The Laker-East Pasco-November 4, 2020

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Is this a new era of policing?

By Kevin Weiss

kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

Law enforcement agencies nationwide have come under scrutiny, amid calls for reform to police practices, and redirecting funds toward mental health programming and support. Some area agencies — such as the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and the St. Petersburg Police Department —already incorporate social workers and specialized mental health units, in responding to nonviolent calls for service.

Those two programs were outlined during an Oct. 12 webinar panel discussion called,“The Evolving Movement to Engage and Protect Our Community.” The discussion was hosted by Saint Leo University and FIRST, which stands for Florida’s Forensics Institute for Research Security & Tactics.

A LOOK AT PASCO’S BHIT PROGRAM

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office’s Behavioral Health Intervention Team (BHIT), which began operating last June, seeks to match

people who need services, with the services they need. The unit includes 12 detectives, two sergeants, a captain and a full-time civilian analyst (and two therapy dogs) working in partnership with local hospitals and mental health facilities, to conduct frequent visitations and welfare checks. They help expedite referrals for behavioral health resources and criminal justice diversion programs for the county’s Baker Act repeats and other “high utilizers.” See POLICING, page 11A

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RANDY UNDERHILL

Big decisions on the 2020 ballot Early voting and Vote by Mail results demonstrate the enthusiasm that voters have in the 2020 Election. The results won’t be final before The Laker/Lutz News is published this week, but be sure to check out our full coverage next week. While the race for president is a big motivator for people turning out to the polls, voters also determined the fate of candidates running for congressional, legislative and local races, and the outcome of six proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution. Above, from left: Jennifer Srigley, Kristen Hoffman, and her daughter, 6-year-old Morgan, volunteered for the Democratic Party to greet voters at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, on the afternoon of Oct. 25.

Honor recognizes decades of service, dedication By Mary Rathman mrathman@lakerlutznews.com

Tim Baldwin, the recently retired president and CEO of San Antonio Credit Union, has been singled out by The League of Southeastern Credit Unions for his outstanding service. The League of Southeastern Credit Unions recognized Baldwin’s important contributions to the credit union movement by awarding to him the 2019 Distinguished Service Award. The award is Tim Baldwin conferred on one credit union professional each year who exemplifies lifelong See HONOR, page 11A

B INSIDE, PAGE 1B

Diane Levine, of Tampa, a volunteer for the Republican party, proudly displays a flag in support of President Donald J. Trump, up for a second term. She was at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, at 2902 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa, on Oct. 25.

Poll official Brenda Kurrack directs voters to voting booths inside the Land O' Lakes Recreational Complex, at 3032 Collier Parkway.

Pasco County approves Pasco school tourism marketing study system continues By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

The Pasco County Commission has approved spending $48,000 for an economic impact study related to tourism. During the board’s Oct. 6 meeting, commissioners approved a consulting services agreement with Downs & St. Germain Research Inc. (DSG), to perform the analysis. The company, a market research firm based in Tallahassee, specializes in developing marketing and strategic recommendations from survey results and focus groups through tourism studies such as visitor tracking, potential visitor research, branding research, event research, return on investment research and other methods, according to agenda backup materials. The consulting company has substantial experience in Florida tourism market research. Commissioners previously approved an agreement with the market research company, known as DSG, on Jan. 23, 2018, to conduct the county’s first Visitor Profile and Economic Impact Study of Tourism. Since then, the research company has partnered with several events organizations, tourism attractions, venues, and short-term

rental accommodations to run face-to-face, phone and online surveys to Pasco County visitors.As a result of these interviews, DSG has been able to profile visitors coming to our destination and quantify the economic impact that the tourism industry brings to Pasco County, according to the agenda item. The market research company has provided visitor profile and economic impact studies, and the reports have provided insight on the demographics and geography of Florida’s Sports Coast visitors, activities while in the destination, trip planning behaviors, satisfaction with the destination, spending behaviors, the importance of vacation attributes, and the best approach for attracting new visitors, agenda materials say. The information has been used by the county’s Destination Management Organization (DMO) to develop marketing strategies and establish a blueprint for a marketing plan to increase visitation, visitor satisfaction, and marketing effectiveness. The county’s DMO considers the tourism research work to be in the best interest of the Pasco tourism industry to keep annual track of our visitors and the economic impact that this industry is generating to the See TOURISM, page 11A

to improve safety

By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

Efforts to improve the safety and security of Pasco County Schools continues, as the district works to reduce potential threats on school campuses. The district recently submitted a plan to the state’s Office of Safe Schools, outlining steps it is pursuing to make its campuses safer. That submission came after a briefing on the efforts, presented to the Pasco County School Board, on Oct. 20. Michael Baumaister, the district’s chief of security and emergency operations, gave the briefing, after a closed-door session between the school board, district staff and representatives from local law enforcement agencies. That session was private because of the need for confidentiality, relating to security issues. The safety upgrades that have been done, are in the works, or are planned, are in response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas See SAFETY, page 11A


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