Important Update: Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report Discontinuation
This is the final issue of the Division of Law Enforcement’s Weekly Report. You can find the latest news at our new media resources webpage. We also encourage you to bookmark the Division of Law Enforcement’s regional webpages for more localized information. In addition, to continue receiving updates about significant FWC law enforcement cases, we encourage you to subscribe to the News - Law Enforcement email list (under the "Law Enforcement" category).
Thank you for staying connected!
 CASES
Manatee County
- Officer Specialist Miller observed a subject throwing a cast net in a retention pond along S.R. 64. A resource inspection revealed the subject had caught and kept eight Florida bass and five bluegills. The subject will have to appear in Manatee County Court for their violations.
- Senior Officer Hinds was on land patrol around I-75 and the Manatee River when he observed a subject throwing a cast net. The officer identified the subjects were catching and keeping Florida bass. A resource inspection revealed the subject had caught seven Florida bass with a cast net. The subject was issued a notice to appear in Manatee County Court for the violations.
- Officer Specialist Miller observed a subject throwing a cast net along Fish Eating Creek. The officer conducted a resource inspection and found the subject had caught and kept numerous freshwater gamefish with a cast net. The subject will have to appear in Manatee County Court for the violations.
SEARCH AND RESCUE
Charlotte County
- Officer Lejarzar received an emergency call regarding two subject who were aboard a boat and in distress. The seas were rough with the high winds and waves consistently between 4 to 6 feet. The vessel had lost its anchor and was stuck in the remnants of a public fishing pier that was destroyed by recent hurricanes. Officer Lejarzar responded to the scene and coordinated with responding officers from Punta Gorda Police Department. Officer Lejarzar took charge and advised the other units of their responsibilities as he attempted to position the patrol vessel close enough to the distressed vessel, which was taking waves over the bow and filling with water. Officer Lejarzar maneuvered the patrol vessel to the distressed vessel just long enough for the other officers to grab the one subject and pull her to safety. A second pass had to be made to get close enough to rescue the second subject. The two subjects were rescued without injury and relieved to be safe.
 SEARCH AND RESCUE
Palm Beach County
- Lieutenant Warne and Officer Defeo responded to a call about a lost individual stranded while riding an e-bike in the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area. The subject had been stranded for over 24 hours and spent the night in the woods. The officers located the individual and transported him to safety.
- Lieutenant Warne responded to a call for help from two individuals at the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area at approximately 4:30 a.m. The individuals had illegally driven off-trail earlier in the night, causing one vehicle to become disabled in water while the other ran out of gas. In the early morning, Lt. Warne used a swamp buggy to extract the three people from the area. He then transported them to safety and the individuals arranged for the removal of their vehicles.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Okeechobee County
- Lieutenant Davis and Reserve Officer Allen assisted with the three-day Battle of Okeechobee Reenactment at the Okeechobee Battlefield State Park. During each day of the event the historical Battle of Okeechobee was reenacted for the participants. Officers assisted with parking and fielded questions from the hundreds of visitors that attended the reenactment.
- Lieutenant Davis, Investigator/Drone Pilot Wright, Public Information Officer Officer Matthews, Officer Crosby and K-9 Officer Madsen participated in the Okeechobee County School District Career Fair at the Indian River State College campus in Okeechobee. The officers fielded multiple questions about how to become an FWC officer. They also discussed what an FWC member does, including demonstrating different units within the Division of Law Enforcement such as drone pilot and K-9 officer. There were over a thousand 5th, 8th and 10th grade students in attendance.
Statewide Summary of Boating Related Law Enforcement Activities
For February 1-28, 2025
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