Eleazer, Carrie. March Sheriff Grady Judd on behalf of Judd, Grady Thursday, March 08, :01 PM

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1 Eleazer, Carrie From: Sent: To: Subject: Sheriff Grady Judd on behalf of Judd, Grady Thursday, March 08, :01 PM Eleazer, Carrie News from Polk County Sheriff's Office In this issue... PCSO, WPCV Pair Up For St. Jude's Blake's New Puppy Crime Prevention Message Bustin' Clays Results Operation Key Chain Visit Us On The Web PCSO Facebook page PCSO Myspace page Dear Friend, I have great news! After just a few months operating the new PCSO Juvenile Detention Facility for pre-adjudicated juveniles, the cost of running the facility during the first quarter of the 2011/2012 fiscal year (October, November, and December 2011) are significantly less than the estimated cost of the Juvenile Detention Center that was operated by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). I am especially pleased that we are saving the taxpayers of Polk County hundreds of thousands of dollars. The DJJ March

2 PCSO Twitter page PCSO Youtube page Polk County Sheriff's Office 1891 Jim Keene Blvd Winter Haven, Florida was charging unsustainably high rates to Polk County to house pre-adjudicated juveniles at their facility in East Bartow. We are now operating a better, safer, cleaner, and more modern facility with better trained personnel at a much lower cost. According to figures released by the PCSO Department of Detention and Fiscal Services Division, the cost to operate the Juvenile Detention Facility was reduced by $611,248 in the first three months of operation. The total cost to operate the PCSO facility for the three months was $413,023 compared to $1,024,271, which is the estimated amount the DJJ would have charged Polk County, based on the actual fiscal year per diem they charged the Polk County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC). The Sheriff's Office per diem for the three months averaged $ per juvenile per day - roughly 60% less than the amount DJJ was billing the BoCC in 2010 and Prior to the Sheriff's Office assuming responsibility for securely housing pre-adjudicated juveniles in Polk County on October 1, 2011, the DJJ billed the Polk County BoCC to house preadjudicated juveniles at their facility in East Bartow. For example, from July 2009 to June 2010, DJJ estimated that Polk County would pay $ per juvenile per day-polk county taxpayers actually ended up paying $ per juvenile per day. From July 2010 to June 2011 DJJ estimated that Polk County would pay $ per juvenile per day - Polk taxpayers actually ended up paying $ a total of $3,906,754. The Polk County BoCC paid the Department of Juvenile Justice $821,178 for the first three months of the state's fiscal year (July, August, and September, 2011). The difference between what DJJ charged the county in July, August, and September, 2011, compared to what the Sheriff's Office operated its facility in October, November, and December 2011, is $408,155. This savings annualized would be $1,632,620. This figure does not count additional billing at the end of the state's fiscal year-last year, DJJ additionally billed the Polk BoCC $746, The Sheriff's Office Juvenile Detention Facility - maintained separately from any and all adult inmates - has juvenile- 2

3 specific programs for education, medical care, nutrition, behavior management, use of control, parental contact and physical activities for juveniles. The Sheriff's Office juvenile facility undergoes rigorous annual inspections by external national and state accreditation agencies and, as mandated by state law, the facility will be inspected by Certified Florida Model Jail Standards (FMJS) Inspectors. The FMJS criteria were developed specifically for juveniles by comparing and integrating standards used by the Department of Juvenile Justice. The Sheriff's Office Juvenile Detention Facility is operated and managed by certified detention deputies who are highly qualified and trained. The PCSO medical section is nationally accredited and staffed by well qualified professionals, including a medical doctor and psychiatrist, advanced registered nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and medical assistants. The Polk County Sheriff's Office maintains eight independent professional accreditations. When we embarked on this new venture, I was confident we would be able to safely house juveniles while also saving taxpayers' dollars, and at the same time maintain the highest level of professionalism to which the people of Polk County have been accustomed. Thank you as always for your support. Sincerely, Sheriff Grady Judd PCSO Members Volunteer Time To Fight Childhood Cancer 3

4 Each year Lt. Terry Storie, a 19-year member of the Polk County Sheriff's Office, gathers a group of volunteer PCSO members to answer the phones during the annual St. Jude's Radiothon at the 97Country WPCV studio in Lakeland. This year the event was held on February 17th and 18th - the PCSO volunteers answered phones and took callers' pledges during the last six hours of the radiothon. We are pleased to announce that this year's event raised $150,634 towards the research and prevention of childhood cancer! During the six hours that the 15 PCSO members manned the phones, $81,745 of that amount was raised - of that, over $7,800 was raised as a direct result of PCSO members issuing challenges via the radio, phone calls, text messages, and Facebook! Lt. Storie and his outstanding volunteers can be seen here holding the check in the amount they were directly responsible for raising. Great job, PCSO! Surprise! Blake Gives A Puppy A Home 4

5 On November 12, 2011, PCSO Animal Control Officer Anthony Hilliard recovered an abandoned female pug in the area of Lemon Street in Mulberry. After filling out all of the necessary forms and listing the pug as abandoned, and after every effort had been made to locate the dog's owner, PCSO Animal Control Officer Dezaray Quetot decided to "foster" the pug in her home and take care of her until she was ready for adoption. Within a couple of weeks, Dezaray began to notice that the pug, named "Sookie" by the Quetot family, was gaining weight, and exhibiting some strange behavior in a bedroom closet. Dezaray quickly realized that the little dog was pregnant, and cared for Sookie throughout her pregnancy. On January 11, 2012, Sookie gave birth to a litter of 6 puppies in the nest she had made in Desarey's closet. These puppies automatically became the property of PCSO Animal Control. Around this same time, PCSO members and Sheriff Grady Judd befriended the Appleton family, whom we told you about in last month's newsletter. Blake Appleton, who recently turned 9 years old, has been battling brain cancer since We made Blake an honorary Sheriff's deputy, and an honorary member of several PCSO specialty units. During one of Blake's visits to PCSO, his mom Miranda happened to mention how much they love pugs - having no idea that a litter of pug puppies was just born. 5

6 A plan was formed to surprise the Appleton family with an 8- week-old pug puppy, complete with shots, toys, a crate, and food. Sheriff Judd presented the little dog to the family on Monday, March 5, Since then the Appletons have informed us that they have named their newest family member "Judd Grady" and that he's fitting in quite well with Blake, Morgan, Miranda, and their other dog, Fudge. Congratulations, Appleton family! We hope you and little Judd have a fabulous time together! And thank you, Dezaray, for everything you and your family did for Sookie and her babies. 6

7 March Is National Women's Month In 1980, March 2-8 was designated as National Women's History Week. Since then, honoring women in history has expanded to a month-long recognition. It is only fitting that this month we address ways of honoring and appreciating the women in our lives. Our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters deserve our respect. Do you know women that are not practicing sound safety measures in their daily activities? Here are some easy tips to share with them to stay safe: stay alert to surroundings to avoid becoming a victim of crime get keys out of purses prior to leaving the store look under the car and in the back seat prior to opening the door once in the car, don't sit for an extended period of time prior to leaving without first locking the door if someone suspicious is following, do not drive to your empty home but to a neighbor's home or to the nearest police department take a personal safety course at your local parks and recreation center or contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Section at to schedule a program for your community 7

8 Bustin' Clays With Sheriff Grady Judd - Third Time's The Charm! On Saturday, March 3, 2012, the third annual "Bustin' Clays With Grady Judd" was held at Tenoroc Sporting Clays in Lakeland. This year's shooters surpassed the number of shooters at the two previous events people came out to shoot some clays and raise money for Polk Sheriff's Charities, Inc. Approximately $40,000 was raised this year because of the hard work and generous spirit of so many. Thank you sponsors and shooters! Congratulations to Team "Low Class" with Bob Jones, David Caudill, Keith Holland, and Randy Larson, who took home the First Place trophy with 186 points! Second Place went to Team "Brighthouse" -- Brian Beirwagen, Larry Finn, Lyle Crawford, and Seve Haas, who totaled 172 points. Team "Bartow Ford" came in Third Place, with Jeffrey Walker, John Alexander, Lash McCall, and Stephen Hendrix, and 169 total points. Other winners were: Best Male Shooter - Keith Holland - 48 points Best Female Shooter - Lynn Oakley - 41 points 8

9 Best Youth Shooter - Noah Jeffries - 45 points Best PCSO Shooter - Major Larry Williams - 45 points Worst Shooter - Steven Pugh - 2 points Turkey Shoot Winner - Jacob Dantzler "Although we lost Bea Reid, the creative genius behind this wonderful charity event, she was there with us in spirit this year. Our agency members worked hard all year to provide a fun way to raise money for Polk Sheriff's Charities, and we know that Bea would be proud. Thank you all for your support, and we hope to see you next year!" - Sheriff Grady Judd Click here to see all the photos from this year's Bustin' Clays! PCSO and FDLE Dismantle Pain Pill Trafficking Organization Polk County Sheriff's detectives working with agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and representatives from the Florida Department of Health (DOH) arrested five people, served five search warrants, and dismantled a large-scale pain pill trafficking ring in Polk County on March 6, The investigation began around July 2011, when detectives received information that the Key Medical Clinic, located at th Street SW in Winter Haven, was a front for an illegal pill mill operation. Detectiv es learned that the owner of the clinic, 9

10 Patricia "Trish" Osbourn, was illegally forging prescriptions for controlled narcotics using two different doctors' names and DEA numbers whom she had hired to work at the clinic (the doctors no longer work at the clinic and they are not a target of the investigation), and providing them to Elizabeth "Liz" Sykes. Sykes used recruiters, one of whom detectives identified as Gwendolyn Ward, to recruit people referred to as "smurfs" to get the prescriptions filled. Here's how the network operated: Ward recruited the "smurfs," who were willing to go to pharmacies around Polk County and fraudulently get prescriptions filled mostly for Oxycodone (OxyContin), but also some for Alprazolam (Xanax). Once the prescriptions were filled (using cash provided by Ward), the "smurfs" turned the pills over to Ward in return for a cash payment (usually between $50 and $100 each). Ward then gave the pills to her "boss" Liz Sykes. The prescriptions used by the "smurfs" were written on prescription forms obtained by Trish Osbourn, using one of her clinic's (former) employed doctors' DEA numbers and forged signatures. Detectives do not believe the doctors had knowledge of this illegal activity. Liz Sykes gave Osbourn the names and personal information of the "smurfs" who had been recruited by Gwen Ward. Osbourn produced the prescriptions, then they were distributed back to the "smurfs" via Sykes, then Ward and other "recruiters," and the prescriptions were filled. Most of the "smurfs" never visited the clinic. At least three businesses owned and co-owned by Liz Sykes were identified through this investigation. Sykes owns Sassy Shoes 4 Less located at 418-A Havendale Blvd in Auburndale, and is the co-owner of Pandora's Hall in Auburndale and Father's House restaurant located at 2862 Recker Hwy in Winter Haven. Detectives believe proceeds from her involvement in the pill mill operation have been laundered through and used in these businesses. Trish Osbourn is a convicted felon and is currently on probation until 2020 for grand theft, and she has an extensive history of fraud-related charges. During this investigation, detectives learned Osbourn also represented herself as a licensed physician at the clinic and provided prescriptions to "patients" without them ever being examined. As a result of the investigation, detectives learned that there were over 700 people who received and filled fraudulent prescriptions they obtained from Trish Osbourn. At least 2,500 prescriptions, mostly for 10

11 Oxycodone, have been linked to Osbourn and the Key Medical Clinic. On March 6, 2012, PCSO detectives and FDLE agents served five search warrants: at the Key Medical Clinic, and four homes identified as belonging to the suspects or as being used by the suspects as "stash houses." During the search warrants, PCSO detectives and FDLE agents seized over $21,000 cash, copies of driver's licenses used for filling out fraudulent prescriptions, prescription pads, pharmacy receipts, Alprazolam (Xanax) pills, Oxycodone pills, marijuana, and cocaine. Those arrested were: Patricia Ann "Trish" Osbourn, DOB 4/15/1965, of 105 Byron Place in Winter Haven, for Conspiracy to Traffic in Oxycodone Over 200 Grams (F-1); Elizabeth "Liz" Sykes, DOB 12/14/1972, of 250 West Terrace Avenue in Lake Alfred, for Conspiracy to Traffic in Oxycodone Over 200 Grams (F-1); Gwendolyn Ward, DOB 11/25/1949, of rd Street NW Apt B in Winter Haven, for Conspiracy to Traffic in Oxycodone Over 200 Grams (F-1); Angelica John, DOB 2/26/1989, of 3521 Avenue V NW in Winter Haven, for Conspiracy to Traffic in Oxycodone Over 200 Grams (F-1); Katie Clarke, DOB 10/14/1967, of nd Street NW in Winter Haven, for Conspiracy to Traffic in Oxycodone Over 200 Grams (F-1); Possession of Cocaine (F-3); Possession of Alprazolam (F-3); Possession of Alprazolam WITS 1000 Feet Within School (F-1); Maintain Dwelling for Drug Sales (F-3); Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M-1). This is an active ongoing joint investigation between the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Health and the Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution. Forward 11

12 This was sent to by Update Profile/ Address Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe Privacy Policy. Polk County Sheriff's Office 1891 Jim Keene Blvd. Winter Haven FL