Fire destroys home in Ocoee

they will live. The home at 1301 Sand Pine Ave. was gutted in the fire. The Kennedys have called this place home for more than 40 years.

Their niece, Kelly Moye, has been the Kennedys’ spokesperson while the family deals with the devastation and loss. She said the fire marshal told them the fire was electrical but officials haven’t pinpointed the origin of the fire.

“They said it just spread very fast and it seems like it was in the attic … and had been burning for a little bit,” Moye said. “It was a fire; someone mentioned explosion, but what we think was the front windows of the house blowing out. … It seems like it was a complete loss because the ceiling collapsed.” She said her aunt and uncle have been waiting for the insurance company to complete its investigation so they can go inside their home and see what — if anything — can be salvaged.

of them, what they should expect of me and what they’re expected to know,” he said. “You only get clarity of vision by over communicating.”

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Ogden said his measure of success is how successful his officers are. He said he was left speechless in front of the accreditation board.

“One of our most proud and humble moments was when we stood in front of that accreditation board and they rattled everything off about our agency and our process,” he said.

“The fact of the matter is you can miss like three standards, and if you do, you can get your accreditation and they’ll give you a by or they’ll give you a piece of paper requiring you to fix things within a certain period of time, and most of the agencies up there that I heard had to do that. We had zero. We were 100%, and that was my goal. I told the team I didn’t want just anything, I wanted it to be done right. The commissioner even said, ‘This is how it’s done, people.’”

Windermere Mayor Jim O’Brien said it was an honor to receive accreditation.

“The accreditation of our Windermere Police Department is the culmination of a decade of hard work and commitment,” he said. “I am proud of our police department and its officers and support staff. I know that they share one vision — to serve our community with honor, integrity and service. While accreditation is a tremendous honor and achievement, it is important to note that accreditation is really a commitment to professional policing day in and day out. For our town of Windermere residents, that is the true value of the accreditation process.”

Cecil Robinson, a former Town Council member and long-term resident of the town, has watched the department transform and blossom throughout the years since Ogden joined.

“I was very proud that the town church. Carol Kennedy is retired.

Their friends and community have rushed in to help.

“It’s been amazing seeing everyone come together for them,” Moye said. “It’s devastating. They’re devastated; just lots of tears. It’s been overwhelming, too, with all the support they’ve gotten. So many people coming by and bringing them clothes. And the GoFundMe — every time a donation comes in, they just cry. It’s been an absolute blessing everyone who’s jumping in to help them right now.”

The Kennedys are loyal University of Georgia fans, and their wardrobe consists mostly of Bulldog outfits.

“They have Bulldog everything, and that’s all they wear,” Moye said. “You can’t find anything Georgia Bulldog in Florida; we’ve asked family and friends to send them shirts.” decided to provide the facilities needed to lead the department through its final steps of earning accreditation,” Robinson said. “Chief Ogden has changed the department by example. His example is faith and professionalism. There’s no one (who) demonstrates more of that than he does. I am proud to live in Windermere now.”

Any donations are helpful, Moye said, because their insurance policy doesn’t include provisions for living arrangements or the replacement of household items.

Ogden shared that the community’s support has meant a lot throughout the process.

“I feel like we’ve done things right here,” he said. “We’re a value-based police department and that’s different from anywhere else you go. People may say it, and I get that, but

I do believe we lead with our values here. One of our values in our vision statement is to earn the trust of our community. That is an extremely difficult thing to do these days. Each policing agency has to understand their community and the level of service they want to provide in that community. … For the residents to be so involved, to sit in on the accreditation and to even write in in support of us, it was amazing.”

After accomplishing all three priorities Ogden had set for the department last year — accreditation, hiring new personnel and getting them trained — he is already working to develop a new 10-year strategic plan.

With an all-new command staff, he plans on teaching about succession planning, long-term strategic planning and how to rewrite vision and value statements.

The reaccreditation process has already started, and in composing the 10-year goals, Ogden said he hopes the department can strive to become an excelsior program. The program recognizes nine years of accreditation in a row, with the accreditation process being completed every three years. After three times of straight accreditation, the department could earn the title.

Jerry and Carol Kennedy are lucky to be alive after a fire swept through their home late afternoon

Monday, March 6. They and their two children, Scott Kennedy and Michelle Clark, were home when the blaze started but got out safely. Now they must figure out what’s next for them — including where

After looking through the windows, the Kennedys determined they won’t be able to save much of their belongings — but they did see three of Jerry Kennedy’s possessions: his Bible, guitar and Georgia Bulldog boots.

He is the assistant pastor at West Orange Park Community Church, as well as a deacon and Sunday school teacher, and he plays his guitar at his

“They are the kind of people (who) would give the shirt off their backs to help others, and it has been truly amazing seeing our community, friends and family step up to help them,” Moye said.

“We can’t thank you enough for rallying around our family their time of need,” Moye wrote in an update on the GoFundMe page. “It is appreciated more than you know. It will be a long road to recovery, and all your donations are already helping them get the essentials they need to put one foot in front of the other and move forward from this horrific tragedy. Thank you so much!” The Kennedys are hopeful they can rebuild on their property. “There are so many memories through the years,” Moye said. “It’s their home.”

TO

A