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APRIL 22, 2015
Will body cameras become new standard? By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office rolled out the use of body cameras as standard equipment for its deputies beginning in February. The Tampa Police Department has adopted a pilot program, using 80 cameras in three police districts. The leaders of both police agencies spoke about the use of body cameras at the debut of the Criminal Justice Speaker Showcase on April 16 at Saint Leo University. Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco and Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor addressed roughly two dozen faculty, students and media about the expanding use of body cameras. Pasco’s deputies and investigators put on a body camera at the beginning of each shift. Nocco made the decision to use the cameras after seeking opinions from other law enforcement agencies that were using the technology even before the tragic events in Ferguson, Missouri. “One thing that was consistent when they were asked the question ‘Would you ever go back?’They all said no,” Nocco said. The Ferguson, Missouri incident involved a white police officer who shot and killed a 17-year-old black teenager. The incident sparked riots in Ferguson and a national protest regarding charges of
COURTESY OF SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY
Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco and Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor spoke recently at Saint Leo University about the use of body cameras.
excessive police force and racism. An investigation cleared the officer in Ferguson of any wrongdoing. The use of body cameras will have a significant impact on policing, Nocco said. “It’s going to change the way we do law enforcement,” Nocco said. “It’s an evidencebased business model.”
Police departments already using the cameras have reported fewer confrontations and reduced complaints from residents. Nocco also said he expects the court system will benefit, because more suspects will plead out cases rather than go to trial. See CAMERAS, page9A
Young golfer hits links, brings home hardware
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mmurillo@lakerlutznews.com In an emergency, the doctor should be the fi rst person you see in the ER, not the last. That’s why we’ve designed our new Doc1stERSM to make sure you’re seen by a Board Certified emergency specialist before you see anyone else. Not only have we built a brand new ER, we’ve created an entirely new way of delivering emergency care.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOWARD KLEINATLAND
Kailey Kleinatland took up golf when she was 7. Two years later, she has a shelf full of trophies and is a member of the USA Junior Team program.
Kailey Kleinatland is 9 years old, and she already loves golf. Besides practicing and playing, she loves what comes afterward. “The fun part is you get trophies,” she said. Not everyone wins trophies when they hit the links, but not everyone has Kleinatland’s skills. In just two years, the Lutz resident has won tournaments at places like Westchase Golf Club, Carrollwood Country Club, Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club, Belleair Country Club and Crescent Oaks Country Club. And her prospects are looking even better since she has been accepted into the USA Junior Team program. While golf is a challenging — and potentially lucrative — sport, it’s also quite expensive. After getting off to a great start with her first coach, Bill Monical, it became clear that Kleinatland would benefit from high-level training that can cost hundreds of dollars per session. Because her family isn’t wealthy, making the junior team was the only way she’d be able to get that training. When she qualified, her father, Howard Kleinatland, saw it as a sign that their faith See GOLFER, page9A
Efforts are on again for Ridge Road extension By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
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Pasco County is trying again to obtain a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build an 8-mile extension of Ridge Road. The project is a high priority for the county to provide an additional evacuation route during hurricanes or other emergencies. Consultants with Washington D.C.-based Dawson & Associates briefed the Pasco Commission on April 14 on its analysis of road designs requested by the Corps of Engineers, including the county’s initial proposal and 17 alternatives. The federal agency rejected a prior application based on insufficient data. County officials expressed frustration over the agency’s lack of information regarding its requirements prior to sending in its application. “We would do what you want, if you’d just tell us what you want,” said Georgianne Ratliff, an urban planning consultant serving as project manager on the Ridge Road extension.
The rejected application eliminated without analysis 10 alternatives that the county considered not practical to build largely due to cost. Corps officials said detailed analysis of all options had to be provided. “They wanted a full analysis, and we have done that,” said David Barrows, senior counselor with Dawson & Associates. At issue are about 58 acres of the 6,000acre Serenova Preserve, set aside years ago to mitigate the loss of wetlands during construction of the parkway. County officials must come up with an option that will do the least damage to the environment. Efforts to secure the permit have been ongoing for nearly 15 years. Critics of the extension have said the project will open up the area to more development. The county has determined that four of the 17 alternatives are practical options. Costs range from about $77 million to nearly $102 million. The most expensive road project would be four lanes and would be partially elevated. Barrows said that alternative would be the least damaging to the environment. It would impact about 23 acres of wet-
lands and 86 acres of upland habitat. For several years the county’s budget has included about $42 million for the first phase of the project. Currently the road dead-ends at Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey. The extension would link to U.S. 41 with a connection to the Suncoast Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. The Corps of Engineers must issue a permit based on regulations within the Clean Water Act. Before the matter is all settled, other agencies also will weigh in. Among them are Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Environmental Protection Agency The next step in the process is awaiting a response from the Corps of Engineers to know if additional information will be required, Barrows said. He hopes a meeting will be scheduled within two months. While a final decision is still months away, Barrows said there is a better understanding of what has to be done. “I congratulate you on securing the goal posts,” said Commissioner Jack Mariano. “I’m very impressed.”