PAGE 8 - April 2, 2008
THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
The PT Challenge
Police Beat News
Drug Task Force Jails 14 In Sting
By Gail A. Tierney, Citrus County Sheriff Public Information Officer
There's nothing "part time" about the Sheriff's Office revitalized PT,
Chiefland_ On March 22, 2008 the Levy County Sheriff's Office and the Chiefland Police
or physical training, initiative now in its kickoff phase. In fact, Sheriff Jeff
Department arrested fourteen drug dealers and buyers in the Chiefland area.
Dawsy knows only too well how much stamina, strength and agility his sworn
The Drug Task Force consisting of the Levy County Sheriff's Office and the
personnel need to perform effectively in their chosen career field.
Chiefland Police Department began the ten hour drug sting the day before Easter. The sting
Dawsy not only talks the talk, but walks the walk as well. An avid
had two objectives: The first objective was to arrest drug dealers from previous narcotic
runner, he also works out several times a week at one of two small, equipped
investigations and the second objective was to set up shop and pose as drug dealers and
gyms operated by the agency on the east and west side of the county. (A
sale narcotics to drug buyers.
third gym is planned for the new, centrally located Emergency Operations Center currently
The efforts of the Drug Task Force was very successful with agents arresting
going up in Lecanto.)
fourteen (14) people and making 38 felony charges, 4 misdemeanor charges, confiscating
Since fall of last year, the sheriff and his commanders had been reexamining the
three (3) vehicles and US Currency. During one arrest a defendant had a 13 year old child
physical fitness criteria for the agency's sworn personnel. A voluntary commitment on their
present in the vehicle during the purchase of crack cocaine and the defendant was charged
part to pursuing a healthier lifestyle didn't appear to be working, so administrators decided to
with child neglect.
step things up a notch.
Man Arrested on Four Counts of
Recently a brand-new PT course was constructed in-house by the agency and
installed on the grounds of the Withlacoochee Technical Institute. Starting April 1, it will be
Grand Theft, Forgery
mandatory for all sworn personnel to tackle each of the work-related obstacles and complete
the half-mile course in eight-and-a-half minutes or less. A survey of the agency's sworn
deputies concluded that the course should be run not once, but four times a year.
On March 21, 2008 Levy County Investigator Mark Morgan arrested John Andrew
Deputies who fail to complete the course successfully by July 1 will be given the
Flynn for four counts of grand theft, four counts of uttering a forged instrument and four
opportunity to take accrued vacation time to step up their training and try again. If deputies
counts of forgery.
are unable to complete the course in the appointed minutes, Dawsy feels perhaps they
On March 9, 2008 John Andrew Flynn was arrested for grand theft auto, resisting
should be deputies somewhere else.
arrest without violence and driving while license suspended. Defendant stole a 2003 Ford
The sheriff firmly believes he owes his deputies, their families and the citizens they
Explorer from the Youth Minister at the First Baptist Church in Bronson. The victim was
serve the physical training needed to per-
preaching when the theft occurred. Defendant was stopped in the stolen vehicle less than 5
form the job at hand. Good health is para-
miles from the church and was arrested. A search was conducted in the stolen vehicle and a
mount, and Dawsy not only wants his
check book was located inside the vehicle that did not belong to the victim.
deputies to take pride in how they do
The investigation revealed that the defendant stole check books from another vic-
their job, but how they look as well.
tim that was not related to the owner of the stolen vehicle. On March 4, 2008 the defendant
To accomplish this, he encour-
cashed the stolen checks at the Capital City Bank in Bronson. The four checks were cashed
ages his civilian personnel, too, to em-
for the amount of $3225.00. CSI-Investigator Derek Schmidt located a latent finger print on
brace the
the stolen check. CSI- Investigator Derek Schmidt is a finger print examiner and identified
agency-wide physical training initiative.
that the latent finger print belonging to the defendant. The defendant stated that he used the
He already has authorized a wellness fair
money ($ 3225.00) to buy crack cocaine.
Inglis Police Dept. Activity Log
for all agency personnel, plus brought
in speakers to address such topics as
stress management, nutrition and
Inglis Police Department's Monthly Activity Log for January: 2 arrests, 1 Baker Act,
healthy choices.
615 building checks, 211 calls for service, assisted the Levy County Sheriff's Office 16 times,
Dawsy says he's seeing
assisted Yankeetown 5 times, 114 Citations issued, 2 drug arrests, 3 driving under the influ-
progress. He beams when he talks about
ence arrests, 1 traffic crash, 5 Sworn Complaints filed and 797.5 man hours worked.
deputies who already are PT course
devotees, have become regulars at the Cpl. Dave Vincent negotiates the new Sheriff's
Custom Woodworking
Office physical training course under the watchful
gym or have shed significant unwanted
eye of Dep. Chuck Kanehl (R) with the agency's
pounds.
Training Unit.
"Your Plans or Ours"
"Believe me, I'm not looking for
physical perfection," said the sheriff, "but I do expect my sworn personnel to at least be in
respectable shape."
Antique Furniture Refinishing
Gail Tierney is public information officer for the Citrus County Sheriff's
Bookcases
Office. She has been with the agency for 18 years. Comments or suggestions may be
Custom-Made Furniture
directed to Gail at 726-4488, Ext. 311, or gtierney@sheriffcitrus.org.
e-mail your news to: newscast@atlantic.net
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