BSO FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE ELUSIVE KITTEN

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Lt. John Micklos talks to reporters after rescuing a kitten that was trapped behind a wall in a Lauderdale Lakes home for about three days. The residents at 3419 NW 37 St. in Lauderdale Lakes called firefighters Monday afternoon after hearing meowing for about three days in the house, but didn’t know where it was coming from. The kitten apparently crawled into a void behind a wall in their home through the air conditioning system. When they arrived, firefighters had to remove an access panel behind the bathroom to see where the kitten was trapped. They tried various methods to get the kitten out including coaxing it out with a can of tuna.  Driver/Engineer Mark Maynard was finally able to get a grip on the feline and safely retrieved it. The kitten appeared to be otherwise healthy.

Mandatory Photo Credit: Mike Jachles/Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue

Dispatchers Honored During National Telecommunications Week

Photo caption: (L to R) Site Manager Tara Thomas, Duty Officer Angela Yurchuck, Major Kyle Berwick, Duty Officer Christine Cannon, Duty Officer Sheila O’Brien, Regional Manager Kim Rubio and Sheriff Al Lamberti)

Sheriff Al Lamberti made a visit to the John Seaman Communications Center last week to present a proclamation honoring dispatchers at the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Lamberti presented the proclamation during a luau party, where dispatchers enjoyed a tasty lunch and tons of appreciation. Throughout the week, other members of BSO extended their thanks with goodies, more parties and many hugs.

Broward Stars Reach New Heights

Several BSO employees climbed 55 flights of stairs to help fight lung cancer in the “Climb Miami” charity event April 12. The American Lung Association’s event had participants puffing up 1,210 steps in Florida’s second-tallest building, the Wachovia Financial Center in Miami.

Several BSO employees climbed 55 flights of stairs to help fight lung cancer in the “Climb Miami” charity event April 12. The American Lung Association’s event had participants puffing up 1,210 steps in Florida’s second-tallest building, the Wachovia Financial Center in Miami.

BSO program analyst Kay Chung was fifth in her age group with a time of 11:59, and BSO database administrator Drew Smous placed 15th in his age group with a time of 12:08.

Sgt. Jennifer Zinglo of Professional Compliance, Det. Vincent Puran of Pompano Beach and Bethany Scalf of the Office of the Inspector General also participated.

Overall, the Broward Stars placed 10th out of 40 teams.

Photo caption: From left are: Kay Chung of BIRM, Sgt. Chris Kaufman of Professional Compliance, Drew Smous of BIRM, guest Kenneth Glancy and Det. Vincent Puran.

GOOD SAMARITAN RESCUER RECOVERING

Photo caption Left to right: Sgt. Thomas Palmer, Dep. Edward Eason, FF/PM’s Glenn Fuhrer, Tom Strok and Pete Costanza, and Chief of EMS Steve Krivjanik. Seated at right is Nurse Barre Hutchinson. The other rescuers not pictured are: Lt. Jonathan Termo, and FF/PM’s Juan Cardenas and Wayne Winkle)

On April 11, Jean-Marc Bourgeois (seated, center) and his wife, Claudette (at left), thanked BSO Fire Rescue (BSFR) personnel and the doctors from Holy Cross Hospital for saving his life ten days earlier. On April 1, Mr. Bourgeois, 67, was pulled from the Atlantic Ocean in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea after jumping in to save a young boy who had become caught in the rip current.

Mr. Bourgeois was in cardiac arrest but resuscitated by BSFR paramedics who utilized the new AutoPulse device, an external cardiac support pump that keeps a stopped heart beating and aggressive advanced life support measures to revive the victim. At the hospital, doctors medically lowered the patient’s body core temperature using a process called induced hypothermia. By cooling the patient, it preserves precious oxygen in cells, thus increasing the chances for survival. Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue is currently one of a handful of departments in the nation implementing pre-hospital hypothermic resuscitation. BSFR Medical Director Dr. Nabil El Sanadi said, “We can increase the chance of survival using the AutoPulse, and when combined with hypothermic resuscitation, it gives the patient an even greater chance of survival.” Dr. El Sanadi added, “By transforming new technology and new science into best clinical practices, we strive to continually deliver cutting edge patient care.”

Thanks to the high tech care rendered by BSFR and Holy Cross medical staff, Mr. Bourgeois was able to live and personally thank his rescuers.

Photo by Mike Jachles/Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue

OVER 100 POLICE MOTORCYCLES COMPETE IN RODEO -Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office takes top honors

Broward Sheriff’s Office Motorcycle Unit Sgt. Allen Adkins maneuvers through traffic cones as part of the 19th Annual South East Police Motorcycle Rodeo (SEMPRC) competition Saturday at Pompano Citi Centre. The annual event is the largest police motorcycle safety skills event held in the Southeastern United States. Over 100 police motorcycle officers from as far away as New Jersey, Maryland and South Carolina completed three days of training to enhance their skills prior to Saturday’s charity event. Sgt. Adkins, who also serves as the event’s president said, “This year’s event was the biggest yet and a great day of fun for the riders and spectators that came out to watch.” The individual winner awarded the title of “Mr. Rodeo” was Darren Harris of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Harris’ team from Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office also took the top spot in the team category. A new 2008 Harley-Davidson XLH Sportster 883 and trailer valued at over $9,000.00 was raffled off to raise money for charity. Since its inception, the SEMPRC has raised over $300,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), a charity for children and families of slain law enforcement officers.

Photo by Mike Jachles/Broward Sheriff’s Office

Grateful Heart Attack Victim Recognizes BSFR Rescuers

When a 68-year-old’s heart stopped beating as he danced in an Oakland Park clubhouse, it took only two minutes and 34 seconds for Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue (BSFR) workers to get to him. Bystanders had started CPR, so paramedics quickly hooked Vincenzo Ferro up to AutoPulse, an external cardiac support pump. His pulse resumed and blood pressure was restored in minutes. By the time he was in the rescue vehicle on the way to the hospital, Ferro was trying to breathe on his own.

Ferro is one of 14 heart attack patients that BSFR has helped save with AutoPulse, a battery-operated device that artificially pumps the heart. All 14 people have made it to the hospital with a pulse and a blood pressure. BSFR has eight AutoPulses and is hoping to purchase four more.

“There is no question that this man would not be alive today had it not been for the outstanding medical treatment by the paramedics and the technology used by Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue,” said Dr. Nabil El Sanadi, the department’s Medical Director, who is also the Chief of Emergency Medicine for Broward Health.

Just a few weeks after the incident, Ferro of Lauderdale Lakes presented BSO’s Employee of the Month Awards from Sheriff Al Lamberti to the rescue crew that responded. The eight rescuers were also recognized by the Lauderdale Lakes City Commission.

Photo caption: picture from left to right are Assistant Chief Steve Krivjanik, Assistant Chief Gregory Holness, Lt. Paul Greenwood, Dr. Nabil El Sanadi, D/E Done Farmer, Lt. Phil Kalarovich, victim Vincenzo Ferro, Lt. Paul Divers, FF/PM Chris Gilman, FF/PM Mark Murphy and FF/PM Joe Capaldo.

Quick Thinking Deputy Saves a Hollywood Man

Deputy Richard Corrao talks to local news crews outside Florida Medical Center after Corrao, three other deputies and an off-duty Hallandale Beach Police major resuscitated a 50-year-old Hollywood man that apparently suffered a heart attack during a traffic crash on the Tamarac/Lauderhill border on the morning of April 8th. Corrao was with trainee Derrick Owens when they came upon the minor crash. When they approached the driver of one of the vehicles, Corrao said “He didn’t look good, he was gasping for air, then collapsed. He was blue from the neck up.”  Dep. Owens got the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) from their patrol car while Corrao and Hallandale Beach Police Maj. Dwayne Flourney, who also witnessed the incident, began Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Two other BSO deputies, Vincent Ciacciarelli who was in the area and Sgt. Glenn Topping, working a detail nearby quickly responded and assisted with the resuscitation efforts. Corrao also added that “When I saw the man take a breath and his color came back, it was the greatest experience in my 20 years of law enforcement.”

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue maintains over 700 AED’s placed throughout the county in patrol cars, public schools, parks, courthouses, libraries, Ft. Laud. – Hollywood Int’l Airport and at Port Everglades.

In the photo L to R: Dep. Corrao, Dep. Ciacciarelli (holding the AED) and Dep. Owens.

Photo Credit: Mike Jachles/Broward Sheriff’s Office

Successful Mortgage Fraud Investigation Pays Off

The Broward Sheriff’s Office received more than $270,000 for its part in a complex mortgage fraud investigation that resulted in the arrest of 11 people, including eight Broward County residents. The investigation was conducted in 2003 and 2004 by the South Florida Organized Fraud Task Force, which includes the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Secret Service and BSO. The case involved the suspects illegally obtaining about 36 properties in Miami-Dade, Broward and Lee counties from 1999 to 2004.

The eight Broward County residents were indicted in 2004 on 53 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and tax fraud. The scheme netted more than $4 million in property and funds, with participants either selling fraudulently obtained properties to unsuspecting victims or obtaining loans secured by the properties. They defrauded more than 100 victims, including property owners, lenders, title insurance companies and unsuspecting home buyers.

BSO’s share of the money was separate from the restitution awarded to victims. It will be used for similar investigations in the future.

“We will turn this money around and use it against criminals,” Sheriff Al Lamberti said.

Sheriff Lamberti named Mentsch of the Year

Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti was given the Man “Mentsch” of the Year Award at the Chabad of South Broward’s 27th annual dinner on March 31. Mentsch is a Yiddish term that means a person of integrity and honor.

“Sheriff Lamberti has been a great help to Chabad of South Broward at this years Chanuka Festival and has showed tremendous kindness and compassion following the horrific accident involving two of our Seminary girls, may they both fully recover, and is helping us expand Project PRIDE, our drug prevention and education program throughout Broward County,” the event program read.

The dinner marked the ground breaking of a $3 million renovation and expansion project at the Chabad of South Broward.