Pedro Dos Santos was arrested on February 1, 2010 as he was leaving a burglary scene. As the result of a lengthy investigation, Dos Santos has been implicated in at least 24 Boca Raton residential break-ins. To learn more about this case, check out the video at www.bocaviper.com
This case involved several different elements of the department, including patrol officers, tactical unit members, property detectives, special investigators and crime scene technicians. It was truly a team effort.
During the Dos Santos investigation, we took in close to 600 pieces of evidence. Our evidence technicians, the folks who handle all of the property that we receive at the Police Department, worked long hours and through the weekend, demonstrating a strong work ethic and a commitment to getting the job done right for the victims and the detectives.
What really impressed me was how our techs got to know our victims. As new evidence was brought into the station, they were able to identify what property belonged to which victim, simply based on their knowledge of the people they met during previous interactions.
We were able to return 345 pieces of jewelry, several cameras, multiple GPS units, a laptop, and a firearm to several victims in this case. I am sure that there is a significant dollar value associated with this returned property. However, in an age when "return on investment" is so important, it's nice to have employees who understand that going the extra mile is priceless.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Meet Sam Iselin
Sam Iselin has been a volunteer with us for the past ten years. He assists the public as a fingerprint technician and works in the lobby as a greeter. One of the keys to his success and longevity is his infectiously positive attitude. Some people deplete you. I draw energy from Sam. He truly makes my day every time I see him. 
I am writing about Sam because we celebrated his 96th birthday last week. It was a great time to recognize his contribution to improving our quality of life. Erica Reuter was kind enough to put together a brief video about Sam.
We would all do well to follow Sam's example. He is an exceptional individual, simply because of his positive attitude and his heart for serving others. Thanks, Sam.
I am writing about Sam because we celebrated his 96th birthday last week. It was a great time to recognize his contribution to improving our quality of life. Erica Reuter was kind enough to put together a brief video about Sam.We would all do well to follow Sam's example. He is an exceptional individual, simply because of his positive attitude and his heart for serving others. Thanks, Sam.
Monday, February 8, 2010
What Makes the News
Not too long ago, you could turn on the local TV news or open the newspaper and see just about everything that happened that day. If it was relevant to you, the local news would be covering it. With the growth of other news outlets, downsizing of traditional media, and the appetite for breaking news, it is easy to see why certain stories get lost in the shuffle.
A great example of this reality is an incident that just happened in our city. A bank robber bursts into a bank with a gun and during the course of the robbery, shot the branch manager in the stomach. She had emergency surgery and will be okay. We sent out a press release, video from inside the bank, and still photos. The newspaper wrote a story on it and two local TV stations showed up for an 11:00 pm live shot, but for the most part, the story quickly came and went.
This new age of media and the public's desire for increased openness have created opportunities for us to identify the information our residents want and to find the best ways to deliver it to them. In an era of people wanting to stay informed, we find we have to be better at informing.
We have a number of information resources available on our website (www.bocaviper.com). In addition to interactive crime mapping and e-mail crime alerts, we post news releases, stories, and even videos we have produced on our own.
In the future, we will be publishing our police blotter and we will more frequently produce stories about events and issues. Look for these changes on a newly designed website in the near future.
I have spoken to a number of reporters about the changes in their business. I think they are doing a great job under trying circumstances and I believe there will be a rebound in traditional media when the economy improves. As far as the BRPD is concerned, we will continue to look for ways to keep you in the loop. Let us know what you think.
A great example of this reality is an incident that just happened in our city. A bank robber bursts into a bank with a gun and during the course of the robbery, shot the branch manager in the stomach. She had emergency surgery and will be okay. We sent out a press release, video from inside the bank, and still photos. The newspaper wrote a story on it and two local TV stations showed up for an 11:00 pm live shot, but for the most part, the story quickly came and went.
This new age of media and the public's desire for increased openness have created opportunities for us to identify the information our residents want and to find the best ways to deliver it to them. In an era of people wanting to stay informed, we find we have to be better at informing.
We have a number of information resources available on our website (www.bocaviper.com). In addition to interactive crime mapping and e-mail crime alerts, we post news releases, stories, and even videos we have produced on our own.
In the future, we will be publishing our police blotter and we will more frequently produce stories about events and issues. Look for these changes on a newly designed website in the near future.
I have spoken to a number of reporters about the changes in their business. I think they are doing a great job under trying circumstances and I believe there will be a rebound in traditional media when the economy improves. As far as the BRPD is concerned, we will continue to look for ways to keep you in the loop. Let us know what you think.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Murder Casts Spotlight on Domestic Violence
Respondents in our annual survey always list Traffic as their number one public safety concern. A colleague of mine once called it the little red sports car phenomena, because that little red car is in your face every time it speeds up and down your street.
Not true with domestic violence. It happens in the privacy of the home or it is a problem people frequently choose to ignore. Every so often, a tragic case, like the Pamela Powers homicide, will give us pause to consider the issue of domestic violence and our role in preventing victimization.
In a previous blog on crime statistics, I mentioned that our domestic violence offenses increased significantly in the first six months of 2009. From January to the middle of November, domestic violence is up well over 30%. Domestic related aggravated assaults jumped from six in 2008 to 14 in 2009 for the same time period.
When we examine the recent domestic violence related murder of Pamela Powers, it is important to note the chain of events that occurred. Since December of 2008, there were eight police reports involving Pamela Powers and Christopher Sharpe. We can see a developing trend that began with verbal arguments and harassing phone calls, which then escalated to a simple battery and a felony battery.
One of the biggest challenges in the fight against domestic violence is first identifying those who need and will benefit from the many programs and interventions that are available. Although one out of four women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime, it is widely known that most incidents of family violence are not reported to the police. Hiding or minimizing the problem is common and occurs for a variety of reasons, including fear, embarrassment and denial.
Victims of domestic violence often feel trapped in a vicious cycle, unable to break free from their abusive partners. That is why police officers and victim advocates push for domestic violence injunctions. Additionally, prosecution often occurs without the cooperation of the victim.
There are a multitude of programs and services available to domestic violence victims, so they can start to build a life away from their violent partners. Our victim advocate can help victims with safety planning, shelter, financial assistance, victim compensation, court appearances, and emotional support.
There are two domestic violence shelters in Palm Beach County that offer safe havens for emergency situations, as well as transitional housing that allows families to begin a new life in a low cost and safe environment. Counseling, support groups and therapy can be accessed through Palm Beach County Victim Services. Legal aid and other supportive special services for victims are offered throughout the state by many agencies.
As the Pamela Powers case demonstrated, arrests are not always the most effective interventions. Other people are typically aware of what is happening and miss opportunities to make a difference. We all have an obligation to be involved in order to get victims (and their children) the help and support that they need to change their lives. Law enforcement members stand ready to assist and the following resources are available in our community.
Important Numbers
Boca Raton Police Department Victim Advocate
561-338-1317
Palm Beach County Victim Services
1-866-891-7273
Shelters:
Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA)
561-265-2900
YWCA Harmony House
561-640-0050
Florida Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-500-1119
A special thanks to Boca Raton Police Victim Advocate Maureen Francois, who was the primary contributor to this piece.
Not true with domestic violence. It happens in the privacy of the home or it is a problem people frequently choose to ignore. Every so often, a tragic case, like the Pamela Powers homicide, will give us pause to consider the issue of domestic violence and our role in preventing victimization.
In a previous blog on crime statistics, I mentioned that our domestic violence offenses increased significantly in the first six months of 2009. From January to the middle of November, domestic violence is up well over 30%. Domestic related aggravated assaults jumped from six in 2008 to 14 in 2009 for the same time period.
When we examine the recent domestic violence related murder of Pamela Powers, it is important to note the chain of events that occurred. Since December of 2008, there were eight police reports involving Pamela Powers and Christopher Sharpe. We can see a developing trend that began with verbal arguments and harassing phone calls, which then escalated to a simple battery and a felony battery.
One of the biggest challenges in the fight against domestic violence is first identifying those who need and will benefit from the many programs and interventions that are available. Although one out of four women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime, it is widely known that most incidents of family violence are not reported to the police. Hiding or minimizing the problem is common and occurs for a variety of reasons, including fear, embarrassment and denial.
Victims of domestic violence often feel trapped in a vicious cycle, unable to break free from their abusive partners. That is why police officers and victim advocates push for domestic violence injunctions. Additionally, prosecution often occurs without the cooperation of the victim.
There are a multitude of programs and services available to domestic violence victims, so they can start to build a life away from their violent partners. Our victim advocate can help victims with safety planning, shelter, financial assistance, victim compensation, court appearances, and emotional support.
There are two domestic violence shelters in Palm Beach County that offer safe havens for emergency situations, as well as transitional housing that allows families to begin a new life in a low cost and safe environment. Counseling, support groups and therapy can be accessed through Palm Beach County Victim Services. Legal aid and other supportive special services for victims are offered throughout the state by many agencies.
As the Pamela Powers case demonstrated, arrests are not always the most effective interventions. Other people are typically aware of what is happening and miss opportunities to make a difference. We all have an obligation to be involved in order to get victims (and their children) the help and support that they need to change their lives. Law enforcement members stand ready to assist and the following resources are available in our community.
Important Numbers
Boca Raton Police Department Victim Advocate
561-338-1317
Palm Beach County Victim Services
1-866-891-7273
Shelters:
Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA)
561-265-2900
YWCA Harmony House
561-640-0050
Florida Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-500-1119
A special thanks to Boca Raton Police Victim Advocate Maureen Francois, who was the primary contributor to this piece.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Better Focus
34 people. Five sessions. Priceless feedback.
We have made a number of changes to our communication strategy over the past year and it was time to get some constructive criticism. Hence, we scheduled five days of focus groups, subjecting members to everything from signs and brochures to website designs and prevention programs.
True, there was a wide range of opinions from folks using very different frames of reference, but there were some common themes and observations which will clearly help us refine how we engage, connect, and communicate. I apologize for the almost bullet-like synopsis, but there is just too much to cover in so little space.
Confusion
VIPER is a relevant and sound community policing strategy, but some people don’t get it. We have to do a better job of explaining the concept on the web, in printed material and on the street.
We also recognize that it is time to consolidate the bocaviper.com and bocapolice.com websites. The future site, currently under development, will bring both VIPER material and information about the Department to one location.
Participants also expressed some confusion about Crime Watch and the Police Department. Crime Watch is a separate entity and we do very little cross-marketing to highlight how our missions are inextricably linked. Crime Watch is a valued partner and we will do more to support their work.
Web Presence
Opinions varied on the look of the current bocaviper.com site. While some didn’t like the site’s appearance, others favored it over examples we provided which were reportedly “touristy.” We will continue to use the black and gold colors to be consistent, with some variations resulting from a review of other popular sites.
Group members appreciated the communication resources available to them on the site. We will better emphasize these tools up front.
The feedback on video content was excellent. We will be shortening the videos we produce for the web and will seek to move longer segments to more appropriate media, such as our cable access channel. People enjoyed seeing solved cases and asked for more content about issues which are more of concern to them.
General Observations
Aggressive and authoritarian (“DON’T_______!”) communication or marketing strategies do not resonate well. Protective themes and educational messages have greater impact. Also, data isn’t enough. Respondents wanted us to include a specific call for action whenever possible.
Participants liked the bold look of our signs, but want to see “police” and our non-emergency telephone number emphasized more frequently.
Nothing can replace the face-to-face. People want a personal connection with Department members, more so at the street level. Whenever possible, we will be involving officers more frequently in neighborhood meetings and other events.
Not too many departments are using focus groups to challenge their communication models. I credit our public information staff and, particularly, Erica Reuter for developing and executing this process. It’s a living, breathing animal, so I look forward to seeing how it evolves in the future. Thank you to all who participated.
We have made a number of changes to our communication strategy over the past year and it was time to get some constructive criticism. Hence, we scheduled five days of focus groups, subjecting members to everything from signs and brochures to website designs and prevention programs.
True, there was a wide range of opinions from folks using very different frames of reference, but there were some common themes and observations which will clearly help us refine how we engage, connect, and communicate. I apologize for the almost bullet-like synopsis, but there is just too much to cover in so little space.
Confusion
VIPER is a relevant and sound community policing strategy, but some people don’t get it. We have to do a better job of explaining the concept on the web, in printed material and on the street.
We also recognize that it is time to consolidate the bocaviper.com and bocapolice.com websites. The future site, currently under development, will bring both VIPER material and information about the Department to one location.
Participants also expressed some confusion about Crime Watch and the Police Department. Crime Watch is a separate entity and we do very little cross-marketing to highlight how our missions are inextricably linked. Crime Watch is a valued partner and we will do more to support their work.
Web Presence
Opinions varied on the look of the current bocaviper.com site. While some didn’t like the site’s appearance, others favored it over examples we provided which were reportedly “touristy.” We will continue to use the black and gold colors to be consistent, with some variations resulting from a review of other popular sites.
Group members appreciated the communication resources available to them on the site. We will better emphasize these tools up front.
The feedback on video content was excellent. We will be shortening the videos we produce for the web and will seek to move longer segments to more appropriate media, such as our cable access channel. People enjoyed seeing solved cases and asked for more content about issues which are more of concern to them.
General Observations
Aggressive and authoritarian (“DON’T_______!”) communication or marketing strategies do not resonate well. Protective themes and educational messages have greater impact. Also, data isn’t enough. Respondents wanted us to include a specific call for action whenever possible.
Participants liked the bold look of our signs, but want to see “police” and our non-emergency telephone number emphasized more frequently.
Nothing can replace the face-to-face. People want a personal connection with Department members, more so at the street level. Whenever possible, we will be involving officers more frequently in neighborhood meetings and other events.
Not too many departments are using focus groups to challenge their communication models. I credit our public information staff and, particularly, Erica Reuter for developing and executing this process. It’s a living, breathing animal, so I look forward to seeing how it evolves in the future. Thank you to all who participated.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Civility
With many famous people losing their cool in public, civility has been the flavor of the day. I have talked to a number of folks about celebrities behaving badly and the even remote parallels to other more serious events, such as the stabbing at a Coral Gables high school and a fight at a Belle Glade high school.
The Encarta dictionary defines civility as “the formal politeness that results from observing social conventions.” Convention is a fancy word for rule or principle.
It isn’t easy for humans to follow rules. I do not believe we are inherently nice. In a Twitter discussion with @lapp, he argued that people are born nice and become mean. Regardless, we know, based on our experience with two year olds, that until discipline and training kick in, our kids are prone to be self-centered and, at times, violent toward each other. Obviously, some people never get it.
So, in order to achieve civility, we ought to start with a simple rule. Let’s teach our kids to just be nice. The definition does not suggest that one would actually want to observe the “social conventions.” It’s like the shoe company says, we ought to just do it.
Consider driving in South Florida. It doesn’t take much for a simple traffic dispute to escalate into an all out brawl. On the other hand, it doesn’t take much time and effort to wave (with all fingers) someone over who wants to get into your lane. Believe me; your kids in the car with you will take note.
I am not advocating weakness or that anyone should become a victim. As officers, we are going to do what is reasonable and necessary to protect ourselves and you should do the same. At times, though, it takes real fortitude to walk or drive away from a potential conflict.
Policing, coaching sports, and watching American Idol taught me that people will not often recognize their own limitations and cannot grasp that perhaps, they are wrong. Let’s forget about who is at fault. If need be, we’ll send an officer out or someone can hire an attorney to figure out who is actually right or wrong. In an age of such great complexity, let’s follow one simple rule, just be nice.
The Encarta dictionary defines civility as “the formal politeness that results from observing social conventions.” Convention is a fancy word for rule or principle.
It isn’t easy for humans to follow rules. I do not believe we are inherently nice. In a Twitter discussion with @lapp, he argued that people are born nice and become mean. Regardless, we know, based on our experience with two year olds, that until discipline and training kick in, our kids are prone to be self-centered and, at times, violent toward each other. Obviously, some people never get it.
So, in order to achieve civility, we ought to start with a simple rule. Let’s teach our kids to just be nice. The definition does not suggest that one would actually want to observe the “social conventions.” It’s like the shoe company says, we ought to just do it.
Consider driving in South Florida. It doesn’t take much for a simple traffic dispute to escalate into an all out brawl. On the other hand, it doesn’t take much time and effort to wave (with all fingers) someone over who wants to get into your lane. Believe me; your kids in the car with you will take note.
I am not advocating weakness or that anyone should become a victim. As officers, we are going to do what is reasonable and necessary to protect ourselves and you should do the same. At times, though, it takes real fortitude to walk or drive away from a potential conflict.
Policing, coaching sports, and watching American Idol taught me that people will not often recognize their own limitations and cannot grasp that perhaps, they are wrong. Let’s forget about who is at fault. If need be, we’ll send an officer out or someone can hire an attorney to figure out who is actually right or wrong. In an age of such great complexity, let’s follow one simple rule, just be nice.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Spin
Most of our major news is derived from our press releases or from our daily blotter, a synopsis of activity from the previous day or weekend. The releases and the blotter have been sent to various media outlets, previously by fax, but recently by e-mail.
As I mentioned in the Great Expectations piece, we continue to adapt our communication strategy to improve the flow of information and to meet customer demands. Recently, we decided to make our press releases immediately available to the public, instead of sending copies to the media and posting the releases online at a later time. We have also increased the speed at which information is released through Nixle and Twitter.
These changes caught the interest of a local television news outlet and they came to do a story on our use of social media. I think it was a great piece because it covered some of the tools we are using. However, the comments about bypassing the media “screening” process were important, because it illustrated what I believe to be a key issue surrounding the use of social media by law enforcement. Check out the article and video here http://bit.ly/25g7U.
What is interesting about the reaction was that we didn’t change the information we released. We simply changed the timing relative to when the public receives the information. In this age of transparency, I think increased public access is a good thing.
However, Mr. Brosemer has a valid point about the other elements of our communication strategy and social media elements. We are writing our own stories and creating our own news, using social media to reach a wider audience and, in some ways, creating our own spin. Why? Because we can and we should.
Because of economic conditions and the explosive growth of social media, we certainly do not enjoy the media coverage we used to get. The local outlets do not have the resources they used to have and they are not interested in many of the items we think may be useful to our customers.
I do not believe our constituents are mindless drones. They are perfectly capable of drawing their own conclusions about our stories and our spin. The beauty of our system of government coupled with the application of social media is the two-way nature of the communication. If someone doesn’t like what we are doing (social media or otherwise), I’ll hear about it. As we have demonstrated already, we are not afraid to identify shortcomings and make changes.
Mark made an important point at the end of the Channel 5 piece. We, in no way, are trying to bypass the traditional media. Our social media elements provide yet another layer and function as a resource to them as well. I think the media will play a valuable role in this debate. More is good. Let me know what you think.
As I mentioned in the Great Expectations piece, we continue to adapt our communication strategy to improve the flow of information and to meet customer demands. Recently, we decided to make our press releases immediately available to the public, instead of sending copies to the media and posting the releases online at a later time. We have also increased the speed at which information is released through Nixle and Twitter.
These changes caught the interest of a local television news outlet and they came to do a story on our use of social media. I think it was a great piece because it covered some of the tools we are using. However, the comments about bypassing the media “screening” process were important, because it illustrated what I believe to be a key issue surrounding the use of social media by law enforcement. Check out the article and video here http://bit.ly/25g7U.
What is interesting about the reaction was that we didn’t change the information we released. We simply changed the timing relative to when the public receives the information. In this age of transparency, I think increased public access is a good thing.
However, Mr. Brosemer has a valid point about the other elements of our communication strategy and social media elements. We are writing our own stories and creating our own news, using social media to reach a wider audience and, in some ways, creating our own spin. Why? Because we can and we should.
Because of economic conditions and the explosive growth of social media, we certainly do not enjoy the media coverage we used to get. The local outlets do not have the resources they used to have and they are not interested in many of the items we think may be useful to our customers.
I do not believe our constituents are mindless drones. They are perfectly capable of drawing their own conclusions about our stories and our spin. The beauty of our system of government coupled with the application of social media is the two-way nature of the communication. If someone doesn’t like what we are doing (social media or otherwise), I’ll hear about it. As we have demonstrated already, we are not afraid to identify shortcomings and make changes.
Mark made an important point at the end of the Channel 5 piece. We, in no way, are trying to bypass the traditional media. Our social media elements provide yet another layer and function as a resource to them as well. I think the media will play a valuable role in this debate. More is good. Let me know what you think.
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