Police & Fire Protection
The County’s 911 system answers all emergency phone calls from its centers throughout Polk County and immediately forwards the calls to the appropriate agency.
Bartow Police Department report for December 2020 – and it’s good news!
NEW EMPLOYEES
N/A
EDUCATION
Officers completed monthly Police One and Police Law Institute Training.
SIGNIFICANT ARRESTS
OTHER
A traffic study was conducted in the 300 Block of East Main Street.
Sgt. Hauser coordinated the 2nd Annual “Shop with a Cop” Event held on Dec. 16, 2020.
Alpha Squad made 10 arrests and issued 15 traffic citations.
Report Submitted by: Officer Ryan Driesler
NEW EMPLOYEES
Officer Roque was assigned to Officer Charette for Phase 2 of his FTO Training.
EDUCATION
Officers completed their online training assignments.
SIGNIFICANT ARRESTS
OTHER
Bravo squad made 14 Arrests and Issued 65 Traffic Citations.
NEW EMPLOYEES
Officer Alexander Roque is in Phase 1 of his FTO training.
EDUCATION
Officers completed their monthly Police One and Police Law Institute Training.
SIGNIFICANT ARRESTS
OTHER
Charlie Squad members made 16 arrests and issued 36 traffic citations.
Officer Jordan March received an award for his service of five (5) years to the City of Bartow.
Officers conducted heavy patrol in residential areas and conducted House Watch Orders while patrolling the city to reduce crime.
NEW MEMBERS
N/A
EDUCATION
Officers completed monthly Police One and Police Law Institute Training assignments. Officer Gonzalez conducted K-9 Training.
SIGNIFICANT ARRESTS
OTHER
Delta Squad members made 24 arrests and wrote 73 traffic citations this month.
Officers focused on Business and Residential checks throughout the night. Officers conducted heavy patrol in the area of Azalea Gardens and Carver Village
EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Detectives completed monthly training. |
SIGNIFICANT ARRESTS:
¨ HERNANDEZ, Jessica: Fraudulent use of a credit card via complaint affidavit. ¨ PRYOR, Christopher: Fraudulent use of Credit Card. ¨ Detectives assisted Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office with a search warrant in reference to a homicide which occurred in their jurisdiction. |
|
OTHER
Detectives are currently working 105 felony Cases. |
CST continued to post “Sunday Spotlight” on social media sites, whereby each week a sworn and non-sworn member is highlighted in a short interview. The goal of this social media campaign is to introduce members of the Department to residents of Bartow, so they may get to know them on a personal level. Many members work behind the scenes and would not have the opportunity to meet the citizens they serve.
The Department extended the “No Shave” promotion into January, to end March 31st. Participating members will “pay” a minimum of $5 each week to not shave. Proceeds will benefit the Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.
On Dec. 16, the Bartow Police Department participated in the 2nd Annual “Shop With a Cop” in a partnership with Walmart.
Sat. Dec. 19, Interim Chief Dorman and Captain Michelle Smith worked a “Bell-Ringing” shift at the Salvation Army Donation bucket, located at Publix Shopping Center. This was done as a community service project as Kiwanis Club members.
This month, Sunday Spotlight featured Natasha Renteria, Raul Lopez, Det. Evan Lewis and Detective Sgt. William Stevens.
Bartow Police Volunteers recorded only 386 hours of service for the year end 2020. This number is significantly lower than in years past. The lack of volunteer activity is related to the COVID/Pandemic shutdown.
POLICE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY – TOTAL HOURS FOR 2020 | ||||||
CITIZENS ON PATROL | RESERVE OFFICERS | OTHER | ||||
Russ Cannons | 9.0 | David Lane | 26.25 | Mike Butler | 148.50 | Patrick Halley 58.25 |
Delores Lane | 26.25 | Julie Shaffer | 4.0 | William Groover | 54.00 | |
Marvin Wiggins | 19.75 | Sean Colburn | 8.00 | |||
William Nelson | 32.00 | |||||
TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR 2020 386.00 |
This month, several Bartow Police Department members were honored to receive service awards for reaching mile- stones of service to the City of Bartow. At the end of each year, the City hosts a breakfast to honor all city employees. In addition, Service Awards are presented, retirees are recognized and employees past or present who passed away during the year are remembered in a moment of silence.
This year, due to COVID restrictions, the breakfast was cancelled, and awards were presented to the employees by their department heads. Receiving service awards from the Police Department were:
5 YEARS OF SERVICE | 25 YEARS OF SERVICE | 35 YEARS OF SERVICE |
Amber White, School Resource Officer | Jane Casselman | Linda Waligorski |
Tyrinda Pride, Public Safety Aide | Communications Supervisor | Training Coordinator |
Kathryn Jones, Accreditation |
Jordan March, Police Officer RETIRED
Chief of Police Joe Hall
For the second year in a row, Bartow Police Department partnered with Walmart in Bartow to help furnish Christmas for several Bartow families. The successful effort made it possible to purchase several Christmas gifts for children, and Christmas dinners for thirteen (13) families in the Bartow area. Several Bartow Police members participated in this exciting event.
Unlike last year where the families accompanied the officers while shopping, some changes had to be made to comply with Covid-19 protocols. On Dec. 14, 2020, the date chosen, police department members were given a family’s wish-list and then shopped the entire store to fulfill the needs of that family. Later that evening, the chosen families drove to a designated pick-up area at Walmart, where the items were then loaded into their vehicles by police officers, police volunteers, and the Bartow Police Explorer Post members.
DECEMBER 2020 PROPERTY CRIME STATISTICS
TOTAL PROPERTY CRIMES – 6
PROPERTY CRIME TYPES RESIDENTIAL / CONVEYANCE / BUSINESS |
TIME OF OCCURRENCE | TYPE OF ENTRY | ||||
DAY | NIGHT | UNK | FORCED | NO | UNK | |
RESIDENTIAL TOTAL: 0
Includes Single family homes, Apartments, Mobile Homes, Car- port, Storage Sheds |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
CONVEYANCE TOTAL– 4
Includes All Vehicles, Boats, and Trailers |
25% | 75% | 0 | 0 | 100% | 0 |
BUSINESS TOTAL: 2
Includes Businesses, Churches, Storage Facilities, and Schools |
50% | 0 | 50% | 50% | 0 | 50% |
* Burglaries this month were down 54% from last December, and the total burglaries from 2020 is down 35% from 2019
YES! Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in the country. The program brings citizens and communities together, with law enforcement to deter crime and make communities safer.
For more information on how to start a Crime Watch Group in your neighborhood, con- tact: Crime Prevention Practitioner and CST Coordinator Lyn Bryan at 863.534.5034 or email at lbryan.pd@cityofbartow.net.
PROPERTY CRIME TYPE | 2020 | 2019 | %
CHANGE |
SUMMARY |
BUSINEESS: Businesses, Schools, Churches | 27 | 24 | +12% | 85% of the cases, force was used to enter the business |
CONVEYANCE: Includes Vehicles, Trailers, Boats, Truck beds |
59 |
98 |
– 40% |
85% of vehicles were left unlocked. 58% occurred at night. |
RESIDENCE/STRUCTURE: Homes, Apart-
ments, Storage Sheds |
49 |
87 |
– 44% |
57% of homes were locked, and most occurred during daylight hours while owners were not home and/or working. |
(See page 8 of this Activity Report for a map of the six beats defined.)
PROPERTY CRIMES REDUCED:
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GREAT JOB PATROL!
In Nov. 2018, we began a social media campaign called the #9PMROUTINE. The 9PM post each night serves as a reminder to citizens, to DO THE #9PMROUTINE each evening at 9:00 PM. This includes:
Turning on outside porch lights.
Close and lock garage door, and the oor from the garage into the house.
Remove valuables from your car, oat, and truck bed such as wallets, ndbags, keys, and especially earms.
Secure outside items such lawn uipment, toys, and bicycles.
2020 PROPERTY
CRIMES BY BEAT/ZONE |
||
BEAT | TOTAL | PERCENT |
25A | 35 | 26% |
26B | 30 | 22% |
26C | 21 | 16% |
26D | 16 | 12% |
26E | 15 | 11% |
26F | 18 | 13% |
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On July 1, 1882, when the citizens saw a need for better legal protection, C.C. Gresham was elected the first town Marshal and the town of Bartow was incorporated. The Bartow Police Department has evolved over 130 years from a one man, 15-hour-a-day department into a modern agency with a staff of 41 sworn and 23 non-sworn personnel who provide Law Enforcement services to the citizens of Bartow.
The Bartow Fire Department consists of 20 personnel who have received extensive firefighting, rescue and emergency medical training. The fire department is responsible for 90 sq. miles. Response time within the city is five minutes, nine minutes outside the city. The Department also works with the County’s Fire Services answering fire rescue calls in the unincorporated areas of the County.