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Tag: APP Public Safety

  • 3-year-old Pinellas boy drowns in lake, sheriff’s office says

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    EAST LAKE, Fla. — A 3-year-old boy is dead after drowning in a pond near his home off of East Lake Road, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

    Authorities say the child was autistic and nonverbal.

    The parents, who are hearing impaired, had not seen their son for about an hour and made a call to law enforcement around 4:30 p.m.

    Using Ring cameras and K9s, deputies say they traced the boy’s steps to a pond, three buildings away from where he lived.

    Investigators say it took them three hours to find the boy in the water.

    “It’s unfortunate, it’s a tragic accident,” Chief Deputy David Danzig said. “Any time a child loses their life under circumstances like this, it’s a terrible night for everyone up here. I wish it was a different outcome.”

    The sheriff’s office is calling the drowning accidental.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Treasure Island Fire Department continues search for permanent home

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Treasure Island Fire Rescue is the only fire department in Florida that doesn’t have a physical headquarters.

    That’s according to the city’s mayor, John Doctor.

    The building shared by the fire and police was severely damaged in Hurricane Helene. For about six months, they’ve been working out of pods next door to city hall. It’s where the fire and police chiefs want the city to build a new public safety building.

    What You Need To Know

    • Treasure Island Fire Rescue in search of permanent building after last year’s storms damaged their headquarters

    • It is the only fire department in Florida that doesn’t have a physical headquarters

    • Treasure Island Fire Rescue

    Commissioners held a workshop Tuesday to discuss plans for the department’s future home. They approved that location in February, but changes to the board since then have led to some questions about the project.

    Fire Chief Trip Barrs says his team has adapted to the pods, just like they did to the many changes since Hurricane Helene brought three feet of storm surge into their nearly 70-year-old former building.

    He said in the two weeks between Helene and Milton, they were stationed in seven different places.

    “The floor of a library at St. Pete College, a church facility, some condo owners allowed us to use multiple condos in a building,” Barrs said of the locations. “It’s utterly important that we get a new facility, a permanent facility, underway and being built.”

    Barrs said talks have revolved around building a 12,000-square-foot combined fire and police facility where the pods are now.

    The estimated cost is about $12 million.

    “It was kind of conditional, based upon how expensive it was, because we don’t have any money set aside at this point for that,” said Doctor.

    Three new commissioners have also been sworn in since then. Doctor said the workshop was a chance for them to talk about possible next steps.

    Some of the new lawmakers said they don’t want to raise taxes to pay for a new facility. There was also talk of building a new fire department while moving police into city hall.

    Barrs said they’ll ultimately do whatever the commission authorizes, but he thinks a combined fire and police station would best serve residents.

    “The fourth floor is wide open,” Barrs said. “So, what we’re trying to do is be very efficient with our buildings, with our costs, with our maintenance.

    “It’s the most economical to build and located here on Gulf Boulevard next to City Hall. From a fire standpoint, it decreases our overall response time by an estimated 38 seconds.”

    Commissioners did give the OK Tuesday for fire and police to move their temporary facilities to a parking lot near their old station.

    As for a permanent home, the city also still needs information on what insurance and FEMA funds could still be to come.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Pasco County Fire Station 3 opens, serving as ‘state-of-the-art facility’

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    HUDSON, Fla. — CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article stated that Fire Station 3 would serve the Seven Springs area. Fire Station 17 serves the Seven Springs area and not Fire Station 3. Fire Station 3 will cover the Hudson area as well as Bayonet Point. We have updated the article and removed the mention of Seven Springs.

    —

    After a year-long construction delay, Pasco County Fire Station 3 is now open and operating.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pasco County Fire Station 3 is now open and operating after a yearlong construction delay
    • An innovative design is helping keep both the community and firefighters safe, with the implementation of “hot, warm and cool zones”
    • The three zones help classify how firefighters return from a call and, as fire staff say, limit their risk of developing cancer
    • More fire stations are on the horizon for Pasco County, with a rebuild ongoing at Fire Station 19


    The new station is a state-of-the-art facility that is shaping the future of the department. The innovative design is helping keep both the community and firefighters safe.

    “The service that this is going to do for this area is going to be phenomenal,” said Commissioner Jack Mariano of District 5.

    A special ceremony takes place at the newly constructed Fire Station 3, ushering in a new era for Pasco County Fire Rescue, with a ceremonial push-in of fire engine 3. But the station is more than just another base of operation — it’s helping keep both the community and firefighters safe.

    “We’ve had a real goal towards limiting cancer in the fire service and Pasco County is on the leading edge of trying to do that,” said Deputy Chief of Administration David Mengel.

    To help limit cancer, Mengel says Station 3 has what’s called “hot, warm and cool zones.”

    “Right now, we’d be standing in what we consider our hot zone, so it’s the apparatus bay,” said Mengel. “This is where we’re going to come back from a call; a fire call. We’ve already had our decontamination on-scene and have gotten new gear from our Decon Unit.”

    The three zones help classify how firefighters return from a call. From hot to warm, firefighters remove their gear. Then, they make their way to the cool zones.

    “That’s going to include the rest of the fire station,” Mengel says while showing around Spectrum Bay News 9. “Up and down this hallway are all bunk rooms for our members to sleep in at night or to go and get some rest during the shift. Just to my left down here is going to take us into the gymnasium and then to the rest of the living quarters where you have the kitchen, living room and just a place for us to eat and an office to do some work.”

    A total of 12 firefighters currently make up the station staff, with a tower truck, a fire truck and two ambulances with some room to grow.

    “It’s quite a bit of crews and we can double that size if we need to,” said Pasco Fire Chief Ryan Guynn.

    It’s all necessary for a growing community.

    “This area, we’ve identified a long time ago as needing some extra service,” says Guynn. “Sometimes it takes a little while to get that service to fruition, but we’re glad that it’s here and we’re ready to serve.”

    It’s bringing with it an innovative method for how the future of fire rescue in Pasco will look.

    Mengel says more fire stations are on the horizon for Pasco County, with a rebuild ongoing at Fire Station 19.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Disaster Expo prepares Pasco community for future natural disasters

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    SHADY HILLS, Fla. — Every year in Pasco County, officials hold their disaster expo to help the community prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. 

    Organizers say this year takes on even more importance after 2024 was filled with hurricanes.

    Pasco County Emergency Management Director Andrew Fossa said when the weather got intense during the hurricanes in 2024, rescue crews had to use some special equipment to get to people.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pasco County held an annual disaster expo to prepare for hurricanes

    • Officials used the expo to showcase technologies like airboats and drones used in rescues

    • The emphasis is on the importance of being prepared and evacuating rather than risking safety


    “It flooded the golf course,” he said. “It started getting into their houses and they same in and they started plucking the residents out as fast as they could.”

    Fossa said they want to make sure those who live in the county are prepared for severe weather.

    From the Florida Wildlife Commission bringing in an airboat to the Sheriff’s Office showing off their drones, they want to give people a look into what it takes to get to those trapped in dangerous situations.

    “It’s better to be prepared and evacuate and nothing happened than say no, I can ride this out,” Fossa said.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Harbor House’s work in domestic violence stands as legacy for feminist pioneer

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — What Barbara Moore pushed for in the 1970s was novel: She wanted to tackle domestic violence head-on and providing resources to save lives.

    What You Need To Know

    • Barbara Moore turned her personal pain into a pioneering fight against domestic violence in the 1970s

    • Harbor House, the predecessor of the organization founded by Moore, is now the largest domestic violence shelter in Florida

    • The legacy of Moore’s activism has empowered generations, but challenges in combating domestic violence remain

    • The future vision for Harbor House includes broader education and mentorship to stop violence before it starts

    But, according to her daughter, Moore lived by her own rulebook.

    “She was a feminist. It was her mission to get people in crisis the help they needed,” Melissa Moore said. “I’m very proud for her, very proud of her contribution.”

    Barbara founded Spouse Abuse Inc., which would go on to become Harbor House. Five decades ago, she healed from her divorce by helping others in Central Florida and championing a cause that was, at the time, progressive.

    “Most people thought that violence in the home was a private family affair and resented her for bringing it up,” Melissa said. “So it was courageous of her to call out domestic violence in the 1970s.”

    As a child, Melissa was right by her mother’s side, even meeting social activist Gloria Steinem. 

    And some things Melissa saw all those years ago still stick with her to this day. 

    “We did keep families in our home. We had a spare bedroom, to hide them,” she said. “As an adult, I look back on it and am like, ‘That was kind of crazy,’ because you can see how dangerous it is.”

    But Harbor House today is much more than a crisis hotline, which happened to be the first step Barbara took in creating Spouse Abuse Inc.

    It’s also bigger than a protected 9-acre campus — with 136 beds, it’s the largest domestic violence shelter under one roof.

    According to the nonprofit’s chief executive officer, Michelle Sperzel, Harbor House also works alongside public defenders and attorneys from the fifth floor of the Orange County courthouse to help those escaping from domestic violence situations file injunctions.

    “A lot of times, when people think of domestic violence, they think of people who need to flee,” Sperzel said. “That’s absolutely true. But it’s one part of all the puzzle pieces that need to come together.” 

    As Harbor House eyes the future and the creation of an essential “one-stop shop” for domestic violence assistance — or a family justice center — it is leaning into partnerships with law enforcement and the clerk of courts. Additionally, it is partnering up with Orange County Public Schools to teach students about healthy relationships — and the organization’s leaders hope to create a mentoring program to help stop violence before it starts.

    “All of us have continued that good work together,” Sperzel said. “People say it takes a village to raise children. It takes a community to help people navigate through a domestic violence situation.”

    Meanwhile, in the Tampa Bay area, CASA, the Citrus County Abuse Shelter, opened a family justice center in 2022 in St. Petersburg. It’s the only such center in the state of Florida at the moment, providing survivors with on-site childcare, legal advice, mental health counselors and other resources.

    Per CASA coordinators, domestic violence survivors also get matched with advocates so they can tell their story just once — and avoid being re-traumatized.

    As for the woman in Central Florida who started it all, surviving paralysis from polio as a child and later going on to obtain her master’s degree at what is now the University of Central Florida, the life of an activist was not easy. Barbara Moore died in 1991 from pancreatic cancer.

    But Melissa said what her mother she did five decades ago has her thanking her lucky stars — and her mother, Barbara — to this day. 

    “And if it weren’t for her generation’s feminist activism, I wouldn’t have been able to own my own house, gotten my own bank accounts or pursue any career that interests me,” she said.

    On the future of Harbor House, Melissa said: “Ultimately, I would like for it to be unnecessary. But we’re a long way away from that.”

    Harbor House’s 24-hour crisis hotline is 407-886-2856.

    For anyone in need of help in the Tampa Bay area, CASA’s 24-hour hotline is 727-895-4912. Outside Pinellas County, the number is 800-500-1119.

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    Julie Gargotta

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  • Resident: U.S. 19 Frontage Road closure causing concerns, headaches for drivers

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Drivers are frustrated with some new road work that just started on U.S. 19 and Sunset Point Road.

    Pinellas County resident Russell Crane said it caught him and other drivers by surprise. 

    “I’ve lived near U.S. 19 and Sunset Point Road for six years now. And I never had any problem getting through the intersection,” Crane said. “Then back in February, I noticed that the frontage road was backed up.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Drivers are frustrated with lane closures on the U.S. 19 Frontage road at Sunset Point Road 
    • Construction crews closed the U-turn lane and one of the two left turn lanes on the U.S. 19 frontage road there
    • FDOT says it’s for a repaving project that will be completed later this year
    • Lane closures will reopen in May

    That’s because construction crews closed the U-turn lane and one of the two left turn lanes on the U.S. 19 frontage road at Sunset Point Rd. (The frontage road runs along the main highway and provides entrance and exit ramps, as well as access to businesses and neighborhoods.)

    They also closed the U-turn lane at Coachman Road, which is also leading to those backups.

    “Rush hour, it could be interesting. The traffic backed up all the way to U.S. 19. So if you’re coming off there, you’re just going to stop,” Crane said.

    But Crane’s frustration isn’t just the backups.

    It’s that the closures started in January when he wasn’t seeing any road work going on.

    And with spring training going on nearby with lots of visitors in town, he says the traffic got even worse.

    “This project sat and nothing happened for a month. I think it’s outrageous that they would backup and snarl traffic for that long without doing any work,” Crane said.

    FDOT officials say the closures are for a repaving project in that area that’s expected to be completely done later this year.

    They estimate the U-turn lanes at Sunset Point Rd to reopen on May 2 and the lanes at Coachman Rd to reopen on May 16.

    Another closure at Drew Street and U.S. 19 is now re-opened.

    Crane says he hopes work is being done to get the lanes back open as soon as possible.

    “It was fine,” Crane said. “And then they did this. And then everything started getting messed up. And it just sat there.

    “And traffic was backed up and nothing was being done.”

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    Tim Wronka

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  • Lake Bonny residents call for investigation into flooding after Milton

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — As the city of Lakeland takes steps to reduce the risk of flooding near Lake Bonny, residents nearby are calling for more transparency.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lakeland has signed a 90-day agreement with Southwest Florida Water Management District to begin pumping water from Lake Bonny sooner, at a lower threshold, to mitigate flooding risks
    • Longtime residents are questioning the effectiveness of flood management and have petitioned for an independent investigation into the city’s flood response and drainage systems
    • While the city has hired AECOM for a watershed study, residents are demanding a third-party investigation to ensure transparency and accountability regarding the drainage issues contributing to the flooding


    On Monday, the city announced a 90-day emergency agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). Rather than waiting until the lake reaches a 10-year flood stage to pump water out, officials can now use the emergency pump much sooner. The new approved permit allows pumping to commence when Lake Bonny reaches 129.60 NAVD.

    Following Hurricane Milton in October of last year, city leaders say they teamed up with Polk County officials to inspect Lake Bonny’s drainage system. Their findings show that the system is fully intact and free of debris or obstructions.

    City officials also say engineering consultant AECOM has been conducting a watershed study since January. However, longtime resident Jan Morsey and her neighbors created a change.org petition to demand an independent investigation into the lake’s flooding.

    Morsey checks daily on one of the main canals that drain water from Lake Bonny to Lake Parker near her home on Lake Bonny Drive East. She says there hasn’t been much progress since Milton.

    “You can see that there’s no actual water flowing through here at all. It’s all just stagnant,” Morsey said. “This has not improved. If anything, it’s only gone downhill because we have more debris that has collected since Milton, and with just the recent rainfall we’ve had — we’ve had a few days that we’ve had some rainfalls — this hasn’t improved.”

    Morsey believes the blocked canal is a large part of the reason why the street she’s lived on since her childhood was flooded in October.

    “We have water levels that FEMA and that we have measured, numerous people have documented of 18 inches. So, we’ve had 18 inches around and inside our home for well over three weeks after Hurricane Milton.”

    The water damaged all of the walls in her home and most of her belongings. So far, Morsey says she’s spent nearly $80,000 on repairs. Despite the out-of-pocket costs, she and her neighbors stress that they aren’t looking for money. Instead, they created the petition simply to get answers.

    “What we want is a light to be shined on what was broken. Accountability for the process that wasn’t in place or, if they were in place, did not work during this disaster,” she said.

    According to city officials, AECOM’s watershed study will review Lake Bonny’s drainage basin and evaluate potential flood relief options. However, community members say they want an investigation by a third-party company not chosen or paid by the city.

    “Having that independent entity takes away the possibility of anyone influencing the outcome in a way that they may not intentionally do,” she said.

    Morsey says an independent investigation will not only help restore trust within the city, but it will provide a clear path moving forward.

    “That’s what we want to see — what happened, and then fix it and make it better,” she said.

    Morsey suggests that the county, state, or another agency select and fund the next third-party company. This way, the city won’t have to be involved.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Polk County crews find body of missing juvenile in Lake Roy

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    WINTER HAVEN, Fla.  — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Winter Haven Police Department and Polk County Fire Rescue were searching Thursday afternoon for a juvenile in Lake Roy who was swimming and disappeared in the water.

    Shortly before 5 p.m., the sheriff’s office said the body was recovered. 

    The sheriff’s office marine unit and its underwater sonar devices were being used, along with drones and a helicopter.

    Polk County Fire Rescue had boats on the water as well.

    This is a breaking news story. Stay with Spectrum Bay News 9 on-air, online and the Spectrum News app for updates.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • New Port Richey’s new fire station to help with firefighter safety

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    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — When you call 911 for help, there are two priorities: getting help to you as quickly as possible and making sure they’re fully prepared to help.

    The city of New Port Richey says its new fire station will more than meet those goals and help keep more firefighters on the job. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The city of New Port Richey will be opening a new fire station with amenities to help keep more firefighters on the job 

    • The station is twice as large as the previous one in the area and designed to put the health, safety and wellbeing of emergency responders first

    • New Port Richey Fire Chief Chris Fitch said he hopes the new site will be a symbol for safety, education, excellence and community pride

    • The fire station is scheduled to open in April


    “The New Port Richey Fire Department is busier than probably what people think,” said Chief Chris Fitch of the New Port Richey Fire Department. “So, on an average, we respond to 17 calls per shift. Last month, we responded to 19 calls per shift.”

    A critical service, city leaders say, will be elevated and improved once construction is completed next month on the new fire station.

    Every week, Fitch and architect Rich Bekesh, president and CEO of Spring Engineering, conduct site visits. This new station is twice as large and designed to put the health, safety and wellbeing of emergency responders first.

    “Cancer’s the number one leading cause of death among firefighters now, which surpassed heart disease many years ago. So, a lot of the codes and standards are focusing on the health and safety of our firefighters,” Fitch said.

    The design features a hot, warm and cool zone, including a decontamination area, targeting any toxic materials on the firefighter and their gear. But the process of removing contaminants starts as soon as the fire truck pulls in. A device attached directly to the fire truck’s apparatus will capture all the exhaust from it. There’s also a back-up system to help remove some of those particles, along with a bunker gear storage room for additional separation.

    In addition, natural lighting throughout the building to reduce stress and anxiety, and soundproof windows to limit sleep interruptions.

    “The building’s also designed to be a Cat 5-resistant structure, so the entire building will withstand a Category 5 hurricane,” said Bekesh. “The site’s been placed high up here on this side of (US-19), so that they’ll be able to respond after a storm very promptly.”

    It’s more than double the size of the old station that was built back in 1974, with a better location for a faster response.

    “It’s quick access to the busy Highway 19, and we’re able to reconfigure our response zones to maintain and improve our response times at that four minutes per call,” Fitch said.

    Fitch says he hopes this new site will be a symbol for safety, education, excellence and community pride.

    The project’s price tag is about $4.5 million. The land was donated to the city of New Port Richey in 1987 and designated to be used for a public purpose.

    The fire station is scheduled to open in April. 

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    Erica Riggins

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  • FHP says stolen vehicle chase ended in a crash on Lee Road in Orange County

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Highway Patrol responded to a three-vehicle crash in Orange County on Lee Road Thursday morning following a stolen car chase that started in Polk County, officials said.

    Officials say six passengers — ages 13 to 17 years old — were inside the suspected stolen vehicle.

    FHP said the 18-year-old driver of the stolen vehicle refused to stop, which led to a chase across county lines.

    Officials said troopers initiated a pit maneuver as the vehicle drove into Orange County. The driver ended up traveling the wrong way on Lee Road, striking a Honda and Chevy Malibu.

    Officials said the crash caused traffic delays for hours Thursday morning. They also said all three drivers were transported to the hospital.

    No other information has been released at this time. 

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    Sasha Teman

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  • Manatee County leaders react to shut down of school speed zone cams

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Starting Thursday, drivers are no longer receiving tickets from school zone speed detection cameras in most of Manatee County.

    What You Need To Know

    • With a vote of 5-2, Manatee County commissioners voted to terminate the school zone speed camera program effective March 6

    • The only camera that will still be active is in Holmes Beach, according to commissioners

    • More than 55,000 drivers were issued citations from the speed detection cameras in school zones in the county

    During Tuesday’s board meeting, commissioners voted to end the program by a vote of 5 to 2.

    More than 55,000 drivers were issued citations from the speed detection cameras in school zones in the county since they were put in place last year.

    Liz Gabrick is one of them.

    “These are the citations that I received at the beginning of January 2025. I was shocked to receive them in the mail. I had no idea about the cameras,” she explained.

    She took matters into her own hands by taking pictures of the camera.

    “I’m going to use this footage for my court appearance on March 26th. I have several tickets that I need to dispute,” she said.

    Gabrick was issued $300 worth of tickets over the last two months. One of her arguments is that the camera in front of Tara Elementary isn’t located where it should be.

    “FDOT has specific guidelines on where the camera is supposed to be placed and how far the signs are supposed to be,” she said.

    She is also upset with how the county implemented the cameras.

    “It’s not only the commissioners deeming it a money grab, but it wasn’t set up properly,” she said.


    Commissioner Tal Siddique agrees that it wasn’t set up properly.

    “I was very much against how we were not informing the public about when we were enforcing it, and I think many people were confused,” he said.

    However, he did not want to end the program and voted against eliminating it.

    “The cameras served a good purpose. I’m sad that we’re losing our visibility on this problem. And I know the county would be blamed if someone gets hit,” he said.

    But some commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting stated that the program’s intended purpose — adding protection for students — was not being met.

    “It doesn’t serve the public, it does not protect the child’s safety, and it doesn’t do any of those things right now. I think this is something we need to get rid of completely,” said Commissioner Bob McCann.

    One commissioner suggested that instead of cameras, there should be more deputies at school locations.

    “We do spend hundreds of millions of dollars on the sheriff’s department, so we need to utilize them,” Commissioner Jason Bearden said.

    Commissioner Bob McCann compared the speed detection cameras to a money grab.

    “Georgia is doing this already at the legislative level, and other localities are saying it’s a money grab,” he said.

    Tal Siddique also asked about refund options.

    “I initially raised the question of how we could ask for refunds, but when I spoke to the clerk and our staff, it became apparent to me that we couldn’t. And morally, I just felt that it wasn’t right,” he explained.

    Now, residents will have to decide whether to fight their tickets or pay them. All citations issued through March 5 remain valid, county officials stated.

    Siddique confirmed that there will be no refunds at this time.

    Spectrum News has reached out to RedSpeed regarding whether the cameras are faulty or have over-ticketed people, but we have not heard back.

    According to the Bradenton Police Department, speed cameras in the city’s school zones will not be affected by the county’s decision and will remain in operation.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Manatee commissioners vote to end school zone camera program

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Manatee Board of County Commissioners has voted to discontinue the School Speed Zone Camera Program that was launched last year.


    The program’s end takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. Commissioners on Tuesday voted 5-2 to end the program.

    It was initially approved by the board and was designed to improve school zone safety.

    A total of 55,243 Notices of Violation have been issued by the vendor for the camera program, RedSpeed, according to a news release from the county.

    So far, 22,292 drivers have paid the $100 fine. More than 4,051 violations are currently awaiting law enforcement review.

    All citations issued through March 5 remain valid, the news release stated.

    “We have the data,” said At-Large Commissioner Jason Bearden, pointing to the large number of violations – and violators. “Now, let’s take that data and give it to the sheriff’s department.”

    Manatee County Public Safety Department continues to urge the community to use caution while traveling through school zones, according to Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Polk County adding 75 to fire department to reduce burnout

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The Polk County Fire Department is looking to fill dozens of new positions after dealing with schedule burnout.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County Fire Rescue aims to hire 75 new employees, particularly in field positions, to reduce overtime and improve work-life balance

    • The county spent approximately $14 million on overtime pay last year, and Halman emphasizes that these funds could be better spent on hiring additional staff

    • The Polk County Board of Commissioners recently approved $9.2 million to support staffing


    Joe Halman Jr., deputy county manager for public safety, says his 32 years as chief of law enforcement taught him the importance of maintaining a work-life balance. This is why he and other leaders are working to provide that balance for hundreds of paramedics, EMTs and firefighters.

    “We know being a firefighter is a lot of work. It’s very demanding,” he said. “Number one, they work 24-hour shifts. Number two, they see things that you and I, well not me, but you, probably will never see in a lifetime, and mentally, that can take a toll on you.”

    To reduce high turnover and burnout, Halman plans to fill 75 new positions. Currently, he says Polk County Fire Rescue employs more than 800 people, with 612 of them being field personnel who often work long hours, including overtime, due to a lack of overlapping resources.

    Joe Halman Jr., deputy county manager for public safety, says his 32 years as chief of law enforcement taught him the importance of maintaining a work-life balance. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Alexis Jones)

    “So by having 25 extra per shift, that will allow us to basically eliminate most of the overtime,” Halman said.

    Just last year, Halman says the county spent about $14 million on overtime pay. He says that money can go toward hiring more staff, along with the $9.2 million the Polk County Board of Commissioners approved this month.

    “Because we want to be the destination place to work, but we’ve got to make sure our folks are healthy, make sure they’re working in a good environment, and make sure they have the tools they need,” he said.

    “And the Board of County Commissioners has done a great job to ensure that we have good buildings to work out of, good equipment to operate with, and a competitive salary. Now we’ve got to deal with this schedule.”

    Halman and his team expect to address the schedule issue soon, hopefully with new hires who are just as eager as he was when he first started.

    View details to apply for a position with Polk County Fire.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • ‘It’s time to leave the country’: Florida sheriffs to tackle illegal immigration

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    WINTER HAVEN, Fla. —  Sheriffs from across the state are taking steps to address illegal immigration. 

    On Monday, members of the Florida Sheriffs Association gathered in Polk County to announce updates on 287(g) compliance.

    Three programs under this provision will allow local authorities to assist with immigration enforcement — both in jails and on the streets.

    This means deputies and correction officers will be able to make probable-cause arrests, participate in street task forces, and issue warrants.

    Sixty-seven memorandums of agreement have been officially signed for all of Florida’s county jails. This allows staff to issue warrants for undocumented immigrants, notifying ICE when they are arrested and booked.

    “So these people are deported and not released back into the community to commit more crimes,” Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said.

    Sheriff Gualtieri helped lead the conversation about immigration. The issue hits close to home for him, as a man who was deported twice to Honduras killed one of his deputies in 2022 in a construction incident. Gualtieri says incidents like this are why ICE needs assistance from local authorities.

    “Because it keeps clearly bad people from getting back on the street where ICE has to spend resources, and we have to help them go find these people,” he said. “It’s also safer for the ICE officers to take these people into custody from the jail.”

    To ensure deputies and corrections officers are prepared, Gualtieri says they will undergo four hours of training for the warrant-service program. Other training sessions will take about five days.

    Once the programs are up and running, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says the biggest hurdle will be bed space. He says ICE only has 2,000 beds throughout Florida, and they’re all full.

    “There is no capacity in the sheriff’s or the county jails of this state to make any negligible difference. We’ve got to have the federal government make capacity,” Sheriff Judd said. “That’s why we’re here making this statement today, and the federal government knows this. They have to create capacity. We can bring them all the business they can handle and more.”

    In the meantime, Sheriff Judd is leaving undocumented immigrants with two options.

    “It’s time to leave the country. You can leave by yourself or you can leave in handcuffs,” he said.

    The Florida Sheriffs Association expects operations to begin within the next 15 to 30 days. As of now, members say the plan for training will remain fluid.

    Spectrum News talked about that with immigration attorney Danielle Hernandez about the new changes. Hernandez has been on both sides of this issue. She represented the government in some immigration cases and now represents immigrants.

    Hernandez fears that under the updated provision, deputies may stop people simply because of the color of their skin, which she believes violates the Constitution.

    “I don’t know where the probable cause will come from. People need to remember the Constitution of the United States protects every single individual irrespective of their status in this country,” she said. “It does not matter who you are or what your background is. The police need probable cause to just stop you to determine whether you have broken the law or not.”

    Hernandez is afraid that this might lead to people of color in this country legally being harassed by local law enforcement. However, the sheriffs say their focus is on undocumented immigrants who are also committing other crimes.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Missing swans stolen from Lakeland home found in South Florida

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    WEDNESDAY AM UPDATE:  Alfredo Casanova turned himself in at the Polk County Jail early Wednesday, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

    He faces felony burglary and grand theft charges.

    Authorities are still looking for Montoya.

    PREVIOUS STORY

    LAKELAND, Fla. — Two black swans that were stolen from a Lakeland home last week are back, safe and sound.

    The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that the swans, named “Luna” and “Sturling,” were reported missing last week and that they were taken from a home in the Highland Village neighborhood.

    Detectives got a tip that led them to Miami-Dade County. The birds and their eggs are now back in Lakeland.

    Deputies have issued arrest warrants for two people. Alfredo Casanova, 29, and Jordan Montoya, 27, both of Homestead, are being sought by the sheriff’s office.

    Anyone with information about them can call 863-534-7205 or email tips@polksheriff.org.


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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Lakeland girl reported missing has been found safe

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A missing Lakeland girl has been found safe, according to authorities on Monday morning.

    The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued a missing child alert for Empress Moore of Lakeland.

    According to police, the little girl ran away from home, not once but twice on Sunday night.

    “Empress initially ran away from her home in the 800 block of North New York Avenue in Lakeland around 8:30 p.m. on January 26, 2025. The Lakeland Police Department was called at that time by her mother and a search was conducted. Patrol officers located her at a friend’s residence a short distance away in the 200 block of Pear Street. Empress was returned to her home and at approximately 9:30 p.m. she ran away again,” according to the Lakeland Police Department.

    She was last seen wearing a puffy blue jacket, blue leggings and pink sparkly boots.

    Anyone who saw her was asked to call the Lakeland Police Department at 863-834-6900 or 911..

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Florida Polytechnic designs tech that activates bodycams for Lakeland PD

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Every Lakeland Police Officer is now wearing brand new technology that activates their body cameras, and that new technology was designed by a student and fabrication specialist at Florida Polytechnic University.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Lakeland PD contacted Florida Polytechnic to design brackets for their new holsters to hold a sensor that activates their body cameras

    •  A student, and a fabrication specialist at Florida Polytechnic University invented the carbon fiber bracket that fits into Lakeland PD’s holsters

    •  A patent is pending on the new technology


    When the Lakeland Police Department purchased new firearms for officers, they ran into a problem. The vendor hadn’t created a bracket for the holsters for it yet that would work with the body cameras, so they turned to Florida Poly for help.

    Mike Kalman, a fabrication specialist at the university, says within hours he and a student came up with a unique invention.

    It’s a carbon-fiber mount that holds a sensor that detects when a firearm’s metal is no longer present in the holster, meaning the officer has drawn the weapon.

    This movement would trigger the bodycam to begin recording if it hasn’t done so already.

    “When I draw, that right there activates the body-worn camera,” said Lieutenant Frank Fitzgerald with the Lakeland Police Department, demonstrating how the bracket works.

    A carbon-fiber mount holds a sensor that detects when a firearm’s metal is no longer present in the holster. (Spectrum News)

    Students used 3D printers to make enough for everyone on the force, and Kalman says creating something actually being used by law enforcement was a great experience for students.

    “A lot of what I do is in university, it’s for classroom use, or maybe it’s for learning use of some kind, but a lot of what I do is not actually out in the real world,” he said. “So this being out in the real world, and on top of that, it’s saving lives, and helping police, helping citizens, that’s really cool.”

    Back at Lakeland PD, Fitzgerald says thanks to Florida Poly, officers can focus on the task at hand in stressful situations, knowing all evidence is preserved.

    “When a Lakeland Police Officer, or any officer, responds with a body-worn camera on their person, it’s a tool for investigative means, it preserves best evidence, and it’s for transparency and accountability so the public can see what we do, and what we don’t do,” he said.

    The department is also using the brackets in their taser holsters. 

    Right now, the patent is pending for the brackets. 

    Florida Polytechnic officials say prior to producing the brackets for Lakeland PD, they tested them for about six months for safety and durability.

    It took almost three months to print all of them.

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    Fallon Silcox

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  • Winter storm brings cold and record snowfall to Florida

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    At least 6 inches of snow has been reported in parts of the Florida panhandle, surpassing the record of 4 inches set in 1954.

    The record snowfall comes as a significant winter storm is sweeping across parts of the Gulf Coast, including the Florida Panhandle.

    What You Need To Know

    • Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for parts of Florida

    • Snow, sleet and freezing rain are expected

    • Watch live cameras 

    Winter Storm Warnings are in effect across North Florida and the entire Panhandle. Parts of north-central Florida, like Alachua and Marion County, are under a Winter Weather Advisory because of the potential for brief sleet or freezing rain to mix with rain through Wednesday morning.

    Use extreme caution if traveling north up I-75 toward the Panhandle Wednesday morning. Cold temperatures will allow wintry precipitation to stick to the ground and rain could freeze, especially on bridges and overpasses, creating slick and dangerous travel.

    Places like Tallahassee could experience 1 to 3 inches of snow before it tapers off tonight, and the western Panhandle could get up to 4 to 6 inches.

    The all-time snow record in Tallahassee of 2.8 inches set on February 12-13, 1958 could be broken. The all-time Florida record of 4 inches from Milton, Fla, on March 6, 1954, could also fall.

    Temperatures will be running below average around Tampa Bay, but it won’t be cold enough to support the wintry weather that the Florida Panhandle will experience. Lows will stay in the 40s for much of the I-4 corridor tonight with cold rain.

    A stalled front will be the source of deep moisture riding along it for the next few days, offering rounds of rain across Tampa Bay and Central Florida while temperatures stay below average. Tuesday will feature periods of rain, mostly light to moderate, with highs only in the 50s.

    Breezy winds from the north, combined with the colder temperatures moving in, have prompted a Cold Weather Advisory for much of the area.

    Wind chills will fall into the 20s and 30s tonight. Keep your pets inside and bundle up!

    Showers will taper on Wednesday but will regenerate on Thursday as the next wave of low pressure rides along the stalled front. 

    It will take a few days for temperatures to bounce back, so plan on highs in the 50s through Friday. Some of the coldest lows of the week will happen Friday and Saturday mornings with widespread 30s expected. 

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • FEMA disaster survivors displaced again after Lakeland hotel fire

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Several Polk County residents are displaced after an early-morning fire Friday.

    What You Need To Know

    • FEMA disaster survivors were displaced by an early-morning fire at Imperial Swan Hotel and Suites on Friday 

    • The Lakeland Fire Department says the fire started on the second floor of the hotel

    • Displaced residents can search here for participating FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance hotels


    The Lakeland Fire Department says it happened at about 5:40 a.m. at the Imperial Swan Hotel and Suites, which was providing temporary shelter to disaster survivors through FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA).

    Resident Mariah Brooks stood outside the hotel with what was left of her belongings. She says she and her children were asleep Friday when they were startled by fire alarms.

    “I was completely unprepared,” she said. “No time to grab bottles, no time to grab formula, no time to grab a diaper bag.”

    Brooks says she initially thought the fire was a hoax after experiencing false alarms since October. She says the incident didn’t feel real until she saw water shoot from a second-floor window.

    “And then we couldn’t go back up. There was no going back up. Once it happened, it happened,” she said.

    It is forcing her to relive a nightmare similar to the day her home was flooded during Hurricane Milton.

    “When you gain a loss, you expect to gain improvement from it. You expect there to be a silver lining,” she said. “Coming here, I thought it would be a safety net, a house, and a roof over my kids’ heads, which has turned into the most disastrous situation you can imagine.”

    While the blaze was contained to one hotel room on the second floor, Stephanie Lewis with the Lakeland Fire Department says firefighters shut off the building’s water main after its sprinkler system was activated. She says people can no longer stay inside until the owner repairs the system and addresses several pending fire code violations.

    “Standard procedure — we do have places with fire code violations, and we work with them. It’s not an immediate shutdown,” she said. “If it’s something that we think is a life safety concern, obviously that’s when it gets shut down, and currently, that’s the state of this particular facility.”

    In the meantime, Lewis says survivors were able to grab as many of their belongings as they could. They can also search here for TSA-participating hotels or contact a TSA agent at 1-800-621-3362 for assistance.

    However, it is ultimately left to each family to secure accommodations, which Brooks says is unfortunate.

    “It’s very defeating. I feel like I don’t know where to turn or where I’m going to go but pray to God that he’ll get me there,” she says.

    State fire marshals are currently investigating the cause of the fire. Officials say there were no casualties except for a dog that was in the hotel room at the time of the fire.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Mother speaks after children’s father charged in Lakeland fiery crash

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. —  A Lakeland father is charged with manslaughter for a car crash that killed his 5-year-old daughter and injured his 3-year-old son in November.

    What You Need To Know

    • 30-year-old Kody Wills faces several charges for a fiery car crash that killed 5-year-old daughter and injured his 3-year-old son

    • According to a toxicology, Wills’ blood alcohol content was three times the legal limit

    • Wills is being held at the Polk County Jail with no bond.  His next hearing is scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m.


    Logan Deines, the mother of his children, says it’s a tragedy that could have been avoided.

    “It’s very upsetting. It’s very frustrating. This wouldn’t be a reality had he just said, ‘Hey, I can’t keep the kids today,’” she said.

    Polk County sheriff’s deputies arrested 30-year-old Kody Wills on Tuesday. Authorities say he was driving the car involved in the fiery wreck on Nov. 7. According to a toxicology report from the University of Florida Pathology Lab, Wills’ blood alcohol content was 0.25 — three times the legal limit — when he crashed into a wooded area near Lake Parker Drive with his children in the backseat.

    “I think it’s very selfish of somebody to even get that drunk, knowing it’s their day to get their kids and having multiple opportunities to leave the children in a safe environment,” Deines said. “You took it upon yourself to get them.”

    Kody Wills faces several charges for a fiery car crash that killed 5-year-old daughter and injured his 3-year-old son. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)

    Deines was home at the time of the incident. Thankfully, she says Good Samaritan AJ Slater was there to jump into action after hearing Wills’ cries. Slater told Spectrum Bay News 9 that he reached into the burning car and pulled out 3-year-old Walker first. He tried to rescue 5-year-old Joylynn, but she didn’t survive.

    “I’m grateful that AJ was there and I’m grateful he was able to jump in and save Walker, but at the same time, the person behind the wheel should have never put the kids in that position,” Deines said.

    Wills now faces several charges, including DUI manslaughter and negligent child abuse. However, Deines says no number of charges will ever be enough. She hopes this tragedy serves as a lesson to other parents.

    “Be sorry for protecting your kids, not because you have to live without them,” she said.

    Wills is being held at the Polk County Jail with no bond, pending a judge’s ruling on a motion for pretrial detention. The hearing is scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m.

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    Alexis Jones

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