02/23/10
A good model for public accountability
OUR POSITION: The state Legislature and public agencies can learn something from North Port Police Chief Terry Lewis' response to his agency's mistake.
Government agencies make mistakes. Businesses make mistakes. People make mistakes all the time. Everyone knows that.
When they make mistakes and when the mistakes have a public impact, the public can reasonably expect certain things occur: that there is some form of appropriate sanction or penalty, and that steps are taken to ensure the mistakes will not be repeated.
We call that accountability. We can't prevent mistakes, but we can put new procedures or systems in place that make the same mistakes less likely in the future. That's what happens, ideally, after a plane crash, when the brakes on automobiles don't work, after banks using unsound financial practices shake the economy or someone tampers with a bottle of Tylenol.
The critical points are to acknowledge the error, deal with the immediate impacts and take steps to prevent a repeat. It sounds pretty straightforward, but it's amazing how difficult that process can be in practice.
Public agencies looking for a good model of accountability in response to mistakes should pay attention to recent actions taken by North Port Police Chief Terry Lewis following a recent botched 911 emergency call. Lewis got it right.
On the night of Dec. 11 last year, a call came into the North Port police station alerting the dispatcher to a car off the road with a body nearby at a semi-isolated spot. The callers couldn't remember the exact name of the street, but got something close to it.
Rather than telling the caller to wait for an officer at the store where they had made the call, the dispatcher tried to locate a street with a similar name. Unable to find it, she simply gave up. No officer was contacted.
Some 16 hours later, another call came in and the body was located. The driver was dead, but no one knew if his life could have been saved if the police response had come quicker.
Lewis immediately took responsibility for the mistake -- caused by the dispatcher, not the 911 system. He apologized. He took time to review the incident and eventually fired the dispatcher, who is now appealing her dismissal.
Although he defended his call center system -- noting operators received far more training than is required by the state -- Lewis asked outside agencies from Lee and Marion counties to review the operations. Just over a week ago, they recommended another course be added to the basic training and a more-structured "quality assurance" system be set up to monitor ongoing operations. Lewis said these steps would be taken.
Just after the incident, Lewis acknowledged "the damage (it had) done to citizen's confidence in the department." By taking the right steps, he is restoring that confidence. He got it right.
That model of "what to do" is one we hope Florida legislators follow as they review bills sponsored by state Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, and Rep. Ken Roberson, R-Port Charlotte, that would improve emergency 911 call training throughout the state. Lawmakers sidestepped the issue last session. They need to get it right this year.
Mistakes happen. It's relatively easy to acknowledge and apologize for them. In the end, though, what matters most is that reasonable, intelligent, appropriate steps are taken to make sure the same mistakes don't happen again.
That's what accountability is all about.
http://www.sunnewspapers.net/articles/edStory.aspx?articleID=452980
Showing posts with label Charlotte Sun-Herald. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charlotte Sun-Herald. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Saturday, November 21, 2009
quote from Vern Buchanan
I want to share a quote from Congressman Vern Buchanan:
"The abduction and murder of Denise Amber Lee of North Port was a horrific crime," said Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13). "The fact that her death could have been prevented makes it all the more tragic.
"Most of Florida's 911 calls are handled correctly, but any mistake can mean the difference between life and death," added Buchanan. "Standardized training and testing for 911 operators and dispatchers is a worthy concept that could help save lives in the future."
There have been several articles this week in the paper and i have not had the time to post them all.
from today's Sun papers. I'm so grateful that Rick spoke up.
Charlotte Sheriff Speaks Out
CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- One week after learning Denise Amber Lee was found dead in the woods, then-Charlotte County Chief Deputy Bill Cameron says he went on TV and apologized to Denise's father, Rick Goff, and her widower, Nathan Lee.
Cameron, who was not the sheriff at the time when Denise was murdered on Jan. 17, 2008, was second in command to then-sheriff John Davenport.
Since becoming sheriff in 2008, Cameron says it's simply "not true" that the Charlotte County Sheriff's top brass has not told the families "countless times" they regret the loss of Denise and admitted mistakes were made leading up to her death.
"We have been painted as heartless monsters by Nathan Lee," Cameron said following the kidnapping, rape and murder of Denise, a 21-year-old North Port mother of two young boys. Her father, Goff, is a 25-year veteran with the Sheriff's Office.
Cameron was with Davenport at a Jan. 24, 2008, press conference that was called because the CCSO said the media kept reporting incorrect details of Denise's murder.
Davenport told the media several reported facts regarding a 911 call from eyewitness Jane Kowalski of Tampa weren't true.
On the night of Denise's death, Kowalski called 911 after seeing a dark Camaro with someone she described as a child in the back seat banging on the window and screaming.
She gave the CCSO call taker details of every cross street the suspicious vehicle passed. She also described the driver -- later identified as Michael King -- and the left turn he took onto Toledo Blade Boulevard back toward North Port. Denise's body was found buried off Toledo Blade two days later.
Following an Internal Affairs investigation, CCSO telecommunications staff members were disciplined for not dispatching the 911 call to North Port police officers already on a massive citywide manhunt for Denise and the Camaro.
Believing CCSO telecommunications didn't follow protocol, Nathan notified the CCSO he intended to sue for negligence and wrongful death on behalf of himself, Denise's estate, her two young sons and Denise's parents, Rick and Susan Goff.
In October, his attorney filed the lawsuit at the Charlotte County Justice Center in Punta Gorda.
Nathan has held several news conferences since Denise's death. After filing the lawsuit, he said he "never" received an apology for the critical information not reaching deputies on the night of his wife's murder.
Cameron said he couldn't speak for Davenport, but said he did apologize to the family and gave Rick and Nathan $100,000 collected by Sheriff's Office employees last year.
"After the press conference we held (on Jan. 24, 2008), we heard Rick Goff was upset because we did not apologize," Cameron said. "That wasn't the reason for the press conference, but I understood Rick was upset. After the press conference ended, I found a reporter from SNN and publicly on television, I said the Sheriff's Office was very sorry for what had happened."
Goff said he saw Cameron on SNN but didn't consider his remarks "real" because he was told the four people from the CCSO who wrote the speech didn't think to include an apology during the press conference.
"I was told by the (then) sheriff that sheriffs don't make a habit of apologizing," Goff said Friday.
Since Jan. 24, 2008, "I've apologized many times," Cameron said. "It was an emotional time for the Sheriff's Office. This is our family. Nate Lee is not our family, but Rick Goff is. This agency was devastated. We love Rick Goff."
Cameron said Nathan has "kicked us in the teeth."
"(Nathan) hired a public relations firm and is trying to win a lawsuit," he said. "Some of what has been done has been calculated by the firm."
Cameron said this week that Davenport apologized to the family in a "Dateline NBC" interview that aired in June 2008.
Davenport was shown twice during the hour-long special, but transcripts indicate he did not apologize to the family. He was asked if the botched 911 call was a missed opportunity, and he answered "certainly it was."
But Davenport said in the interview the handling of the call may not have changed the outcome that night. He said the assumption that Charlotte County "screwed up" and could've saved Denise's life is wrong.
If his department could be accused of anything, the sheriff told "Dateline," it would be trying too hard that night.
"Because it was one of our own (Rick Goff), and we knew it, and all the resources were being sent, it was chaos. It was stressful. I mean, in the course of trying to do too much, frankly, I think they missed the call," he said.
Davenport also told "Dateline" there was "no punishment" he could ever give the operators that they're not already facing themselves and living with every day.
"They feel terrible about this. Terrible," Davenport said to "Dateline." "I have total confidence in people that have been involved in this. I truly do. And they've been under pressure many times before. But they didn't make the mistake. This time they did. We all have."
Nathan said despite Davenport admitting mistakes were made, the CCSO continues to create obstacles for him, even before he filed the lawsuit.
He said the CCSO gave him a heavily redacted Internal Affairs report from the telecommunications employees suspensions. Nathan said he needed the report before filing the lawsuit. He also found out "Dateline" had obtained a "clean," unredacted copy of the document.
After taking the CCSO to court over the issue, the CCSO attorney told him to file a lawsuit to receive a clean copy. A judge agreed.
Cameron said he was "unaware" that "Dateline" ever requested a copy of the investigative report.
"Legally, we have to redact protected information about the case," Cameron said. "(Kowalski's) information has to be protected. At the time of Nathan's request, King was still being tried in court. It was an ongoing investigation. Rick works here. He could come in and see the report whenever he wants."
Nathan claims Kowalski wanted people to know who she is because she has gone on "Dateline" and other national TV shows to tell her story. She also testified in court during King's trial.
"That doesn't matter," Cameron said. "The law says we have to redact that part of the report. We told Nathan's attorneys that if they had any questions about the redacted information, that we would answer them."
Next, Nathan said the CCSO filed a motion last week to have the wrongful death lawsuit thrown out of court. Court records show the CCSO believes the agency didn't have to protect Denise any differently than any other citizen. However, on the day of the murder, the North Port Police Department issued a "be on the look out" for Denise two hours before Kowalski's call came into the CCSO dispatch center.
"I don't want to get into a fighting match with the sheriff," Nathan said. "It's tough for Rick because he works for the Sheriff's Office and he's part of my family. He loves his grandsons and his daughter so much.
"I expected the CCSO would try to block the lawsuit because they don't want to pay for their grievous incompetence," he added. "I just think the taxpayers need to know that their money is going to fight our family. The CCSO's actions speak louder than their words."
Cameron said he couldn't discuss the lawsuit, but the Sheriff's Office is supportive of Goff.
"Rick and I stay in touch all of the time," he said. "After this happened, I was with Rick and Nate the whole weekend. I kept them up to date with everything we knew."
During King's two-week murder trial in September, Cameron showed up for 25 minutes one day to support Goff. That's the last time Goff said he saw or spoke to Cameron.
Cameron maintains his agency "worked hard" to help with the details and police work needed to bring King to justice. A judge will sentence King to either death or life in prison in December.
"We worked closely with the North Port Police Department and other agencies to bring the case to a successful close," Cameron said. "You won't hear about that because our agency has been painted like the bad guy."
The Sheriff's Office recently lent support for proposed legislation by state Rep. Ken Roberson, R-Port Charlotte, for a 911 mandatory training bill he is confident will pass next year.
Cameron said he has been working with Roberson for "a long time" in drafting the proposed legislation.
According to CCSO spokesman Bob Carpenter, "the sheriff has been in Tallahassee a few times before, giving input on this legislation."
E-mail: eallen@sun-herald.com
By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
North Port Community News Editor
"The abduction and murder of Denise Amber Lee of North Port was a horrific crime," said Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13). "The fact that her death could have been prevented makes it all the more tragic.
"Most of Florida's 911 calls are handled correctly, but any mistake can mean the difference between life and death," added Buchanan. "Standardized training and testing for 911 operators and dispatchers is a worthy concept that could help save lives in the future."
There have been several articles this week in the paper and i have not had the time to post them all.
from today's Sun papers. I'm so grateful that Rick spoke up.
Charlotte Sheriff Speaks Out
CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- One week after learning Denise Amber Lee was found dead in the woods, then-Charlotte County Chief Deputy Bill Cameron says he went on TV and apologized to Denise's father, Rick Goff, and her widower, Nathan Lee.
Cameron, who was not the sheriff at the time when Denise was murdered on Jan. 17, 2008, was second in command to then-sheriff John Davenport.
Since becoming sheriff in 2008, Cameron says it's simply "not true" that the Charlotte County Sheriff's top brass has not told the families "countless times" they regret the loss of Denise and admitted mistakes were made leading up to her death.
"We have been painted as heartless monsters by Nathan Lee," Cameron said following the kidnapping, rape and murder of Denise, a 21-year-old North Port mother of two young boys. Her father, Goff, is a 25-year veteran with the Sheriff's Office.
Cameron was with Davenport at a Jan. 24, 2008, press conference that was called because the CCSO said the media kept reporting incorrect details of Denise's murder.
Davenport told the media several reported facts regarding a 911 call from eyewitness Jane Kowalski of Tampa weren't true.
On the night of Denise's death, Kowalski called 911 after seeing a dark Camaro with someone she described as a child in the back seat banging on the window and screaming.
She gave the CCSO call taker details of every cross street the suspicious vehicle passed. She also described the driver -- later identified as Michael King -- and the left turn he took onto Toledo Blade Boulevard back toward North Port. Denise's body was found buried off Toledo Blade two days later.
Following an Internal Affairs investigation, CCSO telecommunications staff members were disciplined for not dispatching the 911 call to North Port police officers already on a massive citywide manhunt for Denise and the Camaro.
Believing CCSO telecommunications didn't follow protocol, Nathan notified the CCSO he intended to sue for negligence and wrongful death on behalf of himself, Denise's estate, her two young sons and Denise's parents, Rick and Susan Goff.
In October, his attorney filed the lawsuit at the Charlotte County Justice Center in Punta Gorda.
Nathan has held several news conferences since Denise's death. After filing the lawsuit, he said he "never" received an apology for the critical information not reaching deputies on the night of his wife's murder.
Cameron said he couldn't speak for Davenport, but said he did apologize to the family and gave Rick and Nathan $100,000 collected by Sheriff's Office employees last year.
"After the press conference we held (on Jan. 24, 2008), we heard Rick Goff was upset because we did not apologize," Cameron said. "That wasn't the reason for the press conference, but I understood Rick was upset. After the press conference ended, I found a reporter from SNN and publicly on television, I said the Sheriff's Office was very sorry for what had happened."
Goff said he saw Cameron on SNN but didn't consider his remarks "real" because he was told the four people from the CCSO who wrote the speech didn't think to include an apology during the press conference.
"I was told by the (then) sheriff that sheriffs don't make a habit of apologizing," Goff said Friday.
Since Jan. 24, 2008, "I've apologized many times," Cameron said. "It was an emotional time for the Sheriff's Office. This is our family. Nate Lee is not our family, but Rick Goff is. This agency was devastated. We love Rick Goff."
Cameron said Nathan has "kicked us in the teeth."
"(Nathan) hired a public relations firm and is trying to win a lawsuit," he said. "Some of what has been done has been calculated by the firm."
Cameron said this week that Davenport apologized to the family in a "Dateline NBC" interview that aired in June 2008.
Davenport was shown twice during the hour-long special, but transcripts indicate he did not apologize to the family. He was asked if the botched 911 call was a missed opportunity, and he answered "certainly it was."
But Davenport said in the interview the handling of the call may not have changed the outcome that night. He said the assumption that Charlotte County "screwed up" and could've saved Denise's life is wrong.
If his department could be accused of anything, the sheriff told "Dateline," it would be trying too hard that night.
"Because it was one of our own (Rick Goff), and we knew it, and all the resources were being sent, it was chaos. It was stressful. I mean, in the course of trying to do too much, frankly, I think they missed the call," he said.
Davenport also told "Dateline" there was "no punishment" he could ever give the operators that they're not already facing themselves and living with every day.
"They feel terrible about this. Terrible," Davenport said to "Dateline." "I have total confidence in people that have been involved in this. I truly do. And they've been under pressure many times before. But they didn't make the mistake. This time they did. We all have."
Nathan said despite Davenport admitting mistakes were made, the CCSO continues to create obstacles for him, even before he filed the lawsuit.
He said the CCSO gave him a heavily redacted Internal Affairs report from the telecommunications employees suspensions. Nathan said he needed the report before filing the lawsuit. He also found out "Dateline" had obtained a "clean," unredacted copy of the document.
After taking the CCSO to court over the issue, the CCSO attorney told him to file a lawsuit to receive a clean copy. A judge agreed.
Cameron said he was "unaware" that "Dateline" ever requested a copy of the investigative report.
"Legally, we have to redact protected information about the case," Cameron said. "(Kowalski's) information has to be protected. At the time of Nathan's request, King was still being tried in court. It was an ongoing investigation. Rick works here. He could come in and see the report whenever he wants."
Nathan claims Kowalski wanted people to know who she is because she has gone on "Dateline" and other national TV shows to tell her story. She also testified in court during King's trial.
"That doesn't matter," Cameron said. "The law says we have to redact that part of the report. We told Nathan's attorneys that if they had any questions about the redacted information, that we would answer them."
Next, Nathan said the CCSO filed a motion last week to have the wrongful death lawsuit thrown out of court. Court records show the CCSO believes the agency didn't have to protect Denise any differently than any other citizen. However, on the day of the murder, the North Port Police Department issued a "be on the look out" for Denise two hours before Kowalski's call came into the CCSO dispatch center.
"I don't want to get into a fighting match with the sheriff," Nathan said. "It's tough for Rick because he works for the Sheriff's Office and he's part of my family. He loves his grandsons and his daughter so much.
"I expected the CCSO would try to block the lawsuit because they don't want to pay for their grievous incompetence," he added. "I just think the taxpayers need to know that their money is going to fight our family. The CCSO's actions speak louder than their words."
Cameron said he couldn't discuss the lawsuit, but the Sheriff's Office is supportive of Goff.
"Rick and I stay in touch all of the time," he said. "After this happened, I was with Rick and Nate the whole weekend. I kept them up to date with everything we knew."
During King's two-week murder trial in September, Cameron showed up for 25 minutes one day to support Goff. That's the last time Goff said he saw or spoke to Cameron.
Cameron maintains his agency "worked hard" to help with the details and police work needed to bring King to justice. A judge will sentence King to either death or life in prison in December.
"We worked closely with the North Port Police Department and other agencies to bring the case to a successful close," Cameron said. "You won't hear about that because our agency has been painted like the bad guy."
The Sheriff's Office recently lent support for proposed legislation by state Rep. Ken Roberson, R-Port Charlotte, for a 911 mandatory training bill he is confident will pass next year.
Cameron said he has been working with Roberson for "a long time" in drafting the proposed legislation.
According to CCSO spokesman Bob Carpenter, "the sheriff has been in Tallahassee a few times before, giving input on this legislation."
E-mail: eallen@sun-herald.com
By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
North Port Community News Editor
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Today's Sun Herald by Elaine Allen-Emrich
The nice thing about today's article is the Sun had a picture of Denise and Nathan. Usually the papers print a picture of Denise and a shot of King or they print a picture of Nathan and a shot of King. Today there was one of Nate and one of Denise. I know this sounds like a silly comment but it's been difficult and, yes, painful at times seeing Denise and King's pictures taking up the same print on the same page.
As to the article and Bill Cameron all I can say is "friggin' unbelievable".
Sheriff's Office Wants Lees Lawsuit Thrown Out
Published on: Saturday, November 14th, 2009
PUNTA GORDA -- The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office has asked that the civil lawsuit Nathan Lee filed against the agency a month ago in the death of his wife Denise be thrown out of court, according to court documents filed this week.
The CCSO states the case should be dismissed with prejudice and asks for Lee to pay court fees.
In the 13-page motion, the Sheriff's Office claims no responsibility for Denise Amber Lee's death due to a "mishandled" 911 call because her murder was committed by a third party -- Michael King.
The motion states, "Absent a special duty to protect a person from being victimized by a criminal act, a governmental agency's duty to protect a citizen is a general duty owed to the public at large, and any actions taken in fulfilling that responsibility will not be subject to scrutiny by way of a suit for damages."
A court hearing has not been set yet in the case..
Lee maintains that a 911 call taker and dispatchers failed to send any help for his wife on Jan. 17, 2008, after an eyewitness, Jane Kowalski, called to report suspicious activity in the vehicle next to her while she was driving south on U.S. 41 in Charlotte County. Denise, 21, had been kidnapped by King from her North Port home and was blindfolded and bound in the back seat of his Camaro, which was traveling near Kowalski's car.
In a detailed, nine-minute call, Kowalski told a 911 call taker that the person in the Camaro's back seat was screaming and slapping the window. King turned left on Toledo Blade Boulevard, and Kowalski was unable to follow.
Denise's body was found two days later in a wooded area off Toledo Blade.
Lee claims the botched handling of the 911 call in the CCSO dispatch center helped lead to Denise's death. He says employees proved "severe incompetence" in handling the 911 call and "breached their duties" by incorrectly performing numerous operational acts -- including failing to timely air BOLOs about King's Camaro from the North Port Police Department to deputies, failing to communicate the information from Kowalski, failing to timely log her call into the system for 12 minutes after the call was made, and failing to dispatch the information from the call.
"I just think people who live in Charlotte County should be concerned that (the CCSO) are saying they had no duty to protect Denise," Lee said Friday. "It's so unbelievable to say."
Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Cameron was named as the defendant in Lee's 17-page wrongful death lawsuit. Although Cameron was not the sheriff at the time -- John Davenport was -- Lee is required to name him on behalf of the Sheriff's Office for legal purposes, said his attorney, Patrick Boyle of Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz.
Boyle said he expected the Sheriff's Office to fight the suit "every step of the way."
"It's common for challenges in most civil cases," Lee agreed.
The civil suit doesn't specify an amount Lee is seeking. State law allows only $200,000 to be awarded in a settlement of such a suit, but a jury can award more.
The CCSO conducted an Internal Affairs investigation following the incident. Two dispatchers were suspended for not following protocol.
The sheriff's motion filed this week states Lee's lawsuit puts a spin on the 911 call, saying that because Kowalski called 911 and alerted law enforcement about the situation, she didn't take any further action to help Denise (because she expected the Sheriff's Office to respond timely) -- "thereby increasing the risk of harm faced by Mrs. Lee."
In the call, Kowalski gave specific street names and explained that King turned onto Toledo Blade. She told the operator she didn't follow him because traffic was too heavy. Kowalski pulled over and asked that someone follow up with her.
The operator indicated in the call that the vehicle was headed toward Interstate 75.
Denise's body was found less than a mile from the Interstate. King was pulled over as he entered I-75 nearly three hours after Kowalski's call.
The CCSO motion also contends that no special relationship existed between the Sheriff's Office and Denise compared to anyone else in the general public -- meaning she wasn't entitled to any special protection.
The CCSO suggests the agency is only liable when a special relationship exists if employees make promises to provide assistance "uniquely responsive to someone, and the person relies upon those assurances to his detriment," according to the motion.
Jurors recommended the death penalty for King in September. A Sarasota judge ultimately will decide his fate in December.
E-mail: eallen@sun-herald.com
By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
As to the article and Bill Cameron all I can say is "friggin' unbelievable".
Sheriff's Office Wants Lees Lawsuit Thrown Out
Published on: Saturday, November 14th, 2009
PUNTA GORDA -- The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office has asked that the civil lawsuit Nathan Lee filed against the agency a month ago in the death of his wife Denise be thrown out of court, according to court documents filed this week.
The CCSO states the case should be dismissed with prejudice and asks for Lee to pay court fees.
In the 13-page motion, the Sheriff's Office claims no responsibility for Denise Amber Lee's death due to a "mishandled" 911 call because her murder was committed by a third party -- Michael King.
The motion states, "Absent a special duty to protect a person from being victimized by a criminal act, a governmental agency's duty to protect a citizen is a general duty owed to the public at large, and any actions taken in fulfilling that responsibility will not be subject to scrutiny by way of a suit for damages."
A court hearing has not been set yet in the case..
Lee maintains that a 911 call taker and dispatchers failed to send any help for his wife on Jan. 17, 2008, after an eyewitness, Jane Kowalski, called to report suspicious activity in the vehicle next to her while she was driving south on U.S. 41 in Charlotte County. Denise, 21, had been kidnapped by King from her North Port home and was blindfolded and bound in the back seat of his Camaro, which was traveling near Kowalski's car.
In a detailed, nine-minute call, Kowalski told a 911 call taker that the person in the Camaro's back seat was screaming and slapping the window. King turned left on Toledo Blade Boulevard, and Kowalski was unable to follow.
Denise's body was found two days later in a wooded area off Toledo Blade.
Lee claims the botched handling of the 911 call in the CCSO dispatch center helped lead to Denise's death. He says employees proved "severe incompetence" in handling the 911 call and "breached their duties" by incorrectly performing numerous operational acts -- including failing to timely air BOLOs about King's Camaro from the North Port Police Department to deputies, failing to communicate the information from Kowalski, failing to timely log her call into the system for 12 minutes after the call was made, and failing to dispatch the information from the call.
"I just think people who live in Charlotte County should be concerned that (the CCSO) are saying they had no duty to protect Denise," Lee said Friday. "It's so unbelievable to say."
Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Cameron was named as the defendant in Lee's 17-page wrongful death lawsuit. Although Cameron was not the sheriff at the time -- John Davenport was -- Lee is required to name him on behalf of the Sheriff's Office for legal purposes, said his attorney, Patrick Boyle of Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz.
Boyle said he expected the Sheriff's Office to fight the suit "every step of the way."
"It's common for challenges in most civil cases," Lee agreed.
The civil suit doesn't specify an amount Lee is seeking. State law allows only $200,000 to be awarded in a settlement of such a suit, but a jury can award more.
The CCSO conducted an Internal Affairs investigation following the incident. Two dispatchers were suspended for not following protocol.
The sheriff's motion filed this week states Lee's lawsuit puts a spin on the 911 call, saying that because Kowalski called 911 and alerted law enforcement about the situation, she didn't take any further action to help Denise (because she expected the Sheriff's Office to respond timely) -- "thereby increasing the risk of harm faced by Mrs. Lee."
In the call, Kowalski gave specific street names and explained that King turned onto Toledo Blade. She told the operator she didn't follow him because traffic was too heavy. Kowalski pulled over and asked that someone follow up with her.
The operator indicated in the call that the vehicle was headed toward Interstate 75.
Denise's body was found less than a mile from the Interstate. King was pulled over as he entered I-75 nearly three hours after Kowalski's call.
The CCSO motion also contends that no special relationship existed between the Sheriff's Office and Denise compared to anyone else in the general public -- meaning she wasn't entitled to any special protection.
The CCSO suggests the agency is only liable when a special relationship exists if employees make promises to provide assistance "uniquely responsive to someone, and the person relies upon those assurances to his detriment," according to the motion.
Jurors recommended the death penalty for King in September. A Sarasota judge ultimately will decide his fate in December.
E-mail: eallen@sun-herald.com
By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Saved for posterity "Letters to the Editor"
07/28/09
Not willing to sacrifice safety
Editor:
I hope Commissioner Duffy's colleagues join her in her support of Sheriff Cameron's budget.
The safety of our community and every family in it is at risk if further cuts are made. To reduce the budget further will mean layoffs. That, in turn, will mean increased response times.
Please ask yourself, "How long am I willing to wait for a deputy when I call 911?" Then ask, "Am I willing to take the risk that he or she might get there too late?"
I am asking everyone in Charlotte County to contact commissioners and deliver this message: We are willing to sacrifice many services due to the county's budget problems, but our safety is not one of them.
Jeff Jubenville
Port Charlotte
7/31/2009
Why are Charlotte costs so high?
Editor:
Having lived in Charlotte County for about 15 years, I have watched the typical government costs per voter rise by absurd annual rates with the new benefits provided bearing little relationship to same.
The Sheriff's Office is a blazing example of this, with new facilities and new vehicles of which four or more can show up at a fender bender. Meanwhile, sheriff's vehicles are observed watching red light runners,
speeders and no signal lane changers without any action. These visible situations are hopefully offset by more effective efforts elsewhere.
The voter outrage has dwindled to only an occasional outburst or some success at the polls in electing new players. This apathy is a sad reflection on all of us and something I hope the current commissioners and sheriff have the guts to change. Throw in the current economic
situation and one wonders how the current commissioners and sheriff can look into a mirror and be proud of their inaction.
As to the current sheriff's budget situation, using the sheriff's numbers and the current populations for Charlotte, Sarasota and Lee counties, the cost per capita for the sheriff's budget are: Charlotte, $390 per capita; Sarasota, $232 per capita; Lee, $264 per capita.
It appears that considerable fat exists in county government, especially within the Sheriff's Department. Once again, this voter is asking why.
Mike Reinhard
Port Charlotte
My thoughts: Let's see.. Charlotte spends $390 per capita, while Sarasota spends $232 per capita. Yet! Sarasota County handled four of the 9-1-1 calls regarding Denise superbly, while Charlotte County only handled one and well.... we all know by now what happened to Denise. In any case, it boggles the mind. And Mr. or Deputy Jubenville (I seem to remember seeing his name in the IA and he works for the CCSO, my bad if I'm wrong but I don't think I am) has the audacity to bring up 9-1-1 in his letter. I don't normally cuss all I can say is WTF?
Also in the news this past week was Sheriff Cameron helping a hapless boat while out boating himself. And he arrested two robbers while off duty when they ran a stop sign. What a guy! All he needs now is an "S" on his chest. I would love to see the Sun write a story on just how much this cast of characters gets paid. How much vacation time they get and any other perks they receive. Because the night Denise died they couldn't afford to pay an operator over time to watch the BOLO machine. Yet I hear and would love to have it verified that Bill Cameron is the highest paid Charlotte County employee. Hate to sound bitter but..... something stinks.
Again, all my opinions are my own and just a release of anger and frustration I feel. But Charlotte County really does need to wake up.
The Suns editorial today:
07/31/09
Growth in sheriff budget must stop
OUR POSITION: Sheriff's Office spending must be reined in.
Public safety is a basic function of local government. The men and women who protect and serve the residents of Charlotte County deserve and have our respect and admiration for the difficult and often dangerous work they do. But as work continues on next year's budget, it is clear to us that the growth of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office budget has to stop and the department's spending aligned with fiscal realities.
Over the past few years, taxpayers have revolted against rising local government spending. Budget cuts forced by legislative fiat and exacerbated by revenue losses due to the collapse of the housing market have taken a significant toll on county government. This year alone, the commission slashed $50 million in operational costs and capital projects from the county budget.
Yet the sheriff's office budget since 2004 has risen 48.5 percent, from $40.5 million to $60 million. Over the same period, the population of the county has actually fallen, from about 157,000 to about 150,000.
The sheriff's budget is made up of three elements, including law enforcement, courts and corrections. The corrections element is actually a county function that the commission contracts out to the sheriff. The construction of a new county jail and its current expansion have contributed to the growth of the sheriff's budget, so for the purposes of this analysis, we have backed out jail operational costs.
The result? The sheriff's office budget has increased by a higher percentage. From 2004 to 2008, it has ballooned by 53 percent, or $15.1 million, from $28.5 million to $43.6 million.
Earlier this month, Sheriff Bill Cameron offered to trim 2 percent from his budget in response to a request from the commission to find 15 percent in cuts. Recently the commission voted 3-2 to reject that $58.6 million proposed budget. It remains to be seen whether the stalemate will be settled here or in Tallahassee, where Cameron could appeal to the governor if the commission holds its ground.
The rise in the budget is attributable to two initiatives undertaken by Cameron's predecessor, John Davenport, and continued upon Cameron's election in 2008: pay raises and hiring. We have supported the effort to bring officer pay in line with other area departments, so we will focus on the latter issue. Both Davenport and Cameron have been seeking a ratio of 2 officers per 1,000 residents. The current ratio is 1.8 officers per 1,000 residents.
The figure is arbitrary and obviously costly. Along Florida's Gulf Coast, only Collier County surpasses the ratio, while counties like Hillsborough (1.5), Pasco (1.3) and Sarasota (1.6) fall well short. According to the Department of Justice, the average ratio for areas with populations between 100,000 and 250,000 is 1.9.
The local ratio distorts reality because it includes the population for the entire county, but excludes the 37 police officers in Punta Gorda, where the sheriff's office performs only limited law enforcement duties.
We take public safety very seriously and have no doubt Sheriff Cameron is pursuing policies he believes best achieves our common goal. But the commission is correct to finally tighten the reins on spending in the sheriff's office and we encourage the board to stand firm.
Not willing to sacrifice safety
Editor:
I hope Commissioner Duffy's colleagues join her in her support of Sheriff Cameron's budget.
The safety of our community and every family in it is at risk if further cuts are made. To reduce the budget further will mean layoffs. That, in turn, will mean increased response times.
Please ask yourself, "How long am I willing to wait for a deputy when I call 911?" Then ask, "Am I willing to take the risk that he or she might get there too late?"
I am asking everyone in Charlotte County to contact commissioners and deliver this message: We are willing to sacrifice many services due to the county's budget problems, but our safety is not one of them.
Jeff Jubenville
Port Charlotte
7/31/2009
Why are Charlotte costs so high?
Editor:
Having lived in Charlotte County for about 15 years, I have watched the typical government costs per voter rise by absurd annual rates with the new benefits provided bearing little relationship to same.
The Sheriff's Office is a blazing example of this, with new facilities and new vehicles of which four or more can show up at a fender bender. Meanwhile, sheriff's vehicles are observed watching red light runners,
speeders and no signal lane changers without any action. These visible situations are hopefully offset by more effective efforts elsewhere.
The voter outrage has dwindled to only an occasional outburst or some success at the polls in electing new players. This apathy is a sad reflection on all of us and something I hope the current commissioners and sheriff have the guts to change. Throw in the current economic
situation and one wonders how the current commissioners and sheriff can look into a mirror and be proud of their inaction.
As to the current sheriff's budget situation, using the sheriff's numbers and the current populations for Charlotte, Sarasota and Lee counties, the cost per capita for the sheriff's budget are: Charlotte, $390 per capita; Sarasota, $232 per capita; Lee, $264 per capita.
It appears that considerable fat exists in county government, especially within the Sheriff's Department. Once again, this voter is asking why.
Mike Reinhard
Port Charlotte
My thoughts: Let's see.. Charlotte spends $390 per capita, while Sarasota spends $232 per capita. Yet! Sarasota County handled four of the 9-1-1 calls regarding Denise superbly, while Charlotte County only handled one and well.... we all know by now what happened to Denise. In any case, it boggles the mind. And Mr. or Deputy Jubenville (I seem to remember seeing his name in the IA and he works for the CCSO, my bad if I'm wrong but I don't think I am) has the audacity to bring up 9-1-1 in his letter. I don't normally cuss all I can say is WTF?
Also in the news this past week was Sheriff Cameron helping a hapless boat while out boating himself. And he arrested two robbers while off duty when they ran a stop sign. What a guy! All he needs now is an "S" on his chest. I would love to see the Sun write a story on just how much this cast of characters gets paid. How much vacation time they get and any other perks they receive. Because the night Denise died they couldn't afford to pay an operator over time to watch the BOLO machine. Yet I hear and would love to have it verified that Bill Cameron is the highest paid Charlotte County employee. Hate to sound bitter but..... something stinks.
Again, all my opinions are my own and just a release of anger and frustration I feel. But Charlotte County really does need to wake up.
The Suns editorial today:
07/31/09
Growth in sheriff budget must stop
OUR POSITION: Sheriff's Office spending must be reined in.
Public safety is a basic function of local government. The men and women who protect and serve the residents of Charlotte County deserve and have our respect and admiration for the difficult and often dangerous work they do. But as work continues on next year's budget, it is clear to us that the growth of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office budget has to stop and the department's spending aligned with fiscal realities.
Over the past few years, taxpayers have revolted against rising local government spending. Budget cuts forced by legislative fiat and exacerbated by revenue losses due to the collapse of the housing market have taken a significant toll on county government. This year alone, the commission slashed $50 million in operational costs and capital projects from the county budget.
Yet the sheriff's office budget since 2004 has risen 48.5 percent, from $40.5 million to $60 million. Over the same period, the population of the county has actually fallen, from about 157,000 to about 150,000.
The sheriff's budget is made up of three elements, including law enforcement, courts and corrections. The corrections element is actually a county function that the commission contracts out to the sheriff. The construction of a new county jail and its current expansion have contributed to the growth of the sheriff's budget, so for the purposes of this analysis, we have backed out jail operational costs.
The result? The sheriff's office budget has increased by a higher percentage. From 2004 to 2008, it has ballooned by 53 percent, or $15.1 million, from $28.5 million to $43.6 million.
Earlier this month, Sheriff Bill Cameron offered to trim 2 percent from his budget in response to a request from the commission to find 15 percent in cuts. Recently the commission voted 3-2 to reject that $58.6 million proposed budget. It remains to be seen whether the stalemate will be settled here or in Tallahassee, where Cameron could appeal to the governor if the commission holds its ground.
The rise in the budget is attributable to two initiatives undertaken by Cameron's predecessor, John Davenport, and continued upon Cameron's election in 2008: pay raises and hiring. We have supported the effort to bring officer pay in line with other area departments, so we will focus on the latter issue. Both Davenport and Cameron have been seeking a ratio of 2 officers per 1,000 residents. The current ratio is 1.8 officers per 1,000 residents.
The figure is arbitrary and obviously costly. Along Florida's Gulf Coast, only Collier County surpasses the ratio, while counties like Hillsborough (1.5), Pasco (1.3) and Sarasota (1.6) fall well short. According to the Department of Justice, the average ratio for areas with populations between 100,000 and 250,000 is 1.9.
The local ratio distorts reality because it includes the population for the entire county, but excludes the 37 police officers in Punta Gorda, where the sheriff's office performs only limited law enforcement duties.
We take public safety very seriously and have no doubt Sheriff Cameron is pursuing policies he believes best achieves our common goal. But the commission is correct to finally tighten the reins on spending in the sheriff's office and we encourage the board to stand firm.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Cameron shies away from public accountability
No comment. I just wanted to save this for posterity:o) But, I sure hope the citizens of Charlotte County wake up and demand better.
link: http://www.sunnewspapers.net/articles/edStory.aspx?articleID=439271
06/19/09
Cameron shies away from public accountability
OUR POSITION: We're dismayed that the Charlotte County sheriff managed to side-step a public budget review session.
Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Cameron found a convenient way last week to avoid potentially awkward public scrutiny of his $60 million budget: He pulled the plug.
Instead of meeting with all county commissioners in front of the public access TV cameras, Cameron opted to sit down with each board member, one-on-one, behind closed doors. No sunshine. No wide-ranging group discussion.
He even said he hadn't realized there had been a scheduled public budget session in the first place.
"Unbeknownst to me, I had already set up meetings with them. I didn't know they were doing that," the sheriff told Sun staffer Neil Hughes after the public meeting was canceled.
"It's much easier for me to talk with all five of them individually."
Of course it is.
As a constitutional officer, Cameron isn't necessarily required to go through his budget with the commission. He submits it; they either accept it as presented or not. If they reject it, he can appeal to the state, and Cameron has said he would do that if it were necessary. He shouldn't, but that's another issue.
In Sarasota, Sheriff Tom Knight gave an extensive, public budget rundown to commissioners Wednesday. He even posted his 27-page presentation on his Web site (www.sarasotasheriff.org.) No issue there. It was just the right thing to do.
One major point of the exercise is to let the tax-paying public in on the process. It is an opportunity for the sheriff to explain and to justify his department's spending at a time when all government is under extreme stress. The dismal climate has meant greater fiscal scrutiny for all departments, from libraries to planning services, kids' recreation to senior services.
It may even be a quarrelsome process, but it's always a healthy one. The public gets to find out what it's paying for. The sheriff gets to explain his approach to public safety, a core function of local government.
The big problem is that the sheriff's budget accounts for an enormous chunk of overall county spending. And as everyone knows, Charlotte County is looking at dramatic cuts this year, maybe as much as $50 million. More cuts in the Sheriff's Office could mean far fewer smaller cuts elsewhere. That's another reason to come clean in public, so citizens can weigh the various interests.
As it is, Cameron already has cut back 2 percent this year. That's nothing to be sneezed at, but it's far from the 15 percent in concessions sought by Commissioner Bob Starr. Starr has attacked most other parts of the county budget with a Bowie knife, so it's no surprise he expects a little more from the police. He's been tough with everyone else, so we all know he'll be tough with the sheriff.
But other commissioners have agreed that law enforcement shouldn't be subject to drastic cuts. They're willing to cut him some slack. Now, as Commissioner Adam Cummings said, the exercise has been short-circuited.
"It was always about getting the sheriff in front of us to make some more concessions, and he didn't play that game," Cummings said.
By avoiding a public hearing, Cameron has skipped out on an opportunity to explain and justify why his department needs this level of funding at this tough time. It's called accountability.
The sheriff took the easy way out, and the tax-paying public loses. Maybe it's time to man up.
link: http://www.sunnewspapers.net/articles/edStory.aspx?articleID=439271
06/19/09
Cameron shies away from public accountability
OUR POSITION: We're dismayed that the Charlotte County sheriff managed to side-step a public budget review session.
Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Cameron found a convenient way last week to avoid potentially awkward public scrutiny of his $60 million budget: He pulled the plug.
Instead of meeting with all county commissioners in front of the public access TV cameras, Cameron opted to sit down with each board member, one-on-one, behind closed doors. No sunshine. No wide-ranging group discussion.
He even said he hadn't realized there had been a scheduled public budget session in the first place.
"Unbeknownst to me, I had already set up meetings with them. I didn't know they were doing that," the sheriff told Sun staffer Neil Hughes after the public meeting was canceled.
"It's much easier for me to talk with all five of them individually."
Of course it is.
As a constitutional officer, Cameron isn't necessarily required to go through his budget with the commission. He submits it; they either accept it as presented or not. If they reject it, he can appeal to the state, and Cameron has said he would do that if it were necessary. He shouldn't, but that's another issue.
In Sarasota, Sheriff Tom Knight gave an extensive, public budget rundown to commissioners Wednesday. He even posted his 27-page presentation on his Web site (www.sarasotasheriff.org.) No issue there. It was just the right thing to do.
One major point of the exercise is to let the tax-paying public in on the process. It is an opportunity for the sheriff to explain and to justify his department's spending at a time when all government is under extreme stress. The dismal climate has meant greater fiscal scrutiny for all departments, from libraries to planning services, kids' recreation to senior services.
It may even be a quarrelsome process, but it's always a healthy one. The public gets to find out what it's paying for. The sheriff gets to explain his approach to public safety, a core function of local government.
The big problem is that the sheriff's budget accounts for an enormous chunk of overall county spending. And as everyone knows, Charlotte County is looking at dramatic cuts this year, maybe as much as $50 million. More cuts in the Sheriff's Office could mean far fewer smaller cuts elsewhere. That's another reason to come clean in public, so citizens can weigh the various interests.
As it is, Cameron already has cut back 2 percent this year. That's nothing to be sneezed at, but it's far from the 15 percent in concessions sought by Commissioner Bob Starr. Starr has attacked most other parts of the county budget with a Bowie knife, so it's no surprise he expects a little more from the police. He's been tough with everyone else, so we all know he'll be tough with the sheriff.
But other commissioners have agreed that law enforcement shouldn't be subject to drastic cuts. They're willing to cut him some slack. Now, as Commissioner Adam Cummings said, the exercise has been short-circuited.
"It was always about getting the sheriff in front of us to make some more concessions, and he didn't play that game," Cummings said.
By avoiding a public hearing, Cameron has skipped out on an opportunity to explain and justify why his department needs this level of funding at this tough time. It's called accountability.
The sheriff took the easy way out, and the tax-paying public loses. Maybe it's time to man up.
Friday, June 12, 2009
I don't know how I missed this in the Charlotte Sun!!!
Nathan Lee pushing for national 911 changes
By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
North Port Community News Editor
Hundreds of telecommunication employees throughout the United States who were visiting a booth sponsored by a local foundation learned about how a Southwest Florida mother of two young boys was kidnapped, raped and murdered and how her story will help change the industry.
In-between speaking to hundreds at the National Emergency Number Association Emergency Help conference Tuesday through Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas, Nathan Lee shared his story before a crowd of about 2,400 attendees.
Nathan, whose wife, Denise Amber Lee, 21, was killed in North Port last January, believes she could have been saved if it weren't for major glitches in the 911 system.
Witness Jane Kowalski was on the line with 911 for nine minutes describing someone struggling in the back of a Camaro near U.S. 41 and Toledo Blade Boulevard, later believed to be Denise. Despite that lengthy effort, the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office failed to dispatch a single deputy. The Sheriff's Office also didn't relay the information Kowalski provided to the North Port Police Department, which was investigating the case.
The state is seeking the death penalty for suspect Michael King, 38, whose trial is set for August.
Nathan was invited to be one of the keynote speakers at the NENA conference Wednesday. He spoke for 15 minutes about what happened to Denise and how the foundation named after her is trying to change 911 operations to make them more uniform nationwide. Then he showed a 10-minute video of TV spots and clips of the couple.
"Nate did so well," said North Port City Commissioner Dave Garofalo, a member of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation who accompanied Nathan and three other members. "It was fantastic. We are well on our way to uniformed national training standards."
Nathan agrees.
"We met with the CEOs and head honchos in charge of 911 systems and were able to sell them on our cause," Nathan said. "All of them wanted to work together 100 percent with us."
Nathan said it's "nice to see that Denise is really making a difference."
"She is touching the lives of those in the industry and many others," he said. "Her tragedy will help revamp and reform the system that failed her."
Nathan said he met members of Matthew Cantrell's family. Cantrell, 21 months, died after he being entangled in a soccer net in his family's Texas home.
The family sued because they believed police didn't respond quickly enough after a 911 call was placed. They claim the operator allegedly refused to give CPR instructions to Matthew's distressed mother in the 2007 incident.
"We have been reaching out to other families and they are joining our cause as we go," Nathan said.
There are about six other conferences in Florida that Nathan has been invited to through December.
"We are also working with Florida legislators to lobby hard for uniform training standards and state certification for 911 telecommunicators," he added.
E-mail: eallen@sun-herald.com
My opinion: thank you, Elaine, for focussing on the positives!
By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
North Port Community News Editor
Hundreds of telecommunication employees throughout the United States who were visiting a booth sponsored by a local foundation learned about how a Southwest Florida mother of two young boys was kidnapped, raped and murdered and how her story will help change the industry.
In-between speaking to hundreds at the National Emergency Number Association Emergency Help conference Tuesday through Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas, Nathan Lee shared his story before a crowd of about 2,400 attendees.
Nathan, whose wife, Denise Amber Lee, 21, was killed in North Port last January, believes she could have been saved if it weren't for major glitches in the 911 system.
Witness Jane Kowalski was on the line with 911 for nine minutes describing someone struggling in the back of a Camaro near U.S. 41 and Toledo Blade Boulevard, later believed to be Denise. Despite that lengthy effort, the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office failed to dispatch a single deputy. The Sheriff's Office also didn't relay the information Kowalski provided to the North Port Police Department, which was investigating the case.
The state is seeking the death penalty for suspect Michael King, 38, whose trial is set for August.
Nathan was invited to be one of the keynote speakers at the NENA conference Wednesday. He spoke for 15 minutes about what happened to Denise and how the foundation named after her is trying to change 911 operations to make them more uniform nationwide. Then he showed a 10-minute video of TV spots and clips of the couple.
"Nate did so well," said North Port City Commissioner Dave Garofalo, a member of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation who accompanied Nathan and three other members. "It was fantastic. We are well on our way to uniformed national training standards."
Nathan agrees.
"We met with the CEOs and head honchos in charge of 911 systems and were able to sell them on our cause," Nathan said. "All of them wanted to work together 100 percent with us."
Nathan said it's "nice to see that Denise is really making a difference."
"She is touching the lives of those in the industry and many others," he said. "Her tragedy will help revamp and reform the system that failed her."
Nathan said he met members of Matthew Cantrell's family. Cantrell, 21 months, died after he being entangled in a soccer net in his family's Texas home.
The family sued because they believed police didn't respond quickly enough after a 911 call was placed. They claim the operator allegedly refused to give CPR instructions to Matthew's distressed mother in the 2007 incident.
"We have been reaching out to other families and they are joining our cause as we go," Nathan said.
There are about six other conferences in Florida that Nathan has been invited to through December.
"We are also working with Florida legislators to lobby hard for uniform training standards and state certification for 911 telecommunicators," he added.
E-mail: eallen@sun-herald.com
My opinion: thank you, Elaine, for focussing on the positives!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
No comment but saved for posterity
Charlotte Sun (Port Charlotte, FL)
May 29, 2009
Sheriff, Sun got it wrong
Editor:
I wish to thank the Sun for their colorful and always entertaining editorial this Saturday.
I guess it is no secret anymore that the Sun is not a member of the Sheriff Bill Cameron fan club. I can live with that. But I can't live with the Sun wrongfully reporting that I ever pitted the Sheriff's Office against the fire department. It was the Sun that did that.
I merely had to supply them with public records they requested, as did the fire department. They wrote the story their way. I am afraid that the Sun's attempt to create conflict between the deputies and firefighters won't work. We are now and have always been brothers and sisters and we support each other on and off the street every day, and the Sun won't change that.
And I am sorry that the Sun can't sell headlines of conflict between the County Commission and the sheriff like they used to.
Our five commissioners and I are not just colleagues, we are friends, and we work together very well. And that is another thing the Sun can't change.
The Sun did get a few things right. Yes, our Sheriff's Office is very lean. Yes, your safety is the most important function of government. Definitely yes, the Sun should not be in the law enforcement business.
And absolutely yes, you elected me knowing I would fight to keep you safe, and I promise I will. Please continue to support your deputies and firefighters. They need you now more than ever.
And my recommendation to the editorial managers of the Sun, you need to get out more. Because it would appear that I may not be the one that is out of touch with our community. And even though we may agree to disagree, as always, I appreciate the work your paper does for our community.
Sheriff Bill Cameron
Punta Gorda
May 29, 2009
Sheriff, Sun got it wrong
Editor:
I wish to thank the Sun for their colorful and always entertaining editorial this Saturday.
I guess it is no secret anymore that the Sun is not a member of the Sheriff Bill Cameron fan club. I can live with that. But I can't live with the Sun wrongfully reporting that I ever pitted the Sheriff's Office against the fire department. It was the Sun that did that.
I merely had to supply them with public records they requested, as did the fire department. They wrote the story their way. I am afraid that the Sun's attempt to create conflict between the deputies and firefighters won't work. We are now and have always been brothers and sisters and we support each other on and off the street every day, and the Sun won't change that.
And I am sorry that the Sun can't sell headlines of conflict between the County Commission and the sheriff like they used to.
Our five commissioners and I are not just colleagues, we are friends, and we work together very well. And that is another thing the Sun can't change.
The Sun did get a few things right. Yes, our Sheriff's Office is very lean. Yes, your safety is the most important function of government. Definitely yes, the Sun should not be in the law enforcement business.
And absolutely yes, you elected me knowing I would fight to keep you safe, and I promise I will. Please continue to support your deputies and firefighters. They need you now more than ever.
And my recommendation to the editorial managers of the Sun, you need to get out more. Because it would appear that I may not be the one that is out of touch with our community. And even though we may agree to disagree, as always, I appreciate the work your paper does for our community.
Sheriff Bill Cameron
Punta Gorda
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Today's Sun
This in today's Port Charlotte Sun. My opinion at the end of article.
link: http://www.sunnewspapers.net/articles/edStory.aspx?articleID=437261
05/12/09
Legislature fails on 911 certification
OUR POSITION: Statewide, mandatory 911 dispatcher certification got pushed aside in the Legislature this session. Let's do better next year.
It's no surprise that a bill calling for mandatory training of all 911 emergency call center dispatchers in the state was sponsored by local legislators.
We in Charlotte, Sarasota and DeSoto counties are all too aware of the potential horrors associated with a breakdown of the emergency call system.
However, the passion to provide a higher level of public safety apparently becomes diluted with distance and time. It also can be hard to counterpunch past Tallahassee lobbyists. That's the way it goes in the capital.
Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, who sponsored a Senate bill this year requiring state certification of all 911 operators, said the lobbyist for the state's emergency operators pushed hard for changes in the wording of the bill.
Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda, who co-sponsored a House bill with freshman Rep. Ken Roberson, R-Port Charlotte, told Sun staffer Ed Scott this week, "There are some lobbyists for the 911 operators who interfered with the process greatly."
The bill just didn't have the traction, or didn't get enough of a push, so it stalled in the final days of a session that concentrated so much on budget problems.
It was Kreegel who took the lead on 911 dispatcher certification last year in the wake of the murder of Denise Amber Lee.
By now, we know the story of how Lee was kidnapped from her North Port home in January 2008. A witness saw the 21-year-old woman struggling in a car with a man and called 911, but no officers were dispatched to the scene by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.
This mistake led to a campaign by Lee's family for greater accountability and uniform standards that might help restore confidence in a system that had failed them so badly.
Last year, Kreegel won passage for a bill that called for voluntary training, but it had no teeth and came with no funding, so it had little impact. This year, Roberson led the team effort, but still there was enough resistance and too many questions.
The bill will be back next year, and Kreegel thought the effort chances might smooth the path to passage. We hope so.
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office insists its requirements for dispatchers exceed national standards. Sarasota County announced this week that its communications center had won certification from a national accreditation agency.
That's comforting, but we need to know that emergency dispatch has consistent -- and consistently high -- standards throughout the state. We have seen what can go wrong.
As Detert told the Sun, "It's unbelievable that something with this much common sense could not pass the Legislature."
Well put.
My opinion
Thank you, Charlotte Sun for keeping this story alive. It's extremely important not just for Charlotte County but for the whole state of Florida.
Thank you, Senator Detert, and Reps Roberson and Kreegel. God bless you for following your consciences by doing the right thing for the citizens of the state of Florida.
As most of you know the foundation has been traveling across the nation to tell Denise's story. So, many things went wrong and it's not just about training. From what I understand (and I've seen their training manuals for call takers and dispatchers) the CCSO does have an excellent training program. The problem the night Denise died goes deeper than training. They were not using the training they recieved and they were not using the technology they had at their fingertips. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. Hopefully Denise's death has not been in vain and they are using their CADs properly now, the way they were trained to use them. Also, hopefully BOLOs are being monitored 24/7. But it shouldn't have taken Denise's death to accomplish this. Again, the best training and technology in the world are absolutely worthless, if they are not being used.
I am of the opinion that even the new legislation that was presented this year fell short of what we're fighting for. The proposed law that failed gave the sheriff's and police departments until 2012 to step up. Who wants to wait until 2012? Several people died in just the past year in Florida due to 9-1-1 mishaps, not just Denise! Also, it would have allowed them to be pretty much "grandfathered" in. Heh!
Well, if anything, we've been told and we believe now that this is a national issue. So, dear Florida, you can be a leader in this or you can continue to be embarrassed and neglectful of your citizens. People will continue to die so long as call takers and dispatchers are not held to a standard. People will continue to die in canals, trunks and cars as long as we're not using GPS in cell phones.
Just so there's no doubt about it, there is no way we're going to drop this! We'll fight even harder this year and we'll be even stronger. Also, the law we propose will be much stronger. We had a lesson in politics this past year and we're not going to shut up. We're that motivated.
Aside to Governor Crist: I hear you're going to run for senator. I do hope you look into this issue for the benefit of the citizens of Florida. You've avoided it so far like an expert dancer. But you will not be able to avoid it forever. And it IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO! Step out of the meetings with the lobbyists in Tallahassee and meet with what Bill O'Reilly calls "the folks". Meet with Nathan and hear his story. His mission is a noble one.
Again, a big thank you to the Sun.
link: http://www.sunnewspapers.net/articles/edStory.aspx?articleID=437261
05/12/09
Legislature fails on 911 certification
OUR POSITION: Statewide, mandatory 911 dispatcher certification got pushed aside in the Legislature this session. Let's do better next year.
It's no surprise that a bill calling for mandatory training of all 911 emergency call center dispatchers in the state was sponsored by local legislators.
We in Charlotte, Sarasota and DeSoto counties are all too aware of the potential horrors associated with a breakdown of the emergency call system.
However, the passion to provide a higher level of public safety apparently becomes diluted with distance and time. It also can be hard to counterpunch past Tallahassee lobbyists. That's the way it goes in the capital.
Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, who sponsored a Senate bill this year requiring state certification of all 911 operators, said the lobbyist for the state's emergency operators pushed hard for changes in the wording of the bill.
Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda, who co-sponsored a House bill with freshman Rep. Ken Roberson, R-Port Charlotte, told Sun staffer Ed Scott this week, "There are some lobbyists for the 911 operators who interfered with the process greatly."
The bill just didn't have the traction, or didn't get enough of a push, so it stalled in the final days of a session that concentrated so much on budget problems.
It was Kreegel who took the lead on 911 dispatcher certification last year in the wake of the murder of Denise Amber Lee.
By now, we know the story of how Lee was kidnapped from her North Port home in January 2008. A witness saw the 21-year-old woman struggling in a car with a man and called 911, but no officers were dispatched to the scene by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.
This mistake led to a campaign by Lee's family for greater accountability and uniform standards that might help restore confidence in a system that had failed them so badly.
Last year, Kreegel won passage for a bill that called for voluntary training, but it had no teeth and came with no funding, so it had little impact. This year, Roberson led the team effort, but still there was enough resistance and too many questions.
The bill will be back next year, and Kreegel thought the effort chances might smooth the path to passage. We hope so.
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office insists its requirements for dispatchers exceed national standards. Sarasota County announced this week that its communications center had won certification from a national accreditation agency.
That's comforting, but we need to know that emergency dispatch has consistent -- and consistently high -- standards throughout the state. We have seen what can go wrong.
As Detert told the Sun, "It's unbelievable that something with this much common sense could not pass the Legislature."
Well put.
My opinion
Thank you, Charlotte Sun for keeping this story alive. It's extremely important not just for Charlotte County but for the whole state of Florida.
Thank you, Senator Detert, and Reps Roberson and Kreegel. God bless you for following your consciences by doing the right thing for the citizens of the state of Florida.
As most of you know the foundation has been traveling across the nation to tell Denise's story. So, many things went wrong and it's not just about training. From what I understand (and I've seen their training manuals for call takers and dispatchers) the CCSO does have an excellent training program. The problem the night Denise died goes deeper than training. They were not using the training they recieved and they were not using the technology they had at their fingertips. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. Hopefully Denise's death has not been in vain and they are using their CADs properly now, the way they were trained to use them. Also, hopefully BOLOs are being monitored 24/7. But it shouldn't have taken Denise's death to accomplish this. Again, the best training and technology in the world are absolutely worthless, if they are not being used.
I am of the opinion that even the new legislation that was presented this year fell short of what we're fighting for. The proposed law that failed gave the sheriff's and police departments until 2012 to step up. Who wants to wait until 2012? Several people died in just the past year in Florida due to 9-1-1 mishaps, not just Denise! Also, it would have allowed them to be pretty much "grandfathered" in. Heh!
Well, if anything, we've been told and we believe now that this is a national issue. So, dear Florida, you can be a leader in this or you can continue to be embarrassed and neglectful of your citizens. People will continue to die so long as call takers and dispatchers are not held to a standard. People will continue to die in canals, trunks and cars as long as we're not using GPS in cell phones.
Just so there's no doubt about it, there is no way we're going to drop this! We'll fight even harder this year and we'll be even stronger. Also, the law we propose will be much stronger. We had a lesson in politics this past year and we're not going to shut up. We're that motivated.
Aside to Governor Crist: I hear you're going to run for senator. I do hope you look into this issue for the benefit of the citizens of Florida. You've avoided it so far like an expert dancer. But you will not be able to avoid it forever. And it IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO! Step out of the meetings with the lobbyists in Tallahassee and meet with what Bill O'Reilly calls "the folks". Meet with Nathan and hear his story. His mission is a noble one.
Again, a big thank you to the Sun.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
In the Charlotte Sun
Here we are receiving support across the nation but in Florida......
Thank you Senator Detert, Rep Kreegel, Rep Roberson and David Garofalo. Please, keep fighting the good fight and that is to save lives by minimizing human error and creating standards for 9-1-1 dispatchers and call takers.
The bill had flaws but it was a start. It's truly appalling, pathetic and sad that certain public officials put politics before public safety.
No hurry to pass 911 bill
By ED SCOTT
Staff Writer
NORTH PORT -- Local legislators are disappointed that their efforts to require enhanced 911 emergency dispatcher certification failed last week.
State Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, called it "unbelievable that something with this much common sense could not pass the Legislature."
A bill in the House of Representatives that required certification standards for 911 operators in Florida was sponsored by state Rep. Ken Roberson, R-Port Charlotte, and co-sponsored by Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda.
The local legislators had high hopes for the bill after it was given unanimous approval by the House Health Care Regulation Policy Committee in March. But it was indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration on Saturday, one day after the session ended.
Meanwhile, a bill in the Senate, sponsored by Detert, that requires 911 operators to be certified by the state Department of Health, was in the Health and Human Services Appropriations committee in April.
"Since there was no movement in the House and we were running out of days, the Senate did not want to work on it any longer," Detert said.
Detert rejects the assertion that sheriffs across the state, who initially opposed the bill, did not ultimately support it.
"We had worked that all out and the sheriffs did support it in the end," Detert said. "There was one major lobbyist (Richard Pinsky) who testified against it several times. He represents the 911 operators and they wanted totally different language that we did not agree to."
Referring to Pinsky, who lobbies for the Florida 911 Emergency Dispatchers organization, Kreegel said, "There are some lobbyists for the 911 operators who interfered with the process greatly."
The House bill passed through the House Health Care Regulation Policy Committee after an impassioned speech by North Port City Commissioner David Garofalo, who is on the board of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation.
"He didn't make a speech; he hit a home run," Kreegel said.
Last year the Legislature made law a Kreegel-sponsored bill that recommended higher certification standards for 911 operators statewide but did not mandate them. That law followed the murder of 21-year-old Denise Amber Lee, who was kidnapped from her North Port home in January 2008.
The Lee family believes the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office botched a 911 call to dispatch units to the intersection where Denise was last seen by a motorist.
Currently, each emergency dispatch call center mandates its own criteria. Detert says her bill would have provided uniformity "from county to county and to make it mandatory instead of voluntary. Part of the dispute was who was going to teach the course and we were going to allow the sheriffs to do it themselves."
Detert said Denise Lee's husband, Nathan Lee, who is promoting 911 certification nationwide, "wants consistency and I support that and our bill provided consistency," meaning counties would have been required to provide similar training.
"If there is any cost involved, that does not bother me because that's why the sheriffs get funding, to protect the public and for safety issues. That's what our tax dollars pay for."
Nathan Lee echoed his displeasure at the bill's failure.
"I'm disappointed, but in the same respect, I'm excited about drafting our own legislation," he said Tuesday.
Kreegel was also disappointed that senators "never got it done. They had bigger fish to fry with the budget. Very little was passed this year.
"In the House it was ready to go to the floor, (but) if you have something with no traction in the Senate, then it won't be heard on the floor of the House," Kreegel said.
Detert says she will reintroduce the bill next year.
"It will be back," she said. "It was a good learning experience for Ken Roberson that the simplest things are harder than they look and you have to strap on your armor and battle lobbyists. I think it was a surprise to him that the sheriffs would not support this bill (initially).
"Next year he'll have better luck because we have smoothed the road."
"It was a good learning experience but he actually did an excellent job shepherding it through committee," Kreegel said of Roberson.
Staff writer Jason Witz contributed to this report.
E-mail: escott@sun-herald.com
Thank you Senator Detert, Rep Kreegel, Rep Roberson and David Garofalo. Please, keep fighting the good fight and that is to save lives by minimizing human error and creating standards for 9-1-1 dispatchers and call takers.
The bill had flaws but it was a start. It's truly appalling, pathetic and sad that certain public officials put politics before public safety.
No hurry to pass 911 bill
By ED SCOTT
Staff Writer
NORTH PORT -- Local legislators are disappointed that their efforts to require enhanced 911 emergency dispatcher certification failed last week.
State Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, called it "unbelievable that something with this much common sense could not pass the Legislature."
A bill in the House of Representatives that required certification standards for 911 operators in Florida was sponsored by state Rep. Ken Roberson, R-Port Charlotte, and co-sponsored by Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda.
The local legislators had high hopes for the bill after it was given unanimous approval by the House Health Care Regulation Policy Committee in March. But it was indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration on Saturday, one day after the session ended.
Meanwhile, a bill in the Senate, sponsored by Detert, that requires 911 operators to be certified by the state Department of Health, was in the Health and Human Services Appropriations committee in April.
"Since there was no movement in the House and we were running out of days, the Senate did not want to work on it any longer," Detert said.
Detert rejects the assertion that sheriffs across the state, who initially opposed the bill, did not ultimately support it.
"We had worked that all out and the sheriffs did support it in the end," Detert said. "There was one major lobbyist (Richard Pinsky) who testified against it several times. He represents the 911 operators and they wanted totally different language that we did not agree to."
Referring to Pinsky, who lobbies for the Florida 911 Emergency Dispatchers organization, Kreegel said, "There are some lobbyists for the 911 operators who interfered with the process greatly."
The House bill passed through the House Health Care Regulation Policy Committee after an impassioned speech by North Port City Commissioner David Garofalo, who is on the board of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation.
"He didn't make a speech; he hit a home run," Kreegel said.
Last year the Legislature made law a Kreegel-sponsored bill that recommended higher certification standards for 911 operators statewide but did not mandate them. That law followed the murder of 21-year-old Denise Amber Lee, who was kidnapped from her North Port home in January 2008.
The Lee family believes the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office botched a 911 call to dispatch units to the intersection where Denise was last seen by a motorist.
Currently, each emergency dispatch call center mandates its own criteria. Detert says her bill would have provided uniformity "from county to county and to make it mandatory instead of voluntary. Part of the dispute was who was going to teach the course and we were going to allow the sheriffs to do it themselves."
Detert said Denise Lee's husband, Nathan Lee, who is promoting 911 certification nationwide, "wants consistency and I support that and our bill provided consistency," meaning counties would have been required to provide similar training.
"If there is any cost involved, that does not bother me because that's why the sheriffs get funding, to protect the public and for safety issues. That's what our tax dollars pay for."
Nathan Lee echoed his displeasure at the bill's failure.
"I'm disappointed, but in the same respect, I'm excited about drafting our own legislation," he said Tuesday.
Kreegel was also disappointed that senators "never got it done. They had bigger fish to fry with the budget. Very little was passed this year.
"In the House it was ready to go to the floor, (but) if you have something with no traction in the Senate, then it won't be heard on the floor of the House," Kreegel said.
Detert says she will reintroduce the bill next year.
"It will be back," she said. "It was a good learning experience for Ken Roberson that the simplest things are harder than they look and you have to strap on your armor and battle lobbyists. I think it was a surprise to him that the sheriffs would not support this bill (initially).
"Next year he'll have better luck because we have smoothed the road."
"It was a good learning experience but he actually did an excellent job shepherding it through committee," Kreegel said of Roberson.
Staff writer Jason Witz contributed to this report.
E-mail: escott@sun-herald.com
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
In today's Sun-Herald
FWIW, we knew this was coming. Whatever. I rarely think of Michael King. What's fascinating is I still run into people who have no idea who Michael King is. They know about Denise and the 9-1-1 debacle but not about King. Just yesterday a customer asked me if they caught "the guy" yet. Two weeks ago someone asked "did they catch the guys who did this?" There are so many people out there that don't read newspapers or blogs.
It's just like nails on a chalkboard. I guess it'll get worse. I'm not looking forward to it.
Here's the article:
Venue change requested in King trial
SARASOTA COUNTY -- With media coverage ranging from hundreds of local newspaper articles to an hour-long "Dateline NBC" TV broadcast, Michael King's name has been associated with Denise Amber Lee since police named him as a suspect in her kidnapping, rape and murder on Jan. 17, 2008.
Now King's attorneys are trying to have his upcoming trial, set for August at the Sarasota County Courthouse, moved because of the vast amount of media coverage of the case.
More than 75 pages of court documents were recently submitted by one of King's public defenders asking for the highly publicized trial to be moved out of the county.
However, according to Sarasota County Assistant State Attorney Lon Arend, the request will not be considered until the jury selection process beings.
"We don't really address it until we are trying to pick a jury," Arend said Monday. "If we tried to pick a jury and can't find enough people who are not familiar with the case, then it would be decided if the trial should be moved."
Arend said it's standard procedure for an attorney to ask for the trial to be moved if it generates massive media attention.
This isn't the first time King's attorneys have sought accommodations. Shortly after King was arrested last year, assistant public defender John Scotese asked a judge for a gag order banning everyone involved in the case from speaking to all news media.
In his motion, Scotese wrote that the more information reported about King, 37, would make it harder for a fair trial.
The motion requested attorneys, witnesses, law enforcement and court personnel, and the prosecution not give information to any news agencies. Scotese also requested a motion asking the judge to keep specific information secret until the trial ended.
The judge did not uphold the gag order request. A copy of a 911 tape from witness Jane Kowalski, who spotted King's green Camaro on the night of the murder, was released to the media. Police investigators held news conferences to brief the public about updates in the case, and some documents in King's file have been made public.
Since Denise Lee's murder, her widower Nathan has appeared on the "Dr. Phil Show" and "Primetime," and has been interviewed by a multitude of reporters throughout the nation.
Blogs and Web sites include postings from local citizens to residents of New Zealand who discuss all aspects of the King case, including police finding Denise's ring in King's Camaro, a DNA sample taken from Lee's body that matched King's, and strands of the 21-year-old's hair found at his North Port home.
"I expected this. I was warned that his attorney would be scrambling," Lee said Monday. "Evidence is evidence. Justice will prevail for Denise.
"I have to have faith in the State Attorney's Office. I hope (King) has the best defense so he has no chance to appeal it."
Earlier this month, Assistant Public Defender Carolyn Schlemmer filed a motion to block the death penalty for King, citing lethal injection, if not done properly would create "unnecessary pain."
She also asked that some evidence be banned from the trial, citing King's rights were violated on the night he was arrested. She said King was not read his rights before being questioned for hours.
However, in a series of taped interviews with King on the night Lee was abducted, released to the media, an officer read King his rights.
E-mail: eallen@sun-herald.com
By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
North Port Community News Editor
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Today's Sun Herald
Wouldn't this be something? We don't want Denise to always be remembered as the young mother murdered in North Port but we do want her remembered! And we want her remembered as the woman who brought about positive changes in the 9-1-1 system and who brought a community together so remarkably.
Okay, I'm crying.
North Port school in search of a name
By TERRY O'CONNOR Correspondent
Published: Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 12:53 a.m.
NORTH PORT - The new $19 million elementary school in North Port is still in search of a name and input from prospective parents and students.
SCHOOL TOWN-HALL MEETINGS
All meetings will be held at Toledo Blade Elementary School in North Port, 1201 Geranium Ave., portable room 846, unless otherwise noted. Spanish, Haitian Creole, Russian and Ukrainian interpreters will be available.
Times include:
March 24, family meeting, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
April 2, family meeting, 9:30 to 11 a.m.
April 14, PTO meeting, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
April 15, family meeting, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
April 29, family meeting, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
April 29, Kindergarten Round-Up, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Woodland Middle School cafeteria, 2700Panacea Blvd.
May 4, family meeting, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
PROPOSED SCHOOL NAMES
Principal Kirk Hutchinson’s naming committee is choosing two of the following name suggestions to recommend to the Sarasota County School Board this month. Proposals and the reason they
were selected:
Atwater Elementary — A reference to school’s location.
Calusa Elementary – Native American tribe from Southwest Florida.
Celebration Elementary – Denoting school opening in year of North Port’s 50th anniversary. Golden Elementary, North Celebration Elementary, North Port Elementary and North Port Celebration Elementary for same reason.
Coralrose/Coralrose Fullwood Elementary – Honors Coralrose Fullwood, a Toledo Blade Elementary student murdered in 2006.
Denise Amber Lee Elementary – Honors Denise Amber Lee, a North Port resident murdered in 2008.
Estuary Elementary – Refers to nearby Charlotte Harbor and other estuaries.
Hamilton Elementary – Honors former superintendent Wilma Hamilton.
Joan Morgan Elementary - Honors North Port activist and former City Commissioner Joan Morgan. Also, Morgan Elementary, honoring Joan Morgan and her husband, Ed.
Mangrove Elementary – For mangroves’ ability to provide shelter and stability.
New London Elementary – Denotes street and waterway next to school property.
North Port East Elementary – School is in easternmost North Port.
Pine Forest Elementary – Pine trees are prevalent in North Port.
River Crest Elementary – Refers to riverbanks and island habitats for local birds.
River Haven Elementary – Myakka/Peace rivers and Charlotte Harbor create one of the largest working estuaries in Florida.
Sandhill Elementary – Denotes sandhill cranes prevalent in North Port.
Sharon Christa McAuliffe Elementary – Honors McAuliffe, teacher who died in the 1986 Challenger shuttle accident.
Skyway Elementary – Refers to nearby street.
Spartan Elementary – A warrior up for any fight.
Whispering Pines Elementary – Area surrounding school has many tall pines.
The 124,000-square-foot school on Huntsville Avenue, now known only as Elementary I, is being built on 35 acres a block south of the East Price Boulevard-Atwater Street intersection.
The school will open in August for the 2009-10 school year with room for 970 students, although initial enrollment is estimated to be closer to 650, according to Principal Kirk Hutchinson.
Hutchinson's naming committee will recommend to the Sarasota County School Board two of the 24 school names suggested by the end of this month.
Hutchinson has also scheduled a series of five organizational town hall meetings for families of prospective students and community members beginning Tuesday. A Parent-Teacher Organization and a Kindergarten Round-Up meeting will be held later, too.
In the town hall meetings, Hutchinson will discuss construction progress, school policies and timelines. All meetings are open to the public.
Jon F. Swift General Contractors of Sarasota is building the school to withstand 180-mph winds. The design is by BRPH Architects/Engineers of Melbourne, which also helped create Lamarque and Cranberry elementary schools in North Port and Tatum Ridge Elementary in Sarasota.
Green features include use of regional building and recycled materials, energy-efficient heating and air-conditioning, minimized water usage and drought-tolerant landscaping.
Okay, I'm crying.
North Port school in search of a name
By TERRY O'CONNOR Correspondent
Published: Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 12:53 a.m.
NORTH PORT - The new $19 million elementary school in North Port is still in search of a name and input from prospective parents and students.
SCHOOL TOWN-HALL MEETINGS
All meetings will be held at Toledo Blade Elementary School in North Port, 1201 Geranium Ave., portable room 846, unless otherwise noted. Spanish, Haitian Creole, Russian and Ukrainian interpreters will be available.
Times include:
March 24, family meeting, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
April 2, family meeting, 9:30 to 11 a.m.
April 14, PTO meeting, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
April 15, family meeting, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
April 29, family meeting, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
April 29, Kindergarten Round-Up, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Woodland Middle School cafeteria, 2700Panacea Blvd.
May 4, family meeting, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
PROPOSED SCHOOL NAMES
Principal Kirk Hutchinson’s naming committee is choosing two of the following name suggestions to recommend to the Sarasota County School Board this month. Proposals and the reason they
were selected:
Atwater Elementary — A reference to school’s location.
Calusa Elementary – Native American tribe from Southwest Florida.
Celebration Elementary – Denoting school opening in year of North Port’s 50th anniversary. Golden Elementary, North Celebration Elementary, North Port Elementary and North Port Celebration Elementary for same reason.
Coralrose/Coralrose Fullwood Elementary – Honors Coralrose Fullwood, a Toledo Blade Elementary student murdered in 2006.
Denise Amber Lee Elementary – Honors Denise Amber Lee, a North Port resident murdered in 2008.
Estuary Elementary – Refers to nearby Charlotte Harbor and other estuaries.
Hamilton Elementary – Honors former superintendent Wilma Hamilton.
Joan Morgan Elementary - Honors North Port activist and former City Commissioner Joan Morgan. Also, Morgan Elementary, honoring Joan Morgan and her husband, Ed.
Mangrove Elementary – For mangroves’ ability to provide shelter and stability.
New London Elementary – Denotes street and waterway next to school property.
North Port East Elementary – School is in easternmost North Port.
Pine Forest Elementary – Pine trees are prevalent in North Port.
River Crest Elementary – Refers to riverbanks and island habitats for local birds.
River Haven Elementary – Myakka/Peace rivers and Charlotte Harbor create one of the largest working estuaries in Florida.
Sandhill Elementary – Denotes sandhill cranes prevalent in North Port.
Sharon Christa McAuliffe Elementary – Honors McAuliffe, teacher who died in the 1986 Challenger shuttle accident.
Skyway Elementary – Refers to nearby street.
Spartan Elementary – A warrior up for any fight.
Whispering Pines Elementary – Area surrounding school has many tall pines.
The 124,000-square-foot school on Huntsville Avenue, now known only as Elementary I, is being built on 35 acres a block south of the East Price Boulevard-Atwater Street intersection.
The school will open in August for the 2009-10 school year with room for 970 students, although initial enrollment is estimated to be closer to 650, according to Principal Kirk Hutchinson.
Hutchinson's naming committee will recommend to the Sarasota County School Board two of the 24 school names suggested by the end of this month.
Hutchinson has also scheduled a series of five organizational town hall meetings for families of prospective students and community members beginning Tuesday. A Parent-Teacher Organization and a Kindergarten Round-Up meeting will be held later, too.
In the town hall meetings, Hutchinson will discuss construction progress, school policies and timelines. All meetings are open to the public.
Jon F. Swift General Contractors of Sarasota is building the school to withstand 180-mph winds. The design is by BRPH Architects/Engineers of Melbourne, which also helped create Lamarque and Cranberry elementary schools in North Port and Tatum Ridge Elementary in Sarasota.
Green features include use of regional building and recycled materials, energy-efficient heating and air-conditioning, minimized water usage and drought-tolerant landscaping.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
My 100th post dedicated to Alex Teehee
The article below was in today's paper. I can't imagine what this family is going through. They are certainly getting the run around. I'll say this I'm happy for them that they are meeting with Bill Cameron. I can only hope and pray that he gives him straight answers as opposed to his political spin and the lies he gave Nathan.
I don't trust in an inch. But maybe he'll bring them some peace. For their sake I hope so. But I doubt it. And will never trust him.
I have a special place in my heart for Alex Teehee. Like Denise, he left behind two small children. And like us and the Goffs the grandparents have had to step up and do what they can in helping raise the children. And as Carol Teehee and I have both said "thank God for the children".
Last night in my post over on the homicide blog I mentioned a family where the children were killed too. That couple lost their daughter and grandchildren. I can't imagine. I simply can't imagine.
Well I better get packing. We're to be out of the house today but I wanted to let the Teehees know they are in my heart and prayers. I hope they keep fighting and not take no for an answer.
Alex deserves the fight and so do his children. God bless them all.
from the Sun Herald:
Family Looking for answers
Almost nine months after Alex Teehee's death, relatives say investigation is slow
A chilling call explaining his son was hit by a van was placed to Alex's Teehee's father, Tab, from a friend who took Alex's cell phone from the scene of the hit-and-run last July.
Now Tab wants to know why investigators allowed the cell phone to be removed by one of Alex's friends and why "no real follow-up" was done regarding the threatening messages left on Alex's phone.
Tab and his wife, Carol, of North Port, have a multitude of questions about the events leading up to Alex's death.
On July 13, Alex, 20, was struck by a van while walking on the edge of Sibley Bay Street around 11 p.m. in Port Charlotte, where he had just moved from North Port.
He was flown to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers, but died the next day. A North Port High School graduate, Alex also was the father of two young boys. His sons, Kaden, 3, and Eli, 2, are in the custody of his parents.
"Alex's friend gave us back the cell phone," Tab said on Friday. "We played his voice-mail messages and learned someone threatened to kill him several times. We played it for investigators. They didn't ask us to take the phone as evidence. We still have it."
The Florida Highway Patrol is in charge of the investigation. The Teehees said from the beginning, the FHP and other law enforcement agencies have had limited communication with them.
"We just want to know if investigators have the same information as we do," Tab said. "We know they have possible suspects and know who the van is registered to. So much time has gone by, and there is still no arrest."
FHP Lt. Chris Miller said he understands the family is frustrated.
"We have not treated this as a cold case," Miller said. "In fact, we have had new leads and have spent time investigating. What has made things hard is some of the witnesses have left the area."
Tab says his family cooperated with law enforcement early on to assist in making a possible arrest. But after repeated unanswered phone calls to FHP, the State Attorney's Office in Punta Gorda, and the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, the family is fed up.
"Alex's murder was one of four in Charlotte County last year, and we have yet to be granted a face-to-face talk with the sheriff," Tab said.
However, on Friday afternoon, the CCSO called the Teehees to meet this week with Sheriff Bill Cameron.
The family likely will be told the CCSO is "not the lead agency" investigating.
"We are assisting FHP and the State Attorney's Office in their investigation," said David Bonsall, corporal in charge of operations for the CCSO. "We were asked to help follow up and assist them. We understand the family's concern."
Bonsall said he met with the family several weeks ago and passed along their concerns to the lead investigating agencies.
Tab says he has done a little investigating on his own and is disappointed law enforcement officials haven't questioned enough people in his son's neighborhood.
"I asked the hotel owner, who has seasonal residents living there, if he or anyone there was questioned by officers about the night Alex was killed," Tab said. "I was told, 'No.'"
Tab said he had to "throw a fit" when he learned the person investigating Alex's death was scheduled for vacation shortly after receiving the case.
He said Alex's clothing and jewelry went missing from Lee Memorial, and he still can't get answers about what happened to his son's belongings.
Miller said the FHP is collecting solid evidence, but it's time-consuming.
"We want to do this case right," he said. "We are gathering all of the facts."
Anonymous tips in the Alex Teehee hit-and-run case may be left at the Crime Stoppers tip line at 941-366-8477.
The family is offering a a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.
E-mail: eallen@sun-herald.com
By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
North Port Community News Editor
I don't trust in an inch. But maybe he'll bring them some peace. For their sake I hope so. But I doubt it. And will never trust him.
I have a special place in my heart for Alex Teehee. Like Denise, he left behind two small children. And like us and the Goffs the grandparents have had to step up and do what they can in helping raise the children. And as Carol Teehee and I have both said "thank God for the children".
Last night in my post over on the homicide blog I mentioned a family where the children were killed too. That couple lost their daughter and grandchildren. I can't imagine. I simply can't imagine.
Well I better get packing. We're to be out of the house today but I wanted to let the Teehees know they are in my heart and prayers. I hope they keep fighting and not take no for an answer.
Alex deserves the fight and so do his children. God bless them all.
from the Sun Herald:
Family Looking for answers
Almost nine months after Alex Teehee's death, relatives say investigation is slow
A chilling call explaining his son was hit by a van was placed to Alex's Teehee's father, Tab, from a friend who took Alex's cell phone from the scene of the hit-and-run last July.
Now Tab wants to know why investigators allowed the cell phone to be removed by one of Alex's friends and why "no real follow-up" was done regarding the threatening messages left on Alex's phone.
Tab and his wife, Carol, of North Port, have a multitude of questions about the events leading up to Alex's death.
On July 13, Alex, 20, was struck by a van while walking on the edge of Sibley Bay Street around 11 p.m. in Port Charlotte, where he had just moved from North Port.
He was flown to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers, but died the next day. A North Port High School graduate, Alex also was the father of two young boys. His sons, Kaden, 3, and Eli, 2, are in the custody of his parents.
"Alex's friend gave us back the cell phone," Tab said on Friday. "We played his voice-mail messages and learned someone threatened to kill him several times. We played it for investigators. They didn't ask us to take the phone as evidence. We still have it."
The Florida Highway Patrol is in charge of the investigation. The Teehees said from the beginning, the FHP and other law enforcement agencies have had limited communication with them.
"We just want to know if investigators have the same information as we do," Tab said. "We know they have possible suspects and know who the van is registered to. So much time has gone by, and there is still no arrest."
FHP Lt. Chris Miller said he understands the family is frustrated.
"We have not treated this as a cold case," Miller said. "In fact, we have had new leads and have spent time investigating. What has made things hard is some of the witnesses have left the area."
Tab says his family cooperated with law enforcement early on to assist in making a possible arrest. But after repeated unanswered phone calls to FHP, the State Attorney's Office in Punta Gorda, and the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, the family is fed up.
"Alex's murder was one of four in Charlotte County last year, and we have yet to be granted a face-to-face talk with the sheriff," Tab said.
However, on Friday afternoon, the CCSO called the Teehees to meet this week with Sheriff Bill Cameron.
The family likely will be told the CCSO is "not the lead agency" investigating.
"We are assisting FHP and the State Attorney's Office in their investigation," said David Bonsall, corporal in charge of operations for the CCSO. "We were asked to help follow up and assist them. We understand the family's concern."
Bonsall said he met with the family several weeks ago and passed along their concerns to the lead investigating agencies.
Tab says he has done a little investigating on his own and is disappointed law enforcement officials haven't questioned enough people in his son's neighborhood.
"I asked the hotel owner, who has seasonal residents living there, if he or anyone there was questioned by officers about the night Alex was killed," Tab said. "I was told, 'No.'"
Tab said he had to "throw a fit" when he learned the person investigating Alex's death was scheduled for vacation shortly after receiving the case.
He said Alex's clothing and jewelry went missing from Lee Memorial, and he still can't get answers about what happened to his son's belongings.
Miller said the FHP is collecting solid evidence, but it's time-consuming.
"We want to do this case right," he said. "We are gathering all of the facts."
Anonymous tips in the Alex Teehee hit-and-run case may be left at the Crime Stoppers tip line at 941-366-8477.
The family is offering a a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.
E-mail: eallen@sun-herald.com
By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
North Port Community News Editor
Monday, February 23, 2009
Today's Sun Herald
Published on: Monday, February 23, 2009
Lee to speak at 911 conference in California
NORTH PORT -- Speaking to television crews and newspaper reporters of his wife's abduction and murder is something Nathan Lee has made a part of his mission to get the word out about what he calls a "broken 911 system."
Tuesday, Nathan will share that message with thousands in California expected at a 911 conference.
The story of 21-year-old Denise Amber Lee's death last January made national headlines. Nathan, 24, spoke on the "Dr. Phil" show, NBC's "Dateline," "20/20" and on local TV news about how that fateful Jan. 17, 2008, day changed many lives.
Now during interviews, Nathan explains how a foundation of volunteers has been created in Denise's name. Its mission is to improve the 911 dispatch system and bring a state-of-the-art 911 call center to North Port.
On Sunday, members of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation -- Nathan, the president; his father, Mark, research director; Dave Dignam, advisory council director; and North Port City Commissioner David Garofalo, community relations director -- flew to California for the annual California National Emergency Number Association conference. The team will support Nathan, who was invited to be the keynote speaker.
The three-day event will offer breakout sessions and discussions on technological advances, overcoming challenges, and truths and myths about radio systems, history, regionalizing systems and numerous other lessons for 911 dispatchers.
On Tuesday, Nathan will have an hour and a half to tell his story of life after Denise's murder.
Just one year later, his story includes a lawsuit against the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office claiming "negligence leading to Denise's death." Nathan says none of the critical information provided by Tampa resident Jane Kowalski, the last witness believed to have seen Denise alive, was relayed to CCSO deputies or North Port police officers during the massive manhunt on the night Denise was killed.
Traveling on U.S 41 near the Charlotte-Sarasota county line, Kowalski told a Charlotte County 911 dispatcher what she was witnessing in the dark-colored Camaro alongside her, reportedly driven by suspect Michael King. Kowalski said she saw someone banging on the window and screaming. The car turned onto Toledo Blade Boulevard during her conversation.
Denise's body was found two days later off Toledo Blade, near Interstate 75.
The CCSO did not relay Kowalski's information to North Port police until then, when local investigators requested it. North Port only learned about Kowalski after she called city police to see if they were interested in what she witnessed. Kowalski maintains that following her nine-minute 911 call, Charlotte County has never tried to call her again for any additional information.
King, 37, of North Port, was charged with Denise's abduction, rape and murder. His trial is set for August.
"Last year, I learned that when Denise's story was told to a group of dispatchers, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Even the instructor had a difficult time continuing the class," Nathan said. "Denise should be here with our two boys (Noah, 3, and Adam, 19 months) today. I will take every opportunity offered to explain that more needs to be done about the broken 911 system.
"This is an opportunity for our organization to reach across state lines and let our country know that the foundation's ultimate goal is to increase the level of training for 911 call takers and dispatchers, eventually making these standards mandatory," he said. "We hope to gain a working relationship with the state of California, which already has increased levels of training."
Garofalo, a fire captain in Pasco County, said first responders should be afforded additional training.
"No one should ever worry when they call for help that a 911 operator, a police officer or firefighter is not properly trained," he said.
For more information about the Denise Amber Lee Foundation, visit www.deniseamberlee.org.
E-mail: eallen@sun-herald.com
By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
North Port Community News Editor
Lee to speak at 911 conference in California
NORTH PORT -- Speaking to television crews and newspaper reporters of his wife's abduction and murder is something Nathan Lee has made a part of his mission to get the word out about what he calls a "broken 911 system."
Tuesday, Nathan will share that message with thousands in California expected at a 911 conference.
The story of 21-year-old Denise Amber Lee's death last January made national headlines. Nathan, 24, spoke on the "Dr. Phil" show, NBC's "Dateline," "20/20" and on local TV news about how that fateful Jan. 17, 2008, day changed many lives.
Now during interviews, Nathan explains how a foundation of volunteers has been created in Denise's name. Its mission is to improve the 911 dispatch system and bring a state-of-the-art 911 call center to North Port.
On Sunday, members of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation -- Nathan, the president; his father, Mark, research director; Dave Dignam, advisory council director; and North Port City Commissioner David Garofalo, community relations director -- flew to California for the annual California National Emergency Number Association conference. The team will support Nathan, who was invited to be the keynote speaker.
The three-day event will offer breakout sessions and discussions on technological advances, overcoming challenges, and truths and myths about radio systems, history, regionalizing systems and numerous other lessons for 911 dispatchers.
On Tuesday, Nathan will have an hour and a half to tell his story of life after Denise's murder.
Just one year later, his story includes a lawsuit against the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office claiming "negligence leading to Denise's death." Nathan says none of the critical information provided by Tampa resident Jane Kowalski, the last witness believed to have seen Denise alive, was relayed to CCSO deputies or North Port police officers during the massive manhunt on the night Denise was killed.
Traveling on U.S 41 near the Charlotte-Sarasota county line, Kowalski told a Charlotte County 911 dispatcher what she was witnessing in the dark-colored Camaro alongside her, reportedly driven by suspect Michael King. Kowalski said she saw someone banging on the window and screaming. The car turned onto Toledo Blade Boulevard during her conversation.
Denise's body was found two days later off Toledo Blade, near Interstate 75.
The CCSO did not relay Kowalski's information to North Port police until then, when local investigators requested it. North Port only learned about Kowalski after she called city police to see if they were interested in what she witnessed. Kowalski maintains that following her nine-minute 911 call, Charlotte County has never tried to call her again for any additional information.
King, 37, of North Port, was charged with Denise's abduction, rape and murder. His trial is set for August.
"Last year, I learned that when Denise's story was told to a group of dispatchers, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Even the instructor had a difficult time continuing the class," Nathan said. "Denise should be here with our two boys (Noah, 3, and Adam, 19 months) today. I will take every opportunity offered to explain that more needs to be done about the broken 911 system.
"This is an opportunity for our organization to reach across state lines and let our country know that the foundation's ultimate goal is to increase the level of training for 911 call takers and dispatchers, eventually making these standards mandatory," he said. "We hope to gain a working relationship with the state of California, which already has increased levels of training."
Garofalo, a fire captain in Pasco County, said first responders should be afforded additional training.
"No one should ever worry when they call for help that a 911 operator, a police officer or firefighter is not properly trained," he said.
For more information about the Denise Amber Lee Foundation, visit www.deniseamberlee.org.
E-mail: eallen@sun-herald.com
By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
North Port Community News Editor
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Thank you, Sun-Herald, for your support of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation
01/22/09
Family, friends turn tragedy into service
OUR POSITION: The Denise Amber Lee Foundation is working to fix the 911 emergency call system and prevent another tragedy. They deserve our support.
There are events in any community that resonate with a special power, that seem to touch what can only be described as the heart and soul of the community. There are events that leave emotional marks, events that change the way people view the world around them.
Hundreds gathered last weekend to mark the one-year anniversary of the murder of Denise Amber Lee in North Port. Most affected by the tragedy are those who were closest to Denise, her husband and two young children, her parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, former classmates, co-workers and friends. For them, the wounds are deepest.
But Denise was a local girl, born and raised. Her family's roots extend back decades. They are strongly involved locally, so it was only natural that the tragedy of her passing extended to a wider community throughout Charlotte and Sarasota counties.
Beyond that, though, were the circumstances surrounding the 21-year-old woman's kidnapping and murder, now well known. The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office botched a 911 emergency call that could have helped police save Denise's life, and that fact has received national publicity, as it should. It's a tragedy that might have been prevented if better emergency procedures had been in place. Only if.
It was particularly astounding that critical information from a passing motorist, Jane Kowalski of Tampa, was not relayed through the emergency system. Kowalski did everything possible to alert dispatchers during a 911 call, but her information fell into a crack.
Kowalski was honored for her efforts last weekend by the city of North Port and the Denise Amber Lee Foundation, which cited her "selfless act and extraordinary spirit." While declining to classify her actions as heroic -- "All I did was call 911," she told the Sun -- she added, "I can't believe that, with all I saw and heard, no one else did. I know others saw."
Kowalski does deserve the recognition she received for her actions. Despite what she said, she did go beyond the norm.
Denise's family and friends also deserve to see their crusade for changes in 911 emergency systems bear fruit.
The foundation has made 911 reform its mission. It is working to establish a clear set of procedures for emergency workers handling calls. It is working to see that dispatcher training and certification is mandatory; they are on the front line, after all, critical to the process.
Denise's family and the foundation are trying to make sure that similar tragedies don't happen again.
"I want to do what I can to change the 911 system," Denise's husband, Nathan Lee, said. "Mistakes do happen, but they can be prevented as well."
The foundation (Web site: www.DeniseAmberLee.org) has raised $30,000 so far to press the cause nationally, to start a training center and to help the families of murder victims.
Family and friends are taking their personal tragedy and creating something that might spare others such grief in the future. They deserve our full support and blessings.
Friday, January 16, 2009
And this from the Sun-Herald
(I absolutely love this story. It hurts and brings heartache but it expresses beautifully who Denise was and who Nathan is. Just two really great kids trying to raise a really great family. Thank you, Jason. I don't know how everyone else feels and can only speak for myself, but I'm moved to tears.)
last updated at 1/16/2009 3:13:39 PM
Ceremony to remember Denise Lee Saturday
Family still mourns murder of 21-year-old daughter, wife
Year in Review: Lee family still waiting for answers
Funeral, search, evidence photos
Remembrance Ceremony
Abduction, murder timeline
By JASON WITZ Staff Writer
Her words hit Nathan Lee like a winter rain.
She couldn't be serious.
The couple had spent the last hour budgeting at his parents' dining room table. Money was tight.
It didn't matter. Denise Amber Lee wanted an answer.
Nathan continued driving, although his eyes started to wander off the dark road as she spoke.
Their sons, Noah and Adam, rested in the backseat, oblivious to the discussion. Denise turned to them and smiled.
She faced her husband again.
"I want to have another baby," she said.
Nathan was stunned.
Paying for two boys was difficult enough. But Denise always dreamed of having a little girl.
"It caught me off guard," he said.
A year later, Nathan still regrets the reaction in what was their last night together.
The following afternoon, the 21-year-old North Port mother would be taken by a stranger in a green Chevrolet Camaro, according to authorities. She wouldn't return.
Every day, the memories resurface.
It feels so long ago.
And yet, today, the anniversary of Denise's murder is already here.
"I'm not looking forward to it," Nathan said recently. He now lives in Englewood with his sons, ages 3 and 18 months. "It's almost like the world is going to end."
A family's grief
There's a decal on Nathan Lee's truck of his wife, depicting better times.
Denise is smiling and happy. Her face shines against a heavenly white border, almost as if she's watching everyone.
"I know it sounds clichŽ, but Denise was an angel," said Nathan, 24.
The image stirs other reactions from his oldest son.
Noah, unlike his younger brother, can remember Denise clearly. The toddler will often reach for the picture, and say "mommy."
Many times, Nathan has to fight back tears.
"You just feel so bad," he said. "(The boys) don't deserve this."
The last year has brought out varying emotions from the family.
Some have questioned their faith, at one point or another. Others have come to appreciate the little things in life.
Peggy Lee uses words to channel her sorrow.
She started a blog in December as a way to express frustration, and at the same time, keep people updated.
"(The blog) has really helped me work through it," said Peggy, who is Nathan’s mother.
For Rick Goff, time hasn't eased the loss of his daughter.
"Every day is rough," he said, leaning against his living room wall, arms folded. "I go to bed thinking about her. I wake up thinking about her. I drive around during the day thinking about her.
"There’s a big hole in our family."
That pain is amplified by the fact that his agency fumbled an opportunity to save her life.
Even now, little has been done to correct those mistakes, according to Goff, a sergeant with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.
"It's difficult to go in, because some of the people who made the fatal screw-ups are still there," he said. "I know they're working on the problem, but I don't think it's completely fixed."
Baby talk
Denise loved the idea of caring for another child, even if it stretched the budget.
Money didn't matter in the scheme of things. She was content drafting a shopping list and walking through Walmart with a calculator.
At first, Nathan was lukewarm to the idea.
He had recently started at Florida Power & Light, reading meters. They could survive on one income, but not with much wiggle room.
Still, Denise made it clear she wanted another baby, as she put the two boys to sleep that night.
"That was her top priority," he said. "My number-one goal was to make her happy, and if that made her happy, then that's what I would do."
Jan. 17, 2008
The morning started the same as any other day.
Denise was sleeping when Nathan left for work. A light rain tapped on the windowsill.
The day seemed to take forever.
Nathan talked to Denise earlier about opening up the house to save on electric costs.
Goff called Denise twice within a five-minute span that afternoon to invite the couple for dinner.
Oddly, she didn't answer.
Nathan returned home at 3:30 p.m. to find the windows shut, the air thick with humidity.
He could hear his sons in the bedroom.
Denise was gone, but her purse, keys and cell phone were left behind.
At 4:59 p.m., the first be-on-the-lookout bulletin, or BOLO, was issued by the North Port Police Department.
It named Denise, and gave a physical description of the possible suspect. It also mentioned the dark green Camaro, last seen in the Lees' driveway.
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office already had sent its teletype operator home to avoid overtime, a common practice for the agency. It wouldn't broadcast details of the BOLOs until later.
During the ordeal, Tampa resident Jane Kowalski stopped at the Cranberry Boulevard intersection, on U.S. 41.
A Camaro crept alongside her vehicle, its passenger-side window partially down.
Kowalski saw a hand slapping the glass, trying to get out. Her 911 call was routed to Charlotte County, since her vehicle had crossed county lines.
She stayed on the phone nearly 10 minutes with dispatchers, describing the situation that, to her, appeared to be a kid screaming in a dark-colored Camaro.
The man turned onto Toledo Blade Boulevard during the conversation. Kowalski repeatedly asked whether she should follow the vehicle.
She parked at the Port Charlotte Town Center mall to await a follow-up interview.
No one came.
The Sheriff's Office didn't air any of Kowalski's information, which was handwritten on a piece of paper and shouted across the room by the dispatcher.
The suspect, Michael King, was apprehended shortly after 9 p.m. by the Florida Highway Patrol.
He was soaked from the waist down. Denise's ring was in the back seat of his car.
Her body was found two days later, buried off Toledo Blade, near Interstate 75.
King, 37, faces kidnapping, rape and capital murder charges. His trial is tentatively set for August, although counsel has asked for a competency hearing to raise the possibility of an insanity plea.
Aftermath
For months, Nathan Lee has reviewed the events in his mind, trying to understand why King wasn't caught earlier when so many opportunities existed.
He is convinced Denise would be alive if key information had been passed along to deputies saturating the area.
The department's response has added to the grief.
Two dispatchers were suspended without pay 36 and 60 hours, respectively, by the Sheriff's Office over the handling of Kowalski's call. The woman who took the call, Millie Stepp, wasn't punished.
Since the incident, the department has taken steps to counter future situations.
Supervisors will no longer carry a Nextel phone, as it added to the confusion that night with people not calling the recorded line, according to former Sheriff John Davenport. Information must be entered into the computer, rather than shouted across the room.
Goff said the problems still exist, despite the measures.
The Sheriff's Office won't comment on the case any longer, in part because of a pending lawsuit by the family.
911 reform
Nathan dreads to think all of this could happen to another family.
What's to keep the system from failing again? Something needs to change, he said.
Earlier this year, lawmakers passed the Denise Amber Lee Act, which establishes voluntary training standards for dispatchers statewide.
But the fight is far from over.
Family members started the Denise Amber Lee Foundation to create awareness about 911 issues, and to improve training.
To date, the fund has generated about $30,000. The goal is to have a training center locally, and to help the families of murder victims.
For Nathan, it’s become a personal mission.
In February, he will fly to San Diego to be the keynote speaker at a conference of the National Emergency Numbers Association, a nonprofit organization that promotes training and education for 911 service.
"The good thing is people are getting the message of what's going on," he said. "We want to instill faith back into the system, and make sure it's fixed so this doesn’t happen again."
The little things
Nathan assumed Denise would be there to greet him when he returned home that afternoon.
She would always be there, he thought, as they grew old together.
It didn’t work out that way.
The reasons why Denise was picked may never be known. The whole situation has given Nathan plenty of time to reflect and to re-examine his life.
Losing her hurts. It hurts beyond belief.
But Nathan has come to cherish what he has that much more.
"I’m trying to look at everything positively, because that’s the way Denise was," he said.
If anything, the situation has brought him closer to his sons.
Looking into their eyes, he can see Denise, and the love she continues to pour out.
"They’re as close as I can get to Denise," he said. "When I’m around them, I’m around her."
E-mail: jwitz@sun-herald.com
***
Remembrance Ceremony The Denise Amber Lee remembrance celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in front of North Port City Hall, off Sumter Boulevard.
Speakers include state Reps. Paige Kreegel and Ken Roberson; the Rev. Dave Baldridge, pastor of Englewood United Methodist Church; Dave Dignam of Key Agency in Englewood; North Port Police Chief Terry Lewis; North Port City Commissioner David Garofalo; and Nathan Lee, Denise's widower.
***
Abduction, murder timeline
Jan. 17, 2008
3:20 p.m.: Nathan discovered Denise is missing. A neighbor had seen a green Camaro in the Lees' driveway around 2:30 p.m.
5:15 p.m.: North Port resident Michael Lee King went to his cousin, Harold Muxlow's, house in North Port.
6:14 p.m.: Denise called 911: "I just want to see my family. Please let me go." A male voice asked, "Where's the phone?" The transmission was then cut. Police identified the owner of the cell phone as King and confirmed he owned a green Camaro.
6:23 p.m.: Sabrina Muxlow called 911, saying King visited her father, Harold. King asked Harold for a gas can, a flashlight and a shovel. Harold saw a bound woman get out of the car, but he gave King the items anyway. King left with the bound woman.
6:30 p.m.: Jane Kowalski, heading southbound on U.S. 41, spotted a dark Camaro at Cranberry Boulevard. She heard someone screaming and saw someone slap the back window. She called 911 and stayed on the line for more than nine minutes, providing exact locations until the Camaro suddenly turned left onto Toledo Blade Boulevard.
6:42 p.m. Police arrived at King's house on Sardinia Avenue, finding duct tape with long blond hairs.
9:16 p.m.: The Florida Highway Patrol spotted a green Camaro on Toledo Blade Boulevard, then heading south on Interstate 75. When the trooper stopped the car, he found King - alone, and soaked from the waist down. Law enforcement officers found a wet shovel, a red 5-gallon gas can, and a blue metal flashlight in the car. They also found a metal ring with a heart, which Nathan later identified as Denise's.
Jan. 18, 2008: Searchers discovered something in an area near Plantation Boulevard, off Toledo Blade.
Jan. 19, 2008: North Port Police Chief Terry Lewis announced they found the body of a white female.
Jan. 20, 2008: Lewis confirmed the body was that of Denise Amber Lee. - Source: North Port Police Department and court documents
Return to Top of story
last updated at 1/16/2009 3:13:39 PM
Ceremony to remember Denise Lee Saturday
Family still mourns murder of 21-year-old daughter, wife
Year in Review: Lee family still waiting for answers
Funeral, search, evidence photos
Remembrance Ceremony
Abduction, murder timeline
By JASON WITZ Staff Writer
Her words hit Nathan Lee like a winter rain.
She couldn't be serious.
The couple had spent the last hour budgeting at his parents' dining room table. Money was tight.
It didn't matter. Denise Amber Lee wanted an answer.
Nathan continued driving, although his eyes started to wander off the dark road as she spoke.
Their sons, Noah and Adam, rested in the backseat, oblivious to the discussion. Denise turned to them and smiled.
She faced her husband again.
"I want to have another baby," she said.
Nathan was stunned.
Paying for two boys was difficult enough. But Denise always dreamed of having a little girl.
"It caught me off guard," he said.
A year later, Nathan still regrets the reaction in what was their last night together.
The following afternoon, the 21-year-old North Port mother would be taken by a stranger in a green Chevrolet Camaro, according to authorities. She wouldn't return.
Every day, the memories resurface.
It feels so long ago.
And yet, today, the anniversary of Denise's murder is already here.
"I'm not looking forward to it," Nathan said recently. He now lives in Englewood with his sons, ages 3 and 18 months. "It's almost like the world is going to end."
A family's grief
There's a decal on Nathan Lee's truck of his wife, depicting better times.
Denise is smiling and happy. Her face shines against a heavenly white border, almost as if she's watching everyone.
"I know it sounds clichŽ, but Denise was an angel," said Nathan, 24.
The image stirs other reactions from his oldest son.
Noah, unlike his younger brother, can remember Denise clearly. The toddler will often reach for the picture, and say "mommy."
Many times, Nathan has to fight back tears.
"You just feel so bad," he said. "(The boys) don't deserve this."
The last year has brought out varying emotions from the family.
Some have questioned their faith, at one point or another. Others have come to appreciate the little things in life.
Peggy Lee uses words to channel her sorrow.
She started a blog in December as a way to express frustration, and at the same time, keep people updated.
"(The blog) has really helped me work through it," said Peggy, who is Nathan’s mother.
For Rick Goff, time hasn't eased the loss of his daughter.
"Every day is rough," he said, leaning against his living room wall, arms folded. "I go to bed thinking about her. I wake up thinking about her. I drive around during the day thinking about her.
"There’s a big hole in our family."
That pain is amplified by the fact that his agency fumbled an opportunity to save her life.
Even now, little has been done to correct those mistakes, according to Goff, a sergeant with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.
"It's difficult to go in, because some of the people who made the fatal screw-ups are still there," he said. "I know they're working on the problem, but I don't think it's completely fixed."
Baby talk
Denise loved the idea of caring for another child, even if it stretched the budget.
Money didn't matter in the scheme of things. She was content drafting a shopping list and walking through Walmart with a calculator.
At first, Nathan was lukewarm to the idea.
He had recently started at Florida Power & Light, reading meters. They could survive on one income, but not with much wiggle room.
Still, Denise made it clear she wanted another baby, as she put the two boys to sleep that night.
"That was her top priority," he said. "My number-one goal was to make her happy, and if that made her happy, then that's what I would do."
Jan. 17, 2008
The morning started the same as any other day.
Denise was sleeping when Nathan left for work. A light rain tapped on the windowsill.
The day seemed to take forever.
Nathan talked to Denise earlier about opening up the house to save on electric costs.
Goff called Denise twice within a five-minute span that afternoon to invite the couple for dinner.
Oddly, she didn't answer.
Nathan returned home at 3:30 p.m. to find the windows shut, the air thick with humidity.
He could hear his sons in the bedroom.
Denise was gone, but her purse, keys and cell phone were left behind.
At 4:59 p.m., the first be-on-the-lookout bulletin, or BOLO, was issued by the North Port Police Department.
It named Denise, and gave a physical description of the possible suspect. It also mentioned the dark green Camaro, last seen in the Lees' driveway.
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office already had sent its teletype operator home to avoid overtime, a common practice for the agency. It wouldn't broadcast details of the BOLOs until later.
During the ordeal, Tampa resident Jane Kowalski stopped at the Cranberry Boulevard intersection, on U.S. 41.
A Camaro crept alongside her vehicle, its passenger-side window partially down.
Kowalski saw a hand slapping the glass, trying to get out. Her 911 call was routed to Charlotte County, since her vehicle had crossed county lines.
She stayed on the phone nearly 10 minutes with dispatchers, describing the situation that, to her, appeared to be a kid screaming in a dark-colored Camaro.
The man turned onto Toledo Blade Boulevard during the conversation. Kowalski repeatedly asked whether she should follow the vehicle.
She parked at the Port Charlotte Town Center mall to await a follow-up interview.
No one came.
The Sheriff's Office didn't air any of Kowalski's information, which was handwritten on a piece of paper and shouted across the room by the dispatcher.
The suspect, Michael King, was apprehended shortly after 9 p.m. by the Florida Highway Patrol.
He was soaked from the waist down. Denise's ring was in the back seat of his car.
Her body was found two days later, buried off Toledo Blade, near Interstate 75.
King, 37, faces kidnapping, rape and capital murder charges. His trial is tentatively set for August, although counsel has asked for a competency hearing to raise the possibility of an insanity plea.
Aftermath
For months, Nathan Lee has reviewed the events in his mind, trying to understand why King wasn't caught earlier when so many opportunities existed.
He is convinced Denise would be alive if key information had been passed along to deputies saturating the area.
The department's response has added to the grief.
Two dispatchers were suspended without pay 36 and 60 hours, respectively, by the Sheriff's Office over the handling of Kowalski's call. The woman who took the call, Millie Stepp, wasn't punished.
Since the incident, the department has taken steps to counter future situations.
Supervisors will no longer carry a Nextel phone, as it added to the confusion that night with people not calling the recorded line, according to former Sheriff John Davenport. Information must be entered into the computer, rather than shouted across the room.
Goff said the problems still exist, despite the measures.
The Sheriff's Office won't comment on the case any longer, in part because of a pending lawsuit by the family.
911 reform
Nathan dreads to think all of this could happen to another family.
What's to keep the system from failing again? Something needs to change, he said.
Earlier this year, lawmakers passed the Denise Amber Lee Act, which establishes voluntary training standards for dispatchers statewide.
But the fight is far from over.
Family members started the Denise Amber Lee Foundation to create awareness about 911 issues, and to improve training.
To date, the fund has generated about $30,000. The goal is to have a training center locally, and to help the families of murder victims.
For Nathan, it’s become a personal mission.
In February, he will fly to San Diego to be the keynote speaker at a conference of the National Emergency Numbers Association, a nonprofit organization that promotes training and education for 911 service.
"The good thing is people are getting the message of what's going on," he said. "We want to instill faith back into the system, and make sure it's fixed so this doesn’t happen again."
The little things
Nathan assumed Denise would be there to greet him when he returned home that afternoon.
She would always be there, he thought, as they grew old together.
It didn’t work out that way.
The reasons why Denise was picked may never be known. The whole situation has given Nathan plenty of time to reflect and to re-examine his life.
Losing her hurts. It hurts beyond belief.
But Nathan has come to cherish what he has that much more.
"I’m trying to look at everything positively, because that’s the way Denise was," he said.
If anything, the situation has brought him closer to his sons.
Looking into their eyes, he can see Denise, and the love she continues to pour out.
"They’re as close as I can get to Denise," he said. "When I’m around them, I’m around her."
E-mail: jwitz@sun-herald.com
***
Remembrance Ceremony The Denise Amber Lee remembrance celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in front of North Port City Hall, off Sumter Boulevard.
Speakers include state Reps. Paige Kreegel and Ken Roberson; the Rev. Dave Baldridge, pastor of Englewood United Methodist Church; Dave Dignam of Key Agency in Englewood; North Port Police Chief Terry Lewis; North Port City Commissioner David Garofalo; and Nathan Lee, Denise's widower.
***
Abduction, murder timeline
Jan. 17, 2008
3:20 p.m.: Nathan discovered Denise is missing. A neighbor had seen a green Camaro in the Lees' driveway around 2:30 p.m.
5:15 p.m.: North Port resident Michael Lee King went to his cousin, Harold Muxlow's, house in North Port.
6:14 p.m.: Denise called 911: "I just want to see my family. Please let me go." A male voice asked, "Where's the phone?" The transmission was then cut. Police identified the owner of the cell phone as King and confirmed he owned a green Camaro.
6:23 p.m.: Sabrina Muxlow called 911, saying King visited her father, Harold. King asked Harold for a gas can, a flashlight and a shovel. Harold saw a bound woman get out of the car, but he gave King the items anyway. King left with the bound woman.
6:30 p.m.: Jane Kowalski, heading southbound on U.S. 41, spotted a dark Camaro at Cranberry Boulevard. She heard someone screaming and saw someone slap the back window. She called 911 and stayed on the line for more than nine minutes, providing exact locations until the Camaro suddenly turned left onto Toledo Blade Boulevard.
6:42 p.m. Police arrived at King's house on Sardinia Avenue, finding duct tape with long blond hairs.
9:16 p.m.: The Florida Highway Patrol spotted a green Camaro on Toledo Blade Boulevard, then heading south on Interstate 75. When the trooper stopped the car, he found King - alone, and soaked from the waist down. Law enforcement officers found a wet shovel, a red 5-gallon gas can, and a blue metal flashlight in the car. They also found a metal ring with a heart, which Nathan later identified as Denise's.
Jan. 18, 2008: Searchers discovered something in an area near Plantation Boulevard, off Toledo Blade.
Jan. 19, 2008: North Port Police Chief Terry Lewis announced they found the body of a white female.
Jan. 20, 2008: Lewis confirmed the body was that of Denise Amber Lee. - Source: North Port Police Department and court documents
Return to Top of story
Denise Amber Lee and today's papers
This just in SNN6 is going to carry the tribute live.
The Sun
Resident's to celebrate Denise Amber Lee's Memory
NORTH PORT -- Not many people knew who the shy Denise Amber Lee was until after she died. But in the days following her Jan. 17, 2008, abduction and murder, she became a household name.
Residents in North Port, Englewood, Charlotte, Punta Gorda and Rotonda rallied to raise money for the family Lee, 21, left behind -- her young sons, Adam and Noah, and grief-stricken husband, Nathan.
Every week for months, residents planned fundraisers and memorials, including benefit runs, car washes, picnics, self-defense classes, silent auctions, yard sales, a tree planting, a jewelry party, a golf tournament and a family fun day in the park in Denise's honor.
On Saturday, a year after Lee's death, the community will come together again to celebrate her life.
"It's going to be more uplifting instead of a sad memorial service," said Dave Garofalo, a family friend and a member of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation created to improve the 911 dispatch system and bring a state-of-the-art 911 call center to North Port.
A North Port city commissioner, Garofalo invited Nathan, his parents, Peggy and Mark, and Denise's father, Rick Goff, to his office at City Hall recently to organize the 11 a.m. ceremony in front of City Hall on Saturday.
Shortly after Lee's death, about 250 residents gathered at the same location to remember Denise. Saturday's service includes some of the same people who were a part of last year's memorial.
Garofalo said it's important to invite politicians because of the foundation's goal of strengthening 911 dispatchers' training.
"When an officer goes to your house for a domestic dispute, you know he's certified," Garofalo said. "When a paramedic is doing CPR on a patient, you know he's certified. You should have the same feeling when you call 911 -- that the dispatcher has had enough training and is certified to handle the call properly. They are a part of the first line of defense. They should have some kind of certifications."
Garofalo said the foundation will continue gently pushing its efforts, despite a poor economy.
"I don't want to see us (the foundation) push to pass a bill that becomes an unfunded mandate that local governments cannot afford," he said. "But that doesn't mean we can't do all we can to make people aware of the flaws in the system."
Nathan says he is grateful for all those who have helped his family.
"Nathan's message is that he cannot bring back his wife, but he can make things better by making people aware of her story," Garofalo said.
Nathan took this week off to help plan for the ceremony and spend time with Adam and Noah.
The Lee and Goff families, as well as the foundation, also will honor Tampa resident Jane Kowalski on Saturday.
Kowalski is the driver who called Charlotte County dispatchers on the night Denise was murdered. She told the 911 operator what she was witnessing in the car behind her, reportedly driven by suspect Michael King. Kowalski said she saw who police believe to be Lee banging on the window and screaming. Lee's body was found two days later off Toledo Blade Boulevard, and King was charged in her death.
Garofalo arranged for Kowalski to be given a key to the city for her dedication and "follow-through" attitude in trying to get deputies to respond to the suspicious activity she reported.
A bagpiper from the city police department will open the ceremony with "Amazing Grace," choir members from South Biscayne Church will sing, and Nathan plans to speak, as well as several others.
"The biggest reason for people to come on Saturday is to see (how) much Denise has made a difference in the community," Nathan said. "They will see how much a negative has been turned into a positive impact throughout our community and our country.
"It will be sad in a way, but it's a celebration about how much has risen from the ashes. Our boys are doing great. We are doing our best to make Denise happy, and we are not going to be miserable our whole lives."
If you go
Speakers for the Denise Amber Lee remembrance at 11 a.m. Saturday in front of North Port City Hall include state Reps. Paige Kreegel and Ken Roberson; the Rev. Dave Baldridge, pastor of Englewood United Methodist Church; Dave Dignam of Key Agency in Englewood; North Port Police Chief Terry Lewis; North Port City Commissioner David Garofalo; and Nathan Lee, Denise's widower.
E-mail: eallen@sun-herald.com
By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
North Port Community News Editor
The Herald
Memorial to honor life of a mother
By John Davis
Published: Friday, January 16, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.Last Modified: Friday, January 16, 2009 at 12:16 a.m.
NORTH PORT - The city that a year ago watched the unfolding tragedy of the abduction and murder of 21-year-old North Port mother Denise Lee will pause Saturday at City Hall to remember her.
Click to enlargeDenise Lee
A memorial ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. in front of City Hall, 4970 City Hall Blvd. State and local leaders and Nathan Lee, Denise's husband, are scheduled to speak.
Lee was taken from her home Jan. 17, 2008, touching off a massive, multi-agency search that ultimately failed to save her. Michael King, 37, of North Port, is awaiting trial on kidnapping, rape and murder charges.
The Lee abduction became a symbol for flaws in the 911 system when investigators found later that a witness, Jane Kowalski, reported seeing a passenger struggling in a dark colored Chevrolet Camaro on U.S. 41 that night. Kowalski's information never made it to deputies patrolling nearby after Charlotte County's 911 center mishandled her call. At the time, authorities had a description of King's car, a green Camaro, and were looking for the vehicle.
Nathan Lee has started a nonprofit foundation, the Denise Amber Lee Foundation, with a goal of improving the emergency call system in Florida and across the nation. He lauded Kowalski for her 911 call.
"She has been amazing towards my family," Lee told city leaders this week. "What she did that night is something everybody should do. It doesn't matter who you are."
North Port will award Kowalski a key to the city Saturday in recognition of her attempts to save Denise.
Kowalski's mishandled call has garnered national media attention and led to a state law on voluntary statewide training standards for people who work in emergency communications centers.
But Nathan Lee, who indicated he plans to sue Charlotte County over its response to Kowalski's call, said more improvements are needed.
This story appeared in print on page BN1
The Sun
Resident's to celebrate Denise Amber Lee's Memory
NORTH PORT -- Not many people knew who the shy Denise Amber Lee was until after she died. But in the days following her Jan. 17, 2008, abduction and murder, she became a household name.
Residents in North Port, Englewood, Charlotte, Punta Gorda and Rotonda rallied to raise money for the family Lee, 21, left behind -- her young sons, Adam and Noah, and grief-stricken husband, Nathan.
Every week for months, residents planned fundraisers and memorials, including benefit runs, car washes, picnics, self-defense classes, silent auctions, yard sales, a tree planting, a jewelry party, a golf tournament and a family fun day in the park in Denise's honor.
On Saturday, a year after Lee's death, the community will come together again to celebrate her life.
"It's going to be more uplifting instead of a sad memorial service," said Dave Garofalo, a family friend and a member of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation created to improve the 911 dispatch system and bring a state-of-the-art 911 call center to North Port.
A North Port city commissioner, Garofalo invited Nathan, his parents, Peggy and Mark, and Denise's father, Rick Goff, to his office at City Hall recently to organize the 11 a.m. ceremony in front of City Hall on Saturday.
Shortly after Lee's death, about 250 residents gathered at the same location to remember Denise. Saturday's service includes some of the same people who were a part of last year's memorial.
Garofalo said it's important to invite politicians because of the foundation's goal of strengthening 911 dispatchers' training.
"When an officer goes to your house for a domestic dispute, you know he's certified," Garofalo said. "When a paramedic is doing CPR on a patient, you know he's certified. You should have the same feeling when you call 911 -- that the dispatcher has had enough training and is certified to handle the call properly. They are a part of the first line of defense. They should have some kind of certifications."
Garofalo said the foundation will continue gently pushing its efforts, despite a poor economy.
"I don't want to see us (the foundation) push to pass a bill that becomes an unfunded mandate that local governments cannot afford," he said. "But that doesn't mean we can't do all we can to make people aware of the flaws in the system."
Nathan says he is grateful for all those who have helped his family.
"Nathan's message is that he cannot bring back his wife, but he can make things better by making people aware of her story," Garofalo said.
Nathan took this week off to help plan for the ceremony and spend time with Adam and Noah.
The Lee and Goff families, as well as the foundation, also will honor Tampa resident Jane Kowalski on Saturday.
Kowalski is the driver who called Charlotte County dispatchers on the night Denise was murdered. She told the 911 operator what she was witnessing in the car behind her, reportedly driven by suspect Michael King. Kowalski said she saw who police believe to be Lee banging on the window and screaming. Lee's body was found two days later off Toledo Blade Boulevard, and King was charged in her death.
Garofalo arranged for Kowalski to be given a key to the city for her dedication and "follow-through" attitude in trying to get deputies to respond to the suspicious activity she reported.
A bagpiper from the city police department will open the ceremony with "Amazing Grace," choir members from South Biscayne Church will sing, and Nathan plans to speak, as well as several others.
"The biggest reason for people to come on Saturday is to see (how) much Denise has made a difference in the community," Nathan said. "They will see how much a negative has been turned into a positive impact throughout our community and our country.
"It will be sad in a way, but it's a celebration about how much has risen from the ashes. Our boys are doing great. We are doing our best to make Denise happy, and we are not going to be miserable our whole lives."
If you go
Speakers for the Denise Amber Lee remembrance at 11 a.m. Saturday in front of North Port City Hall include state Reps. Paige Kreegel and Ken Roberson; the Rev. Dave Baldridge, pastor of Englewood United Methodist Church; Dave Dignam of Key Agency in Englewood; North Port Police Chief Terry Lewis; North Port City Commissioner David Garofalo; and Nathan Lee, Denise's widower.
E-mail: eallen@sun-herald.com
By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
North Port Community News Editor
The Herald
Memorial to honor life of a mother
By John Davis
Published: Friday, January 16, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.Last Modified: Friday, January 16, 2009 at 12:16 a.m.
NORTH PORT - The city that a year ago watched the unfolding tragedy of the abduction and murder of 21-year-old North Port mother Denise Lee will pause Saturday at City Hall to remember her.
Click to enlargeDenise Lee
A memorial ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. in front of City Hall, 4970 City Hall Blvd. State and local leaders and Nathan Lee, Denise's husband, are scheduled to speak.
Lee was taken from her home Jan. 17, 2008, touching off a massive, multi-agency search that ultimately failed to save her. Michael King, 37, of North Port, is awaiting trial on kidnapping, rape and murder charges.
The Lee abduction became a symbol for flaws in the 911 system when investigators found later that a witness, Jane Kowalski, reported seeing a passenger struggling in a dark colored Chevrolet Camaro on U.S. 41 that night. Kowalski's information never made it to deputies patrolling nearby after Charlotte County's 911 center mishandled her call. At the time, authorities had a description of King's car, a green Camaro, and were looking for the vehicle.
Nathan Lee has started a nonprofit foundation, the Denise Amber Lee Foundation, with a goal of improving the emergency call system in Florida and across the nation. He lauded Kowalski for her 911 call.
"She has been amazing towards my family," Lee told city leaders this week. "What she did that night is something everybody should do. It doesn't matter who you are."
North Port will award Kowalski a key to the city Saturday in recognition of her attempts to save Denise.
Kowalski's mishandled call has garnered national media attention and led to a state law on voluntary statewide training standards for people who work in emergency communications centers.
But Nathan Lee, who indicated he plans to sue Charlotte County over its response to Kowalski's call, said more improvements are needed.
This story appeared in print on page BN1
Thursday, January 15, 2009
OUCH! Man was I p!ssed. I still am.
Looking back on some things that I wrote early on after we lost Denise, I came across this. I was pretty upset. And this was before I read the Internal Affairs report!!! Imagine why I'm upset now. In John Davenport's letter he was correct in saying that the CCSO as a whole has respected and cared for our family. Most of them searched beside Nathan and Rick. They have been wonderful. But he has been an asshole the entire time. He has been arrogant, manipulative, disdainful, and deceptive. You'd think reading the letter that he raised the money in the community. Oddly! I didn't see him at one event. And he held back crucial, vital information from us. This many months later he still makes my skin crawl. I wish I could sue him personally. Him and Bill Cameron for the additional pain and suffering he has caused Nate and my family.
I wrote this in May 2008 when the pain was even rawer than it is now.
"Four month mark
I'm feeling better. Why?
3 things
Saw psychologist last week (2 hour emotionally draining session)
Decided to write this
I've had some rest from work and babies
probably combination of all three.
I've been really concentrating on myself the past 3-4 days. Sunday (Mother's Day) was very bad. I was extremely depressed and missing the boys and my family. I couldn't stop feeling sorry for myself. Brian was up in Tampa without a car. Nathan went to church with his grandmother, then to lunch with the Goffs, visited Denise's gravesite and then went to North Carolina with Noah to see the Lowery's. I saw him for about 2 minutes. Noah didn't even get out of the car. I don't think it was an intentional slight. I don't Nathan even realized how much I was hurting. I really try not to let him know. Maybe that's wrong. I don't know. But doesn't he have enough on his plate without worrying about mom? Sigh. I'm crying again just thinking about it. So, Mark and I stayed at home and I cooked dinner the way I do every night.
We've been struggling financially and really don't have the money to go out. Mark offered and felt helpless but there wasn't much he could do. It was a sh!tty day no matter what.
Wednesday night was Nathan's 24th birthday and we tried to celebrate that. Nathan didn't really want to, and I couldn't blame him but Mark's mother has out-of-town guests visiting and it was the only real opportunity they would get to see Nate and theboys before he went to NC. So, we invited them out for hamburgers and hotdogs. Very simple fair. We also invited Steve (Mark's brother) and his wife, Deborah, their kids, James and Marivee who just had Isabel 4 weeks ago. What a beautiful baby. Anyhow, I was a mess! I was fine all day but when they got to our house I just couldn't force a smile. I just couldn't. I was tearry eyed and just had no interest in any of it (other than the baby, of course). Everyone was marvelous. They tried so hard and I just didn't want anything to do with any of them. How rotten is that? I love these people. They've been wonderfully supportive and generous. And, I just couldn't rise up to the occasion.
Nathan was on the phone the entire time. Sheriff Davenport (who I liken the the Sheriff of Nottingham) had written a letter to the editor that was quite upsetting.
http://www.sun-herald.com/Newsstory.cfm?pubdate=050708&story=op9.htm&folder=NewsArchive2
05/07/08
Davenport defends sheriff's office
Editor:
I would like to respond to a recent letter to the editor where a citizen stated that the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office has been insensitive to the Lee and Goff families. This is the second time I have heard comments as to how insensitive the members of the Sheriff's Office have been to these families. This same sentiment was indicated on the courthouse steps when Nathan Lee and his attorney announced their intent to sue the sheriff's office, and I take great exception to these comments.
From the beginning of this terrible tragedy members of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office went out of their way to help the Goff and Lee families. Not only did they volunteer their time to search for Denise Lee, but they kept the family informed daily as the investigation progressed and offered any assistance they could to help both families.
To show you just how "insensitive" the sheriff's office has been, the day before Nathan Lee made the comment on the courthouse steps, Mr. Lee was given a check by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office in the amount of $104,000 that the sheriff's office had collected from the community and from its own members to help this family.
I understand that both the Lee and Goff families are grieving over their terrible loss, but to try and portray the members of the sheriff's office as callous and insensitive to anyone in this situation, particularly one of our own,is a slap in the face of every man and woman of the sheriff's office that have given their time and money to try and help both families.
John Davenport
Port Charlotte
What an asshole! Of course, he didn't know it was Nate's first birthday without Denise, but even so. What an asshole! While he's playing politics, we're suffering. He's been an ass from the beginning.
This is how much I've changed. In the beginning, I felt very sorry for the sheriff's office. I even sent them a thank you note to alleviate some of the pain they might be suffering because of their screw ups. But as time has wore on, I can't stand this guy. He seems to enjoy twisting the knife. I want so bad to write a letter to the editor myself.
It would say:
To: Sheriff Davenport (I couldn't bring myself to write "Dear")
Do you enjoy twisting the knife into our grief and causing more pain and suffering? Are your politics so important to you that you feel you're not being insensitive? While you're playing politics my family is fighting for survival. As to your 911 dispatchers, we're not blaming them totally for the incompetence displayed. We're blaming all the people involved in that call. Including you. There were procedurals breakdowns. It wasn't just human error. It wasn't just simply not dispatching a car. There was no follow-up. Why didn't the supervisors follow-up on that call to find out what had happened. Most people would've asked 15 minutes after the call (having assumed a car was dispatched) "what happened? Did they find her? Did they see the car?" and someone would've replied "oops! I didn't think I could send a car" and the supervisor should've replied "oh, god! Send a car right a way!"
But, no, the ball was dropped. And then your department didn't even let the North Port police department know about it.
Way back in the beginning of all this, I actually pitied your office. I felt sad for your dispatchers. So, I wrote a thank you note hoping to help alleviate any guilt on their parts. I still pity your office. I feel pity for people that have to work for you. And I blame you. I blame you for not owning up to a tragic mistake and not wanting to fix it. I blame you for continuing writing about this to the newspapers and twisting the knife. Nathan went out of his way to commend your officers in the field that day during his press conference.
You're an asshole.
Peggy Lee
Of course, I'd never send it. Of course, I have to keep my dignity at all times."
OUCH!!!!!
added edit: I found this written on the same day
Dignity
How important is dignity? My mom tried to instill in us always to maintain our dignity.
I now understand what she was talking about. Someone made this comment to me the other day "why don't you just get mad?" "why don't you scream?" "you're always trying to act like a lady!" "why?"
I thought about that for a couple of days. And you know why? Because if I lose my dignity, I'll lose control myself. That frightens me. I'm afraid of losing control of myself. I'm afraid of what will come out of my mouth. I have so much ugliness inside me right now and so many ugly angry thoughts, I'm very afraid. So, I do let loose at home when I'm alone. I do cry and I do scream. But, in public, no. I might hurt someone. Either verbally or even gasp physically, I might hurt someone. I might hurt one of these well meaning, very caring stupid people who say stupid things. And I don't want to cause any more hurt. damn. There's enough pain in my life.
And I want so bad to write that letter to the editor about Davenport. But, no, I won't. I'm afraid of what will happen. I could make things worse for Nathan. And I never never never ever want to do that. His heart's broken enough.
I wrote this in May 2008 when the pain was even rawer than it is now.
"Four month mark
I'm feeling better. Why?
3 things
Saw psychologist last week (2 hour emotionally draining session)
Decided to write this
I've had some rest from work and babies
probably combination of all three.
I've been really concentrating on myself the past 3-4 days. Sunday (Mother's Day) was very bad. I was extremely depressed and missing the boys and my family. I couldn't stop feeling sorry for myself. Brian was up in Tampa without a car. Nathan went to church with his grandmother, then to lunch with the Goffs, visited Denise's gravesite and then went to North Carolina with Noah to see the Lowery's. I saw him for about 2 minutes. Noah didn't even get out of the car. I don't think it was an intentional slight. I don't Nathan even realized how much I was hurting. I really try not to let him know. Maybe that's wrong. I don't know. But doesn't he have enough on his plate without worrying about mom? Sigh. I'm crying again just thinking about it. So, Mark and I stayed at home and I cooked dinner the way I do every night.
We've been struggling financially and really don't have the money to go out. Mark offered and felt helpless but there wasn't much he could do. It was a sh!tty day no matter what.
Wednesday night was Nathan's 24th birthday and we tried to celebrate that. Nathan didn't really want to, and I couldn't blame him but Mark's mother has out-of-town guests visiting and it was the only real opportunity they would get to see Nate and theboys before he went to NC. So, we invited them out for hamburgers and hotdogs. Very simple fair. We also invited Steve (Mark's brother) and his wife, Deborah, their kids, James and Marivee who just had Isabel 4 weeks ago. What a beautiful baby. Anyhow, I was a mess! I was fine all day but when they got to our house I just couldn't force a smile. I just couldn't. I was tearry eyed and just had no interest in any of it (other than the baby, of course). Everyone was marvelous. They tried so hard and I just didn't want anything to do with any of them. How rotten is that? I love these people. They've been wonderfully supportive and generous. And, I just couldn't rise up to the occasion.
Nathan was on the phone the entire time. Sheriff Davenport (who I liken the the Sheriff of Nottingham) had written a letter to the editor that was quite upsetting.
http://www.sun-herald.com/Newsstory.cfm?pubdate=050708&story=op9.htm&folder=NewsArchive2
05/07/08
Davenport defends sheriff's office
Editor:
I would like to respond to a recent letter to the editor where a citizen stated that the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office has been insensitive to the Lee and Goff families. This is the second time I have heard comments as to how insensitive the members of the Sheriff's Office have been to these families. This same sentiment was indicated on the courthouse steps when Nathan Lee and his attorney announced their intent to sue the sheriff's office, and I take great exception to these comments.
From the beginning of this terrible tragedy members of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office went out of their way to help the Goff and Lee families. Not only did they volunteer their time to search for Denise Lee, but they kept the family informed daily as the investigation progressed and offered any assistance they could to help both families.
To show you just how "insensitive" the sheriff's office has been, the day before Nathan Lee made the comment on the courthouse steps, Mr. Lee was given a check by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office in the amount of $104,000 that the sheriff's office had collected from the community and from its own members to help this family.
I understand that both the Lee and Goff families are grieving over their terrible loss, but to try and portray the members of the sheriff's office as callous and insensitive to anyone in this situation, particularly one of our own,is a slap in the face of every man and woman of the sheriff's office that have given their time and money to try and help both families.
John Davenport
Port Charlotte
What an asshole! Of course, he didn't know it was Nate's first birthday without Denise, but even so. What an asshole! While he's playing politics, we're suffering. He's been an ass from the beginning.
This is how much I've changed. In the beginning, I felt very sorry for the sheriff's office. I even sent them a thank you note to alleviate some of the pain they might be suffering because of their screw ups. But as time has wore on, I can't stand this guy. He seems to enjoy twisting the knife. I want so bad to write a letter to the editor myself.
It would say:
To: Sheriff Davenport (I couldn't bring myself to write "Dear")
Do you enjoy twisting the knife into our grief and causing more pain and suffering? Are your politics so important to you that you feel you're not being insensitive? While you're playing politics my family is fighting for survival. As to your 911 dispatchers, we're not blaming them totally for the incompetence displayed. We're blaming all the people involved in that call. Including you. There were procedurals breakdowns. It wasn't just human error. It wasn't just simply not dispatching a car. There was no follow-up. Why didn't the supervisors follow-up on that call to find out what had happened. Most people would've asked 15 minutes after the call (having assumed a car was dispatched) "what happened? Did they find her? Did they see the car?" and someone would've replied "oops! I didn't think I could send a car" and the supervisor should've replied "oh, god! Send a car right a way!"
But, no, the ball was dropped. And then your department didn't even let the North Port police department know about it.
Way back in the beginning of all this, I actually pitied your office. I felt sad for your dispatchers. So, I wrote a thank you note hoping to help alleviate any guilt on their parts. I still pity your office. I feel pity for people that have to work for you. And I blame you. I blame you for not owning up to a tragic mistake and not wanting to fix it. I blame you for continuing writing about this to the newspapers and twisting the knife. Nathan went out of his way to commend your officers in the field that day during his press conference.
You're an asshole.
Peggy Lee
Of course, I'd never send it. Of course, I have to keep my dignity at all times."
OUCH!!!!!
added edit: I found this written on the same day
Dignity
How important is dignity? My mom tried to instill in us always to maintain our dignity.
I now understand what she was talking about. Someone made this comment to me the other day "why don't you just get mad?" "why don't you scream?" "you're always trying to act like a lady!" "why?"
I thought about that for a couple of days. And you know why? Because if I lose my dignity, I'll lose control myself. That frightens me. I'm afraid of losing control of myself. I'm afraid of what will come out of my mouth. I have so much ugliness inside me right now and so many ugly angry thoughts, I'm very afraid. So, I do let loose at home when I'm alone. I do cry and I do scream. But, in public, no. I might hurt someone. Either verbally or even gasp physically, I might hurt someone. I might hurt one of these well meaning, very caring stupid people who say stupid things. And I don't want to cause any more hurt. damn. There's enough pain in my life.
And I want so bad to write that letter to the editor about Davenport. But, no, I won't. I'm afraid of what will happen. I could make things worse for Nathan. And I never never never ever want to do that. His heart's broken enough.
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