Crime Prevention & Community Awareness Unit Focuses on Community Engagement During Crime Prevention Month
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In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared October “Crime Prevention Month” to educate the public about personal safety and reduce crime through partnerships between law enforcement and the community. While the entire month is dedicated to crime prevention efforts, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office focuses on preventing crime in the community all year through the Crime Prevention & Community Awareness Unit (CPCA).
The three members of the unit work together to educate the community and raise awareness of the most common crimes in Pinellas County. According to Sergeant Maurice McCloud, who leads the unit, the best ways to reduce crime are bringing residents together to establish a strong Neighborhood Watch group, conducting educational presentations that teach individuals how to recognize warning signs, and using technology to keep communities safe.
Deputy Chuck Skipper has been a member of the unit for a total of seven years and organizes and administers presentations, such as Social Media Safety for Parents & Children, Active Assailant, and Burglary Prevention.
“An in-person crime prevention presentation can be both educational and empowering,” Deputy Skipper said. “Citizens have the opportunity to meet with local law enforcement officers who are familiar with local crime trends. I’ve been told by many residents over the years how the information they learned during a presentation had helped them recognize situations where they were vulnerable, feel safer, or prevented them from being scammed. In addition, these presentations encourage them to share what they’ve learned with neighbors and family members.”
According to the CPCA, the most common crimes they see can often be easily prevented by simple tactics, such as locking the doors of their vehicle to prevent burglary and hanging up the phone when a strange caller attempts to obtain personal information.
“After working as a deputy for years and witnessing many crimes that impacted people firsthand, I’m excited and passionate about sharing information that can prevent someone from being a victim in the first place,” Deputy Skipper added. “It can be challenging when many people simply act complacent and don’t realize they could do a much better job of protecting themselves against some of the most common crimes by following a few tips. Unfortunately, too many citizens learn the hard way after becoming a victim.”
Not only does the CPCA teach individuals how to protect themselves from harm, but they also teach them how to recognize suspicious behavior in their everyday lives and how to respond. Deputy Dan DiFrancesco who also is in the unit, recalls a woman who was in one of his presentations and later observed a suspicious person loitering near a residence and quickly reported it to the sheriff’s office. When the deputy arrived, the individual fled the scene and left behind a stolen bicycle. This evidence led to the arrest of an individual who had multiple outstanding warrants.
One of the most common scams Deputy DiFrancesco witnesses is the “Grandparent Scam,” which involves a scammer who pretends to be an elderly person’s loved one to obtain their bank account information or money via gift card purchases.
“I really enjoy the fact that we are playing a part in preventing someone’s loved one from becoming a victim,” he said. “Between myself and Deputy Skipper, we offer more than 55 years of combined law enforcement experience to the public. The meetings we have are effective because we provide an approachable and informative-style presentation.”
Beyond coordinating these educational presentations and the Neighborhood Watch Program, CPCA is always looking for new ways to keep the community safe.
Sergeant McCloud added, “Crime Prevention tactics have changed over the years and will continue to change in the future. However, what will remain the same is every person’s responsibility to take part in crime prevention so they don’t become a victim of a crime.”
For weekly crime prevention tips, follow us on Facebook. We post crime prevention tips every Wednesday. We also feature these tips in the video series, “The Weekly 150.”
To schedule a crime prevention presentation, participate in the Neighborhood Watch Program, or receive more information on these topics, contact the Crime Prevention & Community Awareness Unit at: 727-582-2222
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National Night Out Brings Out Families for Fun and Engagement with Law Enforcement |
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We're so grateful to all of the members of the community, agency partners, local businesses, and non-profit organizations that joined us for National Night Out!
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Tampa PD and PCSO Dive Teams Train
at Port Tampa Bay
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You never know what may be hidden underwater, which is why the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Underwater Search and Recovery Team (also known as the Dive Team) is available at a moment’s notice to search for evidence, victims, suspicious items, narcotics, and explosive devices.
On September 28th, the Tampa Police Department (TPD) and the PCSO Dive Team gathered at Marjorie Park Marina in Tampa to practice diving techniques and safety protocols. The team members learned the “diver necklace” technique, which is used to quickly search for objects along the sea wall and underneath cargo or cruise ships.
During the necklace technique, five divers attach themselves to a safety line and spread themselves about six feet apart. Each diver is stacked on top of one another going 40 feet down. Then the divers move together along the sea wall, or ship, and look for explosives or other suspicious objects that may be attached to the pilings of the pier or the hull of the vessel.
First, the TPD and the PCSO Dive Team performed a dry run of the necklace technique in the park before practicing it underwater at Port Tampa Bay. Not only did the training exercise allow the two teams the opportunity to learn from one other, but it also helped prepare them for potential incidents.
“When the Super Bowl was here last year, our Marine & Environmental Lands Unit helped with the prep week,” Sergeant Phillip Love, who is the Dive Team Supervisor, said. “There may be a point in time when they need our assistance as well. TPD’s Dive Team worked the whole week before the Super Bowl, but at times, they don’t have enough team members to cover the search area. They may reach out to us in the future and ask if we’d be willing to help. After this training, we’ll know exactly how to help them and what their policies are.”
The PCSO Dive Team has training events every month to keep their skills fresh, but there is risk involved every time they go below the surface. Deputy Stephan Hole has been on the PCSO Dive Team since 1996 and feels partnering with other law enforcement agencies is a necessary part of ensuring everyone stays safe during a dive and preparing for future deployments.
“You never know when there is going to be a major event and you need to work together,” Deputy Hole said. “Forming good relationships with other law enforcement agencies gives you knowledge and experience. Many times you can pick up techniques you have not encountered before.”
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Portion of East Lake Road Dedicated to Deputy Michael J. Magli |
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On September 30, 2021, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office unveiled a sign officially designating a portion of East Lake Road in honor of Deputy Michael J. Magli. A special ceremony was held at Brooker Creek Elementary School, where Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Speaker Chris Sprowls, Senator Ed Hooper, and Representative Chris Latvala spoke on the significance of the historic event.
Senate Bill 1716, which was introduced by Senator Ed Hooper, and House Bill 1329, introduced by Representative Latvala, directed the Florida Department of Transportation to dedicate portions of highways to three law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty—including Deputy Magli, Officer Jesse Madsen of the Tampa Police Department, and Sergeant Brian Lavigne of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
“We got together and decided we are not going to wait another year to honor this brave hero,” Senator Ed Hooper said. “With their permission and initiative, and Governor DeSantis’ signing of the bill, we have been able to honor this brave soul starting today and every day as long as each of us is here. I’m proud of having a small part of making today possible.”
Deputy Magli’s wife, daughters, family members, and friends were present to participate in the reveal of the new sign designating “Deputy Michael J. Magli Memorial Road.”
“They say a hero remembered never dies,” Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said at the ceremony. “We are here today to make sure that deputy Michael J. Magli remains ever-present in the hearts and minds of everyone, and that the thousands of people who travel this road every day will have the opportunity to pause for a second when they see the sign we are going to unveil this morning, and that they remember Michael’s sacrifice.”
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Job Feature: Social Media Specialist
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The Social Media Specialist serves in the Public Relations Bureau and primarily assists with posting content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Nextdoor. The person in this role will also participate in and assist with special events, as well as contribute to the overall creative vision and public communication of the agency. To learn more and apply, click here.
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