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SHERRIFF'S CORNER

www.seminolesheriff.org

Provided by:
Sergeant Dennis M. Lemma
Seminole Neighborhood Policing District Seven
494 S. Hunt Club Blvd.
Apopka, Florida 32703
(407) 862-1554
dennislemma@seminolesheriff.org


Sherriff's - What's New Releases

Sherriff's - Press & Community Releases

 

Posted: June 09, 2005

During the past 30 days, we have noticed that thefts from motor vehicles seem to be the most significant concern for the Sheriff’s Office as well as citizens living within the District Seven communities.  We have received quite a few reports of vehicles being entered and personal items taken.  Almost all the victims left valuables in plain view; many of the vehicles entered were left unsecured. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office continues to work with residents of Seminole County to promote crime prevention strategies that would help identify suspects and reduce crime.  We are currently conducting active investigative operations throughout the district to identify any person(s) that may be involved.  You might have seen an increased presence of patrol vehicles within the area from 7-11pm.  Deputy Sheriff’s and Investigators have been conducting “Operation Lighthouse” operations throughout the district.  “Operation Lighthouse” is a prevention initiative where deputies, investigators, and civilian volunteers work together to identify citizens with open garage doors and obvious unsecured vehicles.  Members of the “Operation Lighthouse” team then make contact with the citizen/owner and provide them with safety tips.  We have seen great success with these efforts in the past.

 Many of you might have seen the news report of a man exposing himself to pedestrians in the Wekiva area.  The story was covered by most of the local stations and might sound a little familiar to Sabal residents because we had a similar report of a person committing these acts sometime last year.  The information that we currently have is that a black male, 5’ 10”, approximately 30 years of age clean shaven, short cropped hairstyle and medium build, was seen exposing himself on the walking trails of Wekiva. If you see anything suspicious in this regard please contact the Seminole County Sheriff's Office or CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).

High school graduation is rapidly approaching and it is this time that students celebrate the end of the school year and the beginning of summer activities.  There are graduation parties and other social events, which attract large numbers of youthful attendees.  These celebrations often include the use of alcoholic beverages and other controlled substances.  When young people use these substances, the results can be deadly, to combat this, all municipal police departments will partner with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office to conduct “Operation Zero Tolerance”.  The objective of this operation is to identify and arrest those persons who have illegally sold, purchased, possessed, or used any alcoholic beverages or controlled substances. All Seminole County Law Enforcement Agencies have a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY regarding youthful offenders and the abuse of drugs and alcohol.  Any incident involving the use of either substance will result in the incarceration of the offender in an attempt to dissuade our youth from experimenting with alcohol and drugs.  Additionally, this operation will include proactive juvenile tobacco enforcement. This operation is also initiated to keep the community safe from crime and the danger of drunk drivers. The enhanced enforcement and education operation will start on May 1st and conclude with active enforcement during high school graduation week (May 24th through 28th).

If you have any questions about the information contained in this article please feel free to contact me at the District Seven Service Center.

 dennislemma@seminolesheriff.org

Sergeant Dennis M. Lemma

Seminole County Sheriff's Office

S.N.P.  District Seven

494 S. Hunt Club Blvd.

Apopka, Florida 32703

(407) 862-1554

Posted: March 16, 2005

During the last several months, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office has made great strides to reduce crime, enhance the quality of life, and protect citizens. This effort has been a shared responsibility between Seminole County residents and government agencies. Traffic concerns seem to be a major interest for all residents and we have been working hard to address each community’s needs. In order to be successful, this takes a collaborative effort between the Sheriff’s Office, Seminole County Roads Department, Traffic Engineering, and motorists. Traffic control devices such as speed limit signs are developed after carefully calculating the environmental design of the roadway, traffic flow, type of vehicles using the road, amount of ingress and egress points, and amount of pedestrian traffic. Many of you have called with questions about the best way to report traffic or safety problems. If you see anything that might be a safety issue, you can contact the District Seven Community Service Center at the location and phone number at the bottom of this article, or send an e-mail to the Seminole County Community Traffic Safety Team at http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/pw/CTST/form_trafficstudy.asp. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

I have recently received a lot of calls from concerned parents looking for programs that are available to correct delinquent juvenile behavior. For the past seven years, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office has been successful in offering nontraditional services to youth who are on the edge of delinquency with our OPERATION RIGHT TRACK initiative. ORT was developed to provide sure and swift consequences to first time offenders and to offer an avenue of intervention for parents trying to guide their child away from delinquent or incorrigible behavior. OPERATION RIGHT TRACK is not for hard-core juvenile offenders, it is for those upon whom we can really make an impact; youth on the edge.

OPERATION RIGHT TRACK is conducted every Saturday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. If you would like more information about OPERATION RIGHT TRACK, please feel free to contact my office for details.

SCAM ALERT

On 2/9/2005 , the Seminole County Sheriff's Office Economic & Computer Crimes Unit received a phone call from a Winter Springs resident that was confronted with a scam that could have cost thousands. The scam requested that the elderly victim make an investment in diamond mines, fiber optic technologies, and pharmaceutical companies. Responding investigators were able to determine that the investment was bogus, and the information provided by the suspect was completely false. The suspect in this case was arrested and charged with a variety of different crimes. If you are approached by a stranger with a proposal that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Please report anything suspicious to the Sheriff’s Office.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office District Seven is in the process of developing a Neighborhood Council Board for our community. The Neighborhood Council is comprised of representatives from businesses, Home Owner Associations, local law enforcement and other governmental agencies within the area. The goal of the Neighborhood Council Board is to improve the lines of communication between residents and government agencies. Board members will be tasked with addressing community issues in a problem-solving forum. We will strive to improve lines of communication amongst community members and available service providers to insure that all members have the ability to address quality of life and public safety issues. If you are interested in becoming a member of our board, please contact me at the District Seven Service Center .

Sergeant Dennis M. Lemma

Seminole County Sheriff 's Office

S.N.P. District Seven

494 S. Hunt Club Blvd.

Apopka , Florida 32703

(407) 862-1554

dennislemma@seminolesheriff.org


 

Posted: February 10, 2005

I hope that everybody enjoyed their holidays and are ready for another great year. During this month’s newsletter, I would like to continue to discuss ways that we can make our community safer. By reducing the opportunity for crime, looking out for your neighbors, and acting as extra eyes and ears for law enforcement, you can improve the quality of life in your community. Many times people might see suspicious activities taking place and not report it because they feel that law enforcement are too busy to respond. Let me assure you that the Seminole County Sheriff's Office welcomes your comments and recognizes that many of our criminal investigations have been solved because of citizen tips. Please feel comfortable with reporting anything that you feel is suspicious to our office. If you feel more comfortable with contacting me directly, I am available Monday through Friday at the District Seven Service Center (address, phone number, and e-mail address is indicated below).

Many of you have active Neighborhood Watch Programs, which is a great tool in preserving safety in our communities. Please remember that just because crime declines, don’t let your Neighborhood Watch Program fade away. If you would like me to attend your meetings to discuss prevention techniques, please let me know. I have included some suspicious acts that you should be on the lookout for.

 

  • What to Watch For

H Someone running from a car or home

H An individual going door-to-door in the neighborhood or looking into windows and parked cars

H A person who seems to have no purpose wandering in the neighborhood

H Any unusual or suspicious noise that you can’t explain, such as breaking glass or the pounding sound of a forced entry occurring

H Vehicles moving slowly, without lights, or with no apparent destination

H Property carried by persons on foot at an unusual hour or place, especially if the person is running

H Property being removed from closed businesses or residences known to be unoccupied

H A stranger entering a neighbor’s home or apartment that appears to be unoccupied

H A stranger in a car stopping to beckon a child

H A child resisting the advances of an adult

 

  • How to Report Suspicious Activities

The Sheriff’s Office needs accurate information as quickly as possible about a suspicious activity or crime in progress.

H Call 9-1-1

H Describe EXACTLY what was seen or heard to the dispatcher; this is the only information responding Deputies will have

H Tell whether the crime is in progress or has already occurred

H Describe the suspect – sex, race, age, height, weight, hair color, clothing, speaking accent, beard or mustache and distinctive characteristics or clothing

H Describe the vehicle, if one was involved – color, make, model, year, license plate, special markings, dents and which direction and the name of the roadway the vehicle was last seen traveling.

During the week of March 28, 2005 – April 1, 2005 , Seminole County will celebrate Violence-Free Community week by bringing law enforcement, local organizations, businesses, schools and community members together to share their resources, talents and energy in order to educate our community in promoting non-violence.

  • For more information about how you can get involved in activities throughout Seminole County , please contact Kimberly Zeh, Neighborhood Advocate for the Neighborhood State Attorney Initiative at (407) 665-1441.

 

  • School Zone Safety Awareness Week is from February 7th - 18th of 2005. During this time Deputies will be making a diligent effort to address safety concerns around schools and crosswalks. Please drive safely.

 

Please feel free to contact me with any question or suggestions. Crime prevention and safety are important issues that affect us all. If you would like members of the Sheriff’s Office to attend your community meetings, please send me an e-mail or call me and I will make the arrangements.

 

Sergeant Dennis M. Lemma

Seminole County Sheriff 's Office

S.N.P. District Seven

494 S. Hunt Club Blvd.

Apopka , Florida 32703

(407) 862-1554

dennislemma@seminolesheriff.org


Posted: December 10, 2004

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office continues to experience a reduction in part one crime throughout the county. The latest crime stats indicates that our area lead in this reduction with a 15.66% decrease. Although many categories of criminal offenses have been reduced, we show a slight increase in the theft of items from vehicles. I have mentioned this in previous issues but I can't emphasize enough the importance of securing your vehicles while they are unattended, and not leaving items in plain view. I had reported at the SPCSA'S annual meeting and in last month's issue of To The Point that we had been experiencing a string of vehicle burglaries in the area. Most of the burglaries were committed on vehicles that were not secured and items of value were left in plain view. Since then, a suspect was arrested on non-related charges and the burglaries almost have completely stopped. Investigations are still working to link the arrestee to the open cases in our area. There were a few thefts in our area over recent weeks. A pressure washer was taken from a garage in the Golf Brook Apartments and an unlocked vehicle was unlawfully entered and more than $100.00 in cash was taken from a wallet.

The Sheriff's Office has generated an area patrol in area of Sabal Palm Dr. and Longmeadow Dr. in reference to a suspicious incident. An older white male driving a large gold 4-door car was noticed driving in the area of the bus stop. The white male is described as older, slightly balding, and wearing large eyeglasses. The vehicle make is not known, however eyewitnesses noticed a purple license plate containing a triangle on the front. Please keep in mind that this person has not committed any criminal offenses and may have a lawful reason to be in the area. If you notice any suspicious incidents in this area, please contact the Sheriff's Office.

The holiday season is here and that brings additional opportunity to offenders to take advantage of opportunities. Please try to plan your shopping by following these tips.

· Never flash cash. Don't advertise the fact that you have a substantial amount of money; doing so is an open invitation to criminals.
· Be aware of the location of your credit and debit cards at all times. Thieves can skim your credit card or simply copy the information off the face of the card and spend your money before you even know that the card has been compromised. If a clerk swipes your card through a hand held device or through more than one device, you should be concerned and request a manager to investigate the incident. The best policy is never to let your credit or debit card out of your sight. Reconcile your bill every month and question all unauthorized charges.
· Be aware of your surroundings when shopping and park in well-lit areas. If you feel unsafe in a particular area, trust your instincts and shop at another location. There is safety in numbers; it is always safer to shop with friends or in areas where there are a lot of people.
· Secure all purchases in your trunk or out of sight if possible. Valuables in plain view inside of a parked car are just begging to be stolen.

On behalf of all the members of the Seminole County Sheriff's Office I would like wish everybody happy holiday's. We look forward to another successful year in 2005.

Sergeant Dennis M. Lemma
Seminole County Sheriff's Office
S.N.P. District Seven
494 S. Hunt Club Blvd.
Apopka, Florida 32703
(407) 862-1554
dennislemma@seminolesheriff.org


 

Posted: October 14, 2004


I am proud to announce that our area (District 7) lead the county in its overall reduction of crime in comparison to this time last year. Seminole County experienced an overall decrease in crime, however our area was down more than 23%. We contribute this reduction to a strong partnership with the community and effective problem solving efforts. In mid September, two juveniles were arrested in the area of Sabal Lake Drive for removing money and valuables from more that six vehicles. One child arrested stated to investigators that his motive was money. He committed these burglaries because he was looking for spare change. I would like to encourage all of the residents in the Sabal Point community to keep your valuables out of plain view and lock the doors to your vehicles to prevent opportunities.

On September 15, deputies found a blue Roadmaster bicycle in the wooded area of Golf Brook Circle and Sabal Palm Drive. If you are missing the bicycle, please contact my office and I will send a deputy to meet with you.

During the month of October, "Seminole County United" partnered with the Child Protective Services Division of Seminole County Sheriff's Office, and the collaborative efforts of community service providers, businesses, civic organizations, and individuals to assist in crisis relief and emergency home repair due to damage from Hurricanes Charley and Frances. More volunteers are needed, due to the expanded list of families needing help. So if you are interested in helping, you can receive more information from Marie Carling at Seminole County Sheriff's Office: 407-665-6508.

Daylight saving time ends at 2am on October 31, this is the time that we are required to set out clocks backward an hour, so that in the Spring we can move an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening. By moving the clocks back an hour, now all of a sudden, it is getting dark much earlier. Some of the downside to this 'fall back' is that it can interfere with your children's sleep schedules as well as the increased pedestrian traffic during the late afternoons. Many times children are adjusting to the change in time and are out after dark. Because of this, we have to be very cautious during our late afternoon commute. I have included a few safety tips associated with daylight saving time. It is recommended that you check the following things around your home bi-annually.
· Check and replace smoke alarm batteries. Replace any smoke alarms older than ten years.

· Prepare a disaster supply kit for your house (water, food, flashlights, batteries, blankets).
· Once you've created your home disaster kit, use the semi-annual time change to check its contents (including testing/replacing flashlight batteries).

· Check and discard expired medications - those dates really DO have meaning - some very common over-the-counter medications can cause serious problems due to change through aging.

SHUTTERS AND DEBRIS PICKUP
Now that the hurricanes have passed, it is important to remove the plywood or shutters that were covering your windows. There have been a few reports throughout the state where people have become trapped inside their homes during a fire because they did not remove their window coverings. We all understand the hassles of the 'boarding up process', but our safety has to be the top priority.
Many people have called me about the debris pickup within their community.
Crews continue to work from dawn until dusk to remove debris from Seminole County neighborhoods. To date, more than 213 debris trucks have been deployed Countywide, and the number is growing. More than 600,000 yards of storm debris has been collected from residents in unincorporated Seminole County alone. The first sweep of debris removal was completed in early October. We all truly appreciate your patience while we work to fully recover from these storms.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please don't hesitate to contact me. You are truly our greatest resource in enhancing the quality of life and reducing crime.

Sergeant Dennis Lemma
Seminole County Sheriff's Office
SNP District Seven
494 Hunt Club Blvd.
Apopka, Florida 32703
407-862-1554
dennislemma@seminolesheriff.org

 

Posted: September 30, 2004

Subject: WATCH FOR THIS NEW SCHEME


BE AWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED.
I MADE SURE THIS IS A TRUE THING BEFORE SENDING IT..I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS A COP AND HE VERIFIED IT!!

You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. Then
you lock all your doors, start the engine and shift into REVERSE, and
you look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space and
you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So,
you shift into PARK, unlock your doors and jump out of your car to
remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view...

When you reach the back of your car, that is when the car-jackers appear
out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off! Your engine was
running, (ladies would have their purse in the
car) and they practically mow you down as they speed off in your car.


Just drive away and remove the paper that is stuck to your window later,
and be thankful that you read this email. I hope you will forward this
to friends and family...especially to women! A purse contains all
identification, and you certainly do NOT want someone getting your home
address. They already HAVE your keys!

Lieutenant Tony Bartolome
Bureau of Investigations
Florida Highway Patrol
P.O. Box 593527
Orlando, FL 32859
(407)858-3233
Fax (407) 858-3280
Bartolome.Tony@fhp.hsmv.state.fl.us
www.fhp.state.fl.us

Posted: September 14, 2004

Subject: Newsletter

News From Seminole County’s District 7

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to all of the Brantley Isles residents. My name is Dennis Lemma and I am coming to you from the District Two area of Seminole County, which primarily serves the citizens of the Sanford area. While in the Sanford area, I served in the same capacity as Sgt. Lou Tomeo did here. I directly supervise the General Assignment Investigators, Motorcycle Deputies, School Resource Deputies, Field Service Officers, and the Code Enforcement Section. Additionally, I am privileged to work with communities like Brantley Isles to help maintain a sound alliance between the Sheriff’s Office and the citizens that we serve. Over the next several weeks, I hope to have the opportunity to meet with many of you during community displays, homeowners association meetings, and other neighborhood events.

Over the last several weeks, we have all been challenged by the devastation brought on by Hurricanes Charley and Frances. We all experienced the effects of these storms and realize the potential harm that they can bring. I would like to personally thank all of you for following the recommendations of local leaders as well as your patience with hurricane relief efforts. Please remember to be cautious of downed power lines and road/sidewalk obstructions during our local reconstruction.


The Halloween holiday is rapidly approaching. Pedestrian safety during this time of year is paramount. Currently, District 7 has plans to have additional deputies and volunteers patrolling the streets to ensure the safety of all citizens. As you prepare your home for Halloween please follow some of these safety recommendations.

• Make sure your yard is clear of such things as ladders, hoses, dog leashes and flowerpots that can trip the young ones.
• Pets get frightened on Halloween. Put them up to protect them from cars or inadvertently biting a trick-or-treater.
• Battery powered jack o'lantern candles are preferable to a real flame.
• If you do use candles, place the pumpkin well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
• Make sure paper or cloth yard decorations won't be blown into a flaming candle.

Although Sgt. Lou Tomeo will be greatly missed from the Brantley Isles community, I hope that you will afford me the opportunity to continue to provide you with the services you have become accustom to. My office is located at the District Seven Service Center located in the Shops of Hunt Club, 494 South Hunt Club Boulevard, right next to Seminole Community College. If you have time, please stop in and say hello. If you have any questions, please feel free to stop in or call me. I truly look forward to working with each of you to enhance the quality of life of all citizens living within the Brantley Isles community.

Sergeant Dennis M. Lemma
Seminole Neighborhood Policing District Seven
494 S. Hunt Club Blvd.
Apopka, Florida 32703
(407) 862-1554
dennislemma@seminolesheriff.org

 

Posted: Friday, May 07, 2004 1:34 PM
Subject: Newsletter

With summer approaching, we ask that parents be mindful of their children while school is out. The district tends to see a spike in crime during the summer months especially criminal mischief and petit theft. Juvenile related issues also increase with unattended children, missing children, and bicycle thefts. We also want to remind folks that many more people usually walk in the neighborhood after dinner with daylight saving, so please monitor your vehicle speeds when traveling through the area. Finally, we ask that everyone enjoying the lake to please exercise good judgment and courteously when boating, swimming, and skiing. Together, we want a safe and happy summer. As always, please report any suspicious activity.

Sergeant Lou Tomeo
Seminole Neighborhood Policing
District 7 / (407) 862-1554
494 S. Hunt Club Boulevard
Apopka, Florida 32703
tomeo@seminolesheriff.org

 

 

Archive Newsletters

I would like to begin by thanking all the resident's for allowing the Sheriff's Office to be a part of your newsletter. It is very exciting for us to be a part of your community and we look forward to continuing to providing the best possible law enforcement. Recently, some of you have complained about criminal mischief and vandalism occurring at the boat dock. With the help of the board, the Sheriff's Office has received permission to trespass any non resident found on or near the property. The board has also provided us with a key to the gate and we have begun routine patrols of the area. Please do not grant permission to anyone you do not know access to the area and please report any suspicious activity in that area to us for follow up. Also, the Sheriff's Office has been investigating vandalism in the area of Viscaya Lane which is the private road off E. Lake Brantley. I know this is not your community, however we have recently come in contact with several juveniles and high school students from your community on that road after dark. Please let everyone know, that road is a private road and the Sheriff's Office is now practicing zero tolerance for anyone caught in that area so please stay away. Again, thank you for the opportunity to share information with all of you and please contact me if I can be of any assistance.

Sergeant Lou Tomeo
Seminole Neighborhood Policing
District 7 / (407) 862-1554
494 S. Hunt Club Boulevard
Apopka, Florida 32703
ltomeo@seminolesheriff.org


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Sheriff's Office is investigating several "scam artist" crimes that have occurred in some parts of the county. Scams include roofing, handyman work, and paving driveways. With summer approaching, Florida is a hot spot for traveling criminals. Please do not hire anyone without checking licenses, references, or the Sheriff's Office Economic Crimes Unit. If it sounds too good, it probably is! We generally only allow religious groups to travel our communities and rarely do we allow anything after dark, so please report any suspicious person(s) in your area. As a reminder, we are continuing to patrol the dock area for unwanted guests, so please make sure only residents and guests are in that area. Finally, we have received a few complaints of speeding in the area so please be mindful of speed limits otherwise you will be face to face with one of my motormen! As always, please call us with any suspicious activity immediately.

Sergeant Lou Tomeo
Seminole Neighborhood Policing
District 7 / (407) 862-1554
494 S. Hunt Club Boulevard
Apopka, Florida 32703
ltomeo@seminolesheriff.org