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Cover Story
It's
the Old.
Doll Game
a
With
Serious Aim
—
SANFORD Seminole County
Sheriff John Polk isabig, brawny
—
fellow a man's man in the John
Wayne tradition, and not at all
the sort offellow who would ordi-
narily be interested in dolls. Vicki Morris uses dolls toget information from children who are victims ofsexual abuse.
And yet, some ladies from the
Elks Club Auxiliary gave him three rag dolls a few
months ago, and he not only accepted them without
losing his temper, he actually seemed pleased!
It turned out that the Sheriff was putting together
quite adoll collection. He already had four dolls that s
were being used for a serious purpose: to clarify tes-
timony given by child victims in sexual abuse cases.
Underneath their clothes these dolls were anatom-
ically complete, with male and female genitals. Some
represented adults. Others represented children.
Sheriff Polk turned them over to Vicki Morris, his
Director ofVictim Services, and she has found them
very effective in child abuse investigations and in
court trials.
Vicki explained that questioning small children
about sexual abuse incidents can be very difficult
because their terminology for various body parts is Sheriff John Polk and Deputy Vicki Morris (left) accept three
"Show and Tell" dolls from Catherine Sorensen and Gerry
unique"and unconventional. Leffler, representing the auxiliary ofthe Winter Park Elks Club.
"So, said Vicki, "in order to know exactly what a
Volume 26, No. 8, February 1983
Publisher, Berwin Williams, Executive Director, Florida Sheriffs Association
Editor, Carl Stouffer Art Director, Frank Jones Production Assistant, Caro/ D.Jens
THE SHERIFF'S STAR ispublished monthly during February, May, June, and September,
and bi-monthly during December and January, March and April, July and August, October
and November, bythe Florida Sheriffs Association, anon-profit cor'poration, PO.Box1487,
Tallahassee, Florida 32302(street address, 28'l7 Mahan Drive.)Thesubscription rate is$5
per year and the publication number is USPS 493-980. Second class postage paid at
Taliahassee, Florida.
child is talking about we start out with different Although the dolls are immobile, immodest and
parts ofthe doll and point to them and say 'what do inarticulate members ofSheriff Polk's staff, he has
you call this?' made them available to all law enforcement agencies
"Wego over the whole doll, from head to toe, point- in Seminole County, including municipal police
ing to the foot, thumb, nose and soforth. We undress departments and the State Attorney's office.
the doll as we go, and once we understand the child' s The response, both inside and outside the Sheriff s
vocabulary, we can get the child todescribe the crime Department, has been enthusiastic, and itisobvious
incident in his own terms. that the dolls have done no damage to the Sheriffs
"What you do is say to the child, 'Well, with the manly image. Instead, it appears that they have
dolls can you show me what happened?' Usually enhanced his reputation as a progressive lawman
they are pretty graphic about it. They can show you who comes up with innovative solutions to law
exactly what happened. Things they would not des- enforcement problems.
cribe on a real person, or by pointin"g to themselves,
they will show you with the dolls.
Using the dolls with child victims has another
benefit, Vicki explained. When youngsters are being
questioned by strangers they are likely to become
frightened, and holding the dolls gives them asense
of security. It makes them more cooperative.
The Indomitable Dom
Still Gives a Damni
—
RIVIERA BEACH In August, 1974,The Sheriff's
Star printed an article about Dom Colangelo, an
honorary member of the Florida Sheriffs Asso"cia-
tion who "gives a damn about his fellow man.
Dom had made acareer ofsaving lives and render-
ing first aid to fishermen, swimmers, boaters, sun-
bathers and just plain loafers at the bridge on the
Blue Heron Causeway.
He had also helped to rehabilitate a young man
who had assisted in arescue and later went toprison
on burglary charges.
We devoted a full page to Dom in 1974because we
were proud of him. Recently we were given further 04Pf'
cause to think he's quite a guy. We learned that he Dom beside the
has been involved in additional life saving exploits, water fountain erected
and the Palm Beach County Commissioners have in his honor.
erected a water fountain in his honor near the Blue
Heron Causeway bridge. On the fountain is abronze It takes a big chest to
hold all of the honorary
plaque praising Dom for saving eight persons' lives. badges presented to
WDesotcmhehstaesr aCloounngtyh,isNtoerwy Yoofrpku,bwlihcereserhveicsep,enbdosthhiins k :v Qr Dmoemntsbyanfdirelawdepeanrft-orce-
ment agencies.
summers, and in Palm Beach County, Florida, where
he spends the rest ofthe year.
Fire departments and law enforcement agencies,
including the Palm Beach County Sheriffs depart-
ment, have honored him with special badge"s.
Known locally as "The Harmonica Man, he has
also been praised for giving concerts at charity with his first aid kit and the trusty coil ofrope he has
benefits, nursing homes, schools and service clubs. used in many rescues.
Dom is 66 now and disabled in both legs as the In times like these, when bad news batters us on all
result ofa childhood bone disease, but he continues sides, itsure iscomforting todiscover that the indom-
to hang around the Blue Heron Causeway bridge itable Dom still gives a damn!
FEBRUARY 1983
—
8
Lost
LBRd,ex'
Who Got Things Done
Broward Coker
The American flag that draped Broward Coker's casket was deli-
vered tothe Florida Sheriffs Boys Ranch and flown athalf-mast.
—
SEBRING "He let his quiet life reach out in "His riches were not so much in bank accounts
honest statements, tender compassion, and clear or stocks or bonds or investments in real estate,
examples, and he became a leader through sweat" but in the lives ofthe young people ofthis nation,
and tears and work and honesty and sacrifices, and especially of this state, and for all those
said the Rev. Joe D. Benson during funeral rites around him.
"If
for Highlands County Sheriff Broward Coker. we could suddenly visualize all the people
Standing above a flag-draped casket, the Rev. Broward Coker has helped in their need. ..what a
Mr. Benson added that the former Sheriffs life stark realization it would be. He left this place
and principles influenced the lives of untold better than he found it.
hundreds wherever he lived and worked. "An American flag"drapes his casket today and
"H"e was not a man who fought for rank or posi- speaks ofhis loyalty, said Benson. "Heserved in
tion, said Benson. "He earned it. World War II,and he defended that flag every day
"The story ofrags to riches was the story ofhis that he lived.
life. Starting at the bottom and earning his way to "All the adjectives of the English language,
the top. every person here and elsewhere speaking what
"His rags were not from lack of education or they may want t"o say, could never say all that
laziness, but from the sacrifices he made in depres- needs to be said, Benson declared.
sion years that others might have what they "When all the good that is said about Broward
needed. Coker has died away, and all the records that bear
THE SHERIFF'S STAR
+
"::::-
, .$8.IIqIjeI+."ik.':„Ar-e'":/@cd@- -':-::;, "-:::' 'Florida' .Sh~jj-' Mys'.' RaII& in: 1957,"and
'"c'cager,'why wi's T5,dI@N'ovembejI, 4,198'',athis rem'airie one'cjf its active supyorters throughout
horny, nea.i 88'brixqj, and'fun~ s~ceswere-held . his IIfe.Afew daps before he died hewas:malIiI'Ig'
stag'8:FI7'st 8@~461II&r'chcIIINoveInber 7,': arrangements by,, phIone'to dorIate to the Boys
1ge"'Quan,"h@'.lqrjg. law enforcement. career in Ranoh arw'8 eollecbon:of history'books valued at
.
-as 8,deyuty sheriff in tlII8Higblanjhj CojIIjty . over '$4,000,
Sheriff 8,DQpartlxkent. In, 1940he' enhsted In the Aftex' Ceker retired fromm the Sherdf's Of6ce at
U.s.Army and.served in:Europe with'the'814th, the be~ijIg, of1'969,he.agceptsd. a@assignment
TA~fter9'h8e8t'wreaesrdaisictthaabrgoend.. fro'm theArm.y,'in.. ..1,,945. tindaODrgeape'airitemearictrimoef AfI'gghriteiunlgtIIruenittowcituhribn tthheeftsFloorn-
as aMaster Sergeant, he.returned to.his job as a farms aljdranqhes. Herin this bureau for several
, .
deputy sheriff. He was elected Sheriff of High- years before become j'fully retir'ed and moving to
lands Cotmt'y'in" 1948,and contjnued in that posi- a rur'al homesite south ef Sebrlng.
ti,ori for Ã,years. The Rey. Mr. Benson'summed uy this long and
D@rirtg hIs tenure as SherjIff he served as Pr88I- us8fLll hf8, bg,sayIng, that Sroward Cok8r, was a
..
dent ofthe Flo6d@8herIffs Association, asaTrus-a,lead' who got thmgs done. who invested'in the
.
t88 ofthe Florida Sh8rjff8 86ys' Ranch, and as llv88 ofall;that he met,
member ofthe Plorjda Sherjffs Bureau', sAdmxnis-
Final Rites Held for
Forjner Sheriff Hendry
NAPI 58-.".E.A. .,'Doug": Hendry, ,farmer Sheriff
of Celliex Coujjty, went to'his Seal rest here
December 8,in a Gag-draped coffin:-attended by a
smartly uniformed honor guard from the Collier
8h~s
Courjty 6epartmerit.
A large crowd dominated by representatives of
lo'cal', state,and'federal law enforcement agencies,
.
attended the fjnal rites, -which were held: in::.the
E'arl -Hodgei Funej.al Home Chayel,
.Former' aisociates from theCollier County She-
riff's 'department„ including '.Sheriff Au'brey Rog-
ers, served, as jINjlibearers.
'-Hei'icky chid hereDecember 5,at the ageof 58.A
native ofFort Mye'rs, he served. as apoliceman in-
Fort My@re:::and Naples, and:as a Collier:County:
.
deputy sIIerlff prior' to'1956 when he was elected to Academy", a past president ofthe Florid@Chapter
the 6rst.offive consecutive four-year terms asShe- ofFBIAcademy Assocjates; aU.8.Army veterin;
riff ofCollier County. and a past member. ofthe Florida 8herjffs Boys
'He was a griduate of the FBI National Ranch Beard ofTrustees.
Encore for Sheriff Wille County, Pennsylvania, treasurer.
CALEA was formed in 1979by The International
Palm Beach County Sheriff Richard Wille has Association ofChiefs ofPolice, The National Organ-
been reelected chairman and president ofthe Com- ization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, The
mission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement National Sheriffs' Association, and The Police Exec-
Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) a national organization. utive Research Forum.
,
Serving with him will be Director ofPublic Safety Its objective isto set measurable standards forlaw
John Ball, Royal Oak, Michigan, secretary; and enforcement agencies and implement them through
Chief ofDetectives Gilbert M.Branche, Philadelphia a voluntary accreditation program.
FEBRUARY 1983
Dobeck Views
with Disdain
*
Forays Over
Rough
Terrain
Sales Manager Neil Meadors (left) explains the operation
VERO BEACH- No terrain is too tough for Indian of an All Terrain Cycle to (from left) Sgt. Jim Parsley,
Sheriff Tim Dobeck and Deputy C.C.Walker. The three-
River County Sheriff Tim Dobeck and his deputies.
wheeler will be made available to the Sheriff on short
When they go out in the "boonies" on asearch and notice by Dean's motorcycle dealership.
seizure mission they have a choice of using boats,
four-wheel-drive vehicles, a swamp buggy, an air- fleet of special purpose vehicles without putting a
plane or air boats. A three-wheel All Terrain Cycle heavy burden on taxpayers.
(ATC) is also on stand-by at Dean's motorcycle deal- "Weexpect to continue to seize vehicles, boat"s and
ership, and will be made available to the Sheriff on planes that are used to import illegal drugs, said
short notice. Dobeck, "and as our special fund grows we will be
"With the ATC we will be able tocover areas which able to save the taxpayers' money by letting the
would be difficult to r"each with a four-wheel-drive dopers actually"pay for special equipment tofight the
vehicle or an airboat, said Dobeck. "This vehicle" drug problem.
will definitely increase our flexibility and mobility. The Sheriffs Department currently has seven
Four deputies have been trained in motorcycle rid- four-wheel-drive vehicles which can be used in disas-
ing and are capable of handling the ATC. Dobeck ters, searches and special investigations. Also avail-
said it will be used in beach patrol situations such as able from citrus growers and cattlemen are three
when marijuana bales wash up, or in the event it is airboats, a light airplane and a swamp buggy".
necessary to traverse beaches and densely wooded "With this kind of community support, said
areas. Dobeck, "we will be able to utilize high quality spe"-
Drug busts are helping the Sheriff to expand his cialized equipment without major costtotaxpayers.
For 25 Years of Loyal Support
—
MADISON Madison County Sheriff Joe
Peavy (left), assisted by State Senator Bill
Grant (right), presents Distinguished Ser-
vice Certificates to four citizens who have
supported the Florida Sheriffs Association
and its child care projects for over 25years.
They are (from left):James Sale,Jr.,Lawton
Burnett, T.J.Beggs, Jr.,and Ed Scanlan.
THE SHERIFF'S STAR
Deputies Attend
Field Training Seminar
—
JACKSONVILLE Deputies from five She-
riff's Departments were photographed with
their instructors while attending aSeminar
for Field Training Officers presented bythe
Institute of Police Traffic Management
(IPTM) on the University of North Florida
campus. Pictured are: (front row) Everett
James, Director of Police Programs for
IPTM; Glenn Kaminsky, IPTM instructor;
Deputies Francis Hill, Escambia County;
Vicki Yanco, Brevard; John Sapp, Escam-
bia; and Robert Ward, Escambia; also Rus-
sell Arend, Director of IPTM; (second row)
Dr. Michael Roberts, IPTM instructor; and
Deputies George Robinson, Escambia;
Charles Joye, Escambia; Jeffrey Dawsey,
Citrus; Richard Wilfong, Pinellas; and
James Roderick, Broward.
f
s
'hit.
Gifts for Explorers and
Award Presented to Loyal Supporter Junior Deputies A Pal from the Corral
— — —
CRAWFORDVILLE Wakulla County She- PUNTA GORDA Ted MacKinnon (left), ZEPHYRHILLS Pasco County Sheriff
riff David F.Harvey (right) presents aDistin- representing the Retired Police Officers John M. Short (left) honors Golden Corral
guished Service Award to Denus C. Association, presents cash gifts to Char- Steakhouse owner Dave Lent forgivi"ng out-
Macarages for 25 years of loyal support as lotte County Sheriff Glen E. Sapp for the standing support to"Dine-Out Day, aJun-
an honorary member ofthe Florida Sheriffs Sheriff's Explorers and Junior Deputies. ior Deputy fund raising project.
Association.
Senior Members of Staff Honored
—
TALLAHASSEE Florida Sheriffs Associa-
tion President W.A. Woodham presented
Lifetime Honorary Membership plaques to
Louise Metcalf (left) and Jane Grimes after
the.Association's Board of Directors voted
to honor them for their long and faithful
service. They aresisters and are incharge of
the Sheriffs Association's computerized
honorary membership records. They have
been employed by the Sheriffs Association
for over 20 years and are presently the
senior members of the staff in years of
service.
FEBRUARY 1983
K-9s "Pussycats"
Make
". ':: ':::
nf theEad
Guys :".
.. '.:'..:'..:.
:, ", ",
,
Excerpted from an article by i',Yl' ''!'I'"I;(;,,' $l,lflfljt";,'plljl'g
Jim Loftus, Jr.,in the Brandon
(Florida) News. Photos by L.
David Smith.
—
TAMPA Late atnight aburglar alarm goes offin a
department store. Deputy sheriffs burn rubber hurry-
ing to the scene. Arear door has been forced open. An
armed man is believed to be hiding inside the dar-
kened building.
The deputies could draw their guns, turn on their
flashlights, and enter the building in a foolhardy
display of bravado. But, there is a better and safer
way.
In Hillsborough County the deputies are likely to
stand outside and announce that attack dogs will be
set loose in the store unless the burglar surrenders.
Ifhe's in there, the burglar, whether armed or not,
usually surrenders rather than face the 90pounds of Wheeler said he has witnessed "bad guys" who
angry muscle and fur. would fight and shoot it out with any number of
"Anyone that's not"scared of one ofthese dogs is deputies, but who act "like lambs" as soon as a K-9
not in his right mind, said Sgt. Fred Wheeler, team team arrives on the scene.
leader of Sheriff Walter Heinrich's K-9 team. "The "Y"ou can't outsmart the dog. You can't outtalk the
psychological effect of the dogs "is very good, and dog, he said. "They resp"ond on instinct and reflex,
that's three-fourths ofthe battle. and suspects know this.
THE SHERIFF'S STAR
Wheeler said many times suspects may have
forced deputies into shoot-outs, but bloodshed was
averted simply by using the K-9 teams.
The Sheriffs Office currently uses nine German
Shepherds, two Dobermans and a Rottwheiler. Each
dog is assigned to a deputy and the dog becomes the
deputy's full-time partner, living and working with
the deputy. "
"Not everyone wants to work with the K-9teams,
Wheeler sai"d. "It's hard work and often times it's
dangerous. He said that every time the K-9s are
called in it's to deal with an "in progress" crime, one
where there has been or could"be violence. "We're
often in a one-to-one situation, he added. "
We have a patrol or two on during the day shift,
said Wheeler, "but most of them are out a"t night.
That's when most ofthe bad guys are out.
Wheeler said that since April (six months prior to
the printing of this article) the Sheriff s Office has
used the dog teams over 500 times, and has appre-
hended over 60 suspects. He said over 600 suspects
have been apprehended by the dogs since the K-9
unit was formed in the mid-1960s. Out of all those Deputy Rick Holden with "Gator."
arrests, only one suspect was seriously injured by a
dog. "Th"e man was caught but he wasn't ready to dog "Mickey" at home, the dog would not let Mrs.
give up, said W"heeler. "Hetried to fight the dog. It Wheeler go in the bedroom. "
"I
was a bad idea. came home the next morning, said Wheeler,
Dogs begin training when they are about 1'/2 years "and my w"ife said, 'You have to do something about
old, and go to a K-9 "boot camp" for three months. that dog.'
After that their skills are honed in training exercises Under Wheeler's tutelage Mickey soon learned
held twice monthly. Training includes tracking, when to protect and when to practice good law
apprehension (attack), and sniffing for drugs and enforcement public relations. Wheeler said he often
explosives. visits elementary schools and feels confident enough
The dogs learn to obey 75 to 80 voice and hand to turn Mickey loo"se in a crowded playground.
commands. They a"lso become very protective oftheir "He loves kids, Wheeler said, as he petted his
human "partners. The first night Wheeler had his 92-pound partner.
"Mickey" Was Outstanding In
National Competition
—
TAMPA Sgt. Fred Wheeler, from the Hillsborough
County Sheriffs Department, and his K-9 partner
"Mickey" placed third in the overall combined cate-
gory during the U.S.Police K-9Association National
Field Trials, which were held in Newark, Ohio. Sergeant Fred Wheeler
"Mickey" was one of 74 dogs required to demon- and "Mickey" with
medals and trophies
strate their obedience, agility, search skills and crim-
won in national
inal apprehension ability, in the overall combined competition.
category. He ranked first in agility, second in search
and ninth in criminal apprehension. He also took
third place in team competition.
"This is the highest national achieve"ment won by
the Hillsborough Co"unty K-9 team, said Sheriff
Walter C. Heinrich, and I am extremely proud"of
Sergeant Wheeler, Mickey and the entire squad.
FEBRUARY 1983
Photo shows the new telecommunications
printer on top ofthe older model to compare
sizes.
Communications
The new telecommunications printer was presented by
Explorer Allan Carter, and accepted by (from left) Major Al
Perotti, head of the Sheriff's Services Division; Captain
Equipment Updated Hutchinson, Communications Supervisor; and Major
Arnie Myers, head ofthe Crime Prevention Division.
Explorer Post ces Explorer Post, and it will be used by the Medical
by Services agency to receive emergency requests from
handicapped persons who cannot use aconventional
telephone.
The telecommunications printer in the Sheriffs
—
TAMPA The Explorer Post sponsored by Hillsbo- Department is linked by phone lines with telecom-
rough County Sheriff Walter C.Heinrich has raised munications devices in the homes ofdeaf and speech-
several hundred dollars to purchase a compact late impaired persons. These handicapped persons can
model telecommunications printer which will be communicate with the Sheriff's Department by tap-
used to communicate with deaf and speech-impaired ping out messages on a keyboard. Deputies in the
persons. Sheriffs Communications Bureau can respond in
Prior to receiving the new unit, the Sheriff was similar manner.
using an older model that had been donated by the Providing emergency communications equipmens
Sertoma Club. This older unit has been donated to for the handicapped is a project fostered by law
the Hillsborough County Emergency Medical Servi- enforcement Explorer Posts throughout Florida.
Willing to "Get Involved"
—
NEW PORT RICHEY Pasco County Sheriff John
M.Short (right) presented aCertificate ofApprecia-
tion to M.M. Griffis for his willingness to "get
"
involved. Griffis called the Sheriff's Office after he
saw some suspicious activity atan auto supply firm.
Then he stayed on the phone to give the Sheriff's
dispatcher aplay-by-play description until adeputy
arrived on the scene. "Basedon Mr. Griffis' identifi-
cation and information, an individual was arrested
"
on several felony charges, said Short.
THE SHERIFF'S STAR