Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
BELOW IS A LIST OF OKALOOSA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS SINCE 1997:
TOWN
HALL MEETINGS: Informal gatherings throughout the county where everyone has the opportunity
to meet with Sheriff Morris and discuss any and all concerns they may have.
These have been well-received throughout Okaloosa County. Two way communication
with the public is also strengthened with regular Radio and TV talk shows.
GRANTS
AND DRUG FORFEITURE FUNDS: The Sheriff's Office has taken advantage of available
State and Federal sources of funding, as well as funds from drug forfeitures for much-needed projects.
The Sheriff's Office has obtained $3.6 million in grants and drug forfeiture
funds to help improve law enforcement services and reduce the demand on
taxpayers.
INCREASED
VISIBILITY: The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has added 52 deputies
since 1997 to better protect Okaloosa's families. (44 are funded by alternative
sources.)
SCHOOL
RESOURCE OFFICERS: Sheriff Morris was the first School Resource
Officer (SRO) in Okaloosa County. Now that he is Sheriff, the SRO program is a
high priority. This school year we have a School Resource Officer in each middle
and high school in the County and are working to expand to the elementary school
level.
CRIME
STOPPERS: This successful program is supported by voluntary donations,
not by the taxpayers. Crimes are being solved and criminals are landing in jail
as a direct result of the anonymous tips being called to the tips line at
863-TIPS (863-8477) or toll free 1-888-654-TIPS for Walton County and North
Okaloosa residents. Callers can qualify for rewards up to $1,000.
NEW
FACILITIES: A major renovation for the North District Office in
Crestview, and new substations in Bluewater Bay, Sylvania Heights and Ocean City
were much-needed physical improvements in the decentralization of the Okaloosa
County Sheriff's Office. The presence of substations in new areas has proven to
be productive in reducing crime in these areas.
THE
SHERIFF'S CITIZEN ACADEMY: A 12 week program offered to citizens to
"de-mystify" the world of Law Enforcement. The students are introduced
to virtually every aspect of police work in our community.
MARINE
LAW ENFORCEMENT: Okaloosa County waterways are becoming safer because
of this new full-time division within the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.
REDUCTION
IN CRIME: Violent crimes are down by 46% in Okaloosa County, according
to recent figures from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
INCREASED
VISIBILITY: More marked units on our roads and in our neighborhoods.
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: This new program provides a
link of communication between the Sheriff and the local community. It
also provides a pool of experienced volunteer manpower at virtually no cost to
the taxpayers.
SPECIAL
RESPONSE TEAM (SRT): An elite unit of extraordinary deputies who train
as a unit and are available for immediate call out 24-hours a day. The SRT is
activated for hostage situations, high-risk search warrants, barricaded suspects
and other occasions of special need.
OKALOOSA
COUNTY AIR TERMINAL: The Sheriff's Office now has a full-time, eleven member unit at the Okaloosa Regional Airport to provide law enforcement,
security and citizen assistance.
NEW
DISPATCH COMMUNICATION CENTER: This new center has been updated with
new state of the art technology to better serve the public.
STREAMLINING
FOR EFFICIENCY: Many of the most significant changes are not readily
visible to most observers: radar and speedometer calibrations are now done
"in-house", rather than through a costly out-of-town vendor; a new
system for fuel purchases has reduced cost and improved accountability;
relocating the vehicle garage has eliminated rental facilities; many more
"unseen" improvements are stretching the taxpayers' dollar.
UNARMED
SELF DEFENSE CLASSES: Intended primarily for ladies, this class is
offered free of charge at various times and places. This simple three hour class
is very popular among teens, adults and seniors. The Sheriff's Office also
offers a Personal Protection Class which is a 12 hour class which uses NRA
materials and lesson plans. This class is offered to the public at a nominal
cost by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office and the Hurlburt Rifle and Pistol
Club. Call Kathleen Larney at 609-2005 for more information.
JUNIOR
DEPUTY ACADEMY: Each summer, middle and high school students in
Okaloosa County volunteer to go back to school half of the day for a couple of
weeks. They fingerprint each other, conduct simulated traffic stops, analyze
clues to solve a crime and handcuff the suspect. The Academy Is run by Okaloosa
County School Resource Officers. It is offered at schools in Crestview,
Niceville and Fort Walton Beach.
UNDERWATER
INVESTIGATION UNIT: The Underwater Investigation Unit provides the law
enforcement, Emergency Medical Services and Fire Departments of Okaloosa County
with a highly skilled team of individuals who conduct search and recovery
missions as well as conduct crime scene investigations underwater.
NEW
POLICY MANUAL: Development of a new Policy Manual to meet Florida
accreditation standards.
SYLVANIA
HEIGHTS CLEANUP: Residents of this south Okaloosa neighborhood say
they no longer feel neglected. Crack houses have been demolished, lots cleared,
abandoned cars towed away and many tons of rubbish and debris removed through
the unceasing efforts of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Environmental
Enforcement Unit.
VICTIMS
ADVOCATE COORDINATOR: A new full-time program to help ease the pain and
emotional trauma of those who have been a victim of a crime.
CRISIS
NEGOTIATION TEAM: A 10 member team started in 1998 in order to
negotiate and communicate with barricaded individuals in an effort to resolve
the situation as peacefully as possible.
STRANGER DANGER SEMINARS: A quarterly
workshop that helps children understand who is a stranger, what a stranger looks
like, and what to do if a stranger approaches them. The workshop covers safety
tips and defense tactics in a fun filled atmosphere.
This list of accomplishments is in no particular order. All of these programs and accomplishments is important. You may be interested in some of them...if so, please call the Community Services Unit of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office at 651-7420.
Okaloosa County
Sheriff's Office
1250 North Eglin Parkway
Shalimar, FL 32579
(850) 651-7410