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Gulfport Police Department
Annual Report 2014
Table of Contents
Mission Statement
3
Criminal Investigative Section
26
Introduction
4
Police Services Unit
29
Organizational Chart
6
Communications
29
Chief and Command Staff
7
Records
30
Employee of the Year
9
Evidence and CSI
31
Crime in Gulfport
10
Public Information
32
Budget
11
Special Services
33
Patrol Section
13
Professional Standards
37
Alpha Squad
14
Training
37
Bravo Squad
16
Applicant Screening
39
Charlie Squad
18
Internal Affairs
40
Delta Squad
20
Accreditation
41
Calls for Service
22
Use of Force Review
43
Problem Oriented Policing
23
Profiling Review
46
Traffic Safety
24
RMS Security Audit
49
Marine Patrol
25
2
Conclusion and Goals
50
Mission Statement
∗Quality
∗Community
∗Professionalism
The mission of the Gulfport Police Department is to
professionally prevent or resolve safety, crime, and quality-oflife issues in cooperation with the residents, visitors, and
businesses of Gulfport.
In January of 2014, all Gulfport officers participated in the first annual reaffirmation of
oath of office. Circuit Court Judge Kim Todd administered the oath as all renewed their
commitment to serve and to uphold our mission.
3
Memorandum
GULFPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT
To:
James O’Reilly, City Manager
From:
Robert Vincent, Chief of Police RV
Date:
February 10, 2015
Re:
2014 Police Department Annual Report
I am pleased to present this annual report depicting, in summary form, the
organization and operations of the Gulfport Police Department over the past
calendar year. Following are some of the highlights, projects, programs, major
changes, and other events that impacted the delivery of law enforcement services in
2014:
•
Unusually high turnover led to the need to hire and train seven new police
officers in 2014. This represents over 22 percent of our total sworn force.
Naturally, this put a burden on our training resources, and although we
hired several candidates with prior law enforcement experience, the overall
reduction in tenure will have an impact that will take time to overcome.
•
We experienced the highest number of reported thefts in recent memory—an
increase of 36% over last year. Many of these were retail theft reports from
the new Dollar General store and the Family Dollar store, but a very high
number were thefts of unsecured bicycles and thefts from unsecured vehicles
in residential areas. In response, special, targeted investigations identified
and led to the apprehension of repeat shoplifting offenders, and bike theft
stings using GPS tracking devices led to arrests as well. We are currently
producing a crime prevention mailer that will be delivered to all addresses
within the city.
•
The good news is that as the property crime increased, the violent crime
decreased. For 2014, violent crime in Gulfport was at its lowest in over ten
years. This includes murder, robbery, assault, and sex crimes.
4
•
Also for 2014, we have seen the highest clearance rate and property recovery
rate in recent memory. The investigative efforts of our entire team have paid
off as cases are being solved at a higher rate than ever before.
•
The change in leadership at the St. Petersburg Police Department (their first
new chief in twelve years), has had an impact on us in Gulfport. Differences
in management, deployments, operations, policy, and even uniforms has
affected the behavior of the criminal element and the community as a whole.
Because we share such close borders, and often blur our service populations,
this change has become evident in Gulfport as well. We continue our
excellent working relationship with the St. Petersburg Police Department.
•
Gulfport’s own Lieutenant Joshua Stone was invited to attend the prestigious
FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. This ten-week program of
advanced studies is internationally recognized as the most valuable police
management training available in the world. Upon his completion of the
program, Lieutenant Stone will become the second FBINA graduate at the
Gulfport Police Department. The last time a Gulfport officer attended was in
2006 when Chief Vincent, a lieutenant at the time, represented us. We look
forward to taking advantage of the knowledge and contacts Lt. Stone
develops during his course of instruction.
•
Now that the economy has improved, the job market is once again becoming
competitive. In order to continue to attract the best applicants, the police
department changed a long-standing practice regarding employment
contracts. Prior to this fiscal year, applicants were required to sign a contract
agreeing to repay all costs of screening and training (approximately $13,000)
if they resigned within three years. This was a consequence-based system
which, although effective, tended to detract from employee morale and
harmed the agency’s reputation. Now, we give applicants a signing bonus,
and instead of holding them accountable for screening and training costs,
they simply have to reimburse the signing bonus if they resign early. It is too
soon to report results yet, but we have high hopes for this program.
5
Organizational Chart—2014
6
Chief of Police
Chief Robert Vincent
My goal as the chief of police is to help you maintain a
desirable place to live, work, and play. To do that, I employ
both community policing and problem-oriented policing, as
well as open communication both internally and externally.
My belief is that this police department owes more to this
community than to simply answer your calls. We must be,
and will be, an integral part of Gulfport
Career and Education Timeline
1990—Graduated from Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg
1993—Associate of Arts Degree, St. Petersburg College
1993—Graduated Police Recruit Class 117 @ St. Petersburg College
1994—Sworn in as a police officer @ Gulfport Police Department
1998—Assigned as school resource officer @ Boca Ciega High School
1999—Promoted to the rank of sergeant, assigned as Patrol Supervisor
2000—Bachelor of Arts Degree, University of South Florida; Major: Professional
Writing
2002—Promoted to the rank of lieutenant, assigned as Patrol Commander
2003—Assigned as Investigations Commander
2006—Graduated FBI National Academy, Session #227
2008—Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration, University of South Florida
2010—Appointed Chief of Police, Gulfport Police Department
2012—Graduated Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, Chief Executive
Seminar
Professional Affiliations
International Association of Chiefs of Police
Florida Police Chiefs Association (District Director)
Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Association (2013 President, Current Board Member)
Pinellas Police Standards Council (2012 Chair, Current Council Member)
Florida Police Accreditation Coalition
Florida Sheriffs Association
Volunteer Service
Member, Gulfport Lions Club
Executive Board Member, West Central Florida Council—Boy Scouts of America
Member, Mothers Against Drunk Driving—Pinellas County Advisory Board
7
Command Staff
Professional Standards Commander
Joshua Stone, who was promoted to the rank of lieutenant after
five years of distinguished service as a sergeant, is the
commander of the professional standards section. In this role,
he oversees accreditation, training, recruiting & screening, and
internal affairs. Lieutenant Stone grew up in Gulfport, and he
has been with the agency since 2001.
Lieutenant Stone, who has also served as a detective and as a
patrol supervisor during his career, is an adjunct instructor for
the law enforcement academy at St. Petersburg College.
A graduate of the University of South Florida, Stone has a
Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration and a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology. At the time of this
report, Lieutenant Stone is attending the FBI National
Academy.
Operations Commander
Lieutenant Mary Farrand is currently the commander of the
operations section, which oversees patrol, investigations, and
operational support. Mary has been with the Gulfport Police
Department since 2001, having come to us with experience as a
dispatcher for the Clearwater Police Department. Among her
more notable achievements, Lieutenant Farrand received the
officer-of-the-year award in 2005.
Lieutenant Farrand has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree
in Public Safety Administration from St. Petersburg College,
and she is a graduate of the Florida Law Enforcement
Executive Development Seminar.
She has advanced
certifications in hostage negotiations, personnel background
investigations, internal affairs investigations, as well as traffic
enforcement related certifications. Lieutenant Farrand also
serves as an agency assessor for the Commission for Florida
Law Enforcement Accreditation.
8
Employee of the Year
Every year, the staff reviews nominations and selects an employee of the year. We
are proud to honor Officer Eva Iwanowski as the Gulfport Police Department’s 2014
Employee of the Year.
Officer Eva Iwanowski, badge # 581, joined the agency in March 2006 after
graduating with a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of South
Florida. Officer Iwanowski is currently the acting supervisor of Charlie squad. She
has several certifications including field training officer, sex crimes investigations,
breath test operator, and crimes against children. Officer Iwanowski is also a
certified crime prevention practitioner, crisis intervention team member, and point
of contact for the local human trafficking task force.
In 2013, the Gulfport Police Department experienced unusually high turnover,
resulting in the need to train seven new police officers in less than a year’s time.
Needless to say, the field training officers were busy, and none more so than Officer
Iwanowski. For eight months out of the year, she was responsible for at least one
phase of the training of each of these new officers. This is very stressful work in and
of itself, so it is especially noteworthy that Officer Iwanowski also served as her
squad’s acting supervisor and that she obtained specialist certification as a breath
test operator as well. For outstanding overall support of the mission, Officer
Iwanowski is recognized as our officer/employee of the year.
9
Crime in Gulfport
This page displays data for the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) Part I categories.
These offenses are those typically reported to police rather than those discovered by
police (such as narcotics and traffic offenses), and as such, they are the standards
for comparison reported by most law enforcement agencies each year to the FBI.
As the graph indicates, total offenses have increased, although it should be noted
that this is a result of property crime and not violent crime. Primarily, the increase
has been in larceny, with most of these being shoplifting cases from a new discount
store, as well as the theft of unsecured bicycles from commercial properties.
We have implemented special, proactive efforts to combat these increases, including
the use of a GPS-equipped bait bike, and the deployment of officers to assist lossprevention in the retail locations.
Violent
Crime
2014
Motor
Sex
Agg.
Property
Vehicle
Murder Crime Robbery Assault Crime
Burglary Larceny Theft
Arson Total
Offenses
35
1
8
12
14
673
130
491
47
5
708
Clearance
Rate
66%
100%
38%
42%
100%
25%
23%
22%
57%
0%
27%
Property
Stolen
Property
Recovered
$691,787
$427,940
Violent Crime
50
41
45
49
Property Crime
48
800
35
40
26
30
21
27
62%
600
29
23
Offenses
400
Cleared
200
673
545
570
466
506
Offenses
20
10
0
84
77
106
2010
2011
2012
168
90
2013
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
10
2014
Cleared
Budget
Item
Personnel salaries and
benefits
Professional Services
Court Reporting
Other Contractual
Investigations
Travel/Per Diem
Communications
Utilities
Rental & Leases
Insurance
Repairs and
maintenance
Printing and Binding
Promotional
Office Supplies
Operating Supplies
Red Light Camera
Program
Books, publications,
subscriptions
Training
Capital Projects
Total
Amount
Description
$2,893,219 Includes salaries for 35 full-time and 3 part-time
employees, overtime for required shift coverage,
special assignment pay, and benefits such as
pension contributions and insurance
$42,850
Includes, among others, medical, polygraph, and
psychological screening for police officer applicants
$500
$121,199
Includes, among others, contract fees for CAD and
records management via Pinellas Sheriff’s Office
$4,000
Covers expenses associated with special and/or
complex investigations
$15,000
Costs primarily associated with required training
$43,500
Includes costs for telephones and wireless cards
used by patrol car laptop computers
$25,950
Electricity, water, sewer, trash
$5,000
Costs for leased office hardware and software
$33,701
Includes general liability, property, and auto
insurance
$182,972
Includes fuel and maintenance for vehicle fleet and
other equipment
$1,000
$860
$10,000
$41,600
Includes uniforms, targets, ammunition, etc.
$175,000
100% of this expense is recouped in fine revenue
from the program
$3,000
Funds to pay for membership in professional
associations
$18,000
$155,750
Designated for replacement of 4 police vehicles,
radios, laptop computers, and video surveillance
equipment
$3,773,101
$3,773,101
11
Budget
The police operating budget is comprised primarily of expenses related to
personnel—including salaries, insurance, retirement contributions, and other
employee benefits. The table below represents the salaries for sworn positions
within the department.
Min.
Base Pay
Pay for
Pay for
twelveholidays
hour shifts
Uniform
Maintenance
Allowance
Shoe
Allowance
Signing
Bonus
Base pay plus
additional
compensation
Max. pay
$43,676
$2,184
$400.00
$100
$1000
$50,826
$74,920
$2,268
Minimum Pay
Maximum Pay
Sergeant (not
including overtime)
$61,176
$80,751
Lieutenant (salaried
position)
$70,533
$88,914
Chief of Police
$99,660
These salaries are comparable to other agencies in the market, as indicated in this
table with information from the Pinellas Police Standards Council and respective
agencies.
Agency
Officer
Sergeant
Lieutenant
Chief
Treasure
Island
$43,564 - $59,069
$61,609 - $77,388
$60,500 - $90,750
$76,476 - $114,715
Clearwater
$45,582 - $67,507
$62,234 - $81,896
$75,498 - $95,565
$81,649 - $125,595
Tarpon
Springs
$43,360 - $65,262
$55,548 - $83,523
$60,081 - $96,791
$69,552 - $112,050
Largo
$43,709 - $68,626
$62,300-$78,300
$70,346 - $85,738
$94,156- - $131,194
12
Patrol Section
Sixteen officers are divided into four
squads, each supervised by a sergeant.
These
professionals
provide
24-7
protection for the City of Gulfport,
including answering calls for service and
developing and implementing problemoriented-policing plans. Each officer on
each squad is assigned one of four patrol
zones and is responsible for getting to
know the people and addressing
problems in his or her zone.
13
Alpha Squad
Sergeant Matthew Parks, badge #561, is the supervisor for the
Alpha Squad. He has been with GPD since 2001 after relocating
from the St. Louis area where he earned an associate’s degree from
Lewis and Clark College. Sergeant Parks was promoted in 2013
after having served as a patrol officer, detective, and acting
sergeant. Sergeant Parks is a certified firearms instructor, and has
advanced certifications in Homicide and Sex Crimes investigations,
as well as Law Enforcement Bicycle Patrol, Crisis Intervention,
Counterterrorism, Document Examination, Domestic Violence
Investigation, and Internal Affairs Investigation. He is also a Glock
and Sig Sauer armorer. Sergeant Parks is currently responsible for
planning and supervising bicycle patrol operations.
Officer Samantha Obrart, badge #600, has been with GPD since 2013. She was a police
officer in Lake Mary, Florida previously. Officer Obrart has an associate’s Degree from
Santa Fe College in elementary education, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of
Central Florida with a major in criminal justice and a minor in legal studies. Officer
Obrart has been certified as a Breath Test Operator for DUI investigations since March
2014 as well as a certified radar and laser operator since 2012.
Officer Joseph Wodraska, badge #603, began his career with Gulfport Police Department in
2013. He has received an associate’s degree from Valencia College and a bachelor’s in public
safety administration from St. Petersburg College. He is a proud member of the Crisis
Intervention Team or “C.I.T.”. Officer J. Wodraska has received a multitude of compliments
and letters for his abilities to speak with citizens out in the community and is a great
example of what our department strives to be.
Officer Scott Hutsko, badge #605, had been with the agency since February of 2014. He
comes to Gulfport with an extensive background in corrections having been with
Hillsborough, Monroe and Manatee counties. Officer Hutsko has a management and
training background from the airlines and was a Field Training Officer in each of the last
law enforcement agencies. Officer Hutsko is duel certified in the state of Florida in
corrections and law enforcement.
Officer Jon Kinsel, badge #609, came to the agency in July 2014 when he transferred to the
Gulfport Police Department from Oregon. Officer Kinsel brings twelve years of police and
corrections experience to the department. He currently holds basic, intermediate and
advanced certificates in corrections and law enforcement and has over 3000 hours of police
training. Officer Kinsel is also working on obtaining his associates degree in criminal
justice.
14
2014 Alpha Squad statistics
Arrests:
128
Offense/Incident Reports: 481
Field Interviews:
Traffic Stops:
33
612
2014 Notable Cases for Alpha Squad
5/6/14: Forged Prescriptions—5700 block of Gulfport Boulevard
Sergeant Parks investigated a call from the Walgreens pharmacy suspecting a
woman was attempting to use forged prescriptions to obtain controlled substances.
A trained document examiner and experienced investigator, Sergeant Parks
confirmed the suspicion and verified with the physician that the prescriptions were
fake. Sergeant Parks arrested the suspect, Joanne Samuels, who admitted to
forging the prescriptions and said her intent was to sell the pills once she got them.
8/22/14: DUI—5100 block of Gulfport Boulevard
A woman living in unincorporated Pinellas County called the sheriff’s office and
reported that her ex-boyfriend, a Gulfport resident, was intoxicated and trying to
pick up his motorcycle from the ground in her front yard, where he dropped it.
Deputies arrived at the location, but the suspect was gone. Acting on a description
of the motorcycle and rider, Officer Obrart spotted the suspect pulling into the
Gulfport McDonald’s. After contact was made with him, Michael Parks was
arrested for DUI. He refused to give a breath sample, which resulted in an
additional misdemeanor charge since he had refused in the past.
12/17/14: Burglary—5400 block of 11th Avenue South
A resident called 911 and said he just saw two juveniles enter his neighbor’s carport
and steal a bicycle. Police arrived and apprehended both suspects down the street.
They had abandoned the stolen bike but were identified by the witness. Officer
Kinsel interviewed the arrestees, and they confessed to the offense. Robert Walker
was charged with burglary and petit theft and Me’arri Melton was charged with
principle to burglary.
15
Bravo Squad
Sergeant Michael Vandenberg, badge # 571, was promoted in 2008 after
five years as a patrol officer and field training officer. He is now the
supervisor of the Bravo Patrol Squad.
Sergeant Vandenberg is a graduate of Florida State University, where
he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology. Before coming to
work for Gulfport, he completed a professional internship with the
Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
He is currently the only Gulfport officer who is certified to investigate
fatal traffic crashes. Sergeant Vandenberg is also a certified emergency
vehicle operations instructor for the police department and currently
runs the city’s red light camera program.
Officer David Cavanah, badge #592, came to GPD in 2011 following six years of service as a
deputy sheriff and detective with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. He graduated from
Florida Southern College with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and also has a Master of
Arts degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of South Florida. He is
a member of the marine unit and participated in the maritime security detail for the 2012
Republican National Convention. In 2014 he became a certified Firearms Instructor and is
also currently a Field Training Officer and Acting Supervisor.
Officer Eugene Novak, badge # 545, has been with the agency since 1999 following his
retirement from the U.S. Army. Officer Novak is a firearms instructor and is the most
senior officer at the department behind Chief Vincent. Officer Novak received the Officer of
the Quarter award for the first quarter of 2013 due to his dedicated efforts at proactive
patrolling and his work in locating a fugitive who had been attempting to evade Gulfport
Police for months.
Officer Christopher Priest, badge #596, has been with the department since
November of 2011. He came to the agency after working for 5 ½ years as a police officer
with the Kenneth City Police Department. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in
Public Safety Administration from St Petersburg College. He is a certified speed radar/laser
operator and nationally certified bicycle officer. Officer Priest is a member of the GPD
Special Enforcement Team and the bicycle unit. Officer Priest recently became a Field
Training Officer and is an Acting Supervisor.
Officer Raymond Marshall, badge #601, was sworn in on July 1st, 2013. He comes to
Gulfport from New York where he worked as an emergency medical technician and served
as a volunteer firefighter for eighteen years. Officer Marshall has a Bachelor of Arts in
Community & Human Services from Empire State College.
16
2014 Bravo Squad Statistics
Arrests:
76
Offense/Incident Reports: 394
Field Interviews:
Traffic Stops:
23
461
2014 Notable Cases for Bravo Squad
02/05/14: Two suspects stole thousands of dollars of lawn equipment from a
business. Officer Novak was able to identify the suspects, obtain confessions, and
arrest both suspects for Grand Theft and Dealing in Stolen Property. Officer Novak
was also able to locate and recover the stolen equipment. The equipment was
returned to the owner, and the small business was able to continue operating
without losing a great deal of money.
09/03/14: The primary suspect conned the victim into doing "home repairs.” Over
the period of several weeks the suspect got the victim to write him multiple checks
totaling nearly $16,000. In the end the only thing she had to show for all this money
was a painted driveway. Also during this time, he stole a check from the victim
which he then forged for work that was never done. The suspect then got his coworker to attempt to cash the check but the check cashing service refused when
they realized that the signatures did not match.
Extensive research through state and local agencies found that the suspect was not
licensed to be conducting any business in Florida.
Upon further investigation with Pinellas County Consumer Protection and Pinellas
County Construction Licensing Board, this suspect was found to have previous
complaints and conviction for similar fraudulent activity along with another open
case. Both suspects were arrested and charged with multiple crimes
03/04/14: Bravo shift officers responded to a reported just occurred residential
burglary and theft of a bicycle. One officer made contact with the victim at the
scene and obtained a detailed description of the stolen bicycle and the suspect, who
the victim saw steal her bicycle. Other officers circulated the area and quickly
located the suspect, who was still in possession of the bicycle. The suspect admitted
to stealing the victim’s bicycle because he did not want to have to walk home. The
suspect was arrested and the bicycle was returned to the victim.
17
Charlie Squad
Sergeant Robert Burkhart started his employment for Gulfport as a
dispatcher, and he was sponsored by the agency to attend the local
police academy. He began his career as an officer in 2001, and he was
quickly promoted to the position of detective, where he distinguished
himself by earning the officer-of-the-year award in 2003.
Among Sergeant Burkhart's accomplishments, he helped pioneer the
agency's marine patrol efforts, and he is now responsible for planning
and supervising our waterfront operations. He also holds advanced
certifications in death and sex crimes investigations.
Sergeant Burkhart, who is the supervisor of the Charlie Patrol Squad,
has an associate's degree from Williamson College in Philadelphia.
Officer Eva Iwanowski, badge # 581, joined the agency in March 2006 after
graduating with a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of South
Florida. Officer Iwanowski is currently the acting supervisor of Charlie squad. She
has several certifications including field training officer, sex crimes investigations
and breath test operator. Officer Iwanowski is also a certified crime prevention
practitioner and crisis intervention team member.
Officer Jimmie Embry, badge #566, joined the agency in 2002 after serving briefly
as an officer with St. Petersburg Police Department. He was promoted to the
position of detective in 2009 and served in that capacity for five years, after which,
he decided to take a different career path. A graduate of Drake University, he
earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and holds certifications in crisis
intervention and special investigations. Officer Embry is also a member of our
bicycle patrol unit.
Officer Mitchel Petit, badge #608, is the newest member of the Charlie Squad. He
graduated from St. Petersburg Catholic High School, and he attended college in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He plans to finish his degree at a local institution. Officer
Petit was hired by the Gulfport Police Department in July of 2014.
There is currently one vacancy on this squad.
18
2014 Charlie Squad Statistics
Arrests:
49
Offense/Incident Reports: 416
Field Interviews:
Traffic Stops:
93
602
2014 Notable Cases for Charlie Squad
10/23/14: Officer Embry responded to the area of 29 Avenue South and Beach
Boulevard in reference to an Aggravated Assault with a motor scooter in which the
suspects intentionally drove over the victim. Officers located the scooter and
attempted a traffic stop, but the suspects fled the area. The suspect was later
apprehended in the 4900 block of 29 Avenue South.
07/07/14: Officer Iwanowski was on routine patrol in Town Shores due to an
increase of stolen bicycles from the complex. Officer Embry had observed two
suspicious males earlier several blocks away and advised her. Officer Iwanowski
observed both of the males walk into the complex and enter onto the property of the
Farifax Building. She made contact with both males, one who was very anxious and
provide a false name. The male took off running from officers but the 2nd male was
taken into custody on scene. The identity of the 2nd male was confirmed and the
charges were filed.
11/13/14: Officer Petit stopped a vehicle for a broken passenger side tail light.
Officer Petit noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Officer
Petit searched the vehicle and found marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. The
suspect was arrested for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute,
paraphernalia, and resisting arrest without violence.
19
Delta Squad
Sergeant Michael Marotta earned his promotion to the rank of sergeant
in 2009 after almost nine years' service with the Gulfport Police
Department. Before his promotion, Sergeant Marotta devoted much of
his time to investigating DUI offenses and training new officers in our
field training program. Sgt. Marotta continues to train new officers in
the area of DUI investigations.
Sergeant Marotta graduated from Harrisburg Area Community College
in Pennsylvania, where he earned his associate's degree in criminal
justice, and he is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree. He also holds
advanced certifications in several areas of traffic enforcement, crisis
intervention, and marine patrol. He is also a graduate of the Florida
Criminal Justice Executive Institute's Leadership Academy. A 2004
Officer of the Year, Sergeant Marotta is the only police employee to have
earned the Meritorious Service Medal twice.
Officer Santo Nicita, badge #597, came to the agency in February of 2012. He has four prior
years of law enforcement experience in North Carolina. This year, Officer Nicita became
popular when he organized and chaperoned two parties for honor roll students of Gulfport
Elementary. A local pizzeria and the local McDonald’s donated food for the parties. Officer
Nicita has also completed the training for the marine unit. He is eager to start patrolling
the waterways around the city.
Officer Christopher Randazzo, badge # 598, joined the Gulfport Police Department in 2012
after earning a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of Tampa and
completing an internship with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Officer Randazzo
has advanced training in defensive tactics. Officer Randazzo is scheduled for training that
will certify him as a Breath Test Operator for DUI investigations. Officer Randazzo
received an award from the Remove Intoxicated or Drug Driver association for leading the
department in arrests of intoxicated drivers.
Officer Marie Lavigne, badge # 604, began working for GPD in December 2013. She comes
to us with five years’ experience as a courthouse officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff's
Office, and she has an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Florida Metropolitan
University. Officer Lavigne took the initiative and expanded upon Operation Santa by
collecting slightly used items to give to families in need. She also led efforts to obtain a pet
microchip scanner to assist officers in getting lost pets back home. Officer Lavigne was
recognized as the Officer of the Quarter for the last quarter of 2014.
Officer Jonathon Ross, badge #607, began his career with the Gulfport Police Department
in March 2014. He previously served in both the Patrol and Corrections Divisions at the
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and prior to that, held several positions within the private
security sector. Officer Ross completed an associate’s degree in criminal justice from
20
Hillsborough Community College in spring 2014, and he has also earned several specialized
disaster response certifications through FEMA.
2014 Delta Squad Statistics
Arrests:
Offense/Incident Reports:
102
391
Field Interviews:
Traffic Stops:
16
509
2014 Notable Cases for Delta Squad
02/24/14: Officer Randazzo arrived on scene of a crash involving two vehicles near the
intersection of 57th Street and 11th Avenue South. What appeared to be normal accident
turned out to be much more. After observing one of the vehicles run the stop sign and crash
into the fence around a retention pond, the other driver moved her vehicle to block him
from leaving, which he attempted to do. Officer Randazzo suspected the driver might by
intoxicated, and this was confirmed when a test revealed a breath alcohol content of .354,
which is over four times higher than the legal limit. Of course, the driver was arrested.
07/14/14: While on routine patrol Officer Ross observed a male down a dark street with a
bicycle. Upon contact, the subject stated he was on his way to WaWa to get free air for his
flat tire. The subject was allowed to continue along his way. Within a short time a resident
came outside stating the person Officer Ross was just speaking with had a friend jump
through his back yard dropping a pair of metal clippers. Officer Ross made contact with the
subject again, and he confessed to being a lookout for his friend who was trying to steal a
bicycle on a porch. The accomplice was later apprehended.
10/04/14: Officer Lavigne provided suspect information to Officer Wodraska while talking
about an attempted armed robbery of a vehicle during shift change. At the time of the
robbery, the suspect was not identified. From Officer Lavigne’s contact with the suspect a
few weeks prior, the suspect was identified and arrested for the robbery. Officer Lavigne
was more familiar with the suspect than any other officer from her contact with the suspect
on a number of other occasions.
08/06/14: Officer Nicita and other officers responded to a burglary in progress call. Upon
arrival Officers began to surround the residence and look for a way to enter it. During this
time, Officer Nicita observed a black male looking out of the east side door of the residence
at him, the male slammed the door closed. Officer Nicita yelled to other officers advising
them to hold their positions so the suspect wouldn’t escape. The suspect was pushing the
door closed as Officer Nicita was trying to push it open. After a short struggle the suspect
managed to close the door and lock the deadbolt. Officer Nicita then drew his firearm and
kicked the door open; he then located the suspect in the living room and took him into
custody. The suspect was charged with multiple burglaries in the neighborhood, and also
grand theft auto.
21
Calls for Service
“Calls for service” may not mean what you think. Every time an officer interacts
with a person or property in an official capacity, we document that activity in a
computerized log. Each of these logs is referred to as a call for service, even if it
doesn’t come from a call at all. Traffic stops, business checks, and citizen contacts
are included in this category just as 911 calls for emergency response. We typically
maintain a ratio of approximately 3 to 1 initiated vs. dispatched calls. This indicates
that our staffing levels are appropriate to allow officers plenty of time to follow up
on investigations and address problems in their assigned areas.
Total Calls for Service 2014
28,516
7517
Officer-Initiated
Dispatched
20999
Dispatched Calls For Service
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
8097
2010
22
8166
8244
7480
2011
2012
2013
7517
2014
Problem Oriented Policing
Problem Oriented Policing is a strategy that involves the identification and analysis
of specific crime and disorder problems or quality of life issues in order to develop
effective response strategies in conjunction with ongoing assessment. This policing
technique places more emphasis on research and analysis as well as crime
prevention and the engagement of public and private organizations in the reduction
of community problems.
Some examples of problem oriented patrols in 2014 included the following:
•
•
•
•
Illegal parking associated with commercial traffic in the area of 54th Street
and 29th-30th Avenue South
Commercial vehicles traffic blocking private driveways in the morning hours
along the 2600 block of 59th Street
Complaints of inappropriate youth conduct at the skate park located at 54th
Street and Tangerine Avenue
Vagrants damaging property, blocking dock access, and stealing utilities at
the Casino boat dock.
23
Traffic Safety
The City of Gulfport can boast having among
the lowest traffic fatality and serious injuries
among all of Pinellas County's municipalities.
That said, we are part of one of the most
dangerous regions in the entire United States,
especially when it comes to the safety of
bicyclists and pedestrians.
For the benefit of those using our public
roadways, Gulfport officers take an aggressive stance against traffic violators. We
employ several tools in this effort, including unmarked patrol cars, RADAR and
LIDAR (laser) speed measuring devices, regular enforcement details, photo
enforcement technology, and public education campaigns. As evidenced by the chart
below, crashes are reducing steadily as photo-enforcement technology allows officers
to spend more time on other problems.
Citations vs. Traffic Crashes
1800
1642
1588
1514
1600
1409
1400
1265
1200
This chart does
not include
photoenforcement
citations
1000
800
600
400
200
163
132
124
120
109
0
2010
2011
2012
Citations
24
Crashes
2013
2014
Marine Patrol
Gulfport Police are responsible for nearly five miles of coastline along Boca Ciega
Bay, as well as nearly all the open waterway between Gulfport, St. Pete Beach,
Maximo, and the Pinellas Bayway. To ensure this popular waterway is safe, we
employ a team of specially-trained officers and a Zodiac patrol vessel.
The boat is a rigid-inflatable, which is designed to facilitate safe and simple contact
with other boats on the water. This LE2400 model is specifically designed for
military and law enforcement work.
In 2014, the unit spent almost 200 hours on the water, and they joined several other
local agencies in assisting the Tampa Police Department with the annual Gasparilla
pirate invasion.
25
Criminal Investigative Section
This section consists of a supervisor, three detectives, two school resource officers,
and a crime analyst. These combined resources are responsible for:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Latent investigation of all crimes not initially resolved by the patrol division.
On-scene response to all major crimes, such as murder, robbery, and sex crimes.
Undercover narcotics investigations.
Management of the intelligence function, including coordination of confidential
informants.
Management of police/youth operations, including the Explorer Post and law
enforcement resources for two public schools in Gulfport.
Coordination of contraband forfeiture activities.
Special investigative operations, such as stings, decoys, raids, etc.
1000
887
900
800
710
700
687
606
600
500
488
400
300
215
200
100
97
62
211
115
108
186
111
105
51
0
2010
2011
Cases Forwarded to ISD
26
2012
Cases Assigned for follow-up
2013
2014
Cases Cleared
Detective Sergeant
Sergeant Thomas Woodman was promoted in January 2011 after serving
with the Gulfport Police Department since 2006 and in various capacities
including as a Field Training Officer and marine patrol operator.
Sergeant Woodman is currently assigned as the supervisor of the
investigations unit and the special enforcement team. Sergeant
Woodman has previously served with the United States Army where he
graduated basic training as the Soldier of the Cycle. He is a graduate
(Cum Laude) of the University of South Florida, where he earned a
Bachelor of Arts in Criminology
Detective Hanh Pham, badge # 556, began his service with the agency in 2000 after
graduating from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in criminology. In
2007, Detective Pham was promoted to the position of detective, where he is currently the
acting supervisor of the unit. Detective Pham, our 2008 Officer of the Year, is a member of
the marine patrol unit and bike unit as well as a physical fitness instructor. Detective
Pham has several advanced certifications including Crisis Intervention, Statement
Analysis, Social Media Investigations, and several special investigations.
Detective Jennifer Crowson, badge # 594, joined the police department in 2011 after
graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University with a bachelor’s degree in criminology. She
was promoted to the position of detective in 2013. Detective Crowson, our 2012 Officer of
the Year, has advanced certifications in Crisis Intervention, Child Abuse Investigation,
Forensic Interview of Children, Social Networking Investigations, Death Investigations and
Sex Crimes Investigations.
Detective Jesse Kellington, badge # 574, came to GPD in 2003 following four years of
service as a corrections deputy for Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Detective Kellington is a
certified instructor in several areas, including defensive tactics, ASP baton, and chemical
munitions, and he also serves as a field training officer and as a member of our marine
patrol unit. Detective Kellington is currently assigned to a regional narcotics task force.
Officer Jason Motte, badge # 580, graduated from the Criminal Justice Academy at Pinellas
Park High School and then attended St. Petersburg College graduating with an associate’s
degree with honors. Officer Motte completed the police academy and was hired by the
Gulfport Police Department in 2006. During Officer Motte’s career with Gulfport he has
received several awards including a Commendation Award and a Meritorious Service
Award and has attended many advanced training classes. As one of two school resource
officers at GPD, he serves as the Chief Advisor for the Gulfport Police Explorers.
Officer Crystal Langston, badge #599, came to the agency in September of 2012 following
over five years of service in Suffolk, VA, where she worked as a field training officer as well
as a school resource officer. Officer Langston is currently assigned as one of two school
27
resource officers at Boca Ciega High School, and is certified in crisis intervention. She is an
active member of the Tampa Region's Child Abduction Response Team, and currently holds
an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Kaplan University.
Crime Analyst Margaret Palmisano has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement.
She started with the Gulfport Police Department in 1993 as a records specialist after
working in that capacity for the St. Petersburg Police Department. Margaret demonstrated
an exceptional analytical skill and in 2004 she was reclassified as a crime analyst.
Margaret graduated from the FDLE Crime Analyst Academy in 2005 and over the years
has attended hundreds of hours of specialized training courses in this field.
Noted CIS Cases
GP14GP14-15843: Gulfport police officers were experiencing a string of burglaries along the
north end of the Beachway Mobile Home Park in recent weeks. There were 13 total
burglaries to eleven residences, all in the same proximity of the park with the same pattern
of entry. On 08/07/14, patrol officers responded to a burglary in progress to one of the
homes and located a suspect inside the residence committing a burglary. They arrested and
charged the subject, Stephen Fields, with burglary, resisting an officer without violence,
providing a false name, and violation of parole for armed robbery. During subsequent
investigations by officers and detectives, Stephen Fields has been directly linked to several
of the other burglaries. Additional charges for burglary, grand theft auto, and dealing in
stolen property have been placed on Fields.
GP14GP14-1220: David Ryals was arrested following a string of crimes including burglary and
scheming to defraud. He had been targeting elderly, single women with bogus offers to
perform handyman services. Police connected Ryals to ten victims during their
investigation. In a case that occurred on January 19th, Ryals convinced a 68-year-old
woman to give him a down payment on a concrete repair job. He told the woman he would
do the job while she was out of town, but instead, he broke into her house and stole jewelry
and other valuables. Another example: an 85-year-old woman reported that Ryals agreed
to do a pressure-cleaning job. He talked the woman into giving him cash to put gas in the
pressure washer, but he never returned. Police found several pieces of jewelry in Ryals'
pockets when he was taken into custody. Ryals was charged with multiple counts of
residential burglary and scheming to defraud.
GP14GP14-21832: Gulfport Detectives were involved with a multijurisdictional investigation
that initiated in Pinellas Park. During a separate investigation by the Pinellas Park Police
Department, it was discovered that a juvenile victim had been sexually abused while living
in Gulfport approximately 10 years prior. This was never previously reported to law
enforcement. Gulfport detectives worked with Pinellas Park detectives during the
investigation which ultimately led to a confession by the suspect, Scott Ewald. He was
subsequently arrested and charged with Lewd and Lascivious Battery on a child.
28
Police Services Unit
A thirteen year veteran of the Gulfport Police Department, Cindy
Hayes was hired as the administrative assistant to the chief of police.
In the current role as Police Services Supervisor, she oversees
support services, including records, property & evidence, purchasing,
and fleet & facility maintenance. A certified trainer, Cindy also
supervises our school crossing guard program
Ms. Hayes has served in the United States Army, and she has a
Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Florida.
Cindy is a member of the Florida Records Management Association.
She also has been a volunteer secret Santa elf with of the Gulfport
Police Department Operation Santa for eleven years.
Communications
Communications officers are an integral part of operations, these people are welltrained specialists who operate under demanding conditions. Gulfport contracts
with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for its police dispatching service along with
computer-aided-dispatching (CAD). Supervisor Hayes serves as the primary liaison,
ensuring that the services are provided appropriately.
Calls
Priority
Response Time
Average
High
2:26
Medium
3:47
Low
5:03
502
2088
3692
High Priority
29
Medium Priority
Low Priority
Records
The police department processes lots of documents. From offense and incident
reports, accident reports, field interview reports, evidence records, witness
statements, traffic citations, and many others. It is the responsibility of the records
specialist, to ensure that these records are retained and disseminated in accordance
with state and federal laws. For the most part, records are kept electronically and
may be released in that format without the need for printing or copying. This helps
reduce costs and increase efficiency both for our own staff as well as those who need
the records. In addition to keeping on top of reports, the records specialist also
serves as the receptionist for the police department. This person assesses walk-in
complaints, accepts witness subpoenas for officers, registers bicycles, and even
provides fingerprinting services.
2014 Records Section Statistics
Reports reviewed
Supplements reviewed
Reports requested
Bike registrations
Fingerprints
Subpoenas processed
Citizens assisted
980
4498
1367
190
119
403
1996
Records Specialist Shirley DiBucci joined the agency in 2013 following over fifteen
years’ experience in public and private office management. Most recently, she
served as the executive secretary to the Chief of Police in Kenneth City. Shirley is
an officer with the American Legion Auxiliary and enjoys doing volunteer work with
the veterans and their families. She also volunteered with National Night Out and
Operation Santa. Shirley has also been a resident of Gulfport for over twenty years!
30
Evidence and Crime Scene Investigations
The Gulfport Police Department contracts with
the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for forensic
science and evidence storage services. The
sheriff’s crime scene investigators are highly
trained, and they are renowned as being among
the best in the world. Officers call them to the
scene of crimes requiring their expertise.
By outsourcing this service to specialists, the
Gulfport Police Department can allow its
personnel to focus on the bigger picture with
regard to crime resolution. In addition, the city
saves the cost of employing, training and
equipping crime scene investigators.
Other routine property and equipment is
managed by our police services supervisor who
maintains inventory of uniforms and supplies.
This person is also responsible for bicycles
collected as evidence or abandoned property.
Unclaimed items that are not evidence of a crime
are sold at auction or donated to local
organizations, such as the Boy Scouts.
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
CSI Call-Outs
91
69
58
2010
31
77
74
2011
2012
2013
2014
Public Information
Our Public Information Officer, Sergeant Thomas Woodman, uses traditional
sources to disseminate information, but we have increasingly been taking
advantage of social media outlets as well. We maintain a Facebook page, and Chief
Vincent reports regularly on his Blog. These sources allow us to quickly put out
accurate information to a large audience.
Media releases for 2014 included the following headlines:
•
•
12/11/14: Juveniles Arrested in Bike
Sting
12/10/14: Drive Sober or Get Pulled
Over
•
5/8/14: Junk in the Trunk
•
4/24/14: Accepting Applications for
Citizens’ Police Academy
•
3/18/14: City Implements FirstCall
Emergency Notification System
•
11/22/14: Strong Arm Robbery
•
10/19/14: Missing Toddler Found Safe •
2/28/14: Lock it or Lose It
•
10/2/14: Suspect Arrested in Series of
Shoplifting Cases
•
2/10/14: Suspect Arrested for Multiple
Counts of Fraud Against Elderly
•
7/30/14: Efforts to Combat Rise in
Property Crime
•
2/4/14: Physical Fitness Standards
Relaxed
•
7/15/14: Gulfport Night Out
•
1/24/14: Annual Report is Published
The Chief’s Blog Posts
Posts for
for 2014 included the following topics:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Body-Worn Cameras
New Tattoo Policy
Volunteer Patrols
“To Catch a Thief”
Neighborhood Crime Mapping
Proposed Gun Law is Dangerous
“What’s in a Cop?”
A Traffic Stop from the Cop’s Perspective
Golf Carts Revisited
Reaffirmation of Oath of Office
32
Chief’s Blog
Special Services
Every law enforcement agency answers calls, enforces laws, and investigates
crimes. While these essential services still make up a bulk of our operations, the
Gulfport Police Department takes things a few steps further. These additional
services, provided at little or no extra cost to our residents, truly are special.
Citizens’ Police Academy
Typically once per year, we host a citizens’ academy which gives participants an indepth look at how we do business. The program runs for eight to ten weeks, one
night per week, and participants will experience everything from a crash
investigation and the communications center, to the gun range and pursuit driving
course. For more information, contact the program coordinator at 893-1111.
33
Special Services
Explorer Post
Law Enforcement Exploring is a worksite-based program for young men and women
between the ages of 14 and 21. Exploring is focused on teaching youth about career
fields that might interest them and encourage them to prepare for the future. In
doing so, the program aims to build self-worth and self-confidence in youth. For
young men and women who are interested in careers in the field of law enforcement,
Exploring offers experiential learning with lots of fun, hands-on activities that
promote the growth and development of adolescent youth.
Participants in Gulfport’s Explorer program train in topics such as traffic stops,
traffic crash investigations, DUI investigations, crime scene investigations,
defensive tactics, domestic violence, and crisis intervention. After a certain level of
training and experience is attained, Explorers are permitted to ride-along with
experienced patrol officers on a regular basis.
Explorers raise money through fundraising to participate in quarterly statewide
meetings and competitions that are coordinated by the Florida Association of Police
Explorers (FAPE). In 2014, Officer Motte took over the Explorer Post after most
explorers left the post to go to college. Officer Motte has recruited 11 youth so far
this year for the explorer post. All of the current explorers appear very committed
to the post and police department and all appear to really enjoy helping the
community through community service days and events the explorer post hosts.
34
Special Services
Operation Santa
Operation Santa was started by retired Gulfport Police Lieutenant, Michael Quill.
Operation Santa has been in service for 23 years and its function is to help parents
who might need a little help at Christmas time by providing gifts for needy children
who reside in the City of Gulfport. This goal is not to give Christmas to families but
to try and give a little help so children can have something under the tree.
This year Operation Santa helped put a smile on the faces of 248 children in 91
families. This is not possible without the generous outpouring donations of toys and
money from organizations, businesses and individuals. Last year 2013 Operation
Santa helped put smiles on the faces of 261 children in 96 families.
35
Special Services
Community Resource Officer
Officer Zachary Mills, badge #584, joined the agency in 2006, and he has
distinguished himself as an expert in traffic and DUI cases. Officer Mills is a
graduate of Florida State University, holding a bachelor’s degree in criminology. He
is also a certified RADAR operator, breath test operator, and field training officer.
Officer Mills was the recipient of the 2009 Officer of the Year award.
Officer Mills currently serves as the community resource officer and reports directly
to the Professional Standards lieutenant. He is responsible for community policing
and problem solving efforts in the 49th Street redevelopment area. Officer Mills was
recently awarded the department’s community service medal for his outstanding
work with community leaders and service providers.
36
Professional Standards
Joshua Stone, who was promoted to the rank of lieutenant after five
years of distinguished service as a sergeant, is the commander of the
professional standards section. In this role, he oversees accreditation,
training, recruiting & screening, and internal affairs. Lieutenant
Stone grew up in Gulfport, and he has been with the agency since 2001.
Lieutenant Stone, who has also served as a detective and as a patrol
supervisor during his career, is an adjunct instructor for the law
enforcement academy at St. Petersburg College.
A graduate of the University of South Florida, Stone has a Master of
Arts in Criminal Justice Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree
in Criminology. At the time of this report, Lieutenant Stone is
attending the FBI National Academy.
The Professional Standards Section has responsibility for coordination and
oversight of the following areas: Training, Selection, Internal Affairs, Accreditation,
Inspections & Audits, and Crime Prevention
Training
During the 2014 calendar year, members of the Gulfport Police Department
completed 1744 hours of training. This is a 176 hour decrease from the previous
year. During the 2014 calendar year, the agency had to fill five vacancies and train
each member in the FTO program. The scheduling conflicts that arose while
training each new member prevented scheduling training.
Below are some highlights of the training conducted for the 2014 calendar year:
•
•
•
•
•
Detective Mclauglin, Officer Marshall and Officer Wodraska attended a 40
hour course on Crisis Intervention Techniques.
Officers Wodraska, Marshall and Lavigne attended a 24 hours training
course on Documentation, Investigative Report Writing and Courtroom
Testimony.
Officers Priest, Obrart and Iwanowski attended a 16 hour Breath Test
Operator course.
Ten Officers attended an 8 hour Pursuit Intervention Technique training
course.
Lt. Stone and Sgt. Vandenberg attended training courses on Fair and
Impartial Policing.
37
•
•
•
Members completed 98 hours of firearms training.
Members completed 80 hours of Active Shooter Training.
Members completed 100 hours of Vehicle Operations Training.
Training Hours
2308
2500
1920
2000
1725
1736
2010
2011
1744
1500
1000
500
0
38
2012
2013
2014
Applicant Screening
The selection of competent personnel for Police Officer positions is essential to provide that
service and the protection to which the public is entitled. The City of Gulfport and the
Police Department have established eligibility standards and processes to ensure
individuals of the highest caliber are selected to serve the public as Gulfport Police Officers.
These requirements are well above those established by the state legislature for police
officers. For example, the state requires police officer applicants be at least 19 years of age
and have a high school diploma or equivalency. To apply for a position with Gulfport,
applicants must be 21 years old and have at least 60 college credit hours or prior military
service. In fact, over one third of our sworn officers have at least a Bachelor’s Degree.
The screening of these applicants requires an extensive and thorough background
investigation, including physical fitness test, oral board interview, polygraph (lie detector),
psychological test, physical exam, and a drug screen. In recognition of the ever-increasing
difficulty in finding and selecting qualified police officers, the police department now has a
full-time detective dedicated to recruiting and screening applicants.
2014 Statistics
During the 2014, the Gulfport Police Department received a total of 51 applications for the
position of police officer. This was a reduction of 1 application from the 2013 calendar year.
Out of the total number of applicants who applied in 2014, only 2 were hired. In 2014, a
total of 5 were actually hired, but three of them came from the 2013 applicant pool.
The following is a demographic breakdown of the applicants:
2014 Total Applicants: 51
•
•
•
•
•
•
Females: 9
Males: 42
White: 36
African-American: 7
Hispanic: 6
Asian: 2
2013 Total Applicants: 51
• Females: 2
• Males: 50
• White: 42
• African-American: 6
• Hispanic: 3
• Asian: 1
39
Internal Affairs
This department has established and put into
operation a system for recording, registering, and
controlling all complaints and investigations of
alleged or suspected misconduct within the
agency.
The receipt, investigation and
determination of complaints alleging employee
misconduct is done to ensure that each allegation
of misconduct is resolved effectively through an
adjudication process based on the principle of fair
and equal treatment for all.
Complaints are accepted from any source, and the first step is usually a
preliminary inquiry by the employee’s immediate supervisor. If the matter
involves a minor conduct issue and can be resolved at this level to the satisfaction
of the complainant, that fact is documented via a memo from the supervisor to the
Chief of Police. If the complaint involves a serious violation, such as alleged
criminal conduct or excessive use of force, or if it cannot be resolved by the
employee’s supervisor, then a complaint form is submitted to the Chief of Police.
Once received, the form is logged and reviewed by the Chief for assignment to an
investigator who has been trained to comply with legal requirements for
conducting such investigations. Upon conclusion, the investigator submits a
report to the Chief of Police, who issues a finding based on the facts presented.
The complainant in all cases receives a copy of the Chief’s finding.
8
7
7
6
6
6
5
5
5
4
IA Cases
3
Sustained
2
1
0
2010
40
2011
2012
2013
2014
Accreditation
An accreditation program has long been recognized as a means of maintaining the
highest standards of professionalism. Accreditation is the certification by an
independent reviewing authority that an entity has met specific requirements and
prescribed standards. Law enforcement agencies in Florida can attain accredited
status through the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.
Since 1993, in accordance with Florida Statute 943.125, Florida Law Enforcement
agencies have had access to this voluntary accreditation program, which is overseen
by a commission of public safety executives and staffed by members of the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement.
The process requires compliance with more than 250 professional standards
designed specifically for Florida law enforcement agencies. The Gulfport Police
Department achieved accreditation on February 9, 2000. The commission requires
a thorough assessment every three years, and Gulfport was reaccredited in 2003,
2006, and 2009, and again in 2012. We are now a candidate for the Commission’s
“Excelsior” award, which is reserved for agencies who are reaccredited five
consecutive times without conditions. It takes a minimum of sixteen years to earn
this honor, and very few have achieved it.
Gulfport is also honored to have three accreditation assessors on staff. Chief
Vincent, Lieutenant Stone, and Lieutenant Farrand are all active as assessment
team members who are called upon by the commission to serve on teams to conduct
onsite reviews of other Florida law enforcement agencies. This speaks volumes
about the faith the commission has placed in our knowledge, skills, and abilities,
but it also offers us regular opportunities to get a close look at operations in other
locales. This experience helps ensure that GPD is always at the state of the art.
41
Inspections and Audits
A basic tenet of accreditation is the responsibility for a law enforcement agency not
to simply do the right thing, but to prove that it is doing so. Much of the
Professional Standards commander’s time is spent gathering evidence to prove
compliance with the multitude of standards. These proofs can often be found in
police reports or other documents, but the most important are our own self
assessments, inspections, and audits. Supervisors conduct quarterly line inspections
of their personnel and work areas, the policy compliance sergeant conducts audits of
property & evidence, and division commanders do in-depth staff inspections at least
once every three years.
These inspections and audits are not done simply to meet accreditation standards.
They provide commanders with valuable insight regarding critical operating
functions. In an agency the size of the Gulfport Police Department, this information
is extremely important, particularly because commanders and supervisors must
routinely work hand-in-hand with their employees. Such familiarity can lead to
unintentional overlooking of errors, and by requiring documented audits and
inspections, we are able to maintain professionalism and reduce that likelihood.
The following pages are examples of such reviews, conducted or verified by the
Professional Standards commander to identify potentially-inappropriate trends in
use of force, traffic stops, seizures, and contraband forfeitures, as well as security of
sensitive electronic data.
42
Memorandum
GULFPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT
To:
Chief Robert Vincent
From:
Acting Lieutenant Michael Vandenberg
Date:
1/13/15
Re:
2014 Use of Force Analysis
Written Directive 101.15 requires that the agency conduct an annual review of Use of Force
incidents. For calendar year 2014, there were 33 instances where officers had to employ force
above mere touch in order to control a person, affect an arrest, or protect the public or officers
from harm. An examination of the 33 incidents revealed that force was used on 37 individuals
during 2014. There were 3 incidents when force had to be used on more than one person during
one single event.
The Gulfport Police Department gathers data from response to resistance reports which includes
race, sex, age of the person whom force was used against, the level of resistance encountered,
and the response used by the responding officer or officers.
After reviewing the data, the following information was obtained:
Analysis – Race
•
•
•
54% or 20 persons who had some degree of force used against them were White. 43% or
16 persons were African American, and 3% or 1 person was Hispanic.
The 2010 census indicates that 79% of the Gulfport population is white and 11% is
African American, however
• The Greater Childs Park Area, which shares a border with Gulfport, has a
population comprised of 16% white and 81% African American (from the 2000
US Census).
• Boca Ciega High School, where 16% of the uses of force occurred, has a
population comprised of 37% white and 47% African American.
Based on these considerations, no conclusions can be made regarding the use of force as
it relates to the race of the persons involved.
43
Analysis – Age and Gender
•
•
65% or 24 individuals who had some degree of force used against them were adults,
while 35% or 13 individuals were juveniles.
86 % or 32 individuals who had some degree of force used against them were male, while
only 14% or 5 individuals were female.
Analysis - Less Lethal Weapons
•
•
•
In 1 instance, Officers used a chemical spray in order to gain compliance with resisting
persons. Two individuals were exposed to the chemical spray during that one instance.
In 2 instances, Officers used a conducted energy weapon, or Taser, to gain compliance
with a resisting person.
In total, Officers had to deploy a less lethal weapon in 9% of the reported use of force
incidents.
Analysis – Resistance Encountered
•
•
•
Of the 33 use of force incidents, 39% or 13 incidents involved subjects who used a
degree of force where they actively resisted the officer’s attempt at control. This is
usually in the form of bracing, tensing, pushing or pulling away, running away from an
officer or doing something to try and defeat the officer’s attempt at control.
Approximately 22% or 7 of the incidents involved subjects who used overt, hostile,
attacking movements which were likely to cause injury to an officer or another, but not
likely to cause great bodily harm.
The remaining 39% or 13 incidents involved the presence of a person on scene,
sometimes accompanied by not complying with an officers lawful command, which
required a response, such as the application of handcuffs, physically moving someone
using more than just mere touch, or the pointing of a firearm to halt a fleeing suspect or
to protect an officer from possible danger.
Analysis – Reported Injuries
•
•
There were no reported significant injuries to individuals who were exposed to use of
force in 2014. The only injury reported that was comprised of more than minor scrapes
or abrasions was a minor bite from a K-9 that was treated on scene and did not require
further medical attention.
There were no reported injuries to officers in 2014.
Analysis – Use of Force/Arrests Made
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The graph below illustrates the number of arrests made compared with the number of use of
force incidents. The numbers are consistent with previous years and trends.
600
500
400
Arrests
300
RTR
200
100
0
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Conclusion
All use of force incidents were reviewed by a defined chain of command. All incidents were
noted to be within the response to resistance guidelines set forth by the Gulfport Police
Department. There are no trends noted that would require a change in the response to resistance
policy or our data collection process.
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Memorandum
GULFPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT
To:
Chief Robert Vincent
From:
Acting Lieutenant Michael Vandenberg
Date:
2/10/15
Re:
2014 Bias-based Profiling Review
Complaints
During 2014, there was one complaint alleging bias based profiling. That case was referred to
Internal Affairs and was unfounded based on independent witness testimony and analysis of the
subject officer’s traffic stop history.
Traffic Stops
The computer aided dispatch system that has been in use since our communications merger with
the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in 2010 does not retain data on the race of individuals
involved in all traffic stops. To analyze this information, we must look at the closest data set,
which is traffic citations issued.
During 2014, approximately 1429 Uniform Traffic Citations were issued. Approximately 61%
or 873 citations were issued to white motorists. Approximately 33% or 467 citations were issued
to black motorists. Approximately 4% or 60 citations were issued to Hispanic motorists and
approximately 2% or 29 citations were issued to motorists classified as other.
•
The 2010 census indicates that 79% of the Gulfport population is white and 11% is
African American, however
• The Greater Childs Park Area, which shares a border with Gulfport, has a
population comprised of 16% white and 81% African American (from the 2000
US Census).
• A survey of motorists on 49th St S, the primary border between Gulfport and the
Greater Childs Park Area, indicated a population comprised of 50% white and
38% African American.
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Based on these considerations, no conclusions can be made regarding discriminatory practices in
traffic enforcement.
Seizures and Forfeitures
In 2014, the Gulfport Police Department seized two vehicles under the Florida Contraband
Forfeiture Act. In both cases, the owners or passengers of the vehicles were in possession of
narcotics and the type of narcotic made the offense a felony.
In the first instance, officers responded to a report of two males passed out in a running vehicle.
When officers arrived they could clearly see several spoons on the center console and the
occupants were not responsive. When officers opened the vehicle door to check on the driver,
there was a pipe in plain view and the driver was sitting on a hypodermic needle. This prompted
a search of the remainder of the vehicle which located other drug paraphernalia and a
prescription pill on the driver. The stop, search and subsequent seizure of the vehicle were
appropriate; however, the vehicle was eventually released back to the owner because he owed
more than the truck was worth.
In the second instance, an officer stopped a vehicle on Gulfport Blvd. for speeding. The female
driver was very confused and not following the officers commands. Once the female was
removed from the vehicle for a field sobriety check, another officer noticed multiple cans of
nitrous oxide in the vehicle along with a dispenser. After being taken into custody, the female
was searched and the arresting officer located Xanax in her pockets. The stop, search and
subsequent seizure of the vehicle were appropriate and the owner stipulated to purchase the
vehicle back from the department for $500.
Conclusion
The review of relevant operations shows no evidence to indicate that members of the Gulfport
Police Department have shown bias in their operations. To reaffirm that such conduct is
prohibited, all officers are required to review and sign the policy regarding bias based profiling.
Lt. Stone and Sgt. Vandenberg both attended training in preventing bias based profiling this year
and we will be continuing to send sworn officers to similar training.
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Memorandum
GULFPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT
To:
Chief Robert Vincent
From:
Acting Lieutenant Michael Vandenberg
Date:
1/26/15
Re:
Annual records management security audit - 2014
Please see attached Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office inter-office memo regarding the annual
audit of their computer system. The Gulfport Police Department no longer maintains our own
records management system (RMS). We are currently contracting with the Pinellas County
Sheriff’s Office for records management services.
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Conclusion and Goals
Progress toward 2014 Goals
1. Improve retention of officers as they reach the typical exit points:
a. Completion of three years’ service (initial contract fulfilled)
b. Completion of ten years’ service (vested in pension plan)
Only one police officer resigned in 2014; it was a ten-year vested officer who
went to work for another local agency that offered a signing bonus. This is a
significant improvement over 2013, where five officers resigned or retired.
2. Improve the diversity in our ranks of sworn officers.
We hired five police officers in 2014, and all were white males. We do not
consider race or gender among applicants, but we continue to strive to
increase the number of minority applicants from which to make hiring
decisions. So far in 2015, we have extended two job offers, one to a white
female and the other to a black male.
3. Increase the level of participation in community programs by members of the
police department.
Twelve officers, or approximately 39% of total sworn staff, volunteered for
two major community events this year—the Veterans Day benefit and the
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The participants came in on their own
time to contribute to these causes for the betterment of the community.
4. Maintain a part one crime clearance rate of at least 20 percent.
Our clearance rate, at 27%, was the highest it has been in recent memory.
5. Reduce the perception and fear of crime among residents in the 49th Street
redevelopment area.
Efforts included assignment of a full time community resource officer
working specifically in this area, installation of surveillance cameras at
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public facilities in this area, improved street lighting, and improved signage
to more clearly identify a police facility in this area. Unfortunately, actual
measurement of this goal would require a formal survey, which would incur
significant unbudgeted costs.
6. Improve the perception of safety in our municipal marina and on Boca Ciega
Bay.
Efforts included increased enforcement of ordinances regarding temporary
docking of vessels, as well as proposals for ordinance revisions to reduce the
attractiveness to vagrancy. Again, actual measurement of this goal would
require a formal survey, which would incur significant unbudgeted costs.
Goals for 2015
1. Reduce the rate of burglaries and larcenies city-wide.
2. Reduce the incidence of shoplifting at discount retail outlets.
3. Develop partnerships with the Department of Juvenile Justice probation
office to facilitate a more proactive effort at juvenile community control.
4. Increase diversity among our sworn ranks.
5. Improve the perception of safety at all municipal waterfront facilities.
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Police & Community
This document is a publication of the Gulfport Police Department; all rights reserved.
The Gulfport Police Department is an equal opportunity employer.