One of the best ways to increase the safety of our county is to engage with and actively listen to the communities we protect. As our community policing deputies work hard to establish relationships with families in need, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is always seeking new ways to garner connections with individuals who are genuinely interested in learning more about law enforcement.

In 2020, there are many ways you can connect with us. Our newest opportunity is a program called Sheriff’s Community Connection (SCC), which occurs on the second Thursday of every month between January and November at the Sheriff’s Administration Building, located at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

SCC provides Pinellas County residents and business leaders an opportunity to meet for lunch with Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office personnel. Attendees receive area-specific crime updates, crime prevention information, an agency update, and are given the chance to ask questions and participate in discussions afterwards.

Annual memberships for individuals cost $25 and allow members to bring one guest with them. Annual memberships for businesses are $100.00 per year and allow two individuals to attend luncheons each month and each one bring a guest.

All of the proceeds from the membership dues benefit the SCC’s programs, including the Community Grant Program and the Bright Star Award Program for sheriff’s office members.

Beyond this monthly event, the sheriff’s office has many other opportunities for adults and children to participate in. They include: Sheriff’s Citizens Academy, Sheriff’s Teen Citizens Academy, Discovery Day, Explorer Post #900 Program, and Sheriff’s Volunteer Patrol. There is something for everyone. Visit our website, pcsoweb.com, for more details and to register for any of these opportunities.

Every December, members of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office wake up in the early morning hours on a weekday, go to the Target on Park Street and Tyrone Boulevard, and fill carts with toys and household necessities for families in need throughout Pinellas County. Men and women in uniform scour the aisles for the perfect gifts for these families.

Their personal touch in selecting these unique gifts--like a firetruck for a child who dreams of being a first responder, or a notepad and pencils for a child who desperately needs school supplies--shines on Christmas Day when families that are going through hardship open them with joy. Instead of seeing a bare Christmas tree, or no tree at all, they are able to enjoy the holidays with their loved ones.

These joyous moments are only made possible through the support of the community during our annual Ride & Run With The Stars fundraising event, which funds the Christmas Sharing Project and covers the cost of the holiday shopping event at Target. For more than 25 years, the sheriff’s office has organized this 5K, 25-mile bike ride, 10K family bike ride, and 1-mile family run, walk, or skate. Not only can families and individuals participate in these athletic challenges, but they can also enjoy a full day of fun, including watching a fly-in visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus on the sheriff’s office helicopter; bidding in a silent auction filled with amazing prizes; making arts and crafts in the kids zone; seeing our Canine Unit up close and personal; and enjoying delicious food from our sponsors—just to name a few.

Ride & Run With The Stars, which lands on December 7^th this year, is the largest law enforcement-organized holiday charity fundraiser in the Tampa Bay Area. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has raised more than $500,000 in donations and proceeds since its inception over 25 years ago.

Although several organizations coordinate holiday fundraisers and charity events, the sheriff’s office has the unique opportunity to give back to children and families with whom they have met and interacted with, sometimes on multiple occasions. Putting names and faces to the recipients of our holiday giving is added incentive to the men and women in uniform who dedicate additional time and effort to benefitting the less fortunate during the season.

If you are interested in getting involved with Ride & Run With The Stars, whether by registering for a race, ordering a t-shirt, sponsoring the event, or making a donation, please contact Sergeant Brady at 727-582-6287, and visit www.rideandrunwiththestars.com for more information.

In the meantime, let the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office be the first to wish you Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Holidays, and happy giving!

Halloween is no longer a holiday celebrated only by children; teenagers and adults get excited this time of year as well and attend parties, travel to haunted houses, and wear costumes for fun. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will be on alert for any suspicious activity or hazardous environments in order to keep all Pinellas County citizens safe—both young and old.

Although your top priority may be getting costumes ready, we advise you to prepare for the spookiest night of the year by taking time to plan your evening and staying alert. According to the National Safety Council, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween. Whether you have children and anticipate a night of trick-or-treating, plan to stay at home, or go out for a night of adult fun, follow these important guidelines to stay safe.

Safety Tips for Children

1. 1. Ensure young children are always accompanied by an adult. Travel in groups, and cross the street at intersections being careful not to leave anyone behind. Walk on sidewalks to stay visible to drivers and other trick-or-treaters.
2. 2. If older children or teenagers walk without supervision, designate a time they must return home and know exactly what route they take.
3. 3. Only visit lit houses and never enter a stranger’s house or vehicle while trick-or-treating.
4. 4. Carry a light source, like a glow stick, or wear reflective clothing to avoid getting lost or hit by a car.
5. 5. Test out costumes before wearing them on Halloween to make sure they are practical for walking long distances and preventing falls and injuries.

Home Safety Tips

1. 1. Instead of placing a lit candle in a pumpkin, light your jack-o’-lantern with a battery-powered light to prevent a fire.
2. 2. If you plan to pass out candy, remove hazards from your yard so the walkway is visible and free of items that could cause injury, like garden hoses, toys, and bikes.
3. 3. Always inspect the candy you receive before eating it. Throw away anything that is expired, open, or questionable. Don’t eat fruit or home-baked goods; stick to wrapped candy.
4. 4. Restrain pets properly as visitors come to your door.
5. 5. Be careful using sharp tools to carve pumpkins, and offer children to draw the design on the pumpkin instead of helping carve it with a sharp object.

Safety Tips for Adults

1. 1. If you plan to drink alcohol, always have a designated driver or use a taxi service, like Uber, so that you never drive intoxicated.
2. 2. Stay with friends or family members you trust; avoid strangers especially if they are showing suspicious behavior.
3. 3. If you see any violent activities, report them immediately.
4. 4. If someone you know becomes severely injured, looks like they might overdose on drugs, or is suicidal, call 9-1-1.
5. 5. If you are driving, watch for children walking on roadways, medians, or curbs.
6. 6. Last but not least: don’t eat too much candy – you’ll thank us later!

According to detectives in the Crimes Against Children Unit at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, drowning was the number-one cause of child deaths in Pinellas County in 2018. Nationwide, drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury, and every day about 10 people die from drowning—two of which are children 14 or younger. Due to the pervasive threat of drowning, families need to take extra care of kids whenever they are near water and always have the proper size life jackets on board while boating.

Florida law requires that one personal flotation device (PFD) per passenger be readily accessible on the vessel at all times, and children under age six must wear one while underway.

In an effort to ensure kids always wear a PDF while taking a trip out on a boat, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to support Operation Kid Float—a  boating safety education program that provides youth life jackets at no cost at various locations throughout Pinellas County. Families can borrow one or more for their kids for the day and then return it after the trip.

Operation Kid Float kiosks can be found at the following parks and boat ramps:

• Philippe Park: 2525 Philippe Parkway, Safety Harbor
• Belleair Causeway Boat Ramp: 541S Belleair Causeway, Largo
• Lake Seminole Park: 10015 Park Boulevard North, Seminole
• Bay Pines Boat Ramp: 9600 Bay Pines Boulevard, Bay Pines
• County of Pinellas: Park Boulevard Boat Ramp: 18651 Gulf Boulevard, Indian Rocks Beach
• Dunedin Marina: 51 Main Street #1, Dunedin
• Fort De Soto Boat Ramp: 3500 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde
• John Chestnut Senior Park: 2200 East Lake Road South, Palm Harbor

When deputies are patrolling Pinellas County’s nearly 588 coastal miles on busy weekends, they keep an eye out for children who are already sporting their life jackets and reward them with Operation Kid Float t-shirts. If you are stopped by Marine Unit deputies without appropriately sized life jackets for the children aboard your boat, you may receive a citation and be asked to end your trip early and return home.

The loaner life jacket program may not only save your day and your wallet, but also the life of a child on board.

The school season is a busy, but exciting, time of year for everyone. Our goal at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is to make sure children stay safe as they make the trip back to school.

One way of ensuring that happens is staying aware of the increased traffic, pedestrians, and school buses on the road. Also, anticipate slower commutes to work if you must travel through school zones. Always follow the rules of the road when you approach a school or school bus.

Keep these guidelines in mind:

--Pay attention to the road and keep an eye out for children, especially in crosswalks.

--Watch out for school crossing guards and obey their signals.

--Slow down in school zones. Never go above the posted speed limit, and obey all traffic signs. The fines are doubled for speeding in a school zone or designated school crossing.

--Stop for school buses displaying stop signs. You do not have to stop when the roadway is divided by an unpaved median or raised barrier of at least five feet wide. You must remain stopped until all children are clear of the roadway and the bus signal has been withdrawn.

--Never text and drive, especially in a school zone. Deputies will issue warnings to offenders until December 31st of this year. Afterwards, they may issue citations.

If you have children, ensure they stay safe on their routes to school by following these tips:

--If your child walks to and from school, instruct him or her to use the same route every day and not deviate from their path or go elsewhere without notifying you first. Encourage them to walk with friends and use public sidewalks and crosswalks.

--Ensure your child always wears a helmet if they ride his or her bike. Check with the school to see if your child is allowed to ride a bike to class. Some schools do not allow students to do this until they reach a certain grade.

--Unless licensed to do so, never use handicap or emergency vehicle lanes or spaces to drop off or pick up children at school.

--Teach your child to avoid strangers and never get into a vehicle with one without your permission.

--Instruct your child on what to do if there is an active shooter at school using the mantra, “Run, Hide, Fight.” Also encourage them to report suspicious behavior among their classmates using the Fortify Florida app, telling you, or talking to their teachers and principal at school.

This school year, help us keep our kids safe. Know the rules, stay alert, be patient, and teach others to do the same.

From the Desk of Sheriff Bob Gualtieri

You may think that picking up your phone and texting a loved one while driving is no big deal, but all it takes is a couple of seconds of distraction to cause a motor vehicle accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds, which is like driving the length of a football field at 55 mph with your eyes closed.

According to EverDrive, an app that monitors people’s driving behavior to give auto insurance discounts, Florida ranked as the second to worst state for using a phone behind the wheel last year. In addition, 44 percent of the drives studied contained at least one distracted driving occurrence. This percentage was higher than the totals for speeding, aggressive acceleration, harsh braking, and poor turning. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles also found that in 2018, more than 170 crashes were caused by people who were texting and driving.

Due to these overwhelming statistics and reports of fatal crashes involving texting and driving, the Florida State Legislature passed a bill to make texting and driving a primary offense. Starting July 1st, if a driver is caught texting while the vehicle is in motion, Pinellas County law enforcement officers can give the person a nonmoving violation that adds three points to their driver’s license. First-time offenders may elect to complete a distracted driving safety program to forego these points.

Further, if the person is holding a wireless communication device—such as a phone, tablet, or game—while operating a moving motor vehicle in a designated school zone, work zone, or school crossing, they can also receive a citation. Initially, when this particular hands-free law goes into effect October 1st, deputies will give drivers warnings for this offense. But come January 1, 2020, they will receive a ticket, which will add three points to their driver’s license.

Pinellas County residents may still use their phones for navigation, making emergency phone calls and messages, and checking weather alerts. They can also text if the vehicle is stopped at a red light, or is stationary in standstill traffic.

However, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office encourages hands-free driving at all times to keep everyone on the road safe. Commit yourself to saving lives by never texting or using your phone while driving. If you see others distracted in their vehicles, encourage them to put their phones away.

If you drive and text, you pay. But remember, you could pay the ultimate price of injuring yourself or others. Here are a few alternatives to using a cell phone in your vehicle:

--Use a Bluetooth device that allows you to communicate without using your hands.

--Buy a car, or update your current vehicle, with a voice-activated navigation and phone system.

-- Put your phone on silent when you enter your vehicle to avoid the temptation to text and drive.

Remember, just drive. The rest can wait.

Floridians spend half the year on the lookout for hurricanes. When June approaches, it’s time to do an annual check-up on your hurricane preparedness.

First, know in which evacuation zone you live. There are many ways to find out: visit www.pinellascounty.org to look up your area, or download the free Ready Pinellas App on your mobile device. The Pinellas County Interactive Hurricane Evacuation Inquiry Line is also available to answer any emergency-related questions: 727-453-3150.

In the event of a hurricane warning, emergency management and public safety officials will communicate important messages to the community through broadcast news, social media, and the radio. It’s crucial to monitor these communication channels so that you know if you need to evacuate.

Follow @PinellasCounty on Instagram, @PinellasCountyNews on Facebook, or @PinellasCoNews on Twitter so that if a disaster strikes, you’ll see important information in your news feed. You can also follow the #getreadypinellas hashtag to instantly view hurricane preparedness tips and significant alerts. For additional information from law enforcement, follow the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook @PinellasSheriff, or Twitter @SheriffPinellas.

If you live in the barrier islands, register for an emergency access permit, which allows you to  re-enter your residential area after the storm. When a mandatory evacuation order is lifted, law enforcement officials will scan this card at designated re-entry points.

To see if your city is included in the barrier islands, and to register for your permit, visit www.pcsoweb.com/emergency-access-permit, or call the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 727-582-6200. If you have an emergency access permit, you do not need to register for it again. Don’t wait until there is an emergency evacuation order to get your permit; they are available all year and are accessible through your city government.

Next, make travel plans in case you must evacuate, or you determine that your home can’t withstand hurricane-force winds. Stay with trusted family members and friends, if possible.

As a last resort, you can evacuate to an emergency shelter. A few of them are specifically designated for citizens with special needs. If you need transport assistance to any Pinellas County shelter, register in advance online: www.pinellascounty.org/specialneeds. For a full list of shelters, visit www.pinellascounty.org/emergency, or call the Citizen Information Center at 727-464-4333.

Lastly, create a hurricane survival kit that includes a battery-powered radio, water, flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food items, and a first-aid kit.

Sometimes Pinellas County ends up in the path of a hurricane, and other times we miss the storm. No matter what happens, stay prepared and informed this hurricane season.

You can never be too prepared when you take a journey out onto the water. In Pinellas County, boating is one of the top and most frequent activities in the spring and summer months. However, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, thousands of boating accidents happen every year throughout the country. The most recent report from 2017 shows that there were 4,291 recreational boating accidents in the United States resulting in 658 deaths, 2,629 injuries, and $46 million in property damages.

Out of the victims who drowned, 84.5 percent were not wearing a life jacket, and alcohol use was the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. This means that preventing death and injury when taking your boat out is as simple as wearing a life jacket and not operating your vessel under the influence.

Aside from these two very important safety rules, we do advise Pinellas County citizens to also follow the following tips during boating season.

1. 1. Complete a safe boating course: Florida law requires boat operators born after January 1, 1988 complete an approved boater education course and receive a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card. Enrolling in a boaters’ safety course is also a great way to learn the rules of the water and familiarize yourself with basic boating principles. Visit the National Safe Boating Council website at www.safeboatingcouncil.org for links to several approved online courses.
2. 2. Make a pre-departure checklist: Before you set sail, use a pre-departure checklist to make sure you have all the necessary equipment on board, including: life jackets, sound producing devices, distress signals, fuel and oil, fire extinguishers, a radio, anchor and dock line, basic toolbox, first-aid kit, and flashlights. Florida law requires that one personal flotation device (PFD) per passenger is readily accessible on the vessel at all times, and that children under age six must wear PFDs while underway.
3. 3. Watch for manatees: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission provides a Pinellas County manatee protection zone map. Reduce your boating speed in the required areas from April 1st to November 15th. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit regularly monitors and enforces these zones. The rules and restrictions can change, so it is important to stay informed.
4. 4. Get a free vessel safety check: The U.S. Coast Guard offers complimentary boat examinations to ensure you have the proper safety equipment required by state and federal regulations.   
5. 5. Make a float plan: Inform your close friends and family members about the details of your trip, including the name and address of the trip leader, boat type and registration, the names of all the passengers, and the trip itinerary. Also, make sure more than one person on board is familiar with the boat’s operations and general boating safety in case the primary navigator is injured or incapacitated in any way.
6. 6. Don’t drink and boat: Remember, operating any vehicle—including a boat—while impaired by drugs or alcohol is illegal and can result in lives lost and thousands of dollars in fines. Just as you would before a night out on the town, designate a sober captain before you head out on the water.