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Mutual aid pact prepares Sheriffsto cope with future emergencies

Florida's Sheriffs are better prepared than everbefore to cope with natural disasters, riots, massevacuations, terrorist acts and other seriousemergencies as the result of an OperationalAssistance Mutual Aid Agreement they all signedduring 1986.

Implemented under Florida's Mutual Aid Act, thelandmark agreement establishes in advance theterms and conditions under which deputy sheriffs inone Florida county can give backup assistance todeputies in another county.

It gives the backup deputies the same police powers,rights and privileges they would have in their homecounty, and it provides guidelines for various detailssuch as expenses and use of equipment.

All Sheriffs are expected to benefit from the agree-ment —especially those in small, rural counties whocan avoid delays and "red tape" when they need theservices of bomb disposal squads, underwater recov-ery teams, K-9 units and other types of specializedassistance from larger counties.

"I think it's great, " said Jefferson County SheriffKen Fortune. "A small county like Jeffersonfrequently needs backup help, and just about all of thecounties in north Florida are in that position. "

Preparation and signing of the agreement wascoordinated by the Mutual Aid Bureau in the FloridaDepartment of Law Enforcement. Assistance wasprovided by the Florida Sheriffs Association.

Vests become mandatoryVERO BEACH —Wearing bulletproof vests becamemandatory for deputies at the Indian River CountySheriff s Department after Deputy Richard Raczkoskiwas shot four times in the back and became the firstlaw enforcement officer from this county to be killed inthe line of duty.

Prior to Raczkoski's murder (which was followed ina few days by the slaying of Palm Bay Police OfficerSteven Pollack in neighboring Brevard County)wearing bulletproof vests was optional for IndianRiver County deputies.

News sources quoted Indian River County SheriffTim Dobeck as saying that a bulletproof vest couldhave saved Raczkoski's life.

Watchdog committeeTALLAHASSEE —Leon County Sheriff EddieBoone has appointed the following Sheriffs to the 1987Legislative Committee of the Florida SheriffsAssociation. He is the chairman.

Gerry Coleman, Pinellas County; Bob Fornes,Osceola County; Larry Gilbert, Okaloosa; L.J. "Lu"

Hindery, Alachua; Director Bobby Jones, Metro-DadePolice Department; Fred Peel, Washington; JohnPolk, Seminole; and Tom Tramel, Columbia.

Florida sleuths f'raternizingTAMPA —The Florida Homicide IntelligenceAssociation, an organization formed to exchangeinformation among homicide investigators, held itsfirst meeting here September 18, 1986, withHillsborough County Sheriff Walter C. Heinrich ashost, and agreed to hold the next meeting in January,1987.

Sixty-five officers representing 30 agenciesattended the initial meeting and agreed to divide thestate into four areas for the purpose of selectingdirectors and disseminating information.

Organizers said members of the new Associationwill have opportunities to assist each other in solvingsome of the state's most difficult homicides, to shareinformation about the latest tools and techniques, andto exchange information about suspects, contacts andtrends.

Investigators interested in participating maycontact the Major Crimes Section of the HillsboroughCounty Sheriff's Department, (813) 247-6411,extension 2405.

Conference dates setTALLAHASSEE —Dates and locations have beenannounced for the 1987 conferences of the FloridaSheriffs Association.

The Mid-Winter Conference will be held February15-18, at the Plantation Inn and Golf Resort, CrystalRiver, with Association President Charles S. Dean,Sheriff of Citrus County, as host.

The 74th Annual Conference will be held July 12-15,at the Registry Resort, Naples, with Collier CountySheriff Aubrey Rogers as host.

Volume 30, No. 7, December 1986-January 1987Publisher, Berwin Williams, Executive Director, Florida Sheriffs Association

Editor, Carl Stauffer Art Director, Frank Jones Production Assistant, Karol F.Allen

The Sheriff's Star is published monthly during February, May, June and September,

and bi-monthly during December and January, March and April, July and August,

October and November, by the Florida Sheriffs Association, a non-profit corporation,

P.O. Box 1487, Tallahassee, Florida, 32302 (street address, 2617 Mahan Drive). The

subscription rate is $5 per year and the publication number is USPS 493-980. Second

class postage paid at Quincy, Florida and at additional mailing offices. Copyright

1986 by Florida Sheriffs Association. ISSN 0488.6186

Many tributes followed the death ofthe Sheriff they called "Long John"OKEECHOBEE —After Okeechobee Countyrecovered from the initial shock of Sheriff John W.Collier's sudden death on November 10, a benedictionof tributes fell like benevolent rain upon the memoryof a man described as a tradition and an institution.

At the Sheriffs Department, employees wearingblack bands on their badges in a traditional gesture ofmourning placed their signatures on a resolutionpraising "a man who touched all our lives. "

The resolution with its 87 signatures declared thatthe Sheriffs associates would be sustained by theirown personal and private memories, and theDepartment as a whole would remember the departedas a man who commanded instant respect ... "a manwho could make you smile or quake in your boots ... aman totally dedicated to his profession ... a man whowas always compassionate and concerned about thewelfare of his employees, the inmates incarcerated inhis jail, and the citizens of Okeechobee County. "

Often referred to in news items as "Long John"because of his towering six feet and six inches, theSheriff was inevitably described by mourners as aman who "walked tall. "

One friend who had difficulty believing the Sheriffwas really gone said Collier looked "tall and strongenough to handle the whole world. "

Others recalled the risks he had taken due to hisconcept of a Sheriff's responsibility. Rehashed

frequently was the 1981inci-dent in which he traded pla-ces with a convenience storeclerk held hostage by anarmed mental patient. Thestandoff lasted more thantwo hours, according tonews reports, and ended Sheriff Collierwhen a psychiatrist grab- Okeechobee County

bed the armed man's rifle. "I was nervous, " Colliersaid afterward, "but I figured she (the clerk) wasn' telected Sheriff and I was. It was my job."

In the long run, Collier will probably be rememberedthe longest for the political comeback he made in 1980,after losing his bid for reelection four years earlier. Toprove that his comeback was no fluke, he ran again in1984, and won again.

Born in DeLand in 1924, Collier served in the Navyduring World War II, and became a Florida HighwayPatrol trooper after returning to civilian life in 1946.He served as a deputy sheriff in Volusia and GladesCounties, then as Chief Deputy in OkeechobeeCounty, before he was elected Sheriff of OkeechobeeCounty in 1964. He was reelected in 1968, 1972, 1980and 1984.

"Ialways found him to be dedicated to his job and tohis department, " State Attorney Bruce Colton wasquoted as saying.

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Neighborly push for drunk driving campaignBROOKSVILLE —When Hernando County mothers met here todeclare war on drunken drivers, officers from the MothersAgainst Drunk Driving (MADD) chapter in neighboring PascoCounty not only offered helpful tips, but also gave HernandoCounty Sheriff Tom Mylander funds for video equipment torecord the behavior of suspected drunken drivers. Pasco ChapterTreasurer Karen Payne passed the bucks. Also participating inthe presentation were Capt. Ernie Stevens (left) and Cpl. ChuckMc Grady.

Rauler sonappointed

O.L. Raulerson, Jr., was appointed Sheriff of Okee-chobee County by Governor Bob Graham onDecember 5 to complete the unexpired term of the lateJohn Collier, which will end early in January, 1989.

A native of Okeechobee County, Raulerson has anextensive law enforcement background whichincludes service as a Florida Highway Patrol officer;as a deputy sheriff, chief deputy and Sheriff in High-lands County, Florida; and as a special agent with theFlorida Department of Law Enforcement.

While he was the Sheriff of Highlands County, heserved on the Board of Directors of the SheriffsAssociation.

DECEMBER 1986 —JANUARY 1987

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PUNTA GORDA —Timothy Ls Valle, accompanied by his wife,Elaine, and their daughter Sara, received a Distinguished Ser-vice Award from Charlotte County Sheriff Glen E. Sapp (right)after La Valle repeatedly dove into a canal to rescue a drowningvictim trapped in a submerged vehicle.

ceca. Major Taylor Douglas, theDepartment's second in com-mand, was given the club's high-est award when he wasintroduced as "The Young Manof the Year." Deputies PhillipAltice and A.P. Bailey sharedthe Outstanding Young LawEnforcement Officer Award fortheir exemplary work on theCrime Abatement Team, andwith the K-9 unit. Douglas hassince been graduated from theFBI National Academy.

Ivan "Bud" FantDillard Hamilton

BARTOW —Inmates Ivan"Bud" Fant and Dillard Hamil-ton were rewarded with earlyrelease from the Polk CountyStockade after they wadedthrough spilled aviation fuel torescue two Polk County SheriffsDepartment pilots from thewreckage of a helicopter thathad crashed. Pilot Al Merrillwas treated at a hospital emer-

gency room and released. PilotDerrell Brown was admitted tothe hospital for observation ofpossible back injuries.

St. Lucis County Sheriff Jim Holt (left) presents two commen-dations to Robert F. Conn. (See article this page)

Robert F. ConnSTUART —Plucky civilianRobert F.Conn received commen-dations from Martin County She- Joe Bradshawriff Jim Holt and the Florida WESTPALM BEACH —HailedNational Bank at Salerno after as a hero after he risked his lifehe helped deputy sheriffs capture to save an 86-year-old womanthree bank robbery suspects. (See from a burning residence, Palmphoto accompanying this arti- Beach County Deputy Sheriffcle.} Conn was credited with Joe Bradshaw tried to soft pedaldodging bullets while using his the praise. "There isn't a deputytruck to block the robbers' geta- in the department who wouldn' tway car, thus giving deputies have done the same thing under

time to arrive at the scene and the same circumstances, " saidmake a speedy arrest. Five min- he.utes elapsed from the time the Dale Wisebank robbery attemPt was TAI,I,AHASSEE —Capt. Dalereported to the Sheriffs Depart- Wise, who has headed the spe-ment and the threesuspects were cial tactical squad in the Leonplaced under arrest. County Sheriff s Department forRobert C. "Bobby" Knowles the past five years, has been

Kevin Bergenroth selected as the leader of the newMickey Mann Anti-Terrorist Squad funded by

FORT PIERCE —St. Lucie the Florida Legislature as anCounty Sheriff Robert C. arm of the Florida Department"Bobby" Knowles teamed with a of Law Enforcement.member of his staff, Cpl. Kevin Taylor DouglasBergenroth, to win the Senior Phillip AlticeMasters Golf Championship A.P. Baileyduring the International Law PALATKA —Three deputiesEnforcement Olympics, at Ohio from the putnam County She-State University. Maj. Mickey riff's Department receivedMann, another staff member, awards praising their profes-captured a gold medal in high- sionalism from the palatka Jay-powered rifle competition.

THE SHERIFF'S STAR

PUNTA GORDA —Charlotte CountySheriff Glen E. Sapp (left) expresses hisappreciation to Raymond H. Woodrow,Owner-President of Charlotte MemorialGardens and Funeral Home, after Wood-row paid all funeral expenses and pro-vided a burial plot for a 20-month-oldchild who was fatally injured in a childabuse case.

Barbara McClureFORT PIERCE —RegisteredNurse Barbara McClurereceived a Distinguished ServiceAward from the St. LucieCounty Sheriff's Departmentafter she helped to rescue anelderly woman from drowning.A 1974 award from the PilotClub praised her for assisting inthe swampland rescue of a boywho had been shot.

Bill WilliamsMaria Kaip

KEY WEST —Dentist Bill Willi-ams and his assistant, MariaKaip, were given commendationawards by Monroe County She-riff William Freeman after theyhelped to subdue a county jailprisoner who tried to escapefrom an escorting deputy afterbeing treated at the dentist' soffice.

Geoff MongeSARASOTA —The Big Broth-ers and Big Sisters organiza-tions held a "Mingle withMonge" reception and a barber-shop quartet concert when theyhonored Sarasota County She-riff Geoff Monge with their"Hero of the Year Award. "

Bridge

SARASOTA —Sarasota County Sheriff Geoff Monge (left) pres-ents awards to civilian Robert Bridge and Deputy Sheriff FrankAlessio. (See article in this section)

Alessio

Robert BridgeFrank Alessio

SARASOTA —When SarasotaCounty Sheriff Geoff Mongeswitched roles from award-winner to award-giver, he pre-sented a Certificate of Appre-ciation to civilian Robert Bridgefor assisting in the arrest of aburglar; and a Certificate ofMerit to Deputy Sheriff FrankAlessio for helping to rescue awoman and child from the surfafter they had been caught in astrong undertow.

LARGO —Pinellas County Sheriff GerryColeman (left), assisted by Cpl. TomDewing (right), presented a Gold Certifi-cate of Appreciation to Lt. Jim Bupp,from the Sheriff's Explorer Post, afterBupp provided tips that led to the arrestof two suspected thieves and recovery ofa stolen computer system. Cpl. Dewingis the Explorer Post Advisor.

INVERNESS —Four central Florida Sheriffs presented a Florida Sheriffs Associationaward to State Senator Karen Thurman in recognition of the support she gave toimportant law enforcement issues during the 1966session of the Florida Legislature.The Sheriffs are, from left, Charles S. Dean, Citrus County; Don Moreland, MarionCounty; Tom Mylander, Hernando County; and Jim Gillum, Pasco County.

DECEMBER 1986 —JANUARY 1987

Facing the Gallows—Thousands of morbidly curious spect

Florida hangings and created a carninded

sphere

The day of the execution was characterized by asomewhat carnival atmosphere. Many morbidlycurious onlookers gathered at available vantagepoints to see. The hanging of Bennie Henson, a whiteman convicted of killing his wife, was witnessed by alarge crowd in Tampa. Further, "every house top andtree around the jail was filled with people. All aroundthe wall which surrounds the jail yard, people werepacked tight on the top." The execution of theconvicted rapist Roland Flowers was witnessed byabout 1200 people and Tampa authorities were quotedas wishing that even more had attended.

More than 4,000 people saw the execution of JeffLowe in a rare Pensacola hanging. The execution ofKelly Stewart in Live Oak, publicized as the firstSuwannee County hanging in twelve years, waswitnessed by a crowd of 2,000. Derry Taft's execution(see Part I of this series) was also attended by morethan 2,000 onlookers.

The huge crowd attending the Fourth of Julyexecution of Joe Brown in Miami, was described inthese words by a Miami Herald reporter:

"... the crowd, morbidly curious ... gathered at everyavailable point to witness the tragic end of the Negromurderer, dispersed slowly, and apparently withgreat unwillingness, as though desirous of witnessingfurther bloodshed. "

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Napoleon White's hanging, in Tallahassee, formurdering his wife, was viewed by more than 1500.The double executions of James Kirby and Robert Leein St. Augustine was observed by hundreds of"spectators" in the prison yard, and more than athousand more who were "perched on wagons, fencesand trees outside of the enclosure. "

For other executions, fully an hour before theannounced time for carrying out of the sentencecrowds began to gather. Even in those cases whereauthorities attempted to keep the execution private, aswith Brooks Foley, in Gainesville, by public demandthe execution chamber (situated on the second fioor ofthe jail house) was filled to suffocation "allowing theofficers barely room to work. "

The crowds attending executions were generallyrepresentative of the local population. Blacks as wellas whites could be expected to attend. A majority ofthose present at Taft's execution in Tampa, and

Napoleon White's hanging in Tallahassee wereblacks. Hundreds of people, white and black,witnessed Joe Brown's death in Miami. More whitesthan blacks attended the execution of white convictedrapist Clarence Daly in Miami. Daly was the firstwhite man ever to be hanged in Dade County.

The presence of youngsters on these occasions wasstartling. One Miami execution was "observed from atree" by a little girl no older than seven or eight years.A large contingent of those present at a Pensacolahanging were children who lined "house tops andfences ... to get a glimpse of the doomed man. "Likewise, it was not uncommon to have large numbersof women in attendance. A St. Augustine columnist

THE SHERIFF'S STAR

wrote of one execution at which "a number of ladiessecured vantage points on the jail steps, and seemedas much interested in the proceedings as were themen. "

A Florida Times-Union representative at the hang-ing of Ernest Bryant in Jacksonville, described a typi-cal crowd with these words: "There were whites andblacks, young and old, eager to get a glimpse of thecondemned man. " Add to this the fact that manywomen were evident at these public gatherings, andyou have a more complete representation of themorbidly curious.

While many executions were carried out before largecrowds, Florida law allowed the Sheriff the discretionof regulating those in attendance. The law requiredonly that the Sheriff, the State Attorney, clerk orclerks of the circuit court, and "twelve reputablecitizens, including a physician or surgeon" be present.In addition, the law stated that the Sheriff "shallpermit the counsel of the criminal, such ministers ofthe gospel as the criminal desires, and his relations tobe present, and also such officers of the prison,deputies and constables, military guards and otherassistants, as he sees fit."

The official authorities' attitudes toward how publican execution should be varied regionally within thestate, and in a particular region it may have variedover time. The executions in Hillsborough Countywere usually witnessed by large crowds. As late as1914 a crowd between 1200 and 2,000 saw a Tampahanging. Crowds at St. Augustine were large untilabout the latter part of 1909 when they became muchsmaller. A hanging there on July 2, 1909 waswitnessed by only about 40-50. A triple execution in St.Augustine on May 31, 1912 was observed by arelatively small group described as "a jail yard onlyhalf-full with few outside. "

Jacksonville's hangings were carried out within thejail in a location obscuring the uninvited public'sview. Likewise, a fifteen-feet-high fence in DadeCounty surrounded the scaffold and prevented themorbidly curious from witnessing "the gruesomespectacle of human life passing from its tenement ofclay out into the great unknown. "

Offiicals in charge of executions had to confront theadded problem of mobocracy or public demand to seethe executions. For instance, despite an attempt bylocal black ministers to keep Tom Smith's executionas private as possible, from 1500 to 2000 peopleremained in the streets in hopes of witnessing hisbeing put to death in Gainesville. Many of thesehopefuls came from surrounding counties. Toaggravate matters, several from the crowd attemptedto "get particles of the rope as souvernirs. "

Carrying out the official act of state vengeance wasoften anti-climactic. The tension of several weeks ofwaiting and the suspense was brought to an end in aritual march to the gallows, a final statement, and the

subsequent drop through a trap door into oblivionthat, in most instances, took ten to twenty minutes.

Newspaper accounts indicate that most men facedtheir last minutes of life with fortitude: "He was sullento the end", "they both met death bravely"; "threeNegroes expiated crime on the gallows ... met deathbravely though White gave evidence of collapse whilemaking statement. " Dock Mack, Walter Ledbetter,and Otis Smith were all described as "Brave to thelast, " while Ernest Bryant met "death unflinchinglyon the gallows. "

This is not to conclude that condemned men wereemotionally drained and gentle as lambs by executiontime. Prior to facing the gallows, inmates werenormally placed in some type of restraints whilelodged in their cells. At a minimum, prior to the deathmarch the convict's hands were tied behind his back.

There was, however, at least one exception to thisprodecure, the case of Clarence Daly, who "fought offthe deputies with a 'soda' bottle" and was allowed togo to the scaffold and be hanged with armsunrestrained. Daly showed his anxiety by fighting offthe authorities. Others such as Bennie Henson,Edward Brown, James Kirby, Robert Lee and SimJackson, sang audibly.

In some instances the condemned men were able tostir the crowd's emotion to a revivalistic pitch. Prior toa double execution in St. Johns County, a churchlikeatmosphere prevailed. One of the two men to behanged "for a time led in prayer, begging God to keephim brave, and sang hymns in which all presentjoined. " Another convict, upon approaching thegallows, "shuddered, drew back, and falling to hisknees, prayed loudly for mercy. "

Once on the gallows, and the appointed time havingarrived, the condemned felon was placed on the trapdoor with his legs secured just below the knees and atthe ankles, and his arms tied behind his back. Next,the death warrant was read aloud to the witnesses andthe prisoner. He was than asked if he wished to make afinal statement. Some made final statements whileothers refused. In most cases final words were limitedto a few short phrases taking a minute or two. On oneoccasion, however, the convict made a forty-fiveminute talk in which he warned black men againstraping a white woman. "It is", he said, "the whiteman's death sentence. If it had been one of my owncolor I might have got off with life imprisonment ...Teach your children that this crime is sure death. "

Others did not take the occasion as seriously. EnochDoyle, sentenced to die for the rape of a black Alachuacounty woman and wanted in Marion County, Floridaand in the State of Georgia on similar charges,"grinned foolishly and rather liked the notoriety" inspite of trembling knees. When asked for last words hesaid, laughing:"I'm in de hands er God, but de only thing I got to sayis dat if I'de knowd dat I was comin to lose my life in

DECEMBER 1986 —JANUARY 1987

Facing the Gallows continued ...Florida I'der gone fur from dis State. "

His statement completed, Doyle then "looked at thecrowd in expectancy of approval and laughed again. "Some inmates in lieu of a final statement askedinstead for a last drink of alcohol or one more smoke oftobacco. Others, unable at the time to speak forthemselves, gestured to their religious counselors tomake final remarks in their behalf.

It was only natural that men facing extinctionwould be nervous to some degree. Some handled thisby drinking. One Tampa inmate drank literallydozens of bottles of wine the day before his executionand "whiskey in route to the gallows. " Another con-vict at Key West drank Cuban wine and smokedCuban cigars while waiting his appointment withdeath.

Yet another condemned man at Tampa was sooverwhelmed by it all that his legs became immobileand a chair had to be obtained. The newpapers did notindicate whether he was tied to the chair in his jail cell

and then carried to the scaffold, or if the chair wasbrought to the scaffold for him to sit in. Nevertheless,the inmate was seated in the chair, and it was on thetrap door when the trap door was sprung.

In another instance, the convict passed out aboutone-half hour before the time for execution and couldnot be revived. In the words of one reporter he was"limp and apparently unconscious" when he was"carried to the scaffold ... and legally executed. "Newspaper accounts of many executions were notavailable. However, those obtainable indicate thatviolent behavior did not normally occur on thescaffold. This is not to rule out that such behavior mayhave occurred on occasion. At this writing, however,no such displays have been documented in Florida.Perhaps future research and writing may lead toreassessment of this matter.

Dr. Wali R. Khari f, a Tallahassee resident and a grad-uate of Florida State University, is currentlyemployed as an Environmental Specialist with theFlorida Department of Agriculture and ConsumerServices.

Passing of Presidents .....~ gives old timers cause to pauseand retrace 50 years of progress

After two former Presidents of the Florida SheriffsAssociation died within 24 hours of each other, oldtimers had cause to pause and meditate upon thespectacular progress the Association has made duringthe past 50 years.

This was particularly so because Rex Sweat, whodied October 16, 1986, in Jacksonville, and JimTurner, who died October 17, in Chiefiand, had bothplayed important roles in the march towardmodernization.

Sweat, who was 91 at the time of his death, becameSheriff of Duval County in 1933 during an era whenthe Sheriffs Association was a loose alliance of indi-vidualists, each dedicated to his own brand of laissezfaire law enforcement.

He held the office for 24 years, and became a rolemodel of professionalization by requiring his deputiesto wear uniforms; sponsoring Florida's first schoolboypatrol, establishing the first radio communicationsysIem for patrol cars, sending members of his staff tothe FBI National Academy, and pioneering in the useof polygraph (lie detector) equipment.

"His most important contribution, " said DaleCarson, the present Sheriff of Jacksonville (DuvalCounty), "was that he never let organized crime get afoothold in Duval County as it did in much of the state

During a 1984 party celebrating the 89th birthday of former Duval

County Sheriff Rex Sweat (left), the guest of honor received aFlorida Sheriffs Association belt buckle from Jacksonville SheriffDale Carson.

THE SHERIFF'S STAR

~IE

*

The late Jim Turner, former Sheriff of Levy County, persuadedsinger Elvis Presley and his manager, Col. Tom Parker, to donatethis rustic building to the Florida Sheriffs Boys Ranch in 1961.Itwas built as a prop for an Elvis Presley movie filmed in LevyCounty, and is presently being used as the headquarters of theBoys Ranch Alumni Association.

during the turbulent 1930s, '40s and '50s."During that era, Sheriffs and other law enforcement

practitioners demonstrated their admiration byelecting Sweat President of the Florida SheriffsAssociation, the Florida Peace Officers Associationand the National Sheriffs Association.

After Sweat's death, a news writer pointed out thatthe former Sheriff had been a staunch supporter of thedeath penalty, and had "pulled the lever thatelectrocuted nine people" in Florida's electric chairduring a time when Sheriffs were required to beexecutioners.

"The law clearly made it my duty, "Sweat said in a1979 interview. "It was an unpleasant task, but therewas no trace of doubt in my mind that these nine menwere guilty. "

Jim Turner, who was 78 when he died, benefitedfrom Sweat's progressiveness, as did many ofTurner's contemporaries in law enforcement. Themodern advances the Duval County lawman hadinitiated were fairly commonplace around the state bythe time the Levy County native was sworn-in.

However, Turner's contribution to the progress ofthe Sheriffs Association was equally innovative inanother direction. He was one of the founders of theFlorida Sheriffs Boys Ranch, a unique home fortroubled and unsupervised youngsters that broughtthe compassionate side of Sheriffs into public view in1957.

One year later, while singer Elvis Presley and his

manager, Col. Tom Parker, were in Levy County forthe filming of a movie, Turner sang the praises of theBoys Ranch so loudly that the singer and his mentorwere persuaded to go to the Ranch bearing gifts. Theseincluded a pair of miniature shetland ponies hitchedto a small covered wagon; and a pioneer-type dwellingthat had been used as a movie prop.

The ponies and covered wagon appeared in paradesto publicize the Boys Ranch, and the dwelling is still inuse on the Boys Ranch campus as the headquarters ofthe Boys Ranch Alumni Association.

Turner, who served as President of the SheriffsAssociation in 1961 and continued to give highpriority to the needs of needy youngsters throughouthis career, lived to see the Sheriffs Association-sponsored Boys Ranch evolve into a state-widenetwork of child-care programs that are currentlyoperated by the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Inc.

Similarly, Sweat was an interested observer whilethe Sheriffs Association evolved into a thoroughlyprofessional organization dedicated to improving allareas of the criminal justice system.

A native of Waverly, Ga. , Sweat was a World War Iveteran and a motorcycle-riding Duval County RoadPatrol officer before he became Sheriff.

Turner was a lifelong resident of Levy County. Heattended Emory University and the University ofFlorida before serving in the Florida House ofRepresentatives from 1942 to 1944. His tenure asSheriff of Levy County covered 1944 and 1945, andlater, 1956 to 1964. He also served as Chief of LawEnforcement for the Florida Board of Conservation;and as a supervisor in the Florida BeverageDepartment.

tlI

Editorial Assistant exits smilingTALLAHASSEE —During a "hail and farewell" party for CarolJens, a member of the Sheriff's Star staff, Executive DirectorBerwin Williams enrolled her as a Lifetime Honorary Member ofthe Florida Sheriffs Association. Mrs. Jens resigned from themagazine staff to pursue some personal enrichment goals.

DECEMBER 1986 —JANUARY 1987

Florida Sheriffs Youth RanchesHonor Roll

Roster ofLifetime Honorary Members

Home towns eliminated

To protect our Lifetime Honorary Membersfrom receiving unwanted solicitations and junkmail, we have discontinued printing their hometowns when we print their names.

We decided this was necessary after we learnedthat certain organizations of questionable legiti-macy were adding our Lifetimers to their mailinglists. Obtaining a complete mailing address wasrelatively easy for them as long as they had theLifetimers' home towns. Without the home towns,it will be extremely difficult.

We have never permitted other organizations touse our membership lists, and we will continue todo everything possible to protect the privacy ofourmembers.

On these pages we give special recognition to gen-erous supporters of the Florida Sheriffs YouthRanches who have qualified for Lifetime Honor-ary Memberships in the Florida Sheriffs Associa-tion by giving $1,000 or more to the YouthRanches. Each Lifetime Honorary Memberreceives a plaque, a lifetime identification cardand a lifetime subscription to The Sheriff's Star.Under a new regulation which became effective in1984, those whose gifts total over $5,000 willreceive additional gold stars on their plaques-one for $5,000, two for $10,000, and so on, up to amaximum of five stars for gifts totaling over$25,000.

PresentationsWe regret that photos of Lifetime HonoraryMembers are not always available when theirnames appear on the membership roster. Conse-quently, we often hand it necessary to print thenames in one issue of The Sheriff's Star and thephotos in a subsequent issue.

Mr. & Mrs. F. ElginBaylesa, Jr.

Mr. 8r, Mrs. John H.E.Blue, Sr.

Antonio G. Briguglio, Jr.Ken BrownDr. Cliff ChadwickMr. & Mrs. Jimmy V.

ChilluraCountryside Kiwanis

ClubMr. & Mrs. F.R. CourseyJames M. CrappsDennis's TV and ElectricFloyd FrogelMr. & Mrs. Ralph S.

GordonLouis HallMr. & Mrs. George Hill, Jr.Carl Hille

James R. HodgesMrs. Lillian B. HooksHumane Society of

Vero BeachTom N. HumphressWarren Hunnicutt, Jr.Dr. & Mrs. Ellis HymanMa. Kay L. Jackson

Jasper Hardware andSupply Company, Inc.

Mrs. Dorothy W. JohnsonLambs Yacht CenterBen A. LeasureDr. George LewisMr. & Mrs. Sydney J.

LyderMs. Alice G. MaughnMrs. H.T. McClainMr. &, Mrs. William A.

McDanielMrs. Marian L.

McKennonThomas MillerMrs. Erna G. ParkerPick Kwik Food

Stores, Inc.Pier 17 MarinaMrs. Helen PrzyborowskiRidge Pallets, Inc.Chase RotureauJack ScheidellSeptember Farms II, Inc.Shenandoah StablesSouthside Saddle ClubHoward Sutton

APALACHICOLA —Presented by Franklin County SheriffJack Taylor, Jr. (right) and Youth Ranches President Harry K.Weaver to Ann Heffernan.

Suwannee Valley ElectricCo-op, Inc.

Wilson C. SwigartCol. & Mrs. William C.

TunisRobert A. Wells

Mrs. Wilma C. WestLouis N. Whilden, Jr.Mrs. Patricia Wilson

THE SHERIFF'S STAR

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. ;,.:.s,']INVERNESS —Presented by CitrusCounty Sheriff Charles S. Dean (left)and Youth Ranches Public RelationsDirector Jim Mason to Helen Fredrick.

DADE CITY —Presented by PascoCounty Sheriff Jim Gillum (left) to LoyalOrder of Moose Lodge ¹397,represented by Governor Donald Hall.

SEMINOLE —Presented by YouthRanches Regional Director Fred "Mao"Stones (left) to Don Hibbits,representing Radio Station WKRL.

Francisco WoodsonBARTOW —Presented by Youth Ranches Regional DirectorBill Biebuyck to Randy Francisco (right) representing Winn-Dixie Store ¹641; and Luis Woodson (left), representingSoutheast Bank of Bartow,

DanielsFORT MYERSCounty Sheriffand his staff toand Dr. Robert

Dr. Eid,9

Presented by LeeFrank Wanicka (right)William D. Daniels, Jr.,Eid.

ChiliurasSutton ~~i

TAMPA —Presented by Hillsborough County Sheriff WalterC. Heinrich (right) to Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy V. Chillura andHoward Sutton.

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1,IVE OAK —Presented by Youth Ranches President HarryK, Weaver (right) and Youth Ranches Regional DirectorPat Monogue (left) to James Crapps, representing BarnettBank of Live Oak (formerly the First National Bank of LiveOak. )

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WEST PALM BEACH —In addition to receiving aLifetime Honorary Membership, the ScuderiaVeloce Sports Car Club, represented by PresidentJohn Porter, was also awarded an appreciationplaque by Palm Beach County Sheriff Richard P.Wills (nght).

DECEMBER 1986 —JANUARY 1987

Youth Ranches Honor Roll continued ...

jL

'r„'i4Roxanne Stephenaon and SheriffGlen Dyals.

LAKE BUTLER and CROSS CITY —The Stephenson family, owners of apparel factoriesin Lake Butler and Cross City, has received four lifetime memberships in recognition ofmany years of support given to the Youth Ranches. These photos show family members atthe Lake Butler plant with Union County Sheriff Jerry Whitehead; and RoxanneStephenson, manager of the Cross City plant with Dixie County Sheriff Glen Dyals. Thegroup picture includes (from left) Norman Stephenson, Joann Douglass, . SheriffWhitehead, Joe Stephenson, and Elida (Mrs. Norman) Stephenson.

SARASOTA —Presented to Mrs.Marion McKennon.

An invitation to enlistThrough television public service announcements

the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)has been urging civilians to get involved in Florida'swar on illegal drugs by becoming alert andknowledgeable spotters.

The announcements urge citizens to call the FDLEhotline (1-800-342-7768) or their local Sheriff sDepartment when they see suspicious activity orclues.

FDLE Commissioner Robert Dempsey offered thefollowing tips for spotting evidence of drugtrafficking:

AIRPLANES

1. Passenger seats removed; or long-range/portablefuel tanks installed.2. Altered registration numbers or covered windows.3. Low-flying aircraft, especially if dropping bundles.4. Aircraft flying at night without lights.5. Aircraft parked in remote fields, or evidence oflandings in unimproved areas (mud, grass stains,etc.).6. Aircraft parked near, or transferring cargo to, vans,trucks, motor homes, etc.7. Numerous boxes or plastic/burlap bags in aircraft.

8. Pilot or crew unusually evasive or reluctant to leaveaircraft.9. Unusually large cash payments for fuel services oraircraft purchases.10. Aircraft activities at unusual times and places.

BOATS

1.Vessel registration or name appearing altered, im-

proper or false.2. Vessels specifically designed, but not equipped for,fishing.3. Cabins/windows covered or closed to outside view.4. Shrimp boats operating with no ice or with unusednets.5. Vessels lying offshore at unusual locations or times.6. Vessels traveling outside normal navigationalroutes, or without night lights.7. Vessels transferring cargo at sea.8. Vessels with "out of the ordinary" electronic/radargear or scanners.9. Crew members unfamiliar with vessel or actingevasive.10. Unusually large cash expenditures for repairs,fuel, etc.11.Activities in normally remote inland water areas.

12 THE SHERIFF'S STAR

Lifetime memberships now~ available in two categoriesTraditionally, Lifetime Honorary Memberships

in the Florida Sheriffs Association have beenawarded to generous donors who have contributed$1,000 or more to the child care programs sponsoredby the Sheriffs Association and operated by theFlorida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, Inc.

However, some prospective lifetime membershave expressed a desire to make contributions thatwould be used not only for child care programs, butalso for Florida Sheriffs Association programsdesigned to advance and professionalize lawenforcement.

In deference to these donors who seek to broadenthe focus of their benevolence, the Sheriffs Associa-tion has amended its regulations. And, as a result, itis now possible to exercise a choice between twocategories of lifetime memberships:

a*Category FSYR lifetime memberships will beissued in response to donations made for the exclu-sive benefit of child care work.

"Category FSA lifetime memberships will beissued in response to gifts earmarked for child careand law enforcement enhancement.

In either category, the prospective lifetimemember will receive credit for past contributions.Those who want to donate to the Sheriffs Associa-tion (Category FSA) will be credited with dues theyhave paid in the past as honorary members of theAssociation, and will be required to donate only the

difference between that total and $1,000.Similarly, those who want to channel their gener-

osity exclusively to the Youth Ranches (CategoryFSYR) will be given credit for the cumulative totalof past donations they have made to this charitableentity.

Anyone interested in becoming a lifetime honor-ary member in either category can determine theamount due by writing to the appropriate agency:

For Category FSA the address is:

Florida Sheriffs AssociationP.O. Box 1487Tallahassee, FL 32302

For Category FSYR the address is:

Florida Sheriffs Youth RanchesBoys Ranch, FL 32060

Lifetime Honorary Members in either category willreceive:

A membership plaque (each category will have adistinctive design)

A permanent wallet identification card

A lifetime subscription to The Sheriff's Star andThe Rancher

A lifetime auto tagA lifetime bumper sticker

Pasco's "pot attack" is number oneDADE CITY —Pasco County Sheriff Jim Gillum andten deputies from his "anti-pot patrol" receivedcitations from the Florida Department of LawEnforcement (FDLE) for conducting the mosteffective marijuana eradication program in Florida.

Gillum said his eradication unit confiscated 1,532marijuana plants and made 36 arrests during the1985-86 season.

"The effectiveness of our program is evidenced bythe fact that we are spotting less and less marijuanaeach year, " Gillum said. "The illegal growers knowwe' re always out there looking, and many have eithergiven up or moved elsewhere. "

The deputies who received FDLE citations includedSgt. Lewis Lord, who is in charge of the eradicationunit, Bryan Gardner, Ronald Woods, John DeHope,Donald Deso, Roger Mills, Detectives Kevin Clark andStephen Madden, and pilots Mike Rock and RayEvans.

Sheriff's mechenlc Is "Mr. Goodrun"TAMPA —For raising the most money during the 1966 FloridaTorch Run, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department FleetMaintenance Mechanic Efrain Cruz (center) received a plaquefrom Florida Department of Law Enforcement CommissionerRobert Dempsey, and applause from his boss, Sheriff Walter C.Heinrich. In the annual Torch Run, law enforcement officerstravel 1,400 miles to raise funds for Florida's Special Olympics.

DECEMBER 1986 —JANUARY 1987 13

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