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 We’re coming up on the peak of hurricane season. So far, we’ve been lucky to escape any tropical systems in our area. But as you well remember last year, September and October were devastating to many in our city, including some of our own personnel.
I want to remind everyone to have a plan now. Be sure to have three to five days of supplies handy in case you’re called in to work during a tropical event. That means sufficient food, water, bedding, uniforms and foul-weather gear.
Be sure you have a plan for your family in case you’re not around to assist them. Lastly, if you live in an evacuation zone, plan to stage your cruiser and related equipment at the main station.
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 I have fond memories of my time on SWAT and know the importance of selecting the right personnel for the job.
We are looking for candidates who have a combination of good decision-making skills, sound tactics, and are in the physical condition necessary to perform the job-specific tasks inherent in the assignment.
Mark your calendars for 9 a.m. Sept. 10, at the District 3 Operations and Training Center. Applicants must be off probation and have at least two years of police experience.
The tryouts consist of a cold firearms qualification, stress shoot, physical fitness test, obstacle course, gas exposure, half-mile run and interview with the team. Interested candidates should send a memorandum to Patrol Commander Maj. Nate Burnside.
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 Karen Kruse
I’d like to congratulate Accounting Technician Karen Kruse on her selection as the Support Services Division Employee of the Quarter.
Kruse, selected as the recipient for April through June, is the consummate team player who never hesitates to take on additional responsibilities. She consistently demonstrates exceptional attention to detail, reliability and professionalism in every aspect of her work. She plays a key role in ensuring the timely and accurate processing of financial transactions, including accounts payable, reconciliations, and month-end reporting.
Excellent work, Karen!
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 Congratulations to two of our crossing guards who were selected as recipients of the Doug Carey Crossing Guard of the Year Award.
William C. Roemer was honored for the 2023-24 school year, while Carmelitta Chiarmonte was recognized for the 2024-25 school year. Both awards were presented during the annual crossing guard training the week before school began.
I’d also like to thank all our crossing guards for the valuable work they do keeping students safe as they go to and from school.
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I want to congratulate some of our personnel who fared well recently in athletic endeavors.
Sgt. Corey Lenczden, Officer Jason Moore, Officer Jonathan Yuen and Officer Joel Nina competed in the 2025 World Police and Fire Games in Birmingham, Ala. Moore and Yuen participated in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, while Lenczden competed in wrestling and jiu-jitsu. All three came home with silver medals despite having to compete in higher-level divisions.
Nina, an accomplished marksman who takes part in shooting competitions across the country, competed in police combat shooting and police action shooting. He placed eighth out of 150 competitors, despite using his department-issued standard Glock pistol while others used customized competition firearms.
More than 8,500 public safety athletes came from more than 70 countries to participate in the athletic contests. I am proud of how our employees represented our agency.
 Congratulations as well to Sgt. Marcel Wilson, who is one of the coaches for a national champion girls softball team.
The 10-and-under girls Northwest Youth Baseball and Softball team from St. Petersburg won the national title in the Babe Ruth World Series Championship in Florence, Ala., earlier this month. Wilson has helped coach the team for three years, and his 9-year-old daughter, Nina, plays on the squad.
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Meet Our Background Investigators
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 Amanda Levicki
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 Marissa Pease
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Some of you may already know Marissa Pease and Amanda Levicki, but if not, now’s the perfect time to introduce them. They’re our dedicated in-house background investigators working out of the Support Services Division on the third floor, and they’d love for you to stop by and say hello.
With them fully on board, we no longer use the Police Applicant Screening Service. All police department employment background checks are now handled in-house, making the process more efficient and personalized.
If you’re curious about the background process or have any questions, feel free to reach out. Marissa and Amanda are always happy to help.
Refer a Future Officer, Earn a Day Off
Do you know someone who would make a great addition to our department? If he or she gets hired, you earn a bonus day off.
It doesn’t need to be a close friend; maybe it’s someone you met on a call, in passing, or at an event who has shown interest in law enforcement. Just send the potential applicant to our website to complete the career interest form, and make sure your name is listed as the referral.
Not sure if someone’s qualified? Send them our way; we’re happy to talk with them and point them in the right direction.
New Social Media Intern Coming Soon!
We’ve got a new intern joining us to help showcase all the great work happening here at the police department. You might see her out and about gathering content, so be sure to say hi. If you’ve had a call, success story, or moment that you think the public should hear about, let us know. We’d love to highlight it on our platforms. Thanks for helping us find the next generation of our police team and for everything you do every day!
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- The Hispanic Outreach Center and the old Fire Station 45 will be demolished, making way for additional police department parking. The HOC is relocating to the west side of the South Greenwood substation building, where the Community Dental Clinic formerly was located.
- We are in the process of transitioning the radio system from Harris to Motorola. Officers will continue to use their current radios after the switch until they are due for replacement. We are hopeful of a completion date by Oct. 1.
- We’re also in the process of acquiring a new lighting system for the AR-15 rifles.
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