Coastal Breeze News

The holiday season is about more than packages and pretty bows. It’s a time to cherish what we have and help those in need. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office and its community partners embodied this spirit to help a struggling East Naples family have a happy holiday. The CCSO learned of a woman who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and is the single mother of five children ranging in age from 6 to 18. Her greatest wish is for her children to have a merry Christmas. Through the diligence of East Naples deputies and the generous contributions of ... Read More »

More than 40 deserving Everglades area children purchased presents for their family members during the eighth annual “Shop With A Cop” event Saturday, Dec. 1. Susan Gentry, a Collier County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention specialist, organized the event, sponsored by the Collier County Police Activity League (PAL). Forty-four children received $100 each to select items for their parents, siblings and a gift for themselves. Around three dozen CCSO members, along with their family members, went shopping with the kids to help them pick out and purchase the items. The shopping spree began early in the morning when the CCSO members ... Read More »

A 1-year-old golden retriever named Fosse marked the successful end to his training in the Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s service dog program Thursday night at a ceremony where he was presented to the family of child who was paralyzed in a car crash. But Fosse will have to wait a few more days before he can leave the Collier County jail, where he has been training with female inmates since June, and settle into his permanent home in Lee County with 11-year-old Hannah Grant and her family. Hannah was unable to attend Thursday’s emotional ceremony at The Moorings Country Club. ... Read More »

Collier County Sheriff’s Office Identity theft and fraud awareness will be the topic of the next Collier County Sheriff’s Office Minority Affairs meeting. The hourlong ID theft and fraud presentation is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Professional Development Center, 615 Third Ave. S., Naples. The course is free and open to the public. Lt. Chad Parker of CCSO’s Financial Crimes Bureau will teach the course, which will focus on what people can do to minimize becoming a victim of identity theft. With identity theft on the rise, the Sheriff’s Office offers this course to help protect ... Read More »

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Collier County Coalition Against Human Trafficking, held an anti-human trafficking community event in Immokalee recently  at Immokalee Community Park, 321 N. 1st St. More than 450 members of the community attended the fourth annual “A Day Without Slavery” event to learn more about human trafficking and ways to identify victims of human trafficking. Deputies hope the event will open avenues of communication with the community and encourage residents to report suspected trafficking. The event featured free food and refreshments and music from La Ley 92.1 FM. Activities for children were provided ... Read More »

Heroism and positive decision-making were recognized during the first “Do The Right Thing” awards ceremony of the 2012-13 school Monday at the Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office adopted the “Do the Right Thing” program in January of 1988, and has honored hundreds of children for acts that reinforce good behavior, positive acts, and outstanding accomplishments in the community. The following students were recognized for October: Richard Wiegold, 11th grade, Gulf Coast High School (Overall Winner)  While going door-to-door collecting funds for his football team, Richard heard someone yelling for help inside one of the homes ... Read More »

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Project Linus have partnered to offer a permanent location where community members can donate handmade blankets to children in need of comfort. Project Linus, named after the Peanuts comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz, is a national nonprofit volunteer organization that provides comfort and security to seriously ill and traumatized children through handmade blankets. Since its inception in 1995, Project Linus has grown to more than 400 chapters, with more than four million blankets delivered. CCSO Criminal Research Investigator Michelle Gawlinski has been named the chapter coordinator for the Collier County area. The ... Read More »

A few years ago Mike Provost was looking for a way to give back to the community. The 42-year-old computer software specialist had always been intrigued by a career in law enforcement. So when he learned the Collier County Sheriff’s Office had an auxiliary deputy program, he saw it as an opportunity to do both. Provost completed CCSO’s Auxiliary Deputy Training Academy and has been an auxiliary deputy since 2008. “Now I’m able to help my community in a way that not everybody can, and it’s extremely rewarding,” said Provost. CCSO is looking for volunteers interested in training to become ... Read More »

BUZZ FROM THE SWAMP  Patricia Huff  [email protected] Please join us in Everglades City on Saturday, June 30, for a fun-filled day to celebrate our country’s Independence Day. We like to start the festivities early before it gets too hot. There are lots of activities to keep you entertained so bring the whole family. Opening ceremony will begin at 9:30 AM. The theme of this year’s event is “Honoring our Veterans” with prizes for the best floats in the parade which will start at 10:00 AM. Last year, one of the floats was the boat built by Everglades youngsters during the CCSO ... Read More »

That’s why the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and the Naples Police Department are implementing a database aimed at providing emergency dispatchers with immediate access to more information than ever. The Smart911 database allows citizens to create a secure safety profile of vital personal and household information, including medications, medical conditions and even photographs of each member of the household. Information about family pets can also be entered. The safety profile will be displayed to 911 call takers immediately when that citizen places an emergency call. This safety profile provides much richer information than is currently available on incoming calls and ... Read More »

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s popular summer youth program kicks off Friday for the third year in a row. The fun gets under way with Hot Summer Nights from 6 to 9 p.m. at King Richard’s Family Fun Park, 6780 Airport-Pulling Road N., North Naples. Admission to the park is free for everyone. Rides are free for kids and adults can ride at a discounted price. There will be a cost for games and food. Fishing, swimming, boat-building, movies, sports, music and games are just a few of the activities that combine to continue to make Summerfest CCSO’s most ambitious ... Read More »

With temperatures in the 90s, Collier County residents are turning on their air conditioners — and deputies are turning up the heat on unscrupulous air duct cleaning companies. Ads offering a low price on air duct cleaning can seem like a great deal with minimal risk. And while most air duct cleaning companies are legitimate, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office cautions the community to beware of companies that use less-than-reputable tactics. CCSO is investigating complaints involving elderly homeowners who claim they were scammed by companies that specialized in determining the health of a home environment for $49.95. In all of ... Read More »

The next CCSO Second Chance Cell Dog class is preparing to graduate May 31 Read More »

The Shelter for Abused Women & Children welcomes Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk to the nonprofit domestic violence center’s Board of Directors. “Sheriff Rambosk’s commitment to ending domestic violence is exhibited through his work as Sheriff, his support of the Domestic Violence Task Force, his role in National Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities and the like,” explains Executive Director Linda Oberhaus. “Today, he solidifies his commitment to peace in every home, school, business, neighborhood and community by joining The Shelter’s governing body, the Board of Directors.” Rambosk began his local civil service career in 1978 when he was appointed an Officer with the Naples ... Read More »

Monday, May 21, through Sunday, June 3 Deputies will be watching Collier County motorists to make sure everyone is properly buckled up in vehicles when Click It Or Ticket gets under way next week. All vehicles will be a target during the annual nationwide safety belt enforcement campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to increase safety belt use and reduce fatalities on Florida’s roadways. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is $113 in Collier County. During Click It Or Ticket CCSO deputies will be conducting various countywide heightened enforcement details and efforts to draw attention to the ... Read More »

Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies, along with deputies, troopers and police officers from other Southwest Florida law enforcement agencies, will lead a motorcade to escort the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall as it makes its way to Marco Island on Dec. 6. The Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be traveling by truck along a 50-mile stretch through Collier County from around 10:30AM to 11:30AM The mile-long motorcade will be led by CCSO, Marco Island Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, and hundreds of motorcycle riders, mostly veterans, creating a ... Read More »