This week, we would like to recognize Public Safety Telecommunicators across the Country for their hard work behind the scenes!

As for your local Public Safety Telecommunicators, Indian River County has three 911 Dispatch Centers:

• Vero Beach Police Department
• Indian River County  Sheriff's Office
  • Fellesmere Police Department and Indian River Shores dispatch from the Sheriff's Office
• Sebastian Police Department

These three centers work together to ensure that everyone in Indian River County has access to emergency services. If one of the dispatch centers goes offline, the remaining ones automatically get their calls and can dispatch out their calls by working together.

To give you an idea of the amount of work that goes into this, here are some stats just for the Vero Beach Police Department, which only covers about 2% of the land area of Indian River County:
(data for 1/1/2018 - 4/9/2018)

• 14,234 Phone calls into Dispatch, 911 and non-emergency.
  • This does not include Radio traffic, or Officer Initiated events
• 12,576 Calls for Service
• 1,170 Cases assigned
• 2 Dispatch Personnel per shift, 1 call-taker 1 dispatcher.
• 280 Car Crashes worked
  • For some reason, Tuesday is the busiest day for crashes!

As you can see, they stay busy all the time!

You can also watch this video to see how a typical Dispatch center works, it was created by the City of Edina, MN and it is awesome!  Our dispatchers currently have (6) monitors to keep an eye on!

In accordance with the Commission for Florida Accreditation Version 5.05 standard 2.06M and
Vero Beach Police Department general order #79.25 Traffic Stops and Profiling, an annual
review concerning bias based profiling for the period of January 1, 2017 through December 31,
2017 has been conducted.

CFA V5.05 Standard 2.06M requires that the agency have a written directive that prohibits bias-based
profiling in accordance with Florida Statute and includes the following provisions:

A. Training agency enforcement personnel in bias based profiling issues including legal aspects; in
accordance with CJSTC guidelines.
B. Corrective measures if bias based profiling occurs.
C. Definitions to include bias based profiling and reasonable suspicion.
D. Community education and awareness efforts.
E. A documented annual administrative review of traffic stop procedures related to bias based
profiling.
F. Handling of complaints from the public.

You can check out the full report HERE (and our past year reports).

National Night Out is NEXT WEEK! Please join us on Tuesday, OCTOBER 3RD, from 5:30PM to 7:30PM, at Humiston Park, 3000 Ocean Drive, for this fun FREE family event where you get to meet and greet your local Police, Fire, EMS agencies, and many more! This is a fantastic opportunity to get to know our law enforcement, check out police vehicles and equipment, partake in kids' activities, enjoy music and FREE food!

Agencies represented include VBPD, IRCSO, Fire and EMS, FHP, FWC, US Army and Coast Guard, Humane Society, and many many more! Greet Police K-9's and watch them do a cool demonstration! Hop on the police motorcycle and snap a picture! Play games with U.S. Army soldiers or jump around in the bounce house. Try on SWAT gear and get your very own Junior Police Officer badge! Bring in your bicycle for a free bike safety check by a certified professional. Have the Chief of Police grill you a free hot dog and enjoy it under the palm trees overlooking the ocean! We have too many activities to list and they are all free for your enjoyment! Come join us and help us make this the best National Night Out ever! ​

Hurricane Irma Debris Collection Progress in Vero Beach. This does NOT include debris cleanup outside of the Vero Beach City Limits.

Hurricane Irma debris collection began Monday morning at 9:00 am. The first crew started collection at the west city limit (north of SR 60) and is working east.

Three additional crews will begin collection Tuesday morning:
One will start at the west city limit (south of SR 60) and will work east; One will start at the north city limit (beachside) and work south; One will start at the south city limit (beachside) and work north.
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All public streets will be collected first followed by private subdivisions.
We will post a collection map and update it each day.

​The following City of Vero Beach parks, beaches and recreation facilities are OPEN on Friday, September 15th:
 

• Humiston Beach Park – beach will be guarded
• South Beach Park – beach will be guarded
• Jaycee Beach Park – NO LIFEGUARDS until further notice
• Vero Beach Community Center
• Leisure Square – facility open, POOL WILL OPEN Friday, September 15th at 7:00 a.m.
• Centerstage Acrobatic Complex at Leisure Square – normal schedule
• Riverside Racquet Complex – open for normal operating hours
• Young Park
• MacWilliam Park
• Pocahontas Playground

 
Charles Park, Royal Palm Pointe, Troy Moody Park and Riverside Park North remain CLOSED until further notice.       
 
 
Please contact the Vero Beach Recreation Department at 567-2144 or Leisure Square at 770-6500 for information.

​Hurricane Irma debris collection of bulk piles is scheduled to start on Monday September 18, 2017. We will advise as to the collection route as soon as the number of crews is confirmed and will make two passes down each street.
 
Please place your debris adjacent to (not in) the road.
 
Be mindful to keep debris piles away from water meters, fire hydrants, electric transformers, storm drains, mail boxes, etc.
 
Place fencing, construction debris, electronics, and white goods in separate piles. Mixed piles will not be picked up.
 
The City will continue the regular schedule of vegetative debris pickup on Wednesdays for bagged, bundled and containerized material.

​Leisure Square will open Wednesday, September 13th at 7:00 a.m.  for fitness center members and guests. The Leisure Square pool is closed until further notice.  Centerstage gymnastics classes will resume normal schedule Wednesday, September 13th.
 
The Vero Beach Community Center, Riverside Racquet Complex, Royal Palm Pointe and all City of Vero Beach parks, playgrounds and beaches will remain closed until further notice.
 
Residents that remain without power may utilize the showers at Leisure Square (3705 16th Street) Wednesday, September 13th.  Please call Leisure Square at 770-6500 for information.
 

If you are a business in Indian River County and are in need of any information on the storm or resources following the storm, we have ESF18 Liaison here. Please contact 772-226-3982 or go to flvbeoc.com

• Businesses should register with Florida’s Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center to receive the most recent updates regarding the storm track and resources available to businesses. Please visit www.flvbeoc.com to register.
• Sheltering and evacuation information can be found at www.floridadisaster.org/info. This information represents the most recent information available.
• Hotel information can be found at www.expedia.com/florida. You can also visitwww.Airbnb.com/disaster for information on available lodging and also how to host.
• For information on fuel availability, visit www.gasbuddy.com.
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Private entities that sell emergency commodities may be permitted to re-enter following the disaster, if local law enforcement deems it to be safe. Your employees and distributors wanting to re-enter into an impacted area will need government issue ID, Proof of employment, and a letter of authorization (distributors and service providers can use a bill of lading or a work order for this requirement).