HELLO,

LET ME FIRST SAY HELLO TO ALL OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN HIGHLANDS COUNTY. I AM ONE OF THE MANY SOUTH FLORIDA OFFICERS THAT IS FORTUNATE ENOUGHT TO HAVE A WEEKEND HOME TO ESCAPE TO IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTY. IF I DIDN'T I WOULD LOOSE MY MIND FROM WORKING DOWN HERE IN THE MIAMI AREA. I BOUGHT MY HOME OVER 10 YEARS AGO AND COULD NEVER AFFORD IT AT TODAYS PRICES.

THIS PAST WEEKEND I WAS WITH SEVERAL OTHER OFFICERS THAT HAVE HOMES ON LAKE JUNE, WE HAD OUR WIVES AND CHILDREN OUT IN A FEW BOATS AND WAVERUNNERS AND WERE ON THE SANDBAR AT THE N.W PORTION OF THE LAKE ENJOYING A BEAUTIFUL DAY, NO ONE HAD ANY ALCOHOL AT ALL AND WERE NOT HOT-DOGGING AROUND, JUST SWIMMING AND RELAXING. TWO OF THE GUYS WERE RETURNING FROM A WAVERUNNER RIDE AND AS THEY GOT CLOSE TO THE SANDBAR A CHILD FROM ANOTHER PARTY BOAT DRIFTED OUT ON A RAFT AND CAUSED THE FIRST WAVERUNNER TO SLOW SOONER THEN EXPECTED, THE SECOND WAVERUNNER CUT OUT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND SPLASHED THE FIRST WAVERUNNERS RIDER WHO WAS AVOIDING THE CHILD. THIS WAS OBSERVED BY OFC. ERICA ( WE THINK ) ZIMMERMAN # M834 FROM F.W.C WHO WAS AT LEAST A FOOTBALL FIELD AWAY ON HER WAVERUNNER. NOT ONLY DID SHE MAKE STOP THE OFF-DUTY OFFICER AND CHASTIZE HIM BUT SHE ISSUED HIM A CITATION FOR CARLESS DRIVING ONLY AFTER FIRST MAKING A THREAT OF ARREST FOR RECKLESS DRIVING. AT NO TIME DID ANY OF US EVER APPROACH HER DURING OR AFTER HER STOP AND THE OFF-DUTY OFFICER THAT RECEIVED THE CITATION WAS ALWAYS POLITE AND PROFESSIONAL. HE EXPLAINED TO HER THAT IN ORDER TO CUT OUT HE NEED THE WAVERUNNER TO BE UNDER POWER TO HAVE STEERING. NO LUCK.

AFTER THE SHOCK AND DISBELIEF SET IN WE LEARNED THAT SHE HAS A HISTORY OF CITING OTHER COPS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. THE SAD THING IS IF SHE NEEDED HELP OUT THERE BY HERSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE , WE WOULD BE THE FIRST TO HELP A FELLOW COP AND STILL WOULD EVEN AFTER BEING CITED.

THIS IS JUST A HEADS UP TO ALL OF YOU FELLOW OFFICERS IN HIGHLANDS COUNTY THAT THIS EXISTS. WE BELIEVE IN PROFESSIONAL COURTESY AND KNOW HOW TO USE DISCRESION WHEN REQUIRED.

BE SAFE.