Orlando Escorts: Special DeLand police unit focuses on trending crimes

The unit started as a pilot program five years ago during the summer when property crimes saw an upsurge. Ridgway suggested the use of the team under former Chief Ed Overman. The team then consisted of one sergeant and three officers. Spreading to areas where property crimes were high, the team seized weapons, narcotics and made several prostitution arrests.
“After we saw the success of the pilot program, we felt there was a need for the CST and we created a permanent unit that is a part of patrol,” Ridgway said.

Another example of the team’s success included an abandoned house on Delaware Avenue. Officers, along with the West Volusia Narcotics Task Force, would arrest drug dealers and prostitutes but others would still use the house, Ridgway said. So, the team spearheaded an investigation that showed the house was a nuisance and together with code enforcement had the house condemned and demolished, Ridgway said.

See the full article from “Daytona Beach News-Journal”

Published in: on January 12, 2012 at 8:12 am Comments (0)


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