Motor Deputy Honored in Tamarac

Photo caption: Deputy Eric Bienkievitz (center) is presented with a special tee-shirt from (l. to r.) Deputy Director Leonard Burgess, Corporal Yolanda Copeland, Detective D. Joseph and District Chief Marc Duguay.

Saturday, January 24, 2009 is a day Deputy Eric Bienkievitz will never forget. The seven-year BSO veteran was providing a law enforcement motor escort for a multi-agency Make-A-Wish benefit ride when a careless driver failed to come to a stop. He was struck and knocked onto a swale along I-95. Thankfully, Deputy Bienkievitz’s injuries were not life threatening, but he sustained deep lacerations to his hands and suffered a fractured ankle.

The benefit ride, which was coordinated by Corporal Yolanda Copeland from Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitiation, raised more than $6,000 to send terminally-ill child and his family to Disney World in Orlando. In an effort to show their appreciation, Miami-Dade Deputy Director Leonard Burgess, Corporal Copeland and Detective D. Joseph visited Deputy Bienkievitz during roll coll at the Tamarac District Office. There they thanked him for his service and presented him with a signed tee-shirt from all particpants from the event. “I worked on motors too,” said Deputy Director Burgess. “There is no doubt angels were there with you that day, to protect you and make sure you made it home safe to your family.” As Deputy Bienkievitz accepted his gift, he was met with a round of applause from his BSO colleagues. His road to recovery will take some time, but with the support of his family and friends, Deputy Bienkievitz will be back on his motorcycle in no time.

BSO Helps Hispanics

Sheriff Lamberti, Director Michael Somberg, and Commander Michael Calderin present an LETF check to the board of directors of Hispanic Unity of Florida at their quarterly meeting which was held at Apollo Middle School. The $50,000.00 LETF grant will be used to fund a Teens for Teens Prevention/Intervention program coordinated by Hispanic Unity of Florida. The program is based at Apollo Middle School, Hollywood, Florida.

The HUF board of directors also presented the Sheriff Lamberti and the men and women of BSO with an award for our ongoing support of community programs run by the Hispanic Unity of Florida.

Dunkin Dollars

Due to the hard work and investigative efforts led by the Broward Sheriff’s Office and participating law enforcement agencies in the recent homicide and string of armed robberies, Dunkin Brands, Inc. decided to donate funds to crime prevention programs in South Florida to combat ongoing problems. Broward Crime Stoppers received $10,000.00 earmarked for the BSO GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program coordinated by YIED under Captain Nesteruk. An additional $1,000.00 was donated to Broward Crime Stoppers to sponsor a table at their annual ball. And $5,000.00 was donated to the South Florida Crime Commission to disperse amongst law enforcement agencies in Palm Beach and Broward counties as needed.