Page 7 - Florida Sentinel 5-25-18

Local
Tampa Police Introduce New Military Initiative
Currently, there are more than 22,000 veterans residing in Tampa. On Tuesday, Mayor Bob Buck- horn and Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan announced a new li- aison to help bridge the relationship between law enforcement and the military community.
Mayor Buckhorn and Chief Dugan introduced Detective Sue Libertz, Military Affairs Liaison during a press conference. In addi- tion to her duties as a detective, she will also function as a resource for police employees and community members who have served, or who are currently serving in the armed forces.
An estimated 22,000 veterans live in Tampa, which is the only city in the nation with two major mili- tary command posts, U. S. Central Command and the U. S. Special Op- erations Command Center.
Mayor Buckhorn said, “Make no mistake, Tampa is a military town. I believe that this aggressive initiative will make a difference in the lives of those veterans we come across, and I know by extension it
MAYOR BOB BUCKHORN
will make a difference in our com- munity as a whole.”
Chief Dugan said, “Not every veteran out there has PTSD or is broken. Sometimes they just need someone to talk to who understands their military experience, or assis- tance with transitioning to civilian life so they can continue to be he- roes at home.”
When police employees return after deployment, the Military Af-
BRIAN DUGAN Tampa Police Chief
fairs Liaison will help reintegrate them back to their law enforcement duties.
Chief Brian Dugan views the liaison position as an investment in the health and welfare of his depart- ment, which currently employs 265 active or retired military personnel.
“We have to work with them when they’re deployed to make sure their families are taken care of, and when they return we have to ensure
our agency has the necessary re- sources they need to help them get re-acclimated to their home life and their work life,” Chief Dugan said.
Through community partner- ships, the Military Affairs Liaison will have the ability to direct service members to a wealth of resources that are available to them. The Hillsborough County Thirteenth Circuit Court; Crisis Center of Tampa Bay; MacDill Air Force Base; Hillsborough County Medical Examiners Department; The Life Center of the Suncoast; Quarles & Brady LLP; and Bay Area Legal Services, Incorporated will work closely with the Military Affairs Li- aison to help ensure the police de- partment’s outreach to the military community thrives.
In addition to the new liaison, Tampa Police employees are now authorized to wear uniform pins that reflect their branch of military service. The pins further demon- strate the police department’s com- mitment to strengthening relationships and honoring those who have served.
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