Last week I had the privilege of attending a luncheon sponsored by, “ASIS,” (the American Society for Industrial Security), to honor several of our state and local law enforcement officers. Provident Security hosted a table for some of these outstanding officers and I had the chance to sit and talk with a few of them over lunch. I doubt if any of them would describe themselves as a, “Hero,” but trust me they are deserving of the title. Unfortunately for our society it seems that all to often the media feels that they can only grab our attention with worse and worse headlines about what is going wrong in the world. Shocking acts of a few police officers committing some type of crime reign supreme on the news channels while hundreds of thousands of officers work each day to keep us safe.
Well ASIS took a couple of hours to really show our appreciation for some of these folks who have gone above and beyond to do some good in the world and you might be surprised to know that right here in our local communities heros walk among us each day. Take a few moments to see just what some of these people are doing in our local communities. The following write ups about the actions of law enforcement officers and security guards right here in Tampa Bay will amaze you. I dare you to read what these officers have done and not feel somewhat humbled.
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARDS
DETECTIVE KEN BLESSING
Pinellas Park Police Department
During the past year, Pinellas Park has experienced a significant increase in fraud-related crimes, which can be complex and time consuming to investigate. Detective Ken Blessing has shown a tenacious resolve in locating and apprehending those responsible, including a business partner who was accused of taking kickbacks to the tune of $1.2 million; the employee who stole $1.5 million over five years from his employer; and the nephew who defrauded his uncle, and then the IRS, for over $250,000.Detective Blessing had the experience to know when to dig a little deeper and the ability to ask the right questions at the right times, and obtained full post-Miranda confessions from many of the arrestees. His tenacity and patience have been invaluable in clearing these cases.
SECURITY OFFICER PAUL KOSTIW
Security Forces, Inc.
Paul has been contracted to Progress Energy, and before that as Florida Power, for twenty years, and has been a one-man security team protecting a 15-story corporate office building in downtown St. Petersburg. To pick out one incident is hard; he has been the first responder on hundreds of incidents of trespass and medical emergencies. Paul has done such an exemplary job that we have to continually remind employees to call the police, and not Paul, in emergencies. Paul has a keen sense of the right thing to do, and instinctively moves to minimize risk to all of our employees. He is constantly receiving accolades from our employees, and goes above and beyond to make sure that our security runs smoothly.
DETECTIVE MARVIN L. JOHNSON
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Detective Marvin Johnson is a Warrants Detective who has been assigned to the United States Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, and his primary responsibility is locating and arresting Hillsborough County’s most violent and wanted criminals. During 2009 he worked on many fugitive investigations in coordination with several local and state agencies, during which he conducted presentations to a multitude of agencies and their management of the resources available through the Marshal’s Office. Detective Johnson is highly motivated and takes the initiative to help others when they require assistance, as well as utilizing all resources available. In one case in particular involving two attempted murder warrants resulting from a shooting in Ruskin, Detective Johnson took it upon himself to contact the America’s Most Wanted television show, and after months of persistence, the story was aired. As a result of the show, he has received and followed up on leads from Alabama, Texas, and Mexico. Detective Johnson also led a task force investigation to locate and effect the arrest of a triple murderer who had taken refuge in Pennsylvania. Detective Johnson’s efforts have led to the locating and arrest of a number of violent criminals, making Hillsborough County a safer place to live.
DETECTIVE KEVIN MATHENY
Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Detective Matheny was assigned to investigate the case of the theft of an agency-issued .223 rifle, rifle case, and two fully loaded magazines from an unmarked agency vehicle parked in a driveway. Initially there were no prints or leads in the case, so Detective Matheny conducted two comprehensive neighborhood canvasses, put together crime stopper bulletins, and distributed flyers throughout the community. Detective Matheny’s interviews produced an arrest, and prior to being jailed, the suspect agreed to show him where the rifle could be found on Moore Road, but it was not at that location. Not satisfied, Detective Matheny and members of the Northwest General Crimes unit conducted a massive search of the Moore Road area, and located the rifle in its case hidden under heavy underbrush. Detective Matheny’s hard work and perseverance were instrumental in closing this case.
SPECIAL AGENT VICTORIA MORRIS
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
The Office of Financial Regulation requested the assistance of FDLE regarding alleged securities fraud violations involving BBG Risk Management, Inc. and BBG Investments, LLC in the amount of $1.3 million. These companies and their principals had never been registered as required by law. Special Agent Morris was relentless in her dedication to move this case forward, and her attention to detail and documentation provided the Office of Statewide Prosecution with the base to formulate the information charging the four targets with security fraud violations. What normally requires 6 months to a year to investigate, Special Agent Morris achieved in less than 3 months. The four principals were all charged with felonies. Special Agent Morris’s enthusiasm and perseverance working under time constraints, and her unwavering attention to interview victims and witnesses and obtain documentation to support the criminal activity was of paramount importance.
OFFICER MICHAEL WALKER
Holmes Beach Police Department
On August 7th, 2009, Officer Walker and another officer responded to a disturbance call. Upon arrival, Officer Walker observed a subject inside of a residence violently attacking his female roommate. It also appeared that the subject, who had just been released from jail earlier that day, was about to beat her with a large padlock that he had in his hand. Officer Walker entered
the residence and physically gained control of the subject, saving the victim from at least great bodily harm.
EXCELLENCE IN PERFORMANCE AWARDS
DEA SPECIAL AGENT DANIEL McDONOUGH, DEA SPECIAL AGENT DEXTER McGEE, DEA TASK FORCE AGENT ALEJANDRO ANGULO, & POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE DETECTIVE THERESA EDMISTON
On March 30th, 2010, the DEA Tampa District Office/Task Force 1 and organized crime and narcotics detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, working in conjunction with the Office of Statewide Prosecution, conducted 11 search warrants, seized 128.5 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 36.3 pounds of cocaine, 15 vehicles, 9 weapons, approximately $533,450 in US currency, and arrested 21 suspects in the culmination of a nearly 4-month long wire tap investigation. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd conservatively estimated the street value of the seized drugs at $15 million. The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation dates back to 2006 and was initiated to target a Mexican drug trafficking organization transporting large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine into the greater Tampa Bay metropolitan area. DEA Special Agents McDonough and McGee, DEA Task Force Agent Angulo, and Polk County Sheriff’s Office Detective Edmiston spearheaded the case from inception and are considered co-case agents. All four demonstrated the highest standards of excellence, dependability, adaptability, and a determined resilience to aggressively develop the investigation despite formidable challenges and limited resources.
DETECTIVE EDDIE BENITEZ, DETECTIVE JASON PEREZ, & DETECTIVE KATHY CHIN
Lakeland Police Department
In February of 2009 Detectives Perez and Benitez met with agents of the ATF Tampa office and secured the assistance of a confidential source from outside of the area of Polk County. The detectives, working with the ATF, were able to establish a new confidential persona and residence for the informant at a local motel that was the subject of numerous drug complaints and several violent crimes. Detectives developed a target list of the people causing the most negative impact on the area. Detectives Perez and Benitez solicited the assistance of Detective Kathy Chin to assume the undercover role in this operation, which led to the hand-to-hand recorded drug transaction of 22 subjects dealing every type of street drug possible. The investigative work of Detectives Perez and Benitez, as well as the undercover work of Detective Chin, identified other subjects from whom the ATF was able to secure drug and weapon purchases for federal prosecution.
SECURITY OFFICER HANK GOETTELMAN
St. Petersburg Times
Hank takes great pride in his position as a security officer at the Times, but takes more pride in helping the team be the best that they can be. In addition to Hank’s normal responsibilities he has volunteered to develop scenarios and lead the officers in practical training with their batons and OC spray. He has also volunteered to work with the supervisor in maintaining the department’s hurricane and business continuity supplies. He has taken on the responsibility for putting together and issuing the individual security officer emergency response bags, researching any new tools or equipment that should be added, and establishing an onsite first aid station. Hank is a firearms instructor, and has volunteered on his own time to instruct several female staffers on personal safety. Whenever there has been a need for a volunteer to pick up the slack, Hank has devoted his time and energy without a second thought.
DETECTIVE SHAWN HELMER
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
In December of 2009 Detective Helmer was introduced to a subject from whom he gleaned information about an individual stealing & selling flat screen TV’s. Detective Helmer unsuccessfully attempted to purchase some of the stolen property, which included TV’s, wheel rims, and a handgun. Assistance from Tampa Police Department was requested and provided to monitor, ultimately, six potential target sites. Two suspects were observed breaking and entering, so the officers moved in and, following a foot pursuit, captured and arrested the subjects. A third accomplice was arrested in a nearby vehicle, in which a handgun with its serial number removed was discovered under the passenger seat. Clearing this case also cleared cases of another business burglary and vehicle thefts at TIA. While working with another confidential informant, Detective Helmer assisted by other District Intelligence Units and School Resource Deputies, performed surveillance that resulted in the arrests of 5 prolific offenders, including two habitual felony offenders who potentially face life in prison. His perseverance and dedication has cleared the streets of a number of habitual felons.
SECURITY CAPTAIN JAMES McQUEEN
Security Forces, Inc.
Captain McQueen has been responsible for coordinating a National Energy Reliability Commission (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection Site that began as a four man detail totaling 672 man hours per week and expanded, almost overnight, to 2,200 hours per week. His duties include providing all background information and training mandated for these locations, ensuring that all personnel met all NERC CIP requirements and were properly vetted and trained in NERC CIP. Captain McQueen worked the phones, helped interview, and spent countless hours supervising the site. Additionally, he has been instrumental in his liaison efforts with the National Security Detail that oversees access control for the site to insure that his personnel were allowed access to the site. Jim was at the site night and day to ensure that all of the client’s needs were met.
DETECTIVE AUSTIN MILLIGAN
Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Detective Milligan is currently assigned to the Tactical Drug Unit. In early January of 2009 he began receiving intelligence that a large scale, multi-level drug trafficking organization was perating out of Bartow. While following up on this information Detective Milligan began to unravel one of the largest and most violent street level cocaine trafficking syndicates in the history of central Florida. Key members of the organization were identified early on, including its leader, Tennille Sanders. Over the next 11 months, dozens of hand-to-hand narcotics purchases were made by undercover detectives. It was also discovered that the Sanders organization was involved in an ongoing turf war with rival trafficking organizations that turned east Bartow into a mini-war zone, including the murder of a Sanders associate and Sanders himself being shot and left for dead. As a result of Detective Milligan’s investigation, over 60 subjects have been charged with over 250 felony offenses, and the Sanders organization, which was responsible for pushing over $1million worth of crack cocaine per month into central Florida, has been effectively crippled at every level.
SPECIAL AGENT MARTHA MYERS
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Special Agent Martha Myers has been tackling the problem of illegal use of legal prescription drugs, which account for six or seven deaths per day in Florida. Tampa Bay accounts for about 25% of the prescription overdose cases in Florida. Special Agent Myers has coordinated with various local, state, and federal law enforcement and regulatory agencies and formed an informal Task Force in Tampa to address the issue. She has prepared and coordinated the operational plan, investigative funds, evidence processing and maintenance, investigative reports, transcripts, prosecutorial summaries, and follow-up interviews of witnesses. Investigations include internet pharmacy, major pharmaceutical drug diversion, insurance fraud, Medicare and Medicaid fraud, homicide, and scrip mills. Investigations have resulted in 13 search warrants with a majority of the evidence being coordinated by Special Agent Myers and maintained at FDLE. The investigations also resulted in federal indictments and arrests of several medical doctors, one physician’s assistant, two medical employees, and two pharmacists. Two medical doctors and three pharmacists have already voluntarily surrendered their DEA and Florida licenses, and more are expected.
SECURITY OFFICER MELODY RUSSELL
Securitas USA, Inc.
While conducting a vehicle patrol of the JP Morgan Chase Horizons Building parking lot, Officer Russell came upon a black BMW parked near the loading dock with the engine running. The window tint was too dark to see into the vehicle, but it appeared to be unoccupied because knocking on the doors, windows, and roof elicited no response. Several pages were made over the intercom system and Officer Russell continued to query employees and vendors about the vehicle without success. Finding the vehicle still parked with the engine running, and running with her intuition that something was very wrong, more investigation revealed the car was not reported as stolen, and Officer Russell obtained a description of a male Chase employee seen exiting the vehicle. She proceeded to conduct a floor by floor search to identify the employee, and with only 10 minutes left on her shift, she asked a new employee if he knew anything about the car. He was surprised that the car was still on site, because his girlfriend had dropped him off after having lunch. He ran to the car and after gaining entry found his girlfriend lying unconscious across the seats. He drove her to the hospital, where it was determined that she had lapsed into a diabetic coma but would recover. Had it not been for Officer Russell’s persistence and extra effort to find the employee, the outcome could have been tragic.
SPECIAL AGENT ELLEN WILCOX
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Special Agent Ellen Wilcox works for the FDLE Tampa Bay Regional Operation Center Economic Crime Squad, and she is nationally recognized as an expert in the field of mortgage fraud. Florida ranks first in the nation in mortgage fraud, and the Florida legislature has passed stringent legislation facilitating the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of mortgage fraud. Special Agent Wilcox is currently the Case Agent of a very complex mortgage fraud investigation that has an impact on Florida and nationally, and is one of the first criminal investigations wherein both the brokers and lenders were arrested. To date, Special Agent Wilcox has arrested approximately 20 subjects nationwide charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, obtaining of a mortgage by false representation, and second-degree grand theft by obtaining mortgages in the names of victims solicited for home improvement projects. In total these subjects have submitted approximately 180 loans totaling nearly $18 million, and 129 of these loans were funded in the amount of approximately $13 million.
SECURITY OFFICER of the YEAR
OFFICER ERIC MOCK Critical Intervention Services
On August 30th, 2009, at approximately 2317 hours, Protection Officer Eric Mock was on patrol at an apartment complex when he observed smoke emanating from an apartment with the fire alarm sounding. Officer Mock immediately contacted his operations center via radio for fire and medical response. Officer Mock proceeded to see if the apartment was occupied, but there was no answer and the front door was secure. He then located a slightly open window that he used to gain entry to the apartment, which was filled with smoke. Nobody answered when he called out, but he was able to find a female resident collapsed on the floor and semi-responsive. He picked up the resident, carried her to safety, and tended to her until fire and medical personnel; arrived and rendered assistance. Officer Mock’s actions probably saved the life of the resident. There was a highly unusual situation regarding the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, something that the awards committee has never run into before. There were eight nominations of law enforcement officers who risked their own safety to save someone’s life. The committee was stuck with the question of how do you determine one life-saving act to be more worthy than another? The answer is, you don’t, you honor them all. So, I will now read the stories of the eight co-winners of the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Awards in alphabetical order.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS of the YEAR
OFFICER SAM COHL
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
On the evening of Saturday, August 23, 2009, at approximately 1030 hours, Officer Sam Cohl and Officer Barry Shaw were sitting in Officer Cohl’s vehicle reviewing an earlier poaching case when they observed an individual operating her vehicle in a careless manner. She proceeded to hit a curve and continue down a dead end road, going out of sight behind some mangroves. Officers Cohl and Shaw followed down the road, but the vehicle was nowhere to be seen. Officer Shaw looked over the seawall and observed a completely submerged vehicle in the water, at which point Officer Cohl stripped off his equipment, told Officer Shaw to contact dispatch, and dove into the water. About 30 feet out he dove down to the vehicle, was able to feel the driver’s arm, pulled her from the vehicle, and swam back to shore, where Officer Shaw started CPR. The two officers administered CPR for approximately seven minutes and were able to obtain a pulse and some gasping for air. She was turned over to EMS and brought to the hospital in critical condition, later recovering from her injuries.
OFFICER DAVID DURRANCE
Bradenton Police Department
On Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009, the Bradenton Police Department received an emergency call regarding an attempted bank robbery at the Gateway Bank on Manatee Avenue West. The bank employees reported that they observed the suspect, later identified as 66-year old Charles Kincaid, Jr., of Sebring, wearing gloves and pulling a bandana over his face as he stood outside of the bank’s front doors and they recognized him as being a suspect in recent armed bank robberies. When he pulled on the doors and realized that they were locked and that he had been seen by the bank employees, he quickly made his getaway in a blue Dodge pickup truck. Sgt. Curtis Johnson and Officer David Durrance heard the call and immediately responded to the area, spotting the suspect as he fled south. They conducted a felony stop and noticed that Mr. Kincaid fit the description of the bank robber, and there was a blue bandana in plain view on the front seat. With Sgt. Johnson at the driver’s door and Officer Durrance at the passenger door, Kincaid realized that he had no route for escape. He quickly grabbed a .380 caliber handgun that he’d hidden beneath him, and as he acquired Sgt. Johnson in his sights he was shot in the torso by Officer Durrance. Sgt. Johnson, at the same time, observed Kincaid pointing the gun at him and was beginning to move from the threat while firing one round from his service weapon. Mr. Kincaid was taken into custody and transported to the hospital, and was subsequently charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and Attempted Armed Robbery. It is without a doubt that the quick actions of Officer Durrance saved Sgt.Johnson from death or serious harm.
DETENTION DEPUTY PHILLIP FILLIE
Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Fillie was involved in two lifesaving events this past year. In May of 2009, while driving home, he came upon an overturned vehicle on the side of the road. He stopped to render assistance, and quickly determined that there was a woman trapped in the overturned vehicle. Without hesitation he crawled inside the vehicle to assist the woman, and assisted during her extrication by holding a spine immobilization splint on her. Shortly after, EMT’s arrived and took over care of the woman, and Deputy Fillie remained on the scene with the woman’s family until Highway Patrol arrived. His quick thinking and willingness to render aid proved invaluable in saving this woman’s life. In addition to this action, while on duty at the Central County Jail in September, he noticed an inmate slumped to the floor next to the telephone bank in the dayroom. He immediately summoned assistance, noticed that the inmate’s skin was beginning to turn purple, and he was not breathing. Deputy Fillie administered rescue breathing, and he began to breathe on his own. He later made a full recovery. Once again, his quick thinking and action proved invaluable to saving a life.
CORPORAL JAMES “MIKE” HILL
Tampa Police Department
On Saturday, August 22nd, 2009 at 1150 hours Tampa Police received an call reference a female subject armed with a handgun threatening suicide on West Kennedy Boulevard. Cpl. Mike Hill responded with other officers and found the her sitting outside on the ground between two buildings. She appeared to be talking on a cell phone, and officers noted that she held a semi-automatic handgun in her other hand. Cpl. Hill deployed his carbine and took up a position to the south of the female. As a tactical plan was being devised, the female suddenly put down her phone and raised the weapon in a two-handed grip. She charged her weapon as she leaned to her left and slightly out of the officer’s line of sight. As one officer expected to hear a gunshot, he saw Cpl. Hill suddenly run from his position, through a hole in a fence, and toward the female. Unknown to the other officers on the scene, Cpl. Hill had observed the fully loaded magazine fall from the weapon and a live round eject from the chamber when she charged her weapon. Before she could react she was subdued and the 9mm handgun secured. Due to Cpl. Hill’s keen observation and quick decision to charge the subject, she was not only prevented from hurting herself but also from forcing law enforcement to react to her actions with deadly force.
CAPTAIN RICK HOHL, JR.
Polk County Sheriff’s office
On October 27, 2009, Capt. Hohl donated one of his kidneys to a complete stranger after hearing of his dire need for a transplant. The recipient of the kidney, veteran Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Johnnie Briggs, suffered from polycystic kidney disease,, an inevitably fatal ailment. Capt. Hohl did not run into a burning building to save an occupant nor brave gunfire in defense of another, but sacrificed one of his own living organs to help save the life of another human being. When questioned by many on how he could give so much of himself, knowing the risks of surgery and possible difficulties in the future, Capt. Hohl simply stated, “It’s the easiest decision I have ever made.” Of the fifty people who responded to the plea for help from Okaloosa County, ten candidates were accepted for testing, and Capt. Hohl was the only match. His unselfish act undoubtedly saved the life of deputy Johnnie Briggs, and exemplifies true bravery.
DEPUTY GENE NAULT & DEPUTY ROB MARTIN
Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office
On January 25, 2009, patrol units were dispatched to Fruitville Road and Coburn Road in reference to a vehicle having driven into a pond. Deputy Gene Nault and Deputy Robbie Martin were first to arrive on scene. The vehicle was completely submerged in the pond, and a witness advised that no one had emerged from the vehicle. Without concern for their personal safety, both deputies immediately removed their gear and swam to the vehicle. Despite the cold water and very limited visibility, Deputy Nault dove underwater, reached through the partially open passenger window, and opened the door. Deputy Nault freed the victim from his seatbelt and pulled the driver to the surface, while Deputy Martin swept the vehicle for any other occupants. The driver was conscious although appeared to be suffering from a seizure. He was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The decisive actions of these deputies undoubtedly saved the driver of the vehicle from drowning.
DEPUTY VERONICA MONSIVAIS
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office
On November 17th, 2009, Deputy Monsivais, while off duty, was walking her son home from school when her neighbor ran out of her burning garage on fire. She was apparently the victim of a domestic dispute with her husband, who proceeded to set her and their home on fire. Deputy Monsivais took her son’s jacket and extinguished the flames, then went into her own home and called 911. Her courageous actions prevented a potentially deadly situation.
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The next time you see one of our fine local law enforcement officers, simply say, “Thank You.”
by
Bryan Makowski
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