This video from the MCSO Aviation Unit shows damage and flooding from
#Helene
on Anna Maria Island and in Northwest Manatee County. The video is compiled from the initial aerial damage assessments conducted this morning. (Video has no audio.)
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of one of our own following his brief battle with cancer. Please keep the family of Dep. Gregg Melita in your prayers.
#EOW
#ThinBlueLine
This female gator apparently had a craving for some of Texas Roadhouse's dinner rolls last night. A guest found her hiding under their car in the parking lot, so Sgt. Hendrickson responded to move her to a safer location out east. 🐊
#UnwantedDinnerGuest
#HereIfYouNeedUs
It was an emotional day as law enforcement from across the nation and our community came together to pay their respects to a
#hero
. This is a glimpse of Tpr. Bullock’s journey to his final resting place at Sarasota National Cemetery.
#RestInPeace
#EOW
#Veteran
#LEO
#ThinBlueLine
Beginning Monday, March 5, deputies will be in every elementary school in unincorporated Manatee County. Also, we'll go from one to two deputies at all high schools and we'll continue to have one deputy in each middle school. Working to keep Manatee County safe.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own. This morning, Dep. Antonio Hernandez died from injuries sustained in a traffic crash, while off duty. He began his career at
@PalmettoPD
before joining MCSO in July. Please keep his family & friends in your thoughts & prayers.
Thank you to the kind neighbor who anonymously left this note, box of masks, and Starbucks card for one of our deputies. It’s things like this that really make us so grateful to protect this
#community
. We really are all
#InThisTogether
!
#Thankful
#YourSupportMatters
SKYWAY RESCUE: A man lead deputies on a pursuit & nearly ran over a deputy before driving to the top of the Skyway Bridge & climbing on the edge barrier wall. With both feet over the edge, deputies pleaded with him & pulled him to safety. Our aviation unit captured the rescue:
Yesterday we celebrated the life and career of Dave Bristow. For more than 30 years he was an intregal part of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office family. Dave was more than our Public Information Officer, he was our friend.
#NeverForgotten
Our SWAT Team was conducting waterborne training today when an unexpected visitor decided to stop by and see what they were doing! Brings new meaning to
#ManateeSheriff
!
This is why it is the law in Florida to
#MoveOver
or slow down. Today a deputy's vehicle was hit while he was providing assistance to a disabled vehicle on US 41. Fortunately, it looks like everyone involved is going to be okay.
#MoveOverAwarenessMonth
There is an image circulating through social media of a teenager holding a rifle with the words “Round 2 FL Tomorrow”. This is not a local threat. Our detectives have confirmed it is a photo of a juvenile in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He has been arrested.
Our deputies helped this 8 yr old celebrate his birthday today after his dad let us know that he's a big fan of MCSO, but couldn't have a party with friends due to
#COVID19
. Dep. Foy (his uncle) lead a parade of lights, sirens, and cheers past his house!
#MCSOCares
Threats of school violence continue to spread on social media. MCSO detectives are investigating two local cases and have identified the suspects in each incident with charges pending. School threats are no joke and will be taken serious by law enforcement.
MCSO is searching for K9 Boss who ran into the woods this morning near Foxbrook communities off County Rd 675 in Parrish. Boss was doing his morning routine when he was distracted and took off. Boss is a Belgian Malinois who does have a friendly demeanor. Call MCSO if seen.
TRAFFIC TIP: This mother duck and her 20+ ducklings are another reminder of why we should always follow the speed limit and stay alert while driving. Dep. Foy was able to capture this moment while he parked and waited for them to cross the road. 🦆 🐤🐤🐤
#TrafficTipTuesday
Pointing a laser at multiple aircraft didn't end well for Charlie Chapman Jr. He was arrested after pointing one at planes heading into SRQ Airport last night & then at our helicopter. He even tried throwing rocks at them. Details:
Congratulate K-9 Rocky on his well deserved retirement! Since hitting the streets in 2012, Rocky made over for 125 arrests, serving in both Criminal Apprehension and Explosives Detection. Honorable career! Thank You Rocky!
#ManateeSheriffK9
Big thanks to the Manatee Kennel Club for another “Paw-some” donation. Approximately $14,000 will pay for the purchase of “Phantom”, our newest Patrol K9. This is the third K-9 in 3 years the Kennel Club has donated to the Sheriff’s Office.
#K9Phantom
#ManateeKennelClub
Our neighbors to the north need our help. Drop off hygiene items, household supplies, and canned foods (no boxes, bags or glass) at these MCSO locations;
Ops Ctr - 600 301 Blvd W.
(M-Sun 7 to 7)
D2 - 407 57th Ave E.
(M-F 7:30 to 4)
D3 - 6161 67th St. Cir. E.
(M-F 7:30am to 4pm)
Sad to report that retired K9 Chico has passed away. Chico served Manatee County with his handler, Deputy Michael Gerholdt from 2008 to 2014. He was 13 years-old.
#ThankYouForYourService
#4LeggedHero
This bodycam video shows deputies rescuing around 100 hotel guests from the Ramada Inn on North Tamiami Trail last night (9/26) after water from Sarasota Bay began flooding rooms on the ground floor.
It was our honor to be a part of the funeral procession of fallen Tpr. Joseph Bullock & to witness our community pay their respects along SR 70 in
#ManateeCounty
. Please take a moment today to remember the sacrifice of this
#hero
and pray for those he leaves behind.
#RestInPeace
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Sgt. Chris Atkinson. He passed away unexpectedly at home this morning of natural causes. Pray for his family, friends, & MCSO. Chris served our citizens for 37 yrs & was an active member in the community that he loved.
MCSO computer K9 Gia relaxing a little after a busy week sniffing out evidence to help put bad guys in jail. It's hard to believe Gia has been with the Sheriff's Office for over two years.
Four of our deputies recently had the honor of being deployed together. We're proud they've chosen to not only serve their community, but also their country.
#Service
#MCSOCares
#Army
🇺🇸
Please help us give a warm welcome to the newest addition to our K-9 Unit. K-9 Micro is ready to hit the pavement! Using his small stature to apprehend suspects who hide under beds and in attics, he will go where no normal K-9 has gone before.
#MCSOK9
#Welcome
Thank you to the citizens who came out to pay their respects to fallen Trooper Joseph Bullock as his procession made its way across SR 70 this morning.
#ThinBlueLine
💙
Today we said goodbye to a man who was a beloved husband, father, coach, mentor, deputy, and friend. He touched so many lives in our community and leaves a legacy that will not be forgotten. You will be greatly missed Sgt. Chris Atkinson.
LIFE SAVING AWARD: While on a call for a possible drug overdose, Dep. Cameron Lock found a woman who had no pulse and was not breathing. He immediately administered Narcan & performed CPR for several minutes alone. She regained a pulse & consciousness before EMS arrived.
#Hero
Deputies arrested a Bayshore High School student today for carrying a loaded gun on campus. Thanks to students at Bayshore for telling school officials who in turn notified the school resource deputies on campus.
We have a beautiful place to call home, and we're lucky to have this view. We hope you have a safe and restful Sunday,
#ManateeCounty
. We'll be here if you need us.
#AnnaMariaIsland
We continue to keep the family of
@TampaPD
Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen & the entire dept. in our thoughts & prayers as they remember & honor him today at his funeral in Lutz.
#MCSOMotorcycleUnit
members are there paying their respects to this
#hero
& captured this photo.
“Contrary to reports by the Sarasota Herald Tribune, a search warrant in question was a carefully planned & executed operation. This is a personal & unjust attack on the MCSO. If you don’t want SWAT at your house, don’t sell drugs in our community.
After 10 years of service and hundreds of details with MCSO, we say goodbye to mounted patrol horse Quattro. Please keep his partner, Dep. Combee, and our mounted patrol family in your prayers. Thank you for your service, Quattro.
#MountedPatrol
#ThinBlueLine
MCSO K-9 Rocky is recuperating after successful emergency surgery. Thanks to Desoto Animal Clinic, Veterinary Surgery Center and Vet Care Express for their quick actions. Rocky will be back protecting the citizens of Manatee Country in a few weeks.
to all those in the past who have bought my dinner as well as other deputies and wished to remain anonymous THANK YOU! And thank you to all of you who have responded, retweeted, or Liked this post. your support is greatly appreciated. Lt. Pease
Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with the Bush family and all those mourning the loss of an American Patriot. Former President George H.W. Bush was a true public servant who served his country with dignity and wisdom.
#Honoring41
We hope to brighten your day with this photo of K9 Yaz taking a break from his duties to enjoy a St. Patrick's Day treat. He wants to make sure that everyone stays safe, healthy, and celebrates responsibly. And remember, we're here if you need us. ☘️
#StParicksDay
#MCSOCares
Since its inception in 2016, the recovery program at the Manatee County Central Jail has graduated 1375 inmates. Last week, we presented certificates to six more who are on the road to recovery from addiction.
#MCSOCares
#Recovery
DUCKLING RESCUE: MCSO Deputy Darbonne and CSO Brooks stepped in to help when a driver on 43 St. W. noticed a mallard duck had been hit by a car and her ducklings were hiding. Dep. Darbonne plans to care for them until they can survive on their own.
#MCSOCares
#MondayMotivation
Some criminals prefer getting arrested the hard way! This guy with felony warrants leads deputies on a chase, jumps off a bridge, gets to know K9 Loki - then goes to jail. Don't be like this guy!
#MCSOAviation
#MCSOK9
This vehicle burglar probably didn't think our K9s could swim. He was wrong. Here's a glimpse of the chase he sent deputies on that ended in Palma Sola Bay at 4 am.
#FurMissile
#K9sCanSwim
Details:
Our prayers are with Former President Donald Trump, the loved ones of the rally attendee who was killed, and all of those impacted by the shooting in PA tonight. We commend the swift action of law enforcement and secret service to protect the Fmr. President & those in attendance.
Our hearts break at the news of two police officers killed today in Westerville, Ohio. And yesterday another brother in uniform was sadly taken after serving a warrant in Locust Grove, Georgia. Our thoughts and prayers are with those law enforcement families.
#thinblueline
Please help us welcome 13 deputies to our team! They were recently sworn in by Col. Denison and will be working in our Enforcement Bureau (Patrol). We're thankful they chose to serve our community and wish them the best of luck as they begin a rewarding career at MCSO!
#Welcome
Never know where we might show up! Last night, deputies randomly checked vehicles and found ones that were secure with no items of value observed inside. We then made contact with the residents and presented them with a thank you package.
#OperationThankYou
#LockItUp
#McDonalds
This is Deputy Aguirre trying to dry his socks after rescuing a couple and their dog as they were clinging to their capsized boat yesterday. 🛶 He found a kayak nearby and paddled out to them while battling the wind & current. We're glad everyone is okay!
#MCSOCares
#Hero
This fawn was attacked by dogs in Lakewood Ranch so Sgt. Hendrickson responded to help this little injured guy who is only a day or two old. He made sure he was as comfortable as possible & took him to a wildlife vet. He's now receiving care at Wildlife Inc. 🦌
#MCSOCares
Wishing all dads a very Happy Father’s Day today, especially those who leave their families each day to serve their communities with little ones at home.
#WhyWeServe
#FathersDay2020
We are unable to accept any more donations for Hurricane Michael relief. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we have reached capacity of the two large trailers. The first load and members of our Emergency Services Team is in route to Bay County today.
After learning of unfounded child neglect allegations, Deputy of the Month for March, Lt. Aaron Bradley, decided to help a family in need- buying a child new clothes and paying the family's water bill. More on his kind act:
#MSCOCares
#ThankfulThursday
You can run, but you can't hide! After crashing a stolen car, and running through a parking lot, this guy was introduced to K9 Loki.
#MCSOK9
#MCSOAviation
Buzz on the North Sector radio is that a truck carrying bee hives was involved in a crash with a semi that has US 301 in the 12900 block shut down just south of Hillsborough county line. Un-bee-lievable there were no injuries. First responders are swarming the area.
MISSING JUVENILE: Charles Leboeuf (12) left home around 7 am today without telling his parents and has not returned. Charles has medical issues but is not on any medication. Have information? Call us at (941) 747-3011. More details:
Congratulations to our newest deputies! These 18 recruits graduated from our MCSO Corrections Academy last week. We are thankful to have them and wish them the best of luck in their new careers.
#WelcomeToTheTeam
#MCSOCorrections
K9 Murray and K9 Phantom want to remind you that we'll be visiting your local retailers during the holiday shopping season reminding everyone that we are offering free rides in our sleighs to the Manatee County Jail to those who commit retail theft!
#OperationSleighRide
Today we remembered Deputy Antonio Hernandez as a brother, a son, a friend, and a role model to those in the community that he loved. His life was cut short by an off-duty traffic crash last week, but the impact that he had on so many, lives on.
#gonebutnotforgotten
Your donations have made it to Panama City! Our deputies are working with the National Guard to sort through supplies and get them to those in need. Thanks again to everyone who made this possible.
#ManateeCares
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of K-9 Deputy Gee Bee. He recently retired after serving as a long-time victim advocate. Gee Bee sat with victims as they testified, comforted children, and was a icon for our agency. We are forever thankful for his service. 🌈
Horrible news out of Highlands County as Deputy WIlliam Gentry died this afternoon after being shot last night responding to a call. The shooter is in custody. Please pray for the Gentry family as well as everyone at the Highlands County S.O.
Have an item to sell but don’t feel comfortable having a stranger come to your home? Consider meeting up at one of our Safe Sale parking spots in front of our Operations Center. Look for the bright blue spaces, and know deputies will keep an eye on you.
#SafeSale
Please keep everyone at
@FLHSMV
in your thoughts and prayers tonight as they mourn the loss of Trooper Joseph Bullock who died in the line of duty today. We send our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of this fallen
#hero
.
#ThinBlueLine
The entire Florida Highway Patrol and FLHSMV family mourns today for the loss of one of our own, FHP Trooper Joseph Bullock. Please keep his family and his team members in your prayers.
Rain or shine, we're here for you. A woman shared this with us after Deputy Hwang came upon her disabled vehicle on the side of the road last night and stopped to change the tire for her in the pouring rain.
#MCSOCares
#WhyWeServe
#ThankfulThursday
RESCUE: MCSO marine deputies recently rescued a man and his son off Anna Maria Island after they were swept from shore by strong rip currents. This video is a reminder to use caution and look for posted signage regarding rip currents.
Rip Current Tips:
You can run but you can't hide from MCSO Deputies, Watch Unit and K-9 Boss. Cecil Johnston found that out the hard way after fleeing from deputies in a stolen truck and then trying to hide in a chimney.
Drug overdoses in unincorporated Manatee County continue to sharply decline. For the first six months of 2018, MCSO responded to 166 OD's with 18 deaths compared to 881 OD's and 85 deaths for the same time last year.
Last year Deputy Willie Finklea saved two people from a burning car and tonight he was named Officer of the Year by the 100 Club. Congrats Deputy Finklea!
Over the last 6 months, MCSO has arrested 73 subjects for drug trafficking and confiscated over 95,000 grams of narcotics. This is a big reason why drug overdoses continue a downward spiral with 104 suspected OD's so far this year compared to 376 last year.
A big thanks to residents of Holiday Heights in Bradenton for providing information to deputies in the early morning arrest of two car burglary suspects. One of the suspects tried to get away from K-9 Loki which was a big mistake.
Deputies were dispatched to 5800 block of 14th St. W yesterday in reference to a loose goat running in traffic. After an extended foot pursuit, he was apprehended and taken to the Manatee Co. Jail farm to roam happily until owners are located. Missing a goat? Give us a call! 🐐