Who:

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
- Community Policing
Special Operations Division
- Safe Harbor Community Policing
- Special Events Unit
- Airport Unit

Department of Detention and Corrections
Support Services Division

Pinellas Safe Harbor (Staff & Residents)

What:

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office ‘Take a Bite Out of Grime’ program has won the top award from the Keep Florida Beautiful Program for 2016 beating out 43 other counties in the state.    The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will also be nominated for the National award to be presented in Washington D.C. 

When:

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office ‘Take a Bite Out of Grime’ was presented with the award on Thursday, June 16, 2016.

Where:

The award was presented at Anona United Methodist Church in Largo, Florida.

Why/How:

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office ‘Take a Bite Out of Grime’ program has won the top award from the Keep Florida Beautiful Program for 2016 beating out 43 other counties in the state.    The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will also be nominated for the National award to be presented in Washington D.C. 

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was nominated by Keep Pinellas Beautiful organization to receive the “Outstanding Great American Cleanup (DIH) Trash off” award.  Efforts including the ‘Take a Bite Out of Grime’ kick-off event which collected 14,000 pounds of trash in a single day helped beat out the competition.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office ‘Take a Bite Out of Grime’ initiative serves as the annual kick-off event for Keep Pinellas Beautiful cleanup efforts.  The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office hosts various cleanup events removing trash and depositing it into proper receptacles.  These cleanup efforts occur throughout the county with the help of volunteers including Pinellas Safe Harbor residents.   

“It’s about taking ownership within your community and hopefully it helps sustain the efforts of volunteers and encourage residents not to litter” said Patricia Deplasco, Executive Director of Keep Pinellas Beautiful.     

‘Keep Pinellas Beautiful’ is one of 43 affiliates within the state of Florida participating in the Great American Cleanup program.  The program is focused on keeping communities clean and clear of litter and other trash with the help of volunteers and organizations. 

2016 marks the third year the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and Safe Harbor has partnered with Keep Pinellas Beautiful for the Great American Cleanup season.

This 3^rd annual project engaged over 200 homeless shelter residents to give back to the community by addressing the litter and dumping issues found throughout the Clearwater area. Efforts were celebrated back at the shelter with a picnic lunch, prizes and goody bags from local merchants.

“Take a Bite Out of Grime” is a perfect example of public and private partnerships at work. Our residents, county government, local businesses and churches joined in to help make Highpoint, Clearwater and by extension, Pinellas County, a better place to work, live and play.