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Six of 16 convenience stores sold alcohol to underage teenagers in St. Lucie County Sheriff’s undercover operation, Sheriff Mascara announces

The night of Feb. 15, six of 16 convenience stores checked by the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office sold alcohol to underage teenagers, according to Sheriff Ken J. Mascara.

“That’s more than one-third of the stores our undercover operation visited, and that’s too many stores illegally selling alcohol to people under 21,” Sheriff Mascara said. “This confirms information I’ve been receiving in phone calls from concerned parents, that underage children are able to buy alcohol in stores in St. Lucie County. We don’t want young people drinking and driving, and we don’t want them violating the law.”

Sheriff’s School Resource Deputies conducted the undercover operation. Sheriff's Office cadets acted as teenagers older than 18. State law prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages to those under 21.

Cadets are Indian River Community College students who attend school in the morning and work at the Sheriff's Office in the afternoon. When the cadets graduate from the police academy and community college, they become candidates for permanent sworn positions at the Sheriff's Office.

“We planned to visit stores throughout St. Lucie County Thursday night, but we didn’t get south of Midway Road due to the number of violations we found,” Sheriff Mascara said. Violators at the convenience stores were charged with the misdemeanor of illegal sale of alcohol to those under 21 and given notices to appear in court to face the charge.

The School Resource Deputy unit conducts undercover operations throughout the year to check stores’ compliance with laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to those younger than 21.

“Our only goal is compliance and not making large numbers of arrests,” Sheriff Mascara said. “Unfortunately, some store proprietors require an incentive stronger than words.”

Sheriff Mascara to Serve on Advisory Committee to The National Task Force on Community Preparedness and Response

At the request of Governor James Gilmore of Virginia, Chairman of the Congressional Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass-Destruction, Sheriff Ken. J. Mascara will serve on the Advisory Committee to the National Task Force on Community Preparedness and Response. In a recent letter to Sheriff Mascara, Governor Gilmore wrote, “You have been invited to participate because you are a key leader in your community, and the Task Force needs your experience and advice.” Sheriff Mascara attended the formation meeting of the Advisory Committee, which was held in Washington, D.C. on November 16, 2005. The focus was on community preparedness and response to acts of terror and incidents of mass casualty and destruction. “I look forward to serving on this Advisory Committee and will work diligently with other members in preparing a planned approach to community preparedness and response,” Sheriff Mascara said.

Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Universal Hiring Grant

With cooperation from the Board of County Commission, the St Lucie County Sheriff’s Office will soon begin expanding the agency’s sworn staff by ten full-time positions thanks to a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The Universal Hiring Program grant will be distributed over a three year period and cover up to 50 percent of the entry-level salary and benefits of each newly hired additional position. A 50 percent local match was required. In making these grant awards, the COPS Office gave priority consideration to applications that demonstrated a commitment to terrorism preparedness or response through community policing.

Sheriff’s Office Participates in Exchange Club Fundraiser

St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office members and volunteers, in addition to representatives from several other St. Lucie County agencies and businesses, participated in the Exchange Club’s 24th Annual Chili Cook-off on October 14 and 15. The Chili Cook-Off was held at the county fairgrounds on Midway Road. The event is a fundraiser for the Exchange Club CASTLE. The mission of the agency is to improve the quality of family life and prevent child abuse and neglect by providing community education, support and resources for parents in need of assistance In addition to the chili contests, various activities were held at the event. These included pony rides, a Mr. and Miss Chili Pepper pageant for adults and children, music, skits, etc. Several fundraising initiatives by Sheriff’s Office members and volunteers, including candy sales, selling raffle tickets for donated prizes, and the sale of drinks, sno-cones, baked goods, chili, sausage and hot dogs at the event, raised $6,046.00. The total raised by all Chili Cook-Off participants was $179,000.00.

Hurricane Katrina Relief

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office collected money and relief supplies for sheriff’s office members of Marion County, Mississippi and St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana who were victims of Hurricane Katrina in early September. The outpouring of support from members of the Sheriff’s Office, local residents, and the business community was tremendous. The public was asked to donate money, prepaid telephone cards, non-perishable food, dry drink mixes, personal care items, cleaning supplies, flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, paper goods, empty fuel cans, generators, etc. Sheriff’s Office members drove to the hurricane ravaged areas to transport the much needed supplies. The use of a truck was donated. “I want to offer my thanks to members of the community for helping out,” said Sheriff Mascara.

COPS Secure Our Schools Grant

On September 9, 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announced that the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the St. Lucie County School District, the St. Lucie County Fire District, the Fort Pierce Police Department, the Port St. Lucie Police Department, and the St. Lucie County Emergency Services Division, has been awarded $149,000 to improve security at schools and on school grounds. The grant provides 50 percent of the total cost for improvements in security and related equipment. The above-mentioned agencies are contributing to the required cash match. The funds will be used for the purchase of bi-directional amplifiers, a school security video improvement project, video enhancement software, and remote school camera security access. “Creating the safest schools possible is a priority shared by the law enforcement community, educators, and the public,” said COPS Director Carl R. Peed. “Today’s grants will enable local law enforcement agencies and school districts to implement much needed safety enhancements. We are pleased to assist with local school safety initiatives.”

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Justice Assistance Grant (State)

In response to an anticipated increase in workload as a result of The Jessica Lunsford Act, which enhances penalties for sexual crimes against children, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office applied and received a state Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $57,486.00 from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The Justice Assistance Grant will fund a full-time offender registration technician for sexual offender and sexual predator tracking and case management. The primary duty of the offender registration technician will be to register sexual offenders and sexual predators with the Sheriff’s Office.

United States Department of Justice Gang Resistance Education and Training Program Grant

In a letter dated September 13, 2005 from the Office of the Assistant Attorney General, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office was informed that the Office of Justice Programs approved a grant application for Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) funding in the amount of $44,558. The grant will pay for two G.R.E.A.T. certified deputies to attend the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) National Youth Gang Symposium. A laptop projector will be purchased that will assist deputies with in-class instruction and presentations. Program promotional supplies will also be funded by this award. These will be distributed to students, in addition to their parents and teachers.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Byrne Formula Grant Program

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office has been the recipient of a Byrne Formula Grant in the amount of $28,823. This award will be utilized to replace one Fingerprint Live Scan workstation. Persons arrested will be fingerprinted on the Fingerprint Live Scan system, and the data will then be submitted electronically to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for inclusion in the state’s computerized criminal history file. The Fingerprint Live Scan system enables the Sheriff’s Office to positively identify the subject arrested, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will be able to maintain complete and accurate criminal history data for arrests that occur in St. Lucie County.

U.S. Department of Justice Justice Assistance Grant (Federal)

St. Lucie County has been designated as the lead applicant and administrator for a new 2005 Justice Assistance Grant program. This program blends the previous Byrne Formula and Local Law Enforcement Block Grant programs to provide agencies with the flexibility to prioritize and utilize justice funds where they are most needed. A joint application award allocated to St. Lucie County in the amount of $124,600.00 is to be divided equally between the Fort Pierce Police Department and the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office will use its share of the funding for assisting in the purchase of an AFIS Fingerprint system under the allowable program area of planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs



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