News & Views: October - December 2020

Issue 4: October - December 2020

The sheriff’s office outfitted 30 deputies with body-worn cameras for an initial field trial to help maintain transparency with the community and build trust with the public.

The answer is on page 12.

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Which unit uses special goggles during training?

October - December 2020

Pinellas County

Sheriff’s Office

A publication of the External and Legislative Affairs Section of the Public Relations Bureau Editor Joanna Cheshire Assistant Editor/Writer Michelle Whiting Designer Ryan Gordon

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In-Network Versus Out-of-Network What is the Difference?

C T’S

When choosing a provider or facility for medical care, members should consider if they are innetwork or out-of-network. Knowing the difference between in-network and out-of-network care can help lower your medical costs. If a doctor or facility is out-of-network, your out-of-pocket costs will be much higher than the in-network discounted rate.

R NE OR

How do I find in-network providers?

Use the “Find a Doctor” tool on www.myuhc.com, or the Health4Me mobile app, to find in-network providers.

If you are having trouble finding a specific doctor or facility, contact Pablo Bravo, the on-site UnitedHealthcare representative.

How does out-of-pocket maximum work?

An out-of-pocket maximum is a cap, or limit, on the amount of money you have to pay for covered health care services in a plan year. If you meet that limit, UnitedHealthcare will pay 100% of all covered health care costs for the rest of the plan year. The sheriff’s office plan year is October 1st to September 30th.

If you have dependents on your plan, you have an individual out-of-pocket maximum and a family out-of-pocket maximum. Any expenses that are paid under the individual’s plan will also apply toward the family out-of-pocket maximum.

What is the difference between an individual and family out-of-pocket maximum?

Out-of-pocket costs for each person goes toward meeting the family out-of-pocket maximum. This includes costs for deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. If the family out-of-pocket cost is met, the plan takes over paying 100% of all covered costs for the rest of the plan year.

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For questions, contact UnitedHealthcare Representative Pablo Bravo at 727-582-5955 or Pablo_bravo@uhc.com

Congratulations to the members who were recognized by community groups.

DUI Unit, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Florida, Dedication to DUI Enforcement for a Large/Urban Agency and Dedication to DrugImpaired Driving Enforcement for Large/Urban Agency

Deputy Christos Bakomihalis, Deputy Sean Gilroy, Corporal Nick Forgione, VFW Post #2550, Dunedin, Law Enforcement Officers of the Year

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Florida recognized Sergeant Mark Eastty, Deputy Chase Berger III, Deputy Levi Blake, Deputy Damon Laney, and Deputy Joshua Ricottilli at the virtual MADD Florida Statewide Law Enforcement Recognition Event on October 20, 2020, for their outstanding work in 2019. Sergeant Eastty received the Dedication to DUI Enforcement Award. Deputy Blake and Deputy Ricottilli received the Century Award for making more than 100 DUI arrests in 2019. Deputy Blake received the Dedication to Drug-Impaired Driving Enforcement Award, and Deputy Laney and Deputy Berger were also recognized for their hard work in the DUI Unit in 2019.

On July 13, 2020, Deputy Bako Bakomihalis and Deputy Sean Gilroy responded to a complaint of a strong odor of marijuana coming from a room at the Holiday Inn Express in Oldsmar. Upon inspection of the room, Deputy Bakomohalis and Deputy Gilroy observed large amounts of marijuana, THC cartridges, and firearms. Having extensive experience in narcotics, Corporal Forgione responded as well and executed the search of the hotel room with Deputy Gilroy, obtaining 67 pounds of marijuana, 363 individual THC vape cartridges, five handguns (one of which was reported stolen), two rifles, about 71 doses of Alprazolam, and $36,415. Due to Deputy Bakomihalis’ ability to gain consent to enter the room, large amounts of narcotics and weapons were removed from the streets. In addition, Corporal Forgione’s and Deputy Gilroy’s work led to the arrests of the occupants on multiple felony charges. For their exceptional performance involving this case, Corporal Forgione, Deputy Bakomihalis, and Deputy Gilroy earned the 2020 Law Enforcement Officers of the Year Award.

Detective Josh Zarasvand, Law Enforcement

Detective Josh Zarasvand was assigned to a case involving child pornography in February 2020. When Detective Zarasvand interviewed suspect Miguel Hernandez, he admitted to viewing one of the discovered pornographic images. Detective Zarasvand obtained consent to search Miguel’s cell phone and found numerous images and videos of child pornography. Through continued questioning, Detective Zarasvand obtained a confession from Hernandez that he had sexually abused his biological daughter approximately 10 times when she was an infant. Without Detective Zarasvand’s interview approach, neither the hidden child pornography nor the victim of sexual abuse would have been discovered.

Deputy Leroy Shackelford, Detention

Deputy Leroy Shackelford is the true definition of professionalism. He always arrives to work with a positive attitude and routinely gives 100% effort.

Three times in one week, Deputy Shackelford repaired the DDC trash compactor. He volunteers to work in quarantined inmate housing units for other members who have underlying health conditions and looks out for his peers and supervisors. He is truly a bright star at the sheriff’s office, and he is highly appreciated by his peers.

Regan Ribeiro, Support

On July 22, 2020, Child Protection Investigator (CPI) Regan Ribeiro exhibited exemplary character and dedication to ensure the safety of four children who needed immediate care. CPI Ribeiro was assigned a case of child neglect that reported a 3-year-old child had been found naked and alone on 66th Street. The family had been under court-ordered supervision since December 2019 because the father was arrested for driving under the influence with a child in the car. She also identified an incident in February 2020 where the children were exposed to a stabbing in the home. After conducting interviews, CPI Ribeiro confirmed that the children were regularly being exposed to the father in violation of the court order and concluded they could not safely remain in the home. Instead of placing the children in foster care, CPI Ribeiro worked many more hours than required to find relatives who could care for the children and reduce the trauma of being separated from their home. Despite being a new member of the division, CPI Ribeiro did what was right, rather than what was easy, and demonstrated a genuine dedication to the wellbeing of this family.

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October - December 2020

Sheriff’s Christmas Sharing Project Delivers Joy Amid Cancelations Most PCSO members are used to getting up early the first weekend of December, making the journey down to Fort De Soto Park, and participating in Ride & Run With The Stars. However, this year was very different.

When the public health crisis hit in March 2020, it was unclear how long it would be until the sheriff’s office could start planning large events again. In September, we made the difficult decision to cancel Ride & Run With The Stars.

The annual fundraiser has been a key event for decades and gives the community an opportunity to connect with local law enforcement and give back to a good cause.

Sergeant Elizabeth Brady and other members of the planning team were unsure if sponsors and citizens would be able to contribute due to the economic setbacks this year. However, their expectations were exceeded, and the sheriff’s office was able to provide 249 families with holiday gifts, food, and essential items.

A myriad of donors, from individuals who normally run or bike at Ride & Run With The Stars, to local businesses who provide items for the silent auction, took the time to give back to the community. For example, sponsors like Abe’s Place Tap & Grill contributed money this year instead of providing food at the event.

“Everyone felt compelled to do something if they could,”

Sergeant Brady said. “When you are organizing an event, you never know what’s going to happen. People still chose to participate this year without receiving anything in return, and that includes all of our regular sponsors because they all donated without their name or logo being on a shirt, website, or flyer. Restaurants who normally donate food gave money this year despite being closed for a portion of time during the lockdowns. Individuals who usually do the 5K or family bike ride gave from the goodness of their hearts and didn’t get the added fun of participating in a race or receiving a swag bag and t-shirt in return.”

Suncoast Voices for Children normally purchases hundreds of bicycles, but due to COVID-19, the items were not in stock. Instead, the organization adopted 67 children to buy gifts for who were identified

by Child Protection

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Beyond providing gifts and holiday essentials, PCSO was also able to provide Publix gift cards to each family thanks to a $10,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation. The outpouring of support from the community was matched by sheriff’s office members, too, since many units and divisions worked together to adopt families or provide money to purchase gifts. Thanks to everyone’s generosity, the Sheriff’s Christmas Sharing Project received more than $66,000, benefiting 649 children.

Once the donations came in, it was time to “Shop for Santa” at Target. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, members were split into small teams of four and shopped in phases throughout the day. The process took a bit longer,

however, members made memories picking out the toys for kids and also set a positive example for the community. Since Target stayed open to the public this year during the annual holiday shopping event, many customers donated cash or said thank you for providing gifts for people in need.

“This year was most memorable because of the hard times many households have experienced,” Lori Atwater, who serves at the Pinellas County Jail, said. “Some families who requested assistance lost their jobs or suffered drastic income reduction when COVID-19 required businesses to downsize or close. Others became food deficient, so it left many feeling like their dreams of providing for their children would not come true. But, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office made a huge difference by continuing the Sheriff’s Christmas Sharing Project. Being a part of picking out toys for kids and imagining the look on their faces when they wake up on Christmas Day was a joy. Knowing I was involved in fulfilling their wish lists made the time spent so unforgettable and worthwhile.”

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Investigators, deputies, and victim advocates. Another longtime supporter, DITEK, started a toy drive contest to challenge their employees to give. As a result, the sheriff’s office received containers of toys that deputies were able to give to families in need throughout the holiday season.

October - December 2020

Great American Teach-In Since deputies could not visit classrooms for the Great American Teach-In this year due to COVID-19, they shared safety tips, and their job responsibilities with students virtually. The Public Relations Bureau produced four videos featuring different deputies so that schools throughout Pinellas County could learn more about law enforcement and get to know the faces of the sheriff’s office. You can watch the videos on the “Pinellas Sheriff” YouTube channel and then share the links with friends and family on social media.

Safety Tips for Kids Deputy Kenisha Deg shares some general safety tips for kids, including what to do when talking to strangers, getting lost, or being bullied at school.

https://youtu.be/6xBuoE7lPB8

Touring A Patrol Tahoe Deputy Sean O’Brien gives an in-depth tour of a patrol Tahoe, from showing the laptop used to track dispatched calls to the cameras inside the vehicle.

https://youtu.be/8T6-eYAGRkM

Serving at the Jail Sergeant Freddie Hayes Jr. shares what his duties and responsibilities are working at the Pinellas County Jail.

He covers serving meals to inmates in the kitchen and training deputies on the Corrections Response Team.

https://youtu.be/lcRcSbA9LTo

Touring the 39-Foot Safe Boat Corporal Randy Hart gives an in-depth tour of the Marine Unit’s 39-foot safe boat and covers the safety and rescue equipment on-board, as well as other operational features.

https://youtu.be/jWQq6lOIUys

2021 PCSO calendars are now available!

Get your FREE copy while supplies last.

Sheriff ’s Administration Building

10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo North District Station

2496 Bayshore Boulevard, Dunedin

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O S C P E H T W O N K U DO YO 2021

In 1945, murder suspect John Calvin Russell, known as “Rastus,” escaped from the county jail in Clearwater.

More than a thousand people took part in the posse to search for him, and many people remember the story to this day.

to catch him. Crain invited Rastus to go scalloping on the Dunedin flats, figuring that was a great place for an arrest because his escape route was limited. However, when lawmen confronted Rastus, he began swimming away. Eventually, he became exhausted and surrendered.

Russell was nicknamed Rastus when he entered a mental institution at the age of 10. After attempting a robbery in his youth, he was judged insane and sent to a state mental hospital, but he was released in 1941. What ensued was a series of horrible crimes.

Twenty days after his arrest, Rastus escaped from jail after hitting the jailer in the head with a metal pipe. This sent the county into a panic. Citizens felt anxious and made sure to lock their doors.

Once news of the murders came out, Rastus’ landlord, Sam Crain, noticed weapons in the tenant’s room and notified the police. Sheriff Todd Tucker and Constable Walter Carey set up a trap using Crain’s assistance

On the fourth day, an orange grove worker at Lake Thonotosassa found Rastus and reported him.

Hillsborough County Deputy Bob Spooner and Officer Frazier and his bloodhounds responded. As Officer Frazier entered the grove, Rastus jumped out at him with a knife.

Frazier fired at him three times, killing him. He said Rastus’ last words were, “You fellows killed me, and I’m glad you did.”

The infamous story of Rastus was so well-publicized that the band, Adrienne Young & Little Sadie, wrote a song about it called, “Rastus Russell.” It can be found on YouTube. The chorus says, “Rastus Russell, born of bad blood, raised on misery, murder, and mud. Only good thing in this whole song is Rastus Russell is dead and gone!”

Information/photos provided by PCSO Archive Historian Penny Cooke.

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On the morning of August 7, 1949, Rastus went to the home of Norman Browne and his wife Annie in Crystal Beach. Noticing the “for sale” sign out front, Rastus asked Browne if he could look at the property. After the couple let him inside, Rastus demanded money, ransacked the home, murdered Norman, and critically injured Annie. This crime was interrupted by the owner of a local grocery store, Miles Crum, and his wife Thelma, who were carrying their infant child with them as they approached the house. Rastus shot and killed Miles, struck Thelma and the baby with the butt of his 12-gauge shotgun, and drove away in their car.

During the search, which was the largest in Pinellas County history, there was also a hurricane warning. Yet, most citizens remember being more scared of Rastus on the loose. Sheriff Tucker brought in the National Guard, Plant City Officer Harry Frazier and his bloodhounds, Flip and Flop, and pilot Bobo Hayes to assist with the manhunt.

October - December 2020

Resiliency & Wellness Stress Management Workshop January 26th & 27th Open to All Members 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. / 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Sheriff’s Administration Building, Room 180

As part of the Wellness and Resiliency Program, the sheriff’s office is offering workshops by Dr. Lisa Grossman of SMR Performance Counseling to cover topics related to stress management, mental health, and overall wellness.

Dr. Grossman has been working in the performance psychology field for almost 15 years and has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Florida State University. She has experience working with the U.S. Army, government agencies, combat veterans, and law enforcement officers throughout the country. She started SMR Performance Counseling about four years ago with the desire to focus more on working directly with law enforcement.

Some of the topics Dr. Grossman covers in her classes include mental wellness, resiliency, physical health, stress management, peak performance skills, and ways to enhance overall health.

“Mental health is a key piece of performance psychology and people must learn how to navigate stress to maintain it,” Dr. Grossman said. “I am very focused on working with law enforcement because everyone I love wears a uniform. My mom is a retired police officer with the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), my brother is a homicide detective with the MDPD, and my sister and brother-in-law are both deputies with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. I have been around law enforcement my entire life and have seen how important mental health is. I want officers to learn how to manage stress and not only get through this career healthy but also be able to enjoy retirement.”

Dr. Lisa Grossman

Dr. Grossman has taught one workshop at the sheriff’s office so far, and she said she felt it went great. Many members have reached out to her for additional materials and have asked follow-up questions.

A few of the first class attendees shared their thoughts on the workshop: Sergeant Maurice McCloud, Crime Prevention and Community Awareness Unit “The stress management class was helpful as it allowed me the opportunity to identify, visualize, and accept the reality of how much stress I was under and what life situations were causing it. I learned to take time to care for myself and be aware of the issues that cause unnecessary stress and how to manage them.”

Patricia Chamorro-Altamirano, Grants Administration “This class helps unsworn members like me understand the struggles and realities that law enforcement deals with during their career and even after retirement. I walked away feeling more sympathetic and with new knowledge that I can apply to my own life and share with my family, friends, and colleagues.”

Captain Michael Leiner, Youth Education and Administrative Services Division “I would definitely take this class again. For long-term health, deputies need to start fully understanding the negative impacts long-term stress can have on them, and what they can do to help combat it.”

Register on SONET by clicking on “Support” then “Available Classes”

To receive more information about any of these Resiliency and Wellness Program initiatives, please contact Gretchen Reagan in the Human Resources Bureau at greagan@pcsonet.com or (727) 582-6226.

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PCSO Celebrates Championship Hockey Seasons This December, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office celebrated the sport of hockey two ways. The PCSO Stars won their first championship, and the Stanley Cup made a visit to the Sheriff’s Administration Building.

The PCSO Stars started their fourth hockey season in September 2020 at the Tampa Bay Skating Academy.

According to Sergeant Matt Wilkins, who is the captain of the team, the season had its ups and downs. They had six wins and four losses, ending up third in overall league standings.

After sweeping three rounds of the playoffs, they won the league championship.

players, including Deputy James Haley and Deputy Zach Rennie, which added some more depth to our team. We also added Officer Jeremy Curvan from the Clearwater Police Department to play goalie, which is a very technical and specialized position.”

During their final game, The Stars were tied three to three after regulation, and they played the first overtime four on four, and remained tied after five minutes. With less than one minute and 35 seconds remaining in the second overtime, Detective Sosa took a pass from Deputy Smith through the center ice and scored the winning goal. Detective Sosa hoisted the trophy, known as the “Stanley Keg,” over his head and celebrated with the whole team.

“I was very happy with the win and proud to have the opportunity to represent the agency in the community,” Wilkins said. “We are looking forward to the upcoming season, reloaded and recharged, and working at winning all over again!”

“The previous season we were eight and two and came up short losing both playoff games, so it felt really good to have much better results in the end,” Wilkins said. “Although our overall record was not as good during this season compared to the previous, I felt the team was more determined to win this time. We added a few PCSO members, including the Stars hockey team, had the opportunity to take photos with the famous Stanley Cup on December 15, 2020, when it came for a visit in honor of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s victory this year.

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October - December 2020

TRANSITIONS

Changes In The Troops

For promotions, transfers, and new hires, go to SONET, “Administration,” “Human Resources,” “Changes in the Troops.”

LENGTH OF SERVICE

Sergeant Jason Schmittendorf. . . . 15 Years

Diana Johnson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Years

The Fiscal Affairs Bureau records indicate the following members have reached anniversary milestones with the Sheriff’s Office. Members with questions about their Length of Service certificates or photos, please call 582-6221.

Annette Shapiro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Tom Lancto. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Years

Deputy Patricia Shoberg. . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Mary Powers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Years

Deputy Mario Velazquez. . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Corporal Ginger Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Years

Corporal Frederick Waters III. . . . . . 15 Years

Eileen Taylor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Years

OCTOBER 2020

Deputy Brian Williams. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Corporal Hal White. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years Corporal Bill Wiltse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

OCTOBER 2020

Nicole Akers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years

Sergeant Matthew Wroe . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Joy Jimenez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years

Sergeant James Arntz. . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Deputy Phyllis Kahan Gaines. . . . . . 10 Years

Lola Castillo-Belcher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Vicki Norman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years

Laurel Conrad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Ashley Pagan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years

Paul Cowan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Bob Ross. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years

Lieutenant Christina Cuttitta. . . . . . 20 Years

Deputy Bill Smith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years

Deputy Paul Davis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Tayloria Turner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years

Deputy Jana Demperio. . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

John Agresta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Deputy Donald Denbow. . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Kenneth Banks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Lieutenant Dennis Dotson . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Sergeant Stephen Bergstrom. . . . . 15 Years

Sergeant Jason Franjesevic . . . . . . . 20 Years

Lieutenant Kellie Blount . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Deputy Kris Fratus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Deputy Andrew Boesl. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Tamika Griffin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Sergeant Joleen Bowman. . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Sergeant Brandon Harvey. . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Deputy Christopher Brady . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Bobbie Hodson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Robia Brown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Carolyn Ivey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Sergeant Kelly Bush. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Corporal Jamason Jessie . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Deputy Mark Doncaster. . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Kelly Johnson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Deputy Michael Garasic. . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

James Jones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Corporal Christopher Giles. . . . . . . . 15 Years

Deputy Chiquita Khan. . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Detective Albert Johnson III, Investigative Operations Bureau

Pamela Gilmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Captain Nicholas Lazaris. . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Kristin Jones, Support Services Bureau

Lieutenant Spencer Gross. . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Heather Meade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Deputy Sarah Harlan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Deputy David Merrill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Detective Angela McNealy-Simmons, Investigative Operations Bureau

Deputy Patrick Harlan. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Trnette Minor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Deputy Sean O'Brien, Public Relations Bureau

Sergeant Lorraine Hinson. . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Frances Rodriguez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Deputy Jeremy Kurella. . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Deputy Joann Roundtree . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Detective Anthony Orlowski, Investigative Operations Bureau

Deputy Crystal McGill. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Angela Salazar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Deputy Robert Moodie. . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Corporal Adam Sarlo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Deputy John Newman Jr.. . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Lieutenant Michael Smalley. . . . . . . 20 Years

Deputy Christopher Noury. . . . . . . . 15 Years

Regina Smith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Deputy Sean O'Brien. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Tanya White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Nathan Shawen, Information Technology Bureau

Kimberly Priest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Karen Zulla. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years

Corporal Josh Short, Patrol Operations Bureau

Deputy Charles Reiter Jr.. . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Deputy Ronald Barbetto. . . . . . . . . . 25 Years

Deputy Alex Siem, Patrol Operations Bureau

Corporal Travis Roberts . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years

Sergeant Frank Felicetta III. . . . . . . . 25 Years

Dale Smith, Support Services Bureau

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Due to the changing number of entries in this edition, we apologize for any unintended omissions.

Corporal Rod Bisson, Investigative Operations Bureau Corporal Michael Blisniuk, Patrol Operations Bureau Detective Walter Bonasoro, Investigative Operations Bureau Tristian Byrne, Judicial Operations Bureau Lola Castillo-Belcher, Information Technology Bureau Deputy Patrick Harlan, Patrol Operations Bureau Detective Corey Hood, Investigative Operations Bureau Sergeant Greg Horton, Patrol Operations Bureau Lieutenant Michael Hughey, Professional Standards Bureau Deputy Christopher Jacobs, Patrol Operations Bureau

Kimberly Priest, Intelligence Led Policing Laura Ready, Investigative Operations Bureau Deputy Jason Schein, Strategic Planning Bureau

The following is a list of members and their official retirement dates. Some members opted to use accrued time and leave early, but their official retirement date is listed below.

OCTOBER 2020 Cynthia Reed retired 10/2/2020 after 34 years of service.

Deputy Bruce Wilson retired 10/2/2020 after 32 years of service.

Lieutenant Hardy Taliaferro retired 10/8/2020 after 29 years of service.

Deputy Dave Sheffield retired 10/9/2020 after 27 years of service.

Deputy Brett Savage retired 10/16/2020 after 25 Years of service.

Deputy Alann Gross retired 10/16/2020 after 25 Years of service.

Sergeant Howard Skaggs retired 10/22/2020 after 33 years of service.

Rhonda Smith retired 10/23/2020 after 27 years of service.

Deputy Don McCullough retired 10/23/2020 after 25 Years of service.

NOVEMBER 2020 Deputy Andrea Dye retired 11/2/2020 after 22 years of service.

Deputy Mark Douglas retired 11/5/2020 after 11 years of service.

Deputy Tim Janney retired 11/6/2020 after 15 Years of service.

Deputy Derrick Doss retired 11/30/2020 after 29 years of service.

Diane Bright retired 11/30/2020 after 14 years of service.

Corporal Carol Mac Callum retired 11/30/2020 after 21 years of service.

DECEMBER 2020 Gary Lipski retired 12/1/2020 after 6 years of service.

Glenn Langley retired 12/2/2020 after 17 years of service.

Corporal Jenn Mowry retired 12/4/2020 after 15 years of service.

Lina Darginio retired 12/18/2020 after 14 years of service.

Deputy Hank Whitesell retired 12/22/2020 after 30 years of service.

Lieutenant Jim Wentz retired 12/30/2020 after 31 years of service.

Paul Cowan retired 12/30/2020 after 20 years of service.

NEW HIRES Ermadesa Avdia, Criminal Justice Specialist P/T, Criminal Court Section hired on 11/30/2020.

Szandra Balogh, C.P.I Investigator Trainee, Child Protection Investigations Division hired on 11/16/2020.

Maya Blank, Criminal Justice Specialist Detention & Corrections Bureau hired on 11/9/2020.

Courney Cogdill, C.P.I Investigator Trainee, Child Protection Investigations Division hired on 11/16/2020.

T’nora Dessaw, C.P.I Investigator Trainee, Child Protection Investigations Division hired on 11/9/2020.

Anthony Gaines, Criminal Justice Specialist, Detention & Corrections Bureau hired on 11/9/2020.

Pamela Kilcrease, Licensed Practical Nurse, Medical Division hired on 11/30/2020.

Mariah Laber, Records Data Technician, Records Division hired on 11/23/2020.

Meghan Maloney, Inmate Records Specialist III, Inmate Records hired on 11/30/2020.

Lisa Michaels, Public Safety Telecommunicator, Communications Division hired on 11/30/2020.

Timothy Nowakowski, Warehouse Operations Technician, Purchasing & Materials Division hired on 11/16/2020.

Kristopher Oliveros, Shop Helper, Fleet Services Division hired on 12/14/2020.

John Owens Jr., Public Safety Telecommunicator, Communications Division hired on 11/16/2020.

Lewis Rosebrooks, Warehouse Operations Technician, Purchasing & Materials Division hired on 11/16/2020.

Ann Stanley, Records Data Technician, Records Division hired on 12/14/2020.

Neda Tobin, Administrative Assistant, Alternative Sentencing Unit hired on 11/30/2020.

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RETIREMENTS

DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT

DUI Unit

On June 28, 2019, 17-year-old Sophia Delott was riding her bicycle on the Indian Rocks Causeway Bridge when she was struck and killed by a drunk driver. Sophia attended Seminole High School and was on her way home from work when the drunk driver veered into the bicycle lane and hit her.

Deputy Damon Laney, who has been serving in the DUI Unit for two years and is also on the Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT), recalls this case as the most devastating one he has encountered. Not only has he worked on numerous crashes involving a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but he also has been personally affected by one. On one occasion, a drunk driver ran a stop sign and hit him, causing six people to be injured.

“I feel this unit is extremely important,” Deputy Laney said. “The more drunk drivers we can remove from the roadways, the safer they will be for your family and ours. DUIs are preventable, but when not located and removed from the roads, can cause crashes and even death.”

The DUI Unit often uses stories of tragic incidents like Sophia’s to encourage the public to never drive under the influence. Throughout the year, they visit high schools, military bases, victim impact panels, and other events or community centers to educate citizens about how they can prevent DUIs. One of the tools they use is Fatal Vision Goggles, which gives individuals a perspective of impairment in a safe training environment. Citizens can take the field sobriety test wearing the goggles and learn how a higher blood alcohol content affects a person’s vision and coordination significantly.

Beyond teaching the significance of driving responsibly, the DUI Unit also focuses on locating and arresting impaired drivers, as well as gathering evidence to present in court. The unit regularly schedules wolf packs to saturate the roadways during major holidays and focuses on educating the public.

“I believe that each DUI arrest saves at least one life—the life of the driver,” Sergeant Mark Eastty said. “The unknown tragedies and DUI-related crashes I have helped prevent keeps me going every day.”

Even though patrol deputies can work DUIs, members in the DUI Unit receive advanced training to recognize signs that indicate impairment from alcohol or drugs.

Every person in the unit must be certified in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement, and must become a Drug Recognition Expert.

DUI Unit deputies use the Intoxilyzer 8000 to register a person’s BAC level, record the person’s performance of the Standardized Field Sobriety Test, or test the person for drugs by taking a urine or blood sample. Once all of the evidence is gathered at the Pinellas County Jail, it is presented in court with the arresting deputy present to provide witness.

Currently, the DUI Unit is seeing an increase in DUIs, and they are more commonly drug-based. They have also noticed that many drivers are under the influence of marijuana, which often gives individuals a false sense of security. Medical marijuana can impair a person’s ability to drive a vehicle safely.

While some of the trends over the years have changed, the consequences have not. Jail time, large fines, suspension of a driver’s license, and lawyer fees are the common penalties and often amount to $10,000 or more in costs—not to mention the cost of potentially taking a life.

“I speak all over the state to many groups, and I always say: ‘Impaired driving is one-million percent preventable! It’s 2020, and there is no excuse to drive impaired with the multiple and inexpensive rideshare apps available. There are many inexpensive alternatives to driving impaired.”

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Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office 10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33778 727-582-6200 • www.pcsoweb.com