AVON PARK — "It's not like they have been collecting dust," Avon Park Police Cmdr. Mike Rowan said, but the department's four bicycles haven't seen much use outside of special events and odd assignments. They've been sitting inside the station since the last Christmas parade. The last time they were used for catching crooks was several months ago while Rowan and three other officers were looking for a cat burglar. ...more

June 2, 2008

AVON PARK — "It's not like they have been collecting dust," Avon Park Police Cmdr. Mike Rowan said, but the department's four bicycles haven't seen much use outside of special events and odd assignments. They've been sitting inside the station since the last Christmas parade. The last time they were used for catching crooks was several months ago while Rowan and three other officers were looking for a cat burglar. And for a regular patrol? Then-chief Tony Velong used to ride around town back in the early '90s, and the city had one officer patrolling from his bike 10 years ago. ...more

June 1, 2008

AVON PARK — If you have any concern or question about the new Avon Park Police Chief or the department, Matthew Doughney and his family will be at the police station Saturday to "just extend a hand of friendship," he said. The meet-and-greet with the City of Charm's top police officer will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the station, located at 304 W. Pleasant St. City Manager Sarah Adelt added that anybody can show up and ask him or his family anything they want, and there will be coffee and doughnuts for those that show up. ...more

May 22, 2008

AVON PARK — A dozen Avon Park police officers crowded the council chambers, ready to protest a possible decision to stop them from taking their police cruisers home. They didn't need to do anything but wear their white Southwest Florida Police Benevolent Association shirts Monday evening, as the council postponed a vote on the policy for another month. ...more

May 13, 2008

AVON PARK — Former Daytona Beach Police Capt. Matthew Doughney's new beat as Avon Park's top police officer begins today after he is sworn in as the new police chief. The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. inside Avon Park's City Council Chambers. City Manager Sarah Adelt said that Doughney will earn $68,000 a year to take over the department. Adelt, his boss, earns $69,775 annually. ...more

May 11, 2008

TAMPA - An attempted murder suspect's cell phone calls allowed Avon Park police to track him to Tampa on Wednesday, Avon Park's interim police chief said today. ...more

February 14, 2008

SEBRING — A countywide underage alcohol sale sting operation conducted this weekend showed that of 38 businesses checked, 26 did not sell alcohol to minors, said Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton in a press release Tuesday. An underage operative was used to enter the businesses and try to buy alcohol. Most didn't take the bait. "We congratulate these companies and their staffs for helping us work toward the vision of a 'Safer Highlands County' supporting our youth by reducing the availability of alcohol," she added. Investigators have submitted affidavits to the state attorney's office on charges of sale of alcohol to underage persons on the 12 employees who reportedly sold to the minors. Each could potentially face a second-degree misdemeanor charge. The mission of the Highlands County Community Coalition Against Substance Abuse, is to organize, inform, educate, and unite our community in its efforts to reduce substance abuse, Benton wrote. ...more

February 8, 2008

SEBRING — A Sebring man remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $80,000 bail Wednesday, charged by Sebring police with armed robbery of a Circle K store and pistol whipping the clerk. ...more

February 7, 2008

AVON PARK — The police chief search committee has thinned out its field of applicants, leaving 14 candidates out of the 61 who sent their resumes to then-city manager C.B. Shirey to seek Avon Park's top police job. Highlands Today confirmed that the field includes at least four applicants from Highlands County and at least two from the Fort Meade area. City officials provided a list of the 14 candidates with titles for the last positions they held, but more details on the candidates were not released. Interim City Manager Sarah Adelt said the committee originally trimmed the field to 15 candidates, but one of them removed himself from consideration after he was hired elsewhere. Eight of the 14 candidates last held high-ranking positions in local police departments, with three of them being current or former police chiefs. Adelt said that all 14 entries on the "short list" have law enforcement experience. Adelt said she's hoping the committee will narrow it to "no more than five candidates, hopefully three" within the next two weeks. ...more

February 5, 2008

SEBRING — Two Sebring men remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $10,000 each, charged with burglary, grand theft and felony criminal mischief in connection with a burglary at the Habitat For Humanity store. ...more

February 4, 2008