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February 2, 2021
K-9 Reggie and K-9 Blaze Retire
K-9 Blaze (left) and K-9 Reggie (right) are retiring this month.

At the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, it can be bittersweet when a K-9 retires. While the end of their careers as police dogs can bring some sadness, it is also a celebration of their hard work and achievements. After dedicating a majority of their lives to serving and protecting the community, they get some time to rest and enjoy their families at home.

Two of our beloved K-9s, Reggie and Blaze, are retiring this month. We talked with their handlers, Sergeant Mike Kilian and Deputy Jeff Clement, about Reggie and Blaze's career highlights and what their retirement will look like.


Sergeant Mike Kilian and K-9 Reggie

How was Reggie's career overall?

Reggie has been with the sheriff's office for seven years. His biggest achievement was winning first place in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) portion of the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) Field Trials Detector Certifications in 2020. Although Reggie had to stay with me in the office sometimes due to my role as sergeant, what he lacked in tracking deployments he made up for in EOD sweeps, which is where he excelled.

Any proud moments that stand out? 

Reggie is a great demo dog. He has such an easy-going personality, and he loves being around people (as long as they play with his tug toy). It was always fun letting him out at Sheriff's Citizens Academy where he would run from person to person wanting to play. I was proud knowing he was so well trained and personable that he could always be around the public without any issue. This was a great characteristic because community relations in law enforcement is so important. 

Favorite memory: 

Reggie and I worked EOD sweeps during the 2016 presidential campaign. Reggie was honored to meet Vice President Mike Pence. We swept his hotel and airplane while he visited Pinellas County.

Funniest moment:

Every year during Major League Baseball spring training events, the PCSO Canine Unit assisted with EOD sweeps. When the Toronto Blue Jays came to Dunedin, Reggie and I were often at the games checking for bombs. After finishing the EOD sweeps, I would walk Reggie through the stadium and let him meet the staff and fans during the game. He quickly became recognized by the fans and staff because Reggie has wide hips and is a very distinct-looking dog. During conversations with people, I would always joke that members of the Canine Unit nicknamed Reggie, "Beyoncé," because of his hips. Every year after that, staff members would approach me when I arrived and ask, "where is Beyoncé?" It became a running joke at the stadium.

What will retirement look like for Reggie? 

I have teenage sons who are excited to take Reggie on Jeep rides on the Dunedin Causeway, taking him to the beach, and fishing. Reggie will spend his Friday nights walking with my wife and I at third Friday events in Safety Harbor making new friends. Maybe we will introduce him to pizza and ice cream, too. We have four other dogs in our home, so Reggie will have more time to play with the others or just lounge around the house. Either way, I am sure Reggie will have a great retirement.

Deputy Jeff Clement and K-9 Blaze

How was Blaze's career overall? 

Blaze has been with the sheriff's office for seven years. He has brought many laughs and smiles during his interactions with citizens during K-9 demonstrations. But with the flip of a switch, he can spring into action and track a fleeing suspect. Blaze has had a very successful career and really enjoyed working for the sheriff's office. 


Any proud moments that stand out? 

I am proud of all the bad guys he has caught hiding in places that humans would never have located. His bond with me and his willingness to protect me under any circumstance is more than admirable. 

What's the biggest difference between Blaze and his four-legged colleagues?

All of the dogs in the unit are spectacular at their jobs, but each dog has unique traits that make them excel in different areas. Blaze has a very good nose for locating firearms. He has found numerous firearms discarded by suspects throughout the years. One time during a track, Blaze gave a distinct head turn toward a small crack in the foundation of a porch. At first, I believed he was distracted by a cat. But as I looked further, Blaze located a magazine from a handgun wedged in the crack. Then, he located the firearm underneath a flowerpot. Blaze did not locate a person that day, but the evidence he uncovered resulted in an arrest. 

Funniest moment?

Blaze loves the water, from playing in puddles to swimming in the pool and tracking through canals and lakes. We learned very quickly to watch him when he was let out in the backyard. On several occasions, we looked out the window and saw him swimming laps or just lounging on the shelf in the pool.

What will retirement look like for Blaze?

Blaze will be working for Blue Collar Training by training people's house pets. Blaze is very good around other dogs, and I am looking forward to having him help out with training other dogs. My wife Emily also has lots of adventures planned for Blaze. She plans on taking him on hikes in the woods and trips to the beach. Blaze loves hanging out with his family and will thoroughly enjoy going on these new adventures.
School Crossing Guard Appreciation 
School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day is on February 5, 2021. About 174 school crossing guards currently work for the sheriff's office to keep children safe. 

Every year, on the first Friday of February, school crossing guards all over Florida are recognized for their hard work in ensuring the safety of children walking to and from school. School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day brings attention to these trained professionals who take great pride in protecting our children.

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office school crossing guards serve the community part-time, but often work long shifts in extreme weather conditions. Last year was challenging due to COVID-19 restrictions, however, the school crossing guards worked together to meet needs and make sure all posts were covered throughout the county.

Kathleen Miller (left) and Dawn Pecora (right) are leaders in the school crossing guard program. 
"Every one of them has gone above and beyond in their work," School Crossing Guard Program Supervisor Dawn Pecora said. "We had some post locations that needed to be filled, but they stepped up to the plate to ensure coverage on every shift. I'm very proud that every 
school has been manned, and that all the students are safe."

When the public health crisis intensified, all of the school crossing guards were given masks and electronic whistles to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Regional Coordinator Kathleen Miller said even though things have changed, they have tried to keep the routines normal for the children.

"We are down about 30 percent of the students, but the ones who are still attending in-person classes are being retrained. We teach them to follow the safety protocols. We'd like to see all the students because we miss them, but everyone has been affected by COVID-19, and we are doing the best we can."

Many of the school crossing guards are retired but find a lot of fulfillment and joy serving the students. 

"I enjoy being outside, and I love working with the other guards and the children," Miller said. "It's a great job, and it gives you something worthwhile to do by giving back to the community."

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is hiring school crossing guards. To apply, visit our website: pcsoweb.com

Join Us On Zoom To Learn About Identify Theft & Fraud Prevention
As part of our celebration of Identity Theft Awareness Week the Crime Prevention & Community Awareness Unit (CPCA) is hosting a Zoom meeting tomorrow, February 3rd at 10:00 a.m. Following a short presentation, CPCA members will take your questions. You can find the link to the meeting here. Hope you can join us! 
Pinellas County Government's COVID-19 Resource Website
Pinellas County Government's COVID-19 Response and Recommendations website is a one-stop-shop for information about COVID-19 and the county's mitigation efforts. For the latest data, details on current protocols, testing locations, vaccine information, and more visit www.covid19.pinellascounty.org.

"This bi-weekly newsletter is another step in my effort to give interested residents the most up-to-date information about services and programs here, at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

 

I value your feedback and look forward to continuing our dialogue about public safety."

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Find PCSO!
Sheriff's Administration Building
10750 Ulmerton Road
Largo, FL 33778

North District Station
2496 Bayshore Boulevard
Dunedin, FL 34698

For Non-Emergencies
(727) 582-6200
Pinellas PAL
Youth Group Leader

The primary purpose of this position is to oversee the operations of Pinellas PAL's after-school program in Lealman, an at-risk neighborhood. This person is responsible for providing a fun, safe, caring, and educational environment while working with children ages 5 to 18 on various athletic, academic, mentoring, leadership, and other activities while assisting to ensure the overall program is aligned with the mission of PAL.

Qualifications

--High school diploma/GED.
--Must be at least 18 years of age.
--Must have a valid Florida driver's license with a clean driving record.
--Must be at least 6 months drug-free.
--Must pass a level 2 background check, fingerprinting, and polygraph through Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

--Model and uphold all agency policies and procedures.
--Promote and stimulate interest and participation in all activities with participants.
--Fluent in written and spoken English; bilingual in Spanish preferred.
--Actively participate in activities with youth participants--have fun!
--Build positive relationships with youth and serve as a role model.
--Quickly identify and seek to resolve conflicts and behavioral problems.
--Complete necessary reports to monitor student progress and participation.
--Coach, mentor, tutor, and keep students on a successful track.
--Transport youth in provided van.
--Keep the site, equipment, and supplies organized, clean, and safe.
--Other duties as assigned; assistance with special events as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

--Knowledge of English, spelling, and arithmetic.
--Willingness to work with youth, parents, staff, and volunteers.
--Must exercise good independent judgment and make responsible choices and decisions.
--Good communication skills, verbal and written, and the ability to speak professionally to staff, youth participants, parents, groups, and community residents.
--Must be a team player and have patience, compassion, and a strong desire to mentor and teach by example.
--Active involvement in everyday youth participation.
--Knowledge of general workplace practices and procedures.
--Time management skills and interpersonal skills.
--Ability to perform all functions of the job classification without posing a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

For more information about the Youth Group Leader, call (727) 521-5315.

To apply or view other PCSO job openings and internships, visit our 
page on our website.