Issue 1: January - March 2020
K-9 Graduation, March 10, 2020 Pinellas Park High School
Which division houses the facial recognition system called FACES? The answer is on page 11.
January - March 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 Tracey Welch
KEEP YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS SAFE BY FOLLOWING THESE PRACTICES
Spray alcohol on the top and bottom of shoes.
Take a shower before sitting on furniture or getting into bed.
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Now
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Immediately wash clothes or put them in a designated area.
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Throw away any receipts or papers.
Sanitize clothes, cell phones, glasses, keys, work utensils, computers, etc.
Congratulations to the members who were recognized by community groups.
Deputy Charles Reiter Jr., Veterans of Foreign Wars Dunedin Post 2550, 2019 Deputy of the Year Deputy Charles Reiter Jr. was presented this award for his patriotism and hard work in the execution of his duties. Additionally, he was recognized by his peers and superiors as a deputy who serves the community well with integrity. Further, Deputy Reiter Jr. serves citizens in a manner that encourages young men and women to pursue a career in law enforcement.
Sergeant Dave Stang Jr., First Responder Appreciation Award, 25th Annual Commissioner John Morroni First Responder Appreciation Dinner On March 29, 2019, Sergeant Dave Stang Jr. responded to a suspect who fled law enforcement officers during a traffic stop. When confronted, the man fired at Sergeant Stang and shot him in the shoulder. Sergeant Stang fully recovered from the wound and returned to work in the Violent Crimes Task Force. He received the First Responder Appreciation Award for his quick-thinking and bravery. Deputy Bryan Beeler, Deputy Rita Bishop, Deputy Colin Roper, Deputy Jayson Young, 2019 Deputy of the Year, St. Petersburg Lodge No. 1224, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Deputies Beeler, Bishop, Roper, and Young assisted with a water rescue after five swimmers and three firemen were caught in a deadly rip current on St. Pete Beach. Their quick thinking, training, and proper use of safety equipment demonstrated their willingness to serve others, as well as prevented a potential tragedy. Deputy Cory Snyder, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4256, Madeira Beach, 2019 Deputy of the Year Deputy Cory Snyder received this award for his dedicated work and professionalism as a community policing deputy in Madeira Beach.
QUARTERLY BRIGHT STAR AWARDS Corporal Cassie Naylor, Bright Star Award, Detention Corporal Cassie Naylor went above and beyond in her fundraising efforts for Ride & Run With The Stars. She helped raise more than $1,000 and collected donated items to complete a gym-themed basket for the silent auction, which raised $350. She also attended all Department of Detention and Corrections read-offs to encourage a spirit of giving for Ride & Run With The Stars and help the shifts identify how they could participate and raise money for the event. Deputy Stephen Esposito, Bright Star Award, Law Enforcement On November 30, 2019, Deputy Stephen Esposito approached the top of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and observed a vehicle on the shoulder of the road. He observed that a man was about to jump from the bridge. Deputy Esposito made an attempt to speak to him and was able to establish some trust. Deputy Esposito convinced the man to allow law enforcement to help him, and he moved away from the barrier. Deputy Esposito was instrumental in saving the man’s life that day. Kimberly Priest, Bright Star Award, Support On August 22, 2019, detectives in the Robbery/Homicide Unit were called to the City of Oldsmar to investigate a homicide. Kimberly worked with detectives on the case for nearly four days straight with little to no sleep. During that time, Kimberly worked on numerous photo array presentations and intelligence gatherings to provide sound input as the investigation progressed. Kimberly’s significant contributions helped lead detectives to arrest three subjects for first-degree murder.
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January - March 2020
TRANSITIONS
Due to the changing number of entries in this edition, we apologize for any unintended omissions.
Changes In The Troops
For promotions, transfers, and new hires, go to SONET, “Administration,” “Human Resources,” “Changes in the Troops.”
LENGTH OF SERVICE 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.
JANUARY 2020 Sergeant Richard Trump . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Years Deputy John Decker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Years Assistant Chief Deputy Sean Jowell 30 Years Joseph Soutullo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Years Sheila Sommer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Years Deputy Darryl Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Years Deputy Lydia Lang. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Years Corporal Chuck Skipper. . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Years Deputy Angelo Randazzo Jr.. . . . . . . 20 Years James Tolan III. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Sergeant Richard Nascimento Jr. . . 20 Years Corporal Alison Growe. . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Lisa Martin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Deputy Sherie Nichols. . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Robin Clark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Deputy Frank Kroll. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Deputy Jason Brinkerhoff . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Regan Tita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Cynthia Reed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Wandakha Goodridge. . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Patricia Murphy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Kevin King .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Sergeant Joseph Shwallon. . . . . . . . . 20 Years Pamela Wright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Matthew Gleason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Angela Bydalek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Sherri Sivik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Corporal William Godwin. . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Deputy Shawn Latta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Jewel Murphy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Deputy Paul Pantel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Detective Walter Bonasoro . . . . . . . . 20 Years Lieutenant Deanna Carey. . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Lieutenant Joni Goodley. . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Captain Jennifer Love. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Claire Hurtack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Marc Cognetti. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Jacqueline Swingle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years
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Connie Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Abbie Bellinger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Ethel Wright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Deputy Sean Moran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Lori Katsouris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years R.N. Katrina Ray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Deputy Chris Volpe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Lieutenant Paul Ellison . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Sergeant Will Hastings. . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Treasure Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Corporal Daniel Miley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Michael Robinson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Deputy Sandra Montes. . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Judy Bernhardt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Years Sergeant India Clark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years Corporal Nicole Smith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years Deputy Craig Beroshok . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years Sergeant Keith Williams. . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years Sergeant Todd Greene . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years Michael Schiavo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years Nancy Burgarella. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years Deputy Terrance Fallahee . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years Deputy Jeffrey McCants. . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Years Catherine Holloway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years Corporal Walter Etheridge. . . . . . . . . . 10 Years Frances Campbell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years Deputy Carlos Farley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years
Sergeant Richard Trump and Sheriff Bob Gualtieri
Deputy Melissa Silva. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years Corporal Eddie Hillmon IV. . . . . . . . . . 10 Years Deputy Nicholas Beining. . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years Deputy Corey Van Buren. . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years Deputy Karen Murray. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years Corporal Cassie Naylor. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years Deputy Anthony Ricottilli . . . . . . . . . . 10 Years
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD JANUARY 2020 John Agresta, Support Services Bureau Security & Communications Detective Phillip Antonio, Investigative Operations Bureau - Narcotics Division Deputy Robert Bianchet, Patrol Operations Bureau - Special Services Section Deputy Todd Brien, Patrol Operations Bureau - Central District Sergeant James Brueckner, Patrol Operations Bureau - Special Services Section Deputy Tyler Busch, Patrol Operations Bureau - Central District Sergeant Carlos Cianca, Detention and Corrections Bureau - South Division Robin Clark, Support Services Bureau Forensic Science Division Detective William Corser, Investigative Operations Bureau - Burglary & Pawn Jill Degood, Information Technology Bureau Deputy Troy Desmarais, Judicial Operations Bureau - Alternative Sentencing Unit Sergeant Randy Dorr, Patrol Operations Bureau - Central District
FEBRUARY 2020
Corporal Amy Sorg, Detention and Corrections Bureau - South Division Sergeant Jason Stibbard, Investigative Operations Bureau - Burglary & Pawn Deputy Jeffery Swisher, Patrol Operations Bureau - School Resource Unit Deputy Steven Timlin, Patrol Operations Bureau - Flight Unit Lieutenant Carl Vitro, Patrol Operations Bureau - Central District Deputy Jim Walker, Patrol Operations Bureau - School Resource Unit Shelly Walko, Judicial Operations Bureau Alternative Sentencing Unit Deputy Brennen Wede, Patrol Operations Bureau - North District Deputy Chad Whirle, Patrol Operations Bureau - Central District Deputy Wyeth Whitehurst, Patrol Operations Bureau - Canine Unit Ruth Whiteley, Information Technology Bureau Deputy Dustin Wiatrak, Investigative Operations Bureau - Tactical Surveillance Unit Deputy Douglas Willis, Detention and Corrections Bureau - South Division Deputy George Wilson, Judicial Operations Bureau - Criminal Court Squad
RETIREMENTS 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.
Deputy Ben Chieco retired on 2/10/2020 after 21 years of service. Corporal Tim Flanigan retired on 2/7/2020 after 30 years of service. Deputy Darryl Martin retired on 2/28/2020 after 25 years of service. Tammy Russo retired on 2/7/2020 after 31 years of service. Mana Todd retired on 2/6/2020 after 13 years of service. Deputy Doris Woodard retired on 2/3/2020 after 31 years of service. Bernard Yukna retired on 2/20/2020 after 9 years of service.
MARCH 2020 Bonnie Cinis retired 3/31/2020 after 19 years of service. Tempie Etheridge retired 3/3/2020 after 6 years of service. Deputy Cindra Leedy retired 3/27/2020 after 15 years of service. Deputy Jerry Peterson retired 3/5/2020 after 25 years of service. Sergeant Nancy Rodriguez retired 3/5/2020 after 16 years of service. Deputy Mark Shorter retired 3/2/2020 after 18 years of service. Veronica Vaughan retired 3/31/2020 after 30 years of service.
JANUARY 2020
Nelson Acevedo retired on 1/17/2020 after 16 years of service. Connie Bennett retired on 1/27/2020 after 5 years of service. Deputy John Cronin retired on 1/3/2020 after 30 years of service. Julia McNutt retired on 1/31/2020 after 17 years of service. Stacey Wall retired on 1/24/2020 after 17 years of service.
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Corporal Stephanie Elliott, Patrol Operations Bureau - Central District Deputy Walter Evans II, Detention and Corrections Bureau - South Division Deputy Katie Farling, Detention and Corrections Bureau - North Division Charles Galloza, Patrol Operations Bureau Flight Unit Corporal Thomas Goldberg, Patrol Operations Bureau - North District Community Policing Unit Sergeant Mitchell Grissinger, Patrol Operations Bureau - School Guardian Unit Deputy Timothy Jandola, Patrol Operations Bureau - Flight Unit Deputy David Johnston, Judicial Operations Bureau - Court Processing Deputy Cindy Kakalow, Investigative Operations Bureau - Economic Crimes Unit Sergeant Kimberly Kilian, Investigative Operations Bureau - Economic Crimes Unit Deputy Peter Lamborghini, Patrol Operations Bureau - North District Deputy Nicolo Mangiaracina, Patrol Operations Bureau - Flight Unit Nancy Marzi, Judicial Operations Bureau Alternative Sentencing Unit Deputy Jonathan McManis III, Patrol Operations Bureau - Central District Deputy Timothy McTaggart, Patrol Operations Bureau - North District Deputy Robert Minor, Patrol Operations Bureau - Central District Deputy Bridgett Morris, Patrol Operations Bureau - Central District Deputy Scott Murphy, Patrol Operations Bureau - Airport Unit Deputy George Nestorovich, Patrol Operations Bureau - North District Lieutenant Jeremy Nygren, Patrol Operations Bureau - North District Deputy Lawrence Palombo, Patrol Operations Bureau - Central District Corporal Gilberto Perez Jr., Detention and Corrections Bureau - South Division Deputy Damian Peyinghaus, Patrol Operations Bureau - Central District Detective Richard Redman, Investigative Operations Bureau - Homicide and Robbery Deputy Colin Roper, Patrol Operations Bureau - Marine and Environmental Lands Deputy Shannon Roxby, Patrol Operations Bureau - Central District Community Policing Unit Deputy Jamie Schiebner, Patrol Operations Bureau - Central District Community Policing Unit Sergeant Howard Skaggs, Patrol Operations Bureau - Central District Corporal Nicole Smith, Detention and Corrections Bureau - South Division
January - March 2020
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office began to ramp up efforts to respond to the COVID-19 public health crisis in March. As Pinellas County schools closed their doors and the threat of virus transmission increased, it became apparent members needed additional resources to handle the crisis. Sheriff Gualtieri gave members extra sick time in order for them to stay home with young children, quarantine, or care for loved ones. Deputies were provided additional protective equipment and sanitation gear, including N95 masks, hand sanitizer, disposable gloves, and disinfectant wipes in order to help prevent the spread of the virus. While some deputies remained at their assigned post, others needed to be relocated in order to meet new needs and fill new roles, such as patrolling the beaches in order to prevent large groups from gathering. In addition, lunch and dinner were served at the Sheriff’s Administration Building and North District Station so that members could safely and conveniently eat on site. When the number of COVID-19 cases increased throughout the country, Pinellas County officials determined a “Safer-at-Home” order was needed to help flatten the curve. While the majority of citizens stayed safely at home, sheriff’s office members continued going to work, but were screened before entry by health professionals who took body temperatures and checked for symptoms of the coronavirus. Every member who was cleared received a paper arm band for easy identification. However, the physical health of every member was not the only priority; mental health also became a crucial component of the COVID-19 response. Free 50-minute telehealth sessions with a licensed mental health counselor were offered so that members could process any changes in their home lives and feelings of fear, anxiety, or sadness. In addition, Pinellas County Animal Services created a “stress relief area” so that members could play with or pet a dog for a few moments out of their stressful workdays. Although no one knows when life will return back to “normal,” the reality is by working together and helping others, the PCSO can overcome the challenges of this public health crisis and will become stronger as a result. It is okay to not be okay. If your mental health, wellness, and peace of mind has been affected by the public health crisis, call today to schedule a confidential appointment with a licensed mental health counselor from the convenience of your cell phone or laptop.
You can also access a list of self-care resources by visiting SONET.
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Members of the Public Relations Bureau serve meals to members.
Adoptable dogs provide stress relief for members.
PCSO Members Share Advice for Quarantine Life
Ryan Watson, Payroll Supervisor, Fiscal Affairs Bureau What are some activities you have been doing at home to stay occupied during quarantine?
My wife, Cindy, and I were significantly impacted by the pandemic as my wife and I were scheduled to spend two weeks in Europe. The travel restrictions left us no choice but to cancel our vacation. With the recent “Safer-at-Home” order, we have had to adjust our habits to accommodate these safety measures. Cindy is more than happy to curl up with a good book. But on my side, being a creative, the situation has pushed me to approach my projects a little differently. For example, I use this opportunity to kit out my indoor studio so that photoshoots which would normally would be staged outside can be done inside. I also have a number of painting projects in various stages of completion that will now get a lot of attention. With a change of mindset, I now have more than enough to do. My friends and I normally get together on Monday nights, and that continues now with an online platform allowing us to retain some sense of normality. Remaining healthy is also important for us. We normally work out in the gym at the sheriff’s office, so periodic runs around the neighborhood and at parks helps us continue to relieve stress and stay in shape. Mental health is also a priority, and slowing down a bit has actually been very beneficial for us.
Deputy Kenisha Deg, Crime Prevention & Community Awareness Unit How has the public health crisis affected your family, and what have you been doing to respond? The coronavirus has affected my family in some very difficult ways. We flew back to Florida from Las Vegas on March 17th and were quarantined shortly after. We have made the most of things by keeping a routine of activities inside and outside of our home. We started reading a book together called “The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.” The book has exercises that you complete together that have shown us both fun and loving concepts to apply to our relationship. We’ve spent every evening in our backyard with our dog Rosey. Getting fresh air and being out in nature has also definitely helped with mental clarity. We chose to limit our time watching the news and have watched funny movies instead. My husband and I have taken walks together every evening, which we never did before. Our children have been staying inside for the most part and doing a lot of swimming in the pool. We’ve kept our diet very light, only eating vegetables, fruits, and avoiding fatty and greasy foods. I feel the best response to this pandemic as a PCSO member is to continue being socially responsible, have faith, and check on each other. We are a family and we will get through this!
Lieutenant Zachary Haisch, Pinellas Safe Harbor What are some ways people can give back to the community and lend a helping hand during this crisis?
Health care professionals check members’ temperatures every day.
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I think right now the best way people can give back is to follow the directions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners. If you have an excess of supplies that you don’t need, donate them to front line agencies. Since we are all inside, clean out your closets and donate your gently used clothing to a homeless shelter or non-profit.
January - March 2020
National Honor Guard Academy From February 23-28th, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office hosted the 2020 National Honor Guard Academy. This week-long boot camp provides specialized instruction and exercises on the drills and ceremonies that honor first responders who have died in the line of duty, or have passed after retirement. Honor guard teams from the Clearwater Police Department, Largo Fire Rescue, Seminole Police Department, and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office participated along with 20 PCSO Honor Guard Team members for the 40 hours of training.
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PCSO Women Remembering History Every year, March is designated as Women’s History Month to honor women’s contributions to American history and contemporary society. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has had a number of influential women work in law enforcement and corrections and make a positive difference over the years, and we currently have many amazing women in leadership positions who are inspiring a whole new generation of leaders. In celebration of Women’s History Month, we asked our female captains about the women who inspire them.
What woman in history has inspired you the most and why? Captain Jennifer Nobles: I am most inspired by women who are working and raising a family. It is hard sometimes to balance the responsibility of being a mom and working full-time. You have to allow yourself to outsource some of the little things, like having groceries delivered. It’s okay to buy sliced apples instead of peeling them yourself or purchasing store-bought costumes instead of making them. You are still supermom to your kids. I have learned that at the end of the day, you have to take advantage of all the time-saving tips to accomplish all of the demands. I want my children to see me as a role model and understand they can achieve anything they set their minds to. I am very fortunate to have a great support system at home. My husband is a hands-on dad who is very involved with the family and supports my career goals. Captain Sara Spiva: It’s hard to choose just one woman who has inspired me throughout my life. Different ages call for different idols. But, the constant positive influence in my life, and the one who has inspired me to be a great mother and a strong leader, is my mom. I miss her every single day.
Captain Amy Moyer: Susan B. Anthony and her fight for women’s right to vote and her work as an advocate of equal rights for all inspires me. Without her, I might not be in this position, or even this profession.
Captain Jennifer Love: The woman who has inspired me the most is retired PCSO Captain Teri Dioquino. I first met her when I was working a combined traffic enforcement detail as a trooper. At the time, she was the sergeant of the Traffic and DUI Unit. The way she carried herself and demanded the respect of the deputies who worked for her was admirable. She had the ability to motivate subordinates and develop them into above standard employees. When I came to the sheriff’s office as a new deputy, I aspired to work for her and learn from her. I was fortunate to be selected to work in the DUI Unit and become a member of the Major Accident Investigation Team early on during her tenure as the lieutenant of the Special Operations Division. During this time, she mentored me and afforded me the opportunity to become the corporal of the DUI Unit. Even though Captain Dioquino retired several years ago, I still continue to look to her for guidance since she held the position where I am currently assigned.
Captain Cynthia Gibson: Years ago, I visited a holocaust museum and saw a display about Alicia Appleman-Jurman. She was a holocaust survivor who managed to escape the death camps at least four times, only to witness her family’s execution. She went into hiding, helping groups escape the war, working by day and bringing them food at night. She was awarded a medal for her heroism. After escaping the first war, she found herself in a second war and fought as a soldier in the Israeli military. She married an American and moved to the United States where she became a noted author and speaker. Her life story is not a pleasant one and is difficult to read, but it shows courage and humanity in light of horrible circumstances. She continued speaking and writing about her life until her passing in 2017.
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January - March 2020
February 21, 2020
Beneficiary Forms It is extremely important that all members keep their life insurance beneficiaries up to date. Often, members list a beneficiary when they begin employment at the sheriff’s office but do not update the form when a life-changing event occurs, such as divorce or the death of the original beneficiary listed. Updating your beneficiary forms will ensure that whomever you intended to receive your life insurance benefits will receive those benefits in the event of your death. You can find the beneficiary forms under “Agency Forms” on SONET, and then type “beneficiary” in the search bar. Beneficiary Form List • Deferred Compensation - ALL MEMBERS •.FL Deputy Sheriff’s Association Death (FDSA) - ALL MEMBERS • Federal Insurance Company Accidental Death and Dismemberment - SWORN MEMBERS ONLY •.FRS - Investment Plan - ALL MEMBERS **Please submit to FRS directly. •.FRS - Pension - ALL MEMBERS **Please submit to FRS directly. • United Healthcare - ALL MEMBERS Please return all applicable forms to HR Benefits at insurancebenefits@pcsonet.com, or via fax 727-582-5893. For questions, please contact HR Benefits at 727-582-2835.
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The USPCA’s Region 1 Field Trials event brings together the best trained dogs in the world, and they are judged by a panel of current and retired law enforcement officers. The event, which was held at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for the first time this year, tested the talents and abilities of the K-9s and their handlers. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is proud of the efforts of all the teams, which participated in the following challenges in order to achieve regional certification: 1. Obedience 2. Agility 3. Suspect Search 4. Article Search 5. Criminal Apprehension
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DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT AUTOMATED FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (AFIS) DIVISION
Fingerprints identify us as unique individuals for no two fingerprints are the same. Even identical twins who share the same DNA don’t have the same fingerprints. This incredible phenomenon in nature has become a very powerful tool in the criminal justice system today.
database and get a response within a few minutes. Years ago, the procedure was to take a stack of print cards and flip through them to look at all the impressions. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
At the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, members in the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) Division collect, store, classify, and compare known and latent fingerprints. Not only does the division use fingerprints to help solve cases, but it also uses other biometric tools, like facial recognition, to provide leads for detectives.
Fingerprints are the most common form of identifiable data from a crime scene, but sometimes images from surveillance cameras can be used to identify an individual too. The computer system FACES, which is managed by Biometric Operations Analyst Jake Ruberto, searches the image against driver’s license photos and mug shots to find leads. According to Jake, facial recognition is a very powerful biometric tool and will continue to be used for many years to come as the technology progresses.
Fingerprint technicians gather fingerprints, mugshots, and DNA for qualifying arrests at the Pinellas County Jail while administrative assistants at AFIS fingerprint people for new jobs, concealed weapons permits, and name changes. It’s a large undertaking, but capturing these pieces of identity builds an important foundation for proving if someone is guilty or innocent. Biometric Records Manager Mara Iocolano said, “I love being able to provide answers. We’re able to give some sort of identification, and where that leads in the investigation, we don’t know, but we’re able to provide detectives some pieces of the puzzle.” Latent print examiners spend the majority of their time looking through a magnifying glass at their desks. They have the difficult task of studying every ridge, whorl, line, and dot in the fingerprint and then comparing it to prints in our computer system or elimination prints provided by subjects (usually victims) at the crime scene. “It takes a certain dedicated person to be able to sit down and stare through a magnifying glass for eight hours a day, or stare at lines on a computer screen and find those tiny characteristics,” Mara said. “That’s why we have some of the best people at this agency in this division.” One latent print examiner is William Goellner who has been studying and classifying fingerprints for almost 40 years. He started his career with the New York Police Department and then brought his expertise to Pinellas County about 19 years ago.
Currently, more than 250 law enforcement agencies use FACES, and the system averages over 7,000 searches a month. Not only do fingerprints and facial recognition assist in solving current cases in Pinellas County, but also cold cases. Mara confirms that part of the reason the Cold Case Unit was re-instated was because the latent fingerprint examiners were getting so many hits using their new computer system, which was upgraded in 2016. “We never give up here,” she said. “We keep looking at fingerprints, and faces, to see if we can help solve cases.”
“It’s unbelievable how far the technology has progressed,” William said. “Right now we can introduce a print into the system in the local
Please let us know what you think. Is there something you want to see? Is there something you want to share? Members are invited to submit articles and color photos for publication. Photos must be high resolution. Articles and photos are subject to editing. Please email your submissions to proud@pcsonet.com.
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Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office 10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33778 727-582-6200 • www.pcsoweb.com