Sheriff's Gains Upended By Judicial System

SEBRING - Some of the suspects in the recent string of "fishing" car break-ins at Sun 'N Lake of Sebring are the same people who were involved in a series of home burglaries there five months ago.

But, said Michael Durham, the attorney for the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, while the sheriff's put these guys "away," the judicial system didn't keep them locked up.

Durham answered a few questions at Monday morning's meeting of the Highlands County Homeowners Association, where Sheriff Susan Benton was the keynote speaker.

During a question-and-answer session, Benton referred a question about the recent arrests that broke up the "fishing" car break-in ring at Sun 'N Lake to Capt. Paul Blackman.

Blackman credited the department's K-9 units and the new GPS systems in each patrol car as the keys to catching several suspects, who in turn quickly turned in their compatriots in crime.

Durham said some of the suspects in the car break-ins were involved in the series of home burglaries in September at Sun 'N Lake. The sheriff's office did its job in taking them off the streets, he said, but they were not kept off the streets.

Benton, who talked mostly about upgrading technology so that deputies can wage a more effective war against crime, returned recently from a two-week anti-crime school conducted by the FBI at the Quantico, Va., Marine Corps base.

At that base, which houses the helicopters and crews that transport the president from the White House to Air Force One, Benton said she remembers one particularly memorable lesson.

"Predictable Is Preventable" is one crime-fighting rule, as well as a good rule for any corporation or organization, that was stressed by an FBI instructor, Benton said.

In addition to on-board computers and GPS systems in every deputy's patrol car, each patrol car will soon carry on-board video cameras. Those cameras, Benton said, will help prove or disprove the guilt or innocence of some criminal suspects, as well as allegations against officers.

One deputy's car is equipped with the camera now, and all patrol cruisers should be by Feb. 26, Benton said.

Benton said one of her top goals was reached recently when Lt. John Chess, two detectives and two crime victim advocates from the sheriff's office moved into a joint operation with child-abuse and elder-abuse social workers from the state Department of Children and Families.

The two biggest groups of victims, and the two most vulnerable groups of crime victims, are children and old people, Benton said.

"We are the only county to combine (deputies and DCF investigators) to prosecute elder abuse along with child abuse," Benton said.

About new technology, Benton said GPS helps deputies approach, close in and surround crime scenes or criminals. Each deputy, she explained, can look at his or her on-board GPS and tell where every other deputy sheriff, EMS squad and fire truck is located.

"I can open a computer at my desk," Benton said, "and see where every single patrol car is in Highlands County at that moment, in real time."

Blackman said one sheriff's cruiser equipped with all of the new technology will be on display this week at the Highlands County Fair. Adults and children are welcome to sit in the car and see how the latest in high-tech, crime-fighting equipment works, he said.