Input gathered during the six meetings will help shape the agency's Community Safety Plan for the coming year. CCSO's current Community Safety Plan was created with the help of input gathered from a similar set of meetings in 2009. The plan sets youth programs, traffic and boat safety, community outreach, crime prevention and communication as the agency's primary focus areas.
Immokalee residents urged Sheriff Rambosk to push for legislation that would prohibit texting while driving in Florida and other legislation that would tighten control over the monitoring of sex offenders.
In the area of traffic, they told Sheriff Rambosk they would like to see speed enforcement and improved lighting on Lake Trafford Road. Also in the area of traffic issues, several residents encouraged the Sheriff to do as much as possible to make sure that drivers in the community have driver's licenses and insurance.
While CCSO's Immokalee deputies offer several youth programs including regular chess and domino sessions and the Wise Tiger martial arts program, Sheriff Rambosk heard a desire for increased interaction between deputies and the community's youth. Bringing more youth programs to Immokalee was suggested, as was the idea of providing transportation for youngsters who want to attend youth progams that are held elsewhere in the county.
Audience members also said the agency's bicycle and ATV patrols are especially effective. In addition, several at the meeting praised deputies who they say are making a positive impact on the community.
Anyone unable to attend one of the meetings is encouraged to submit their input online by going to http://www.colliersheriff.org/ and clicking on the icon that says, "Got A Great Idea?".
