Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
Q.
Can
a deputy open my car if I have locked the keys inside?
A.
Sorry. If a deputy needs to
enter a car, he or she will call a locksmith if a key cannot be located. If there
is no time to wait (such as an infant or a pet in distress), then the deputy
will break a window. Years ago, many officers were in the habit of carrying a
"slim jim," a slender metal strap with a hook cut into one end. They
could unlock most cars by sliding the "slim jim" into the door
and tripping the mechanism. That procedure no longer works. Anyone attempting to
"slim jim" a car these days is risking serious damage to the lock
mechanism. For more than 10 years, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has had
a policy in effect prohibiting deputies from attempting to open locked cars in
that manner.
Q.
I gave the Sheriff's Office a crime
suspect's name so why isn't that person in jail?
A.
In the movies, someone (an
honest citizen) yells, "Officer! Arrest that man!", the suspect is led
off in handcuffs and that is the end of the situation. In real life things are seldom, if
ever, that simple. In the case of many misdemeanors, the officer cannot legally
make an arrest on the spot. He or she must collect any available evidence,
locate witnesses and obtain statements, and perform other investigation
work...then submit a written report with an application for an Arrest Warrant.
In many cases it will be necessary for the victim to sign a sworn, written
Affidavit of Complaint.
Q.
Is there a waiting period before I can report a person
missing?
A.
No. Report the person as soon as you realize he or she is missing.
Q.
What is the difference between a
misdemeanor and a felony?
A.
A felony is a serious crime
and the suspect can be arrested without a warrant.
Felonies can be punished by confinement in the state prison system. The maximum
penalty for a misdemeanor is one year in the county jail (not the state prison).
For most misdemeanors, a law enforcement officer must first obtain a warrant
before making an arrest.
Q. Why
do the 9-1-1 operators ask so many questions?
A.
The dispatcher you speak with on the telephone is typing information into a
computer. Another communications officer is
relaying that information, via radio, to the responding deputy. The 9-1-1
operator will ask certain questions in a particular order to most efficiently
fill in the fields on the computer screen. Once a few preliminary questions have
been answered, the operator will be in a better position to provide more details or narrative information, such as a description of the
suspects. The responding deputy or deputies may have specific questions
regarding the situation while
they are en route. Unless you are in an unsafe location, it is in your best
interest to remain on the line until the 9-1-1 operator has obtained all of the
information and the operator may ask you to remain on the line until the deputy
arrives.
Q. How
can I get a copy of a police report?
A.
You can obtain a copy of a police report in person or by mail. Visit our records office at the Courthouse Annex on Eglin Parkway
in Shalimar, or call them at 651-7434, Monday through Friday from 8:oo a.m. to
5:00 p.m. If you do not have a case number assigned
to the
report, provide as much information as possible, including, date, time, location
of the incident, nature of the incident, and names of persons involved to help
the records clerks locate the report.
Q. Where
do I pay a traffic citation?
A.
All such payments should be made to the Clerk of Courts, either by mail or in
person at the Courthouse in Crestview or at the Annex in Shalimar. If you
received the ticket in another county, the payment must go to the clerk in that
county. The policy for accepting or not accepting personal checks may vary from
one county to another. If you have any questions about the amount, the form of
payment, or where to mail or deliver your payment, contact the Clerk's Office.
In Okaloosa County, the Clerk's Office can be reached at 689-5800 in Crestview
or 651-7200 in Shalimar. In Florida, Sheriff's Offices and other law enforcement
agencies do not accept payment for traffic fines. Please remember, payment is
due in the Clerk's Office within 30 days of the date that the ticket was issued.
It is not acceptable for the check to be postmarked by the 30 day deadline. If
your payment has not been received by the deadline, the state will automatically
suspend your license, and it will not be automatically re-instated when you make
payment; you will pay an additional fee. If you need an extension beyond
the 30 days, or if you wish to either take a driver improvement class or contest
the citation in court, contact the Clerk's Office no later than 30 days after
the citation was issued.
Q. How
can I start a Neighborhood Watch Program?
A.
The most important thing to do is get the support of your
neighbors. When you believe you have enough interest, call our Crime Prevention
Officer, Kathleen Larney, at 609-2005. Schedule a meeting at which she can
visit your neighborhood, discuss your concerns and problems, and explain to all
interested how a Neighborhood Watch Program works. It's that simple. These
meetings can be held in any convenient location in your neighborhood; someone's
living room, a school cafeteria, an apartment or condominium party room, or a
nearby business.
Q. What
is a Citizens' Academy? What topics are covered in the Academy? Why is it
necessary?
A. It
is an opportunity for citizens to learn about their local law enforcement agency.
The Academy is held once a year, during the summer. The Academy is generally a
12-week program, with classes meeting one weekday evening each week and it is
also offered as a 7-week program with two classes per week. Each class is
approximately three hours. The format for the summer of 2001 has not yet been
set... we'll try to make it as convenient as possible. For those who are
interested in attending, we would be grateful for your input. The Sheriff's
Office has a Citizens' Academy because we firmly believe that the more people
know about the Sheriff's Office, the better. For many years, police work has
been an arcane and mysterious world. Research tells us that 80% of the adult
population has no contact at all with law enforcement officers during the year.
That means they have little or no first hand, accurate knowledge about this
vitally important element of our community. For a list of topics covered at the Academy, visit the Sheriff's
Citizen Academy page.
Q. Does
the Sheriff's Office use volunteers?
A. Yes!
In fact, three separate and distinct programs are currently available. Each
fulfills a different mission, and each is suitable for a different segment of
the population. Members of the Sheriff's Posse assist
deputies in law enforcement functions. These citizen-volunteers receive training
approved by Florida's Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC)
and are classified as "Auxiliary Law Enforcement Officers" under state
law. Members of the Posse wear uniforms similar to those of deputies and are
authorized to wear badges and carry firearms. The Posse donates thousands of
hours each year at virtually no cost to the taxpayers. The minimum age for Posse
members is 21.
Seniors (55 and older)
are eligible to become part of the "Seniors and Lawmen Together"
(SALT). SALT members do not perform law enforcement duties, and do not normally
pursue the training required of Posse members. Many SALT members, however, do
attend the Citizens' Academy. SALT members assist the Sheriff's Office with
filing, handling paperwork and many other clerical tasks.
For young people who are
interested in the field of Law Enforcement, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
has a top-notch Explorers' Post. Meetings are held once a month, (Tuesday evening) at 7:00
at the Courthouse Annex in Shalimar. Students who are enrolled in school,
who maintain a specified grade point average, have completed the 8th grade
and are at least 14 years of age are eligible to join. Maximum age for the
Explorers' Post is 20. More than twelve Okaloosa County Sheriff's deputies began
their law enforcement career as an Explorer.
Q. What
kind of people become law enforcement officers?
A. Those
who aspire to a career as a Law Enforcement Officer should be genuinely
concerned about the welfare of their community. Individuals who are committed to
helping others, even at the expense of their own comfort and convenience are
well-suited for the life of a Deputy Sheriff or other Law Enforcement Officer.
Self-centered people who are motivated by a quest for personal power and who
crave authority, will not succeed in the field. The profession requires a
thorough understanding of complex policies and laws, and the ability to express
that understanding in written reports. Therefore, a well-rounded education is
important. Law Enforcement is a field for those who have a quest for knowledge
and making their community a safer place to live.
Q. What
are some of the misconceptions many people have about law enforcement?
A. From
TV, movies, and newspapers many people believe that violence is a major part of
police work, and that officers enjoy violence. In fact, only a tiny fraction of
one percent of all official contact between law enforcement and citizens involve
physical force. Another misconception is that science and technology solve most
crimes. The truth is that no high-tech advance could ever replace the human
element of law enforcement. Concerned, committed citizens are by far the most
effective weapon against crime.
Q. I'm
new in town or moving to a new neighborhood. Can the Sheriff's Office tell me
where the crime rate is low?
A. All
of our calls and activity are public record. You can request and receive
information in a variety of forms, including all of the calls on a particular
street for any specified period of time (a week, a month, a year, etc.). It may
be surprising that these figures can be very misleading. A high call volume for
a particular area does not necessarily translate into an "unsafe" or
"crime ridden" neighborhood; and a low call volume does not
automatically indicate a "quiet, peaceful" neighborhood. In fact, just
the opposite can be true in both cases. Particularly observant or concerned
citizens in one neighborhood might report every suspicious occurrence to their
Sheriff's Office or other law enforcement agency...while in another
neighborhood, residents might prefer not to attract the attention of law
enforcement, and therefore fail to report crime and disturbances. It is wise to
visit a neighborhood several times: at different hours of the day and night, in
inclement weather, weekdays and weekends...take a look around, maybe talk to
some of the residents of the area...then, trust your instincts before making a
decision.
Q. Do
I need to register my gun? Do I need a permit to carry a gun?
A. Like
most states, Florida does not register guns, or license owners. If you intend
to carry a gun for protection off your property, you should obtain a
Florida Concealed Weapons License. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has the
paperwork at our offices in Crestview, Shalimar, Destin, and Santa Rosa
Mall. In order to obtain a license, you must be a US citizen (not necessarily a
resident of Florida), at least 21 years of age, and be able to document some
firearms training. For more information concerning the Florida Concealed Weapons License, visit the web
site of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/weapons/index.html.
Q. Do
deputies have a quota for traffic tickets?
A. NO!
Some deputies specialize in traffic enforcement and spend the majority of their
working day writing traffic citations. Others concentrate on selected priorities
and rarely work traffic. All deputies, even those in supervisory or
administrative positions, have the authority to write traffic citations. In all
cases, the deputy has considerable latitude for discretion. A deputy is never assigned a "quota" or pressured to write more citations.
Q. Are
radar detectors illegal?
A. They're
legal, but don't count on one to warn you in time to avoid a ticket. An officer
who wants to catch speeders won't turn on his radar unit until he or she is
ready to verify the speed of the violator. Some agencies in Florida and
elsewhere employ trained pilots who clock vehicles from the air using a stopwatch,
not radar. The only way to be sure of avoiding a traffic citation is to observe the speed
limit.
Q.
My juvenile son/daughter got arrested, and his/her
name was in the paper. How could that happen?
A. Juvenile
names are NOT automatically confidential. More than 20 years ago, the Florida
Legislature decided to alter the traditional practice of keeping juvenile arrest
records confidential. At first, only 16 and 17 year olds charged with felonies
were subject to having their name released. The age restriction was
completely removed on October 1, 1994. Now, all felony arrests, regardless of the
age of the defendant, are public record. We cannot legally with-hold our arrest
reports from inspection and copying by the news media or by any citizen. By law,
the media are free to publish this information. Note that for juveniles this
change applies only to felony cases and misdemeanors in which the child has been
found by a court to have committed three prior misdemeanors. For the first three
misdemeanors, juvenile confidentiality still applies. Interestingly, juvenile
traffic citations have never been considered confidential, regardless of the age
of the alleged violator.
Q. I
need a fingerprint card for a job application. Do I need to get fingerprinted
again, even if I was just fingerprinted recently for something else?
A. Yes.
There are at least two reason for this.
First, each agency's fingerprint card is slightly different; it has identifying
numbers unique for the purpose for which you are being fingerprinted. In other
words, if you were getting a security clearance for a government contractor and
filing for a real estate license, and being hired as a child care worker, and
going into business as a bondsman, and submitting an application for a concealed
weapons license all on the same day, you would need to be fingerprinted on five
different cards.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office now does electronic fingerprinting during business hours at the Crestview Office and Shalimar Courthouse Annex Front Desk. The front office requests that fingerprint applicants arrive by 4:00 p.m. Please do not fill out the card because the computer will fill it in automatically and also do not sign the card in advance.
Second, how does the FBI or FDLE know you're the same person who was fingerprinted on a previous occasion if you don't send them a new fingerprint card to verify your identity?
Q. When
I call a Deputy, how long will it take before he or she arrives?
A. Based
on a computer analysis of more than 50,000 responses by Okaloosa County Deputies
this year, the average time between the instant the call is received by
telephone and the first deputy arriving at the scene is five minutes and one
second. For the highest priority calls of an urgent nature, the average response
time is two minutes and 23 seconds. These numbers are averages, and it is
possible that the time could be longer in some instances, especially if a deputy
must be diverted to a higher-priority incident.
Q. Why
do cops always hang around doughnut shops?
A. For
many years, doughnut shops would be the only places available for midnight shift
officers to take a break. The shops were well-lighted, offered hot coffee, and
often allowed the officer to use the telephone and restroom. In addition, they
had plenty of counter space for paperwork. No wonder doughnut shops became
popular for officers whose office had four wheels and none of these amenities!
Couldn't find your question here? E-mail it to us!
Okaloosa County
Sheriff's Office
1250 North Eglin Parkway
Shalimar, FL 32579
(850) 651-7410