HCSO starts rolling out body cameras
Many Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies will soon be outfitted with body cameras, Sheriff Chad Chronister announced Monday.
HCSO ordered 1,000 Axon Body 3 cameras for uniformed patrol deputies through the rank of sergeant. The cameras will also be worn by specialty units including School Resources Deputies, the K-9 section, Marine Unit, Port Security, Civil Process and Court Security Deputies.
According to HCSO, the Axon Body 3 is designed to “automatically activate in certain circumstances, such as a deputy removing their firearm from the holster or when the light bar is activated in their patrol vehicles. The Axon Body 3 is also equipped with live-streaming capabilities that will allow supervisors to view the cameras in real time during a critical incident.”
“These are the deputies who have the most interaction with the community we serve,” Chronister said. “We’ve seen disheartening situations around our country recently, from civil unrest to vandalism, caused by a perceived lack of trust in law enforcement. We have heard the nationwide calls for change, and I am confident these body-worn cameras will further our commitment at the Sheriff’s Office of continuing to build trust through transparency.”
Deputies started training with the cameras on Aug. 10 and all 1,000 cameras should be distributed by late September.
Back to school drive at YMCA
The Plant City Family YMCA and others in the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA network are linking up with the Hillsborough Education Foundation for a supply drive to help children from lower-income households get what they need for school.
From now until Aug. 30, anyone in the community can drop off school supplies at the Plant City Family YMCA, 1507 YMCA Place, or whichever Tampa-area YMCA is closer to home. Items needed include the following:
Backpacks
Calculators
Children’s books (K-12)
Compasses/protractors
Composition books
Copy paper
Crayons (24 Count)
Dividers
Dry erase markers
Glue sticks
Headphones
Highlighters
Index cards
Large pink erasers
Pencils
Pens
Pocket folders
Rulers
Scissors
Washable markers
Teachers are also in need of these personal care items for their students:
Deodorant
Feminine care products
Hand sanitizer
Toothbrushes/toothpaste
Soap/shampoo
Tissue boxes/packs
“Right now, the need to support our students and teachers is greater than ever,” Hillsborough Education Foundation CEO Kim Jowell said in a news release. “This pandemic has exposed and exacerbated inequities for students of color and low socioeconomic status. Our teachers and district are working hard to not let the achievement gap widen for these students, but they cannot do it alone. We are grateful for the support from the YMCA community to help put essential school supplies into the hands of students who need them most.”
Kids’ event, protest scheduled for Sunday
A family-friendly event and protest is coming up this weekend at MADZone Jumphouse, 507 S. Wheeler St.
From 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, a Black Lives Matter-affiliated group called Concerned Citizens is hosting a two-for-one event at the fun center.
There will be food, kids’ games, performances and vendors on site, plus a drive for baby products and school supplies. The group is looking for donations of new or gently used baby items like shoes and clothes, plus sealed/unopened school supplies, diapers, wipes and hygiene products. Gift card and cash donations are also accepted.
There will also be a protest element involved, as the group looks to raise awareness about missing persons and make a public stand against racism, domestic violence, police brutality, human trafficking and child abuse.
Visit facebook.com/concernedcitizensofpc for more information. Vendors and performers interested in being a part of the event can email Promise Goodwine at psgoodwine@gmail.com or message the group on Facebook.
Coolest Dog contest returns
The Kiwanis Club of Plant City’s Coolest Dog contest is back and dog owners can sign their pups up now.
The online-only contest has a $10 entry fee, which also gets you 10 points, and you will get a unique link to share with friends on social media or other channels so they can vote for your dog. Each vote costs $1 and voters have no limit on how many they can cast. Last year’s winner, Bonsai, beat our the 14 other contestants with 520 votes.
First prize this year is a $300 gift card, a “Coolest Dog” medal and a “Coolest Dog” bandana. Second prize is a $200 gift card, a medal and a “Cool Dog” bandana. Third prize is a $100 gift card, a medal and a “Cool Dog” bandana. Dogs finishing in fourth through 10th place will get treats and “Cool Dog” bandanas.
All proceeds from the contest will go to Kiwanis Club programs for children in the Plant City community. Enter online at gogophotocontest.com/kiwanisclubplantcity.