Sanford Police Crack Down On Crime

[george anderson jr]

anford Police Crack Down On Crime

POSTED: 6:29 am EST January 14, 2008
UPDATED: 7:07 am EST January 14, 2008
[NEWSVINE: Sanford Police Crack Down On Crime][DELICIOUS: Sanford Police Crack Down On Crime][DIGG: Sanford Police Crack Down On Crime][FACEBOOK: Sanford Police Crack Down On Crime][REDDIT: Sanford Police Crack Down On Crime][RSS][PRINT: Sanford Police Crack Down On Crime][EMAIL: Sanford Police Crack Down On Crime]
SANFORD, Fla.-- Sanford police are expected to announce a new approach on Monday to combat crime in their community.

Police Chief Brian Tooley said every year the department is modified a bit, and reorganization is needed based on the needs of the community.

Officers are expected to be divided into an eastern and western division, and a lieutenant will oversee each of the groups. A new emphasis will also be put on the police department's street-crimes unit.
sponsor

Tooley said as the city grows, so must its staff.

"A number of years ago, we were an 80- or 90-officer department, now we're about 135, and we anticipate doing about 160 over the next three or four years," Tooley said.

A new community-policing unit will also be added as part of the reorganization. Those officers will work with neighborhood watch groups to make sure those programs are effective.

Tooley said it's all part of a pro-active approach to crime instead of a reactive approach.

To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Aixa Diaz.

Copyright 2008 by WESH.COM . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistribute

[george anderson jr]

just now cracking down on crime,hey chief i got news for you crime in sanford has been on the rise every since you took over as chief now why the sudden urgency SIR.this wouldnt have anything to do with what happen last weekend,because it seems a little late to be doing something now dont you think.dont get me wrong i applaud the police departments efforts but to me its like trying to take down the fox after he's in the hen house,this should have been done 10 maybe 20 years ago.

[Carrie S]

Sanford Police are a joke. Every week we have to call and report a bar on the corner of Second and Sanford due to alchohol being consumed in the streets and people getting out of hand. There is drag racing, prank door bell ringing and now fights. We call and let them know it is getting out of control and they show up 20 mins later and do nothing. Just 2 days ago I had a plastic chair thrown over my private fence at me and nothing was done. Last night there was a riot of 30-40 people fighting and still the bar is open with nobody staying in the area knowing that it gets out of control. I say Tooley needs to rewrite his mission statement if he is not going to allow peace to be kept. I am getting sick and tired of drunken people in the roads, drunk drivers, and being told "that is what you get for living here". no I don't think so, I should be able to live here and the police do their job and keep what once was a quite block quite.

[SGT]

Hello Carie,
Don't sit there and call the entire department a joke, we have some of the best officers in the State of Florida working very hard to protect people like yourself.The problem is that we need to take steps in enforcement when it come to city ordinances. It needs to be documented, verbal warnings need to be given and the we can establish probable cause for an arrest. We, the officers get fustrated as well, but it makes it even worse we when we have to read about negative comments like yours.

[Sanford_resident]

I know that this is a lttle late, but I have to put my 2 cents worth in. The Sanford Police are as useful as tits on a tank. When there is any kind of wreck, even minor fender benders with no injuries, you see 4 to 6 police cars parked there with one officer doing the write-ups and the rest leaning against their cars laughing and cutting up. Call for help and you usually get a call back, advising you that it will be w while before they can get an officer there and do we still want them to come out. You see Police cars cruising up and down 17/92, around the mall, on 46, but do you see any in the neighborhoods. One of my co-workers has a friend who is a Sanford cop, they were riding out near I4 and Lake Monroe, when the officer said that "this is my territory, I have never been out here before" this is typical. When was the last time you heard of the Sanford PD being praised for anything, except when they are praising themselves? I have given up on ever getting them to do anything about the blasting music, the speeders, the litter, and my neighbors and I have just about given up on them doing anything about any crime. We are all thinking of becoming vigilianties. I have been the victim of many crimes, none have ever been solved, all I have ever gotten from the Police is a stack of letters saying the my case has been moved to the inactive files. Do they even have an active file?

[MOBT]

I THINK THE SPD ARE DOING A GREAT JOB BY RIDDING THE CITY OF THE NUMEROUS JUVENILLE WHO ARE TERRORIZING THE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PASS IS IRRELEVANT, THE DIFFERENCE THAT IS BEING MADE NOW IS WHAT COUNTS. STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND BE APART OF THE SOLUTION. I AM NO ANGEL BUT THE CITY OF SANFORD IS ONE OF THE LAST OF ITS KIND...HOMELY AND FULL OF GREAT PEOPLE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE MEN AN WOMEN OF SPD.

[sgt]

Thank you MOBT! Most of the people that have posted negative comments would not last 2 seconds as a Sanford Police Officer. I have been shot at, in many fights and have had my car rocked and hit with bottles during my tour of duty.
People need to get involved and help save thier town! The police can't be everywhere. I wish we could take care of all the problems for the people that are not happy with the department's service, but the wonderful State of Florida has made it to where the suspects have more rights then the victims do and when we do put people in jail the judges slap them on the hand and let them out.
We are not Lake Mary or Longwood. Sanford is a very hard place to police and the officers that work there do a great job, but we need more officers.I feel for the residents of Sanford, I have worked here for many years.
Not to toot my own horn; but I have solved many homicides and have placed thousands of criminals in jail, over the years. The major problem other than the criminals, is the lack of support from the residents.
Lets get rid of the high crime areas (the projects) and also get rid of all the day labor places (homeless people). Sanford is a great city that needs attention and it always falls back on the officers.
We don't control City Hall but the people do! There are many issues that need to be resolved. Stand behind your officers people, we work for you and we will work with you as well.
Just remember that we have guidlines that we must follow such as department policies, State Laws and we must not violate anyones rights, even criminals. The last thing we need to do, is to have your tax money wasted on lawsuits for violating someones rights.
I would also like to add that we have a great response time to calls, but when you have 50 calls holding and only 12 officers working; we must respond to in progress calls first, shootings, vehicle accidents, thefts in progress.
So when you call about a noise complaint on a busy Friday or Saturday night, please keep this in mind when we are not there in seconds.
Thank you.

[The Expendable]

sgt, kudos to you and the SPD. People need to understand that, like you said, when 50 calls come in and you only have 12 officers on duty it's tough to get to all of them. They have to be prioritized. One of the early posts on this forum was Carrie, who complained about "prank door bell ringing". When there are so many real crimes being committed, prank door bell ringing is pretty far down on the list.

Keep up the good work and thank you for your service!

[1 hoodmouse]

While I remain stranded in this land of hell , jail and crack., I must commend and give respect to the man that god authorized to keep order in the armpit of hell. I believe that even shoveling shit builds character and one thing i can relate to is watching our days become routineas my own villains so I appreciate the understanding , status, and you guyus finally realizing I`m here for a reason, contrary to popular belief, it isnt to up investments in graveyard realestate properties, I refuse to die for a weekness gods word is more needed on the block then in a pew ,so you do yours , cause i know im on the battlefield for the winning team, grace will bring me salvation not john e polk

[JackieB]

Oh, come off it! What a load of BS! You state we need to keep in mind you have LAWS to follow, state etc.??? Listen, Bub.... Sanford police would not even get someone to take BLOOD fingerprints off my window after I was robbed at my house! They blamed it on the FDLE and said THEY would never spring for a kit to take the evidence off the window because what was taken was only a couple thousand dollars worth of my stuff, and said it's the "economy," sorry. NOW YOU TELL ME, MR. LAWMAN: IS THAT THAT LAW? NOT DOING THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS IS LAWFUL AND TAKE OFF BLOOD PRINTS? YOU GO ASK FDLE IF THAT'S THE LAW AND SOMETHING YOU'RE ENTITLED TO DO, NOT TAKING THE BLOOD OFF WINDOW GLASS BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY! I don't blame the investors and business people for not wanting to come to Sanford to help rehab it -- it doesn't deserve to be rehabbed at the investors' expense! Their construction sites would be robbed every night, and oh, I'm SURE the City would do something about THAT to make the investor happy. But the residents? It's SCREW THEM, just take a report and two days later get a letter in the mail saying it's INACTIVE! DATED TWO DAYS LATER, INACTIVE! That's EVERYONE in my neighborhood that had a crime against them, not just me! That poster that said something about the "inactive" letters are telling the truth. I guess what police officer is going to spend 1,000 dollar investigating serial burglars when they have so many other MAJOR problems going on in the city, because they just can't and don't care about handling it. Now what does that say about SPD? You think if 20 houses in a neighborhood were robbed in Heathrow that they'd all get inactive status letters? Hell, no!!!! These SPD cops see this activity every day and are just desensitized to it! And the other poster is right, too, about vigilantes: Now it's ME who has something waiting for the first dude who tries to break into my house and get my family. SPD is WORTHLESS!!!!!! There was a robbery in progress here a few years ago and someone called saying to them "they're cleaning out the house right now, if you would just COME!" It took almost an hour for the SPD to get here! For God's sake, if you can't do your job in time, don't pretend you WILL.. JUST SEND OVER THE SEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF TO THE JOB IF YOU CAN'T!

sgt wrote:

Thank you MOBT! Most of the people that have posted negative comments would not last 2 seconds as a Sanford Police Officer. I have been shot at, in many fights and have had my car rocked and hit with bottles during my tour of duty.......

[Al Coholic]

I lived 1n Sanford for the last 5 years. Most of the Sanford police I met were polite and helpful. There was one officer who apparently has a reputation for pestering people on the street. He treaspassed me from my job, and the arrested me twice for trespass while I was at work. Both were thrown out. I have a clean driving record and no criminal history. I did have a full beard though. He said "you may beat the charge, but you won`t beat the ride [to jail]" I did quit drinking and cigarettes a year after that so maybe it helped me. Im sure they will get better as they grow. Too many people are complaining for things to remain the same.

[Sgt]

Wow Jackie B, I am sorry that you feel that way. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office is all over Sanford and yes you can contact them if you want (It’s the same communications center) but I doubt the response time or level of service will be any better. I hope that in the future we can rise to the level of your satisfaction and make the community safer for all.

[ToddG]

I have been robbed four times in four weeks now. The third time the dispatcher laughed that it had happend so much. SPD while doing a great job at keeping the violent crime down really could care less about theft. By the way I have lived on Myrtle for twelve years know and have NEVER seen the alley behind my house patrolled.

[DanielViger72]

I am going to be moving to the city of sanford within the year and have bought a nice property on olive ave. I tell the officers now that I am going to be writing everyone and anyone who will listen about these posts and the many other very negative issues written about the sanford police department. Apparently you have HUGE issues that need to be looked into.

[Cop Haters]

DanielViger72 wrote:

I am going to be moving to the city of sanford within the year and have bought a nice property on olive ave. I tell the officers now that I am going to be writing everyone and anyone who will listen about these posts and the many other very negative issues written about the sanford police department. Apparently you have HUGE issues that need to be looked into.

Maybe you need to move there and see for yourself before you start blabbing what you are going to be doing. You say you bought property where and its nice. I hope you looked around the neighborhood. Dont be threating things you have no clue about. Makes for really bad karma.

[danielviger72]

I did look around, granted it was daylight hours. You should be more informed and look around website after website .. stream after stream of complaints about this police department. Seriously look!!! then come back with a dignified comment. It is scary as hell to see so many, many people saying the same thing. I could understand if there was an occasional blurb here or there but it is all over the internet. I have already called the florida congressman for the sanford area and have gotten a response to an inquiry about this issue. He did agree that there needs to be more of an indepth view department wide on what needs to be done and further training etc.. for this police department. I also found out there was also morale issues within the department that are making many officers not do anymore than what may be expected of them.

[jxxzz]

Sanford pd did not follow up on a man that could not produce car ins recently even after two phone calls to pd. Its the law and you should not have to keep calling the pd dept to have them do this.

[sanford citizen]

I had a problem about a year ago where a man was banging on the door and window and screaming to get in. I had no idea who he was and called 911 crying and asking them to hurry as I ran out the back door. They didn’t show up until 30 minutes later! I was really upset and by then husband had gotten home. The cop sauntered up and asked "well where is this guy"? He didn’t ask "where is the female who called” or "can I see the female who called to ensure she is okay"? He just looked around said "looks like he is gone" to my husband and then left. I could have been tied up in the house or murdered in the back! After a long letter to the Chief, I got a "sorry but they had put you down as a non-urgent call". A non-urgent call even though I was crying and asked them to hurry! Someone just broke into my car and they sent out this community service officer who just looked at it and said there was nothing he could do. Crime flourishes in Sanford because the criminals know that the police department will do nothing! I used to live in Lake Mary and they were always helpful and if a crime was committed they would patrol that area for the next month to deter any criminals from coming back. They will even do a free routine check on your house if you go out of town.

[ToddG]

I have now been robbed/broken into 6 times this year alone. This week alone both neighbors and i have been broken into on different nights. How hard is it to patrol a one block radius? Again the Sanford Police Department could care less about petty crime and have left the neighbors to fend for themselves.

[LEO]

Well to those who had bad experiences with SPD I would like to apologize on their behalf and at the same time I can personally tell you that there are some very awesome officers that work here and just like any ocity in america you have those who are less than great at their chosen profession. There are times when the call volume in this city exceeds that of the County and it can be demanding sometimes to meet the needs of the citizens here and then add injury to insult a tired and frustrated officer showing up doesnt help matters. I am by no means saying there is any excuse for poor service but that falls to those select officers and it sucks that it has to reflect the whole Dept who is represented poorly in these situations that are listed. I would also have to say that the many times officers go above and beyond is hardly ever mentioned and that is somewhat unfair to only mention the bad and not the good. There is two sides to a coin and I know for a fact that Sanford is not the ONLY city that has some slacker officers. I can only recommend that you put the pressure where it counts and thats starts with the head just like anything else in life. Hopefully any encounters with SPD in the future will be better.