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Features
Community Urged To Attend Citizen’s Review Board Meeting
After Near Death Experience:
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Tuesday, July 26th, the City of Tampa Citizen’s Review Board will host its monthly meeting. It will take place at 6 p.m., in the City Council Cham- bers (Old City Hall Building), 315 E. Jackson Street.
The meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month. During the meetings, members of the Board review Internal Af- fairs investigations or discuss other matters pertaining to the community.
Rasheed Aquil, Chairman of the Citizen’s Review Board said, “I’m sure everyone is aware of the purpose of the CRB. It was created in response to the peo- ple. We have to utilize the tools that we have fought for. The meetings allow the Board to look at issues in the community.
“However, we must have
community involvement. We want to know their concerns. There is a public segment that allows people to discuss their concerns. We give our recom- mendations directly to Chief (Eric) Ward. And Chief Ward has a zero tolerance pol- icy concerning unprofessional- ism and unethical actions. He is behind us 100%. The issues of the nation do not reflect actions in Tampa.”
Aquil further stated that the Board is a tool the community can use to improve the relation- ship between law enforcement and the community.
Stephen Hegarty, Public Safety Information Coordinator said, “During this meeting, the Tampa Police Department will make a presentation pertaining to the required training for po- lice officers that help guide them in their interaction with mem- bers of the community.”
Young Mother Of 3 Humbled By Kindness Of Stranger
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Late Monday night, Ms. LaToya Carter provided as- sistance to a young mother and 4 children after their vehicle caught fire on the upper tier of the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway. Ms. Carter provided assistance to the young lady, identified as Ms. Alisha Granlee.
When contacted by the Sentinel, Ms. Granlee, 25, said, “I am so appreciative of all the help she has given to us. Words can’t express how ap- preciative I am that someone who didn’t know us would do so much for me and my kids.”
It was close to midnight when Ms. Carter noticed a vehicle pulled to the side of the road was smoking badly ahead of her.
“As I got closer, I realized that everyone was out, but the car was smoking badly. I was trying to access the conditions and see if anyone was still in- side the car.
“As I moved ahead, I saw the children and a lady with a baby on her hip. The kids were screaming bloody murder and I didn’t know what was going on, but I told them to get into the car,” Ms. Carter said.
She then instructed the young mother to call 9-1-1. As they sat waiting for help to ar- rive, other cars, including a Tampa Police officer passed, but no one stopped.
Ms. Carter said it seems like 30 minutes to an hour passed before the Hillsborough County Fire Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway
Ms. LaToya
stopped to help a young mother and four children after their vehicle caught afire.
The 2003 Chevrolet Trail- blazer exploded three times before emergency personnel arrived.
Patrol arrived.By that time, Ms. Carter said, they heard the car explode three times.
Ms. Granlee was en route home with her three children Dominick, 1, Trinity, 2, Cheyenne, 6, along with her 10-year-old niece, Lyric, of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, when the car caught fire.
As they waited for help to arrive, Ms. Carter learned that Ms. Granlee had just purchased the vehicle and had borrowed the money to do that. She started doing Face- book live and established a go- fundme page for the young mother. Others were on line, learned about the incident and started responding. One of those was a friend and former employee of FOX 13. He con- tacted the news station and in- formed them about the incident.
Ms. Carter said, “I know what it’s like to be a single par- ent. Sometimes, you just need someone to care. The reality is she was left with nothing.”
Ms. Granlee said she and her mother had borrowed the money to purchase the car.
Carter
Ms. Alisha Granlee, right, is shown with her oldest daughter, Cheyenne.
This is the remains of the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer that Ms. Granlee had only had for 9 days.
They had gotten the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer from the auction for $800 on July 9th. She needed the vehicle to transport her children because she lives in Brandon and works at the Salem Gyro’s at the cor- ner of East Hillsborough Av- enue and N. 40th Street.
When asked how she is get- ting to and from work, Ms. Granlee said, “I’m catching rides and when no one can take me, I have to catch 4 buses. I would be appreciative of any help I can get,” she said.
In addition to the vehicle, the fire claimed two carseats and a quilt that had sentimen- tal value for her. Other than re- placing the car, her biggest concern is replacing the carseats.
Anyone wishing to see the car burning and the aftermath on YouTube at https://youtu.be/xJXKOa4kIx E or https://youtu.be/-P3BM- NIwYa4.
Anyone wishing to visit the gofundme page established for Ms. Granlee can visit it at www.gofundme.com/2f974zw h.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2016