11/23/1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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BOOK 91 PAGE 58-1 drug dealers. He supported the Sheriff's request and asked the Commissioners to consider it a request for the entire County. He realized that Indian River County is a beautiful place, but these three areas could cause a bad reflection on the whole county. Freddie Woolfork, 3425 49th Street, agreed with the comments made by Bill Koolage. The problems of uneducated 'youth, joblessness, single parent homes and teenage mothers result in kids selling drugs and other crime. Sheriff Wheeler is using a bandage which is not large enough to cover the wound, but it will slow up the bleeding. Mr. Woolfork confirmed Mr. Hart's contention that the problem is not only in Gifford, Oslo and Wabasso but throughout the County, and this is a worthwhile project to begin to eliminate some of the problems. Reverend Henry Holmes, from the Indian River Ministerial Alliance, spoke in support of Sheriff Wheeler's request because the Sheriff is building a bridge between the community and the police. The Sheriff works with the School Board and the community. The three individuals in the COPE program are doing a wonderful job and present role models for young black men. It is more cost effective to take young men who are breaking into homes and steer them in the right direction than to pay $19,000 a year to incarcerate a criminal. The Chairman determined that no one else from the audience wished to be heard. Commissioner Macht realized that this is a wonderful program but questioned where the money would come from. Discussion ensued regarding the amounts needed in each year of the program, and the balances in the General Fund and MSTU contingency funds. Commissioner Adams preferred to see the COPE program work with existing personnel. She suggested taking someone from road patrol who also could respond to emergency situations when necessary. She pointed out that the greater expense for the first year is due to equipment and vehicles. Sheriff Wheeler pointed out that the school resource officers and COPE personnel are funded by the Sheriff's budget. The Sheriff's first duty is to patrol the community, and every time a deputy is needed elsewhere, that deputy is taken from road patrol. They have recently been given the responsibility of investigating criminal activity with juveniles and have had an increase from one to three officers for that duty. He pointed out that they have added road patrols to the South Beach area which did not exist 22