Two Awards for One BSO Lieutenant

The Broward Domestic Violence Council gave BSO Lt. Sherry Schlueter two awards at its 16th annual Domestic Violence Training and Awards Luncheon Friday, Oct. 31.

Schlueter received the Outstanding Program award recognizing her Companion Animal Rescue Effort (CARE) program, which she started in the late 1980s. CARE helps victims of domestic violence escape abusive situations by providing free, temporary safe-housing of their pets. Nancy Tanner, head of victims services for the Broward State Attorney’s Office, nominated Lt. Schlueter for the award.

Lt. Schlueter also earned the Domestic Violence Volunteer award for her work outside, as well as inside, the scope of her job at BSO. Lt. Schlueter created and commands the Special Victims and Family Crimes Section of the Regional Investigations Division. Victim Advocate Therese Sullivan of the Pembroke Pines Police Department nominated her for the award.

Lt. Schlueter is the founder and president of the non-profit Sherry L. Schlueter Foundation, Inc., which provides help for animals through programs such as CARE, Fund for Abused Animals and the Crime Stoppers Animal Abuse Reward Fund.

The luncheon was held at the Signature Grand in Davie. Broward County Chief Judge Victor Tobin was the keynote speaker.

HOSE UNCOUPLING TRADITION OPENS NEW FIRE STATIONS

(Western Broward County, FL) – Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti (left) and Mayor Lois Wexler (center) uncouple a fire hose to signify the opening of Regional Fire Station #106 on I-75 (Alligator Alley) Thursday morning. Chief of Department Joseph R. Lello (at right), explained the role of this tradition in the fire service. The new station is a $5.1 million, 7,142 square foot facility with two bays that house an Advanced Life Support (ALS) engine, ALS rescue, brush truck, rescue airboat and Jonboat. Five firefighter/paramedics specially trained in wilderness search and rescue staff this station. Sheriff Lamberti said, “This is a milestone in BSO’s history and symbolic of the commitment in providing regional fire-rescue services to the residents and visitors to all of Broward County.”

Thursday’s ceremony also commemorated the opening of two other Regional Service Fire Stations that include: an Airport/Seaport and Technical Rescue station, Hazardous Materials station and a 23,000 square foot Regional Logistics warehouse, all strategically located near Ft. Lauderdale. A fourth new fire station that will serve Pembroke Park and West Park is under construction, with move in expected in January.

Photo by Mike Jachles/Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue

BSO Honors Fallen Heroes

On Thursday, October 23, hundreds of BSO employees gathered for a service to honor the memories of Deputy Tony Yanniello and Battalion Chief Richard Korte. Dep. Yanniello was killed in the line of duty on October 18, 1984, after responding to a domestic violence call. “It is ironic that October is National Domestic Awareness Month, the same month Dep. Yanniello lost his life helping a victim of this tragic crime. We do more to assist the victims of domestic violence than we did back then, but for law enforcement, responding to these types of calls is just as dangerous,” Sheriff Al Lamberti remarked during the service. Battalion Chief Richard Korte died on October 3, 1999, after a long battle with lung cancer. Battalion Chief Korte served the Broward community through his work in fire service for almost 30 years. He was an expert in his field and is responsible for the development of numerous fire codes in effect today in Broward County. “Chief Korte’s love of fire rescue came only second to the love of his family,” said Chaplain Rick Braswell.

Photo caption: Sheriff Al Lamberti presents the family of Battalion Chief Richard Korte with a symbolic rose to honor his memory during the memorial service.

WE DELIVER!

Firefighters from Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Station #37 make a special delivery to over 100 sixth graders at Lauderdale Lakes Middle School on Wednesday. In recognition of the citizenship efforts of the students for their role in collecting relief supplies and monetary donations for hurricane victims in Haiti, the firefighters hosted a pizza party for the kids. Over a ton of clothing and supplies were collected and a check was presented to Asst. Fire Chief Greg Holness for Food For the Poor, the BSO partner for hurricane relief efforts.  “On behalf of BSO, we’re proud of the extraordinary efforts by the Lauderdale Lakes Middle School students,” said Chief Holness.  “We came up with the idea for this event to show them that good deeds don’t go unnoticed,” he added.

Photo by Mike Jachles/Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue

Dangerous Fire In West Park

Firefighters from Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue spray water to cool down acetylene tanks in a warehouse after fire broke out just before noon Thursday. Flames were shooting through the roof from the burning tanks inside the bays as firefighters arrived. Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue’s Hazardous Materials Team responded to identify the hazards in the structure. In addition to the liquefied hazardous tanks, the warehouse was full of chemicals, auto parts, roofing materials and other combustibles. One person was treated on the scene for smoke inhalation and one firefighter suffered heat exhaustion. About 30 firefighters battled the blaze which was brought under control in about 30 minutes. Firefighters doused hotspots and removed materials from the warehouse using a forklift for most of the afternoon. The Broward Sheriff Fire Marshal’s Bureau and State Fire Marshal’s Office are conducting the investigation into the cause of the fire.

Photo by Mike Jachles/Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue

The Community Justice Program in conjunction with the Central Broward District recently kicked-off a community workshop in recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness month. The topic of their planned forum was teen dating violence. BSO’s youth counselors, Elizabeth Mayo and Anse Daniel, coordinated this informative workshop along with Wiley C. Huff, III and Marilyn Campbell both from BSO’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO); Women in Distress; Legal Aid; and the City of Lauderdale Lakes Parks & Recreation.  Three teens also spoke about their experience with teen dating violence. It moved many of the parents who attended. Overall, the workshop was productive and informative for the citizens and students who attended. This is the Community Justice Program’s commitment to following the BSO credo – Pride in Service with Integrity.

HEART ATTACK VICTIM THANKS RESCUERS

Surrounded by her rescuers, Maria Villarta, 40, talks to reporters at Holy Cross Hospital on October 8th before being discharged from the hospital. On September 26th, Villarta suffered a massive heart attack on the beach in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. Her husband found her not breathing and without a pulse. Their 11-year-old son called for help and her husband began CPR.  Dr. Michael Farrell was dining at a beachfront restaurant after finishing a shift at Holy Cross Hospital’s Emergency Department. He saw the commotion on the beach and went to investigate. Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue crews arrived and joined by Dr. Farrell began aggressive resuscitative efforts including Induced Cooling by EMS (ICE). This cutting edge procedure was instituted by BSFR in April of this year and involves pre-hospital cooling of heart attack victims using near-frozen medications to lower the patient’s body temperature.

A crowd of nearly 200 cheered as rescuers restored Villarta’s heartbeat and took her to the rescue truck. Dr Farrell alerted Holy Cross’ Emergency Dept. about the case. Holy Cross is a designated ICE Center that provides induced hypothermia, carefully lowering the body temperature. By cooling the patient, it preserves precious oxygen in cells, thus increasing the chances for survival and recovery. Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue is the first metropolitan department in Florida and currently one of a handful of departments in the nation implementing pre-hospital hypothermic resuscitation.

Photo caption: seated, from left to right: Dr. Michael Farrell, Lt. Randy Ovcen, Maria Villarta, Capt. Sharon Snyder. Standing, (L to R): Lt. Tom Kelly, Firefighter/Paramedic David Blue, FF/PM Tom Craven, BSFR Medical Director Nabil El Sanadi, M.D.

Photo by: Mike Jachles/Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue

A LEG UP ON FIRE PREVENTION

Watkins Elementary School  second grader D’Anthony George, 7, (center) gets a leg up on fellow student Brayan Laureano, 8, (at right) as they race to put on firefighting turnout gear during a Fire Prevention Week event by Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue. Over 700 students from Watkins Elementary learned about fire prevention and safety on Tuesday and Wednesday from Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Life Safety Educators. The students also went through a Fire Safety Smoke House simulator, toured fire and rescue apparatus and participated in the interactive “Buzz the smoke alarm” and his hazard house presentation. Watkins Elementary is just one of dozens of events in October that teaches children throughout Broward County schools about fire prevention and safety.

Fire Prevention Week runs from October 5-11 and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue once again has joined forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to remind local residents of this year’s theme: “Prevent Home Fires.” “Many fires are easily preventable when residents take a few simple steps to safety,” said Chief of Department Joseph Lello. “We hope that Fire Prevention Week will prompt our residents to plan and practice safety, not just this week, but again throughout the year,” he added.

Photo by Mike Jachles/Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue

FLIGHT TURNS AROUND AFTER PILOT REPORTS A BIRD STRIKE

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting units responded to a report of a bird that struck the right engine of a Spirit Airlines Airbus A-319 just after 11:00 a.m. Monday. Flight 436, with 115 people plus a crew of four on board, left Ft. Lauderdale en route to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported a bird strike and turned around. The plane landed safely and was escorted to gate H-5 by Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue units. No injuries were reported and ground crews were inspecting the aircraft for any damage.

20th Anniversary Celebration

On Saturday, October 4, the City of Dania Beach and the Broward Sheriff’s Office celebrated the 20th anniversary of their contractual agreement. During the past 20 years, BSO has responded to more than 700,000 calls for service; solved nearly 15,000 crimes and made more than 40,000 arrests. “The Broward Sheriff’ s Office is committed to protecting the residents and visitors of the Dania Beach community, says Sheriff Lamberti. Our agency enjoys the partnership and looks forward to working together for the next 20 years.”

For more information about the City of Dania Beach or BSO’s services in Dania Beach, visit: http://www.sheriff.bso/about_bso/dle/districts/d2