Winter Park Police Department

The Police Department has applied for $37,624.00 in grant funding through the Federal Recovery Act, more specifically the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Formula Program. The application for funding was completed and is being submitted this evening. This funding will be used to purchase three mobile data terminals and to enhance the Police Department’s computer security by adding biometric fingerprint readers to all desktop computers and mobile data terminals. The funding period of this grant extends from the time of anticipated award through February 28th, 2013, with purchase and implementation of the items immediately following receipt of the award.

Notice of this funding application has been placed on the Police Department’s web page as required notice to all citizens including neighborhood and community organizations. One stipulation of the grant is that all citizens have an opportunity to comment on the funding, so this topic has been placed on the City Commission agenda for the meeting scheduled July 13th, 2009.

Any citizen wishing to make public comment regarding this grant must be present at the City Commission Meeting scheduled for Monday, July 13th @ 3:30 PM.

City Manager Randy B. Knight has announced his selection of Captain Brett C. Railey as the city’s new police chief. Captain Railey, who has served the Winter Park Police Department (WPPD) for over 27 years, will replace retiring Chief Doug Ball on Friday, May 1, 2009, pending confirmation by the City Commission. Railey has been promoted through the ranks of the WPPD beginning as an officer in 1981. He was then promoted to watch commander in 1996, lieutenant in 2000 and captain in 2005.

According to City Manager Knight, “I am confident that Captain Railey will continue the tradition of excellence for which the Winter Park Police Department is known. His extensive experience in law enforcement will enable him to lead the department in protecting both the citizens and visitors of Winter Park.”

Captain Railey’s career has provided him with experience in operational, investigative and administrative assignments. He also has substantial experience in human resources both as a recruiter and background investigator. Captain Railey has sat on the Valencia Community College Criminal Justice Curriculum Advisory Board for more than 19 years and has been trained by The Mediation Group as a mediator in dispute resolution.

The WPPD received the Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation in June 2000 which put them in elite company from around the state, and the department has maintained its accredited status since 2000. Captain Railey successfully guided the department to its initial accredited status and was designated an assessor for the accreditation process by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA). He was awarded the highest honor by the CFA when he received the 2003 Sheriff Neil J. Perry Service Award.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the citizens of Winter Park as Chief of an agency at which I have dedicated almost 28 years of my life. I look forward to working with the City Manager to keep our residents safe.” expressed Railey.

As a graduate of National-Louis University (Orlando), he holds a Bachelor of Arts and has successfully completed the Command Officers Development Course at the University of Louisville Southern Police Institute (Kentucky). Captain Railey has a wife, three children, one son-in-law and one grandson.

This is an important message from the Winter Park Police Department. Recently we have experienced an increase in suspicious solicitors in your neighborhood.

Yesterday in the area of Reading Way and Forrest Rd a Hispanic male knocked on the resident's door requesting to spray for pests inside the home. The victim let the suspect in and it appears he intentionally sprayed the victim's hand with a substance. He then stated to the victim that it was poison and the victim needed to wash her hands immediately. The suspect assisted the victim with removing her rings and then fled the residence with the victim's jewelry.

Please contact the Police Department via-911 if you suspect anyone knocking at your door to not be from a legitimate business or if you see any suspicious activity in your neighborhood. Under no circumstances should you allow a stranger into your home unsolicited.

The Winter Park police department has recently received news of several scams being perpetrated in and adjacent to our city. The underlying theme of the scams involves someone (we’ve had reports of both male and female “posers”) going door to door in an effort to convince you to give them money. Most recently, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office has advised of a white male who has approached several homes just outside the Winter Park City limits and informed residents that he either has “just run out of gas” or was “involved in a traffic crash”. Either way, he offers to write a check in exchange for cash to “pay the tow truck driver” or “pay for gas”. He usually only wants a small denomination to put the “victim” at ease. Unfortunately, you guessed it; the check turns out to be a bad or bogus check.

We are also receiving reports of the door to door solicitors wishing to sell magazine subscriptions. The new “twist” this year is the “salesperson” claims to live in the area and is apprehensive to solicit. But his or her parents have encouraged them to go to “some of the neighbors” to try to build their self esteem. Again, this appears to be bogus as on one occasion when the “salesperson” was questioned as to where in the neighborhood they lived, they gave a vague answer. The resident then stated that they were going to contact the Police Department and the “salesperson” ran away.

We would like to remind you that the City of Winter Park requires any solicitors to have ascertained a permit from the City prior to going door to door. Furthermore, they are required to display their city issued permit to anyone who asks to see. Also, it is against City ordinance to solicit at private residences after 6:00 PM and prior to 9:00 AM. If you have a question about anyone seen soliciting or have an uneasy feeling about anyone who “shows up” on your doorstep, please do not hesitate to call the Winter Park Police Department at (407)644-1313.

Renter Beware, Leasing Scam!

This scam involves houses for lease in the Winter Park area. The suspect gets information on the residence in question and then places the information on Craigslist or other similar posting websites and offers to lease the house using the owners information. If interested, the person must contact the suspect through a Yahoo, Hot Mail or similar account which requires submission of personal information. The suspect states that he is somewhere within the Africa Region and needs to lease the house via email because he is unable to return to the United States. What makes the deal so good is the low amount of money being requested as well as the residence's location.

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 $180.50. 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.