prepared For A Hurricane
✁
The National Hurricane Center sugges
ts residents should put together a
disaster supply kit before a hurrica
ne hits the Collier County area.
A supply kit shouldd contain at lea
st the foollow
lowing items:
Water – at least one gallon daily per person for
about three to seven days
Food – supply should last about three to seve
n days.
Types of food include:
tnonperishable packaged or canned food
/juices
tfoods for infants or the elderly
tsnack foods
t a nonelectric can opener
t cooking tools and fuel
tpaper plates and plastic utensils
Deputies help clear debris to make neighborhood roadways passable after Hurricane Wilma in October
2005. CCSO file photo.
It’s never too early to start preparing for a hurricane.
The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
Many things must be taken into consideration before a storm hits including stocking up on
supplies, keeping important documents in a safe and accessible location, protecting your home
from damage, and preparing a safety plan for you and your family.
Your Collier County Sheriff’s Office offers these basic tips to help you prepare for the 2012 hurricane
season:
Before the storm
Stock up on essential supplies and secure all important documents in an accessible location. Use
CCSO’s suggested supply list and make sure to include anything else that may be important for you
and your family.
Develop a family disaster plan that meets the specific needs of your family by visiting www.
floridadisaster.org. Don’t forget to also develop a pet disaster plan by micro-chipping your pet,
keeping current on vaccinations and determining how to keep your pet safe during the storm.
Contact Collier County Domestic Animal Services at 239.252.PETS (7387) for more information.
During the storm
Keep phone numbers of local emergency responders
readily available. Collier County Emergency
Management (CCEM) can be reached at 239.252.3600
or visit www.collierem.org for a wide variety of
public concerns including shelter, weather updates
and disaster recovery information. The Sheriff’s
Office non-emergency hotline can also be reached
at 239.252.9300. Only call 911 if you are faced with
Deputies direct traffic at a busy thoroughfare an immediate, life-threatening emergency.
after Hurricane Wilma. CCSO file photo.
If you choose to evacuate your home and go to a
shelter, it is recommended to bring any prescription medications, drinking water, snacks, bedding
(ex: air mattress), entertainment items to help pass the time and at least one pair of clothing.
Follow local media reports about shelter openings.
A person with specific medical needs can qualify to go to a special needs shelter to ensure they
receive any needed treatment during the storm. CCEM maintains a “Person’s With Special Needs”
registry. Persons with special needs must register prior to a storm.
Bedding – blankets, pillows, air mattresses,
etc.
Clean clothing – everyday clothes and rain
gear
Medical necessities – first aid kit and med
ications
Any special items especially for infa
nts or the elderly
Toiletries and hygiene items
Flashlights with batteries
Battery operated radio
Fully charged cell phone(s) with
extra battery
Cash and credit cards – banks and ATM
extended periods following a hurrican
e
s may not be available for
Keys to your home, vehicle(s), saf
es, etc.
Toys, books and games
Important documents - insurance infor
mation, medical records, bank
account numbers, Social Security card
s, and any other forms of photo iden
tification such as a driver’s license or pass
port. These documents should be safe
ly
contained in a waterproof container
or a plastic bag
A set of tools
Remember to fill your vehicle’s gas
tank
Pet care items – identification/shot records/m
food and water, and a carrier or cage
edications, ample supply of
After the storm
If you evacuate, make sure to bring along photo identification (ex: driver’s license) and proof of
residency (ex: copy of a utility bill) in order to re-enter your home.
Before re-entering your home after evacuation, emergency responders will have to ensure it is safe
to return. Please be patient as emergency responders must take debris, flooding and other hazards
into consideration.
If your property has endured significant damage requiring repair, make sure to hire licensed
contractors. Unlicensed persons may try to solicit business immediately following a storm and will
often ask for payments up-front and perform little to no repair work. The Federal Trade Commission
works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices. To file a complaint or learn
more about contractor fraud, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll free at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
Ready For Download:
New And Improved CCSO iPhone App
It’s faster and easier to navigate. It’s the new and improved CCSO2go.
The popular Collier County Sheriff’s Office iPhone application is free and ready for download
following a recent upgrade.
The new version of CCSO2go also features an
enhanced arrest log that is searchable by date
or name and displays each arrestee’s charges,
Collier County arrest history for the past 10
years and photograph.
Another major change in the latest version
of the app is more timely push notifications
of CCSO news. By getting information out
quicker, app users can help CCSO solve crimes.
All CCSO-produced videos can now be found
on the app. Users can watch videos on a wide
array of safety topics ranging from distracted
driving to bullying to burglary prevention, as
well as each month’s episode of the agency’s
television show “On-Scene.”
In addition to real-time traffic information
already offered, readers will now find updated
Google street view maps to help them with
their commute.
Launched in 2011, CCSO2go is one of a series of initiatives Sheriff Kevin Rambosk has rolled
out to follow through with his pledge to partner with the community through the use of
technology. Sheriff Rambosk believes the more information our citizens have the safer our
community will be.
In addition to CCSO2go, the agency’s social media platform
includes:
Q A Facebook fan page that features a broad range of
crime and safety news, including videos and information
organized in easy to navigate sections. Separate areas are
established for youth, cold cases, and photos. There’s even
a place where visitors can submit a tip and help solve a
crime. Another section of the fan page offers downloadable
computer wallpaper images. The page can be found at
www.facebook.com/colliersheriff.
Q A Twitter account where followers can stay up-to-date
on news, information and live traffic updates that could
affect their commute.
Q The Collier Star e-newsletter, which delivers agency
news to subscribers’ e-mail in-boxes daily.
Q The Internet site www.ccso.tv, which offers CCSOproduced safety and crime-prevention videos, profiles
of cold cases and unedited footage of CCSO press
conferences.
The new CCSO2go is iPad friendly and available at the iTunes App Store.
If you have already downloaded CCSO2go, please use your iTunes “Updates” feature to
download the latest version and to experience all of the new enhancements. If you are
downloading the app for the first time, you will automatically get all of the new features.
Q “On Scene,” a monthly TV show that provides an up-close look at CCSO, information on how
to stay safe, information on wanted criminals and more. “On Scene” airs on the Collier County
government television channel, the Collier County School District’s Education Channel and
http://www.ccso.tv/.
Page 3
COLLIER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Collier County high
school students
throw candy from
the CCSO float
during the annual
St. Patrick’s
Day Parade in
downtown Naples
on March 17.
Photo by Natalie
Felber/CCSO
Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk greets onlookers during
the annual Frontier Days Festival parade in Golden Gate on
March 10. Photo by Ellen Loftus/CCSO
Jail Captain Beth
Richards and
CCSO mascot
miniature
quarter horse
Cowboy visit
with youngsters
during a safety
fair at Temple
Shalom in
Golden Gate on
Feb. 19. Photo by
Ellen Loftus/CCSO
McGruff the Crime Dog did a meet-and-greet with pet owners and
their furry companions during an open house at Animal Specialty
Hospital of Florida in East Naples in February. McGruff and Collier
County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention specialists offered tips on
how to stay safe. Photo by Connie Ledbetter/CCSO
Kids received hands-on lessons in bicycle safety from Collier County
Sheriff’s Office deputies during a bike rodeo in Immokalee in March.
Deputies, including Cpl. Ana Russell, left, taught youngsters how to properly
fit a helmet and to obey all traffic laws. Photo by Cpl. Mike Taylor/CCSO
Page 4