Law enforcement ups vigilance; makes some changes
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  1. #1
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    Law enforcement ups vigilance; makes some changes

    http://www.highlandstoday.com/hi/loc...nges-20160719/

    Jay Meisel | Highlands Today
    SEBRING — Local law enforcement has made some changes in the wake of fatal shootings of police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, La., but Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton said Monday there’s no way to eliminate all risk.

    “We cannot give into fear,” Benton said. “If we give into fear, the rule of law will collapse. We, as law enforcement, have got to maintain that rule of law.”

    Law enforcement officers in Highlands County will continue to do what they need to do to protect the community, she said, but the sheriff’s office has instituted some changes.

    Dispatchers, for instance, will ask 911 callers more questions. The aim is to “filter” calls and help determine whether it may be a set-up call, Benton said.

    Deputies are also being told to wait for backup when they respond to a call, and that may delay response time in some cases by a couple of minutes, she said.

    It can be difficult for deputies to wait for a backup when there is that delay, she said, but if the first officer responding goes down, more lives could be at risk and it makes it more difficult for a further action.

    The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office is looking at trying to provide helmets and shields for deputies, but that’s been made more difficult after a federal military surplus program ended, she said.

    Until that program was largely curtailed, she said, law enforcement could get such items at a lower cost.

    Benton said deputies have received training on “situational awareness” and there’s an emphasis on that. The heightened sense of concern has “really caused our deputies to be more aware of their situation,” she said.

    Sebring Police Cmndr. Steve Carr and Lake Placid Police Chief James Fansler also said situational awareness is being emphasized.

    Carr said that increased staffing is being used when needed. Fansler said that the Lake Placid Police Department will continue caring for the community 365 days a year. He said officers have increased vigilance, such as during traffic stops.

    Some residents have called for more community policing in response to the shootings.

    Gerald Snell, who organized an “All Lives Matter” prayer vigil in Donaldson Park Saturday, said he would like to see local authorities make a greater effort to connect with residents before something untoward happens.

    The vigil was organized to underscore the message of unity among all races and was attended by residents, white and black pastors, Highlands County Sheriff’s Office deputies and public officials such as Avon Park Mayor Sharon Schuler and Deputy Mayor Brenda Giles.

    Snell said the recent shootings have affected the families of the slain police officers and the citizens. “As a community we need to come together,” he said. “We are the world, no matter what color we are.”

    Benton said she doesn’t believe community policing, where a unit of law enforcement officers is headquartered in a particular area and officers ride their bikes and hug everyone, is the solution to all problems. She said that good law enforcement officers get to know people on their beats.

    It’s hard to pinpoint one cause behind the shootings, she said, which could range from mental health patients harboring the belief they are not being treated fairly —— whether true or not — poverty and hopelessness, and the political environment, all of which may play a role.

    Carr said he believes Sebring police have a good reputation throughout the city.

    At the vigil, Highlands County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mark Schrader asked the community to take the time to thank police officers and deputies for what they do, saying it matters a lot for them to know the people they serve appreciate their efforts. In the last month, his deputies have been often approached by strangers who want to thank them, in restaurants and other public places.

    He said Dallas Police Chief David Brown has became an inspiration to cops all over the country, and it doesn’t matter to them whether he is black or white.

    “I’m a white male, I’m a cop, but above all I’m a Christian,” he said, reinforcing the message of that evening — that all lives matter, no matter the color of their skin and that God doesn’t differentiate between people based on their race or color.

    jmeisel@highlandstoday.com

  2. #2
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    The only changes made were closing down zones and having fewer cops on the street.

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