Winter Park Police Department

QUICKER RESPONSE IN AN EMERGENCY

The Winter Park Police Department is offering a new Lock Box Program to any city resident age 65 or older or any disabled persons that lives alone and/or has major documented medical issues. The Lock Box Program is designed to provide police, fire and emergency medical services (EMS) quick access to your residence in the event of an emergency or in your time of need.

Sometimes, depending on the type of crisis, it is difficult or impossible for a person to open the door to responding emergency personnel. Similar to a realtor’s lock box, a key to your residence would be stored in a metal storage device, in an undisclosed location, for emergency personnel to access and gain quick entry to your home. The access code to the lock box will only be available to authorized police, fire or EMS personnel and only used during an emergency. Upon use, the access code can be changed prior to being secured and left in place for the next event.

This program would be free to any eligible Winter Park resident meeting the program guidelines. Those residents who do not meet the guidelines for a free lock box may purchase one at cost and may also participate in this worthwhile program. If you are interested in learning more about the city’s new Lock Box Program, please contact Officer Jim Whitman at 407-599-3311 or click here.

Winter Park Police Department
Launches Intensive Crackdown on Impaired Driving

The problem of impaired-driving is a serious one. While America witnessed a decline in the number of impaired-driving fatalities from 2007-2008, the numbers are still too high. That’s why the Winter Park Police Department today announced it will join other law enforcement agencies throughout the country in support of an intensive crackdown on impaired driving this August 20–September 6, known by its tagline, Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.

In 2008 alone, nearly 12,000 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit, according to the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The age group with the highest percentage of alcohol impaired drivers in fatal crashes is young people age 21-24.

Approximately 10,000 police agencies will participate in this year’s mid-August through Labor Day crackdown, including law enforcement officers representing every State, the District of Columbia and many U.S. cities and towns.

As part of the Labor Day crackdown, and as an on-going effort to save lives, members of the Winter Park Police Department will be aggressively looking for all impaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone they find driving while impaired — regardless of age, vehicle type, or time of day. “Our goal is to save lives. When we find you driving impaired, we will arrest you.” said Officer Anthony Fairbanks.

Edwards was last seen leaving her home on 05/24/2010 at 2200 hours. Anyone with any information regarding Edwards' possible whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Jeff Harris at 407-599-3393.

Download Lost Wallet Inventory/Emergency Contact Form

In a continuing effort to provide the best service to the residents of the City of Winter Park, the Winter Park Police Department is now making available a Lost Wallet Inventory/Emergency Contact form (Click Here to download the form). The purpose of this form is to provide a “back-up” source of information to those persons who lose or have their wallet stolen. The form is designed to contain all of the pertinent information needed to contact credit card companies, the Social Security Administration, and Credit Bureaus in the event someone loses their wallet. As you know, time is of the essence in alerting the credit card companies and credit bureaus when combating identity theft. Additionally, there is a designated space for trip itineraries as well contacts at the various destinations on the itinerary. This information could be left with a family member who can act as a point of contact for the owner of the wallet.

The state of Florida and the City of Winter Park consider red light runners a dangerous problem and are taking steps to curb this activity. At the end of 2005, 3,432 family members and friends died in traffic accidents in Florida, unfortunately setting a new record. Traffic deaths have steadily increased in this state throughout the past years according to the Florida Highway Patrol and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Factors including the rising number of drivers and an increase in aggressive driving are to blame. As an incentive to stop red light runners, Winter Park officers will be actively enforcing the law throughout the city. The fine for running a red light anywhere in Orange County is $229.00. Hopefully we can make a difference together by voluntary compliance on your part and enforcement of those who choose not to comply with the law.

MY MED-ID INFORMATION POUCHES ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE WINTER PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Winter Park Police department has recently begun distributing “my Med-ID” information pouches to City residents who are advanced in age or who have chronic medical conditions.

The purpose of these forms is to provide a quick and easily accessible method for First Responders to access important medical information upon their arrival to a scene. This is specifically focused on the elderly population as it was designed and developed by the Seminole County Senior Triad with the cooperation of the Seminole County Emergency Medical Services and Dr. Todd Husty.

My Med-ID consists of an informational card that a person fills out that contains pertinent medical information including Blood type, Insurance information and known medical conditions as well as emergency contact information and administrative information regarding the existence of a Living Will, Do Not Resuscitate orders and a Primary Doctors name and current medication. This card is then placed in the supplied brightly colored magnetic pouch and placed promiscuously in the home.

Additional information cards are available on the department’s Web Site (click here for additional forms), thus allowing the user or their designee to print out the card as often as required as the information changes. If the user does not have access to a computer, additional “blank” information cards will be distributed from the Lobby of the police department.

Because people advanced in age often have reduced coordination and motor skills which often makes it difficult to fill out information in the small spaces, the information card was designed to be “elder friendly” by providing easy to read and large space for the entering of information.

The information card was designed to ensure that as much pertinent information is available to assist the First Responders while “on scene”. Also, the “my MED-ID” form is a one-sided form thus affording the user to add any additional information on the opposite side that they would deem important for a First Responder to know. The information card for “my MED-ID” is a standard size of 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches which means that it is easily reproduced and copied thereby allowing duplicate forms to also be carried in a wallet or purse and the glove box of an automobile.

If you or any resident you know are interested obtaining one of these useful information pouches they are available for pick up in the Police Department's lobby. If you have any other questions, please contact the Community Policing Unit at (407) 599-3311.

The Enhanced 911 System (E911) is a support technology for cellular and mobile phone users who dial 911, requesting help in an emergency. Since cellular users are often mobile, some sort of enhancement was needed to 911 service that would allow for the location of the caller to be known to the public safety answering point (PSAP), i.e.. the Emergency Communications Center. This program was mandated by the FCC so that emergency services could be able to determine the location of the cellular caller if the caller is unable to speak or if the call is suddenly disconnected.

E911 was implemented in two phases. Phase I (which began in 1996) required that when a cellular customer made a 911 call, the PSAP would get the telephone number calling and the location of the cell tower receiving the call, within a mile. While this was a step in the right direction, it still made it difficult to find the location of the caller in an emergency situation. Phase II of the program requires that more precise information about the caller's location, within 150 - 1000 feet in most cases, be provided. This phase of the program began in late 2001 and was to be in place by the end of 2005.

The City of Winter Park's Emergency Communications Section is has been fully compliant with the Phase II requirements since 2004.

If you have any questions regarding your current cellular phone and it's compatibility with the Phase II system, please contact your cellular service provider.

Project ChildSafe is a nationwide firearm safety program developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation that receives major funding through a United States Department of Justice grant. The Winter Park Police Department is participating in this program by making available free gun locks to residents. We would like to encourage residents to securely store their firearm in order to prevent a tragedy. These are available on a first come, first served basis. To obtain a free gun lock just stop by the Winter Park Police Department located at 500 N. Virginia Av.