for immediate release
September 24, 2004
N E W S R E L E A S E
Activity for the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has returned to near-normal levels after Hurricane Ivan. Calls for service received by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office were at historic high levels for eight consecutive days:
Wednesday, September 15 = 573 calls
Thursday, September 16 = 904 calls
Friday, September 17 = 736 calls
Saturday, September 18 = 761 calls
Sunday, September 19 = 643 calls
Monday, September 20 = 692 calls
Tuesday, September 21 = 594 calls
Wednesday, September 22 = 586 calls
By comparison, prior to Ivan, average call volume was 466 per day. In 2003, the busiest day was Friday, August 8, with 617 calls for service.
During the 12 hour period of 6:00 PM Wednesday, September 15 until 6:00 AM Thursday, September 16, as Ivan made landfall, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office received 594 calls. Of that number, 406 were false alarm activations and unverified 9-1-1 telephone calls.
Okaloosa Deputies made 18 Curfew Violation arrests in the days after the hurricane, plus another 18 arrests on other charges as a result of traffic stops and citizen contacts during curfew hours. Those other charges included drug and alcohol violations, concealed weapons, driving on suspended license, DUI, and warrants for Violation of Probation and Failure to Appear in court.
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for more information contact Sgt. Rick Hord, Public Information Officer
(850) 651-7420