SCPD Chief Goerke part of Chief Executive Seminar class
The Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, part of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, announced the graduation of 19 chief executives from the Chief Executive Seminar last week. The list graduates included St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke.
Participants met for one week a month for three months, taking classes on topics such as future trends, social media, risk management, stress management, succession planning and communicating in a crisis.
“It really was an amazing program by FDLE. The topics were extremely relevant and taught by nationally-renowned instructors,” Goerke said. “I am proud to say that many of the initiatives discussed are already being utilized by the St. Cloud Police Department.”
The goal of the Chief Executive Seminar is to prepare Florida’s criminal justice leadership for the challenging demands of the future. Class participants study trends and events that may affect criminal justice professionals and Florida, while developing new leadership skills to address the changes that lie ahead.
The Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute was established in 1990 by the Florida Legislature to recognize the need for an innovative and multifaceted approach to the education and training of criminal justice professionals.
LYNX holiday bus schedule
LYNX will be operating a holiday schedule on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24. If a service runs on Sunday, it will offer the same schedule on the holiday.
The Customer Service Window and Lost & Found will be closed as well. The call center will be open its regular hours (8 a.m.-8 p.m.). Regular service and customer service hours resume Nov. 25.
ACCESS LYNX will be available to transport all customers with an advance reservation Nov. 24. Customers should call 407-423-8747 to book their trip.
Florida DOT recognizes Crash Responder Safety Week
This week, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is joining partners across the state in recognizing Crash Responder Safety Week. This observance recognizes the critical role traffic incident responders play in saving lives and keeping traffic moving on Florida’s roadways.
Since its inception in 2000, more than 6.1 million assists have been made by FDOT’s Road Ranger program- a service that provides free highway assistance during traffic incidents, reducing delays and improving safety for motorists and first responders. Road Rangers are often among the first individuals on the scene of a traffic incident and work quickly to ensure that lanes are clear and motorists are able to safely maneuver around the disabled vehicle(s).
“Traffic incident responders are vital to keeping our roadways safe and efficiently moving, and this week provides us with an opportunity to highlight these roadside heroes,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue. “Though they perform their job without thought of recognition, the quick and safe roadway management they provide has saved countless lives in every corner of the state. As these responders work around the clock to keep us safe, let’s do our part to keep them safe, too.”
The nature of the work for FDOT’s Road Rangers comes with an increased risk for injuries, as these responders work directly along Florida’s busiest roadways. Since 2014, approximately 247 Road Rangers were struck by passing motorists while tending to disabled vehicles, 47 of which resulted in serious injuries.
November recognized as Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Month
Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared November as Hospice and Palliative Care Month in Florida. In 2021, 161,021 patients received hospice care throughout Florida in a variety of settings. During the pandemic, Florida hospices also provided bereavement services to persons who lost loved ones irrespective of whether or not the loss occurred under hospice.
“The ethos of, ‘Every day is a gift’ and ‘Live every day you have to the fullest,’ guide the valuable services available through your local hospice,” said Paul A. Ledford, President & CEO of Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association. “When curative or lifeprolonging therapies are no longer effective or beneficial, it is appropriate for the goals of care, and plan of care, to refocus on quality of life. This November, we remind you that hospices across Florida are here to help. Florida’s hospices have expertise in delivering needed care to patients and families at the right place and the right time.”
