Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 12-6-16 Online Edition

Local
Police Chief Launches Mentoring Program For Young Males
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Wednesday, Tampa Po- lice Chief welcomed several young men as members of the First Ambassadors of Ambi- tion Mentoring Program. The event was held at Barksdale Senior Center, 18o1 N. Lincoln Street.
The program is designed to work with teenagers to help them develop a better under- standing of law enforcement’s role in the community. In ad- dition to the teenagers a group of Tampa Police officers who are members of culturally- based fraternal organizations will also participate in the pro- gram.
Chief Ward said, “This new mentoring program gives officers an opportunity to focus on the needs of our com- munity from the teens’ per- spective. This year, we’ve held six Community Conversations throughout the city, so we could hear from our residents. One of the challenges we faced was making sure the voices of our teens were present during these vital discussions.
“Now, with the Ambassa- dors of Ambition initiative we
Officer Dennis Small was instrumental in helping Chief Ward create the Ambassadors of Ambition Mentoring Program.
Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward is shown addressing the group of young men during the meeting.
are able to reach dozens of young male teens through a partnership with the Hillsbor- ough County Public Schools.
Many of the young men came into this program with miscon- ceptions about the law and how we as police officers func- tion in the community. Through Ambassadors of Am- bition we are able to clear up these misconceptions and edu- cate the teens on how to re- spond when interacting with law enforcement, while con- necting them with positive mentors from the police de- partment and the University of South Florida.
“I am excited about the di- rection this program is head- ing in and the lives it will impact.”
The police officers are members of various Latino and African American Greek fra- ternities. The officers participating in the program will be paired with one or more of the teenagers as a Mentor.
The Ambassadors of Ambi- tion Program also provides of- ficers with an opportunity to promote higher education through a partnership with the University of South Florida.
The young men consist of 25 Latino students and 25 African American students who attend schools within the City limits of Tampa. They are in 7th through 9th grades.
During the initial two-hour meeting, the officers led a se- ries of interactive exercises to break the ice and launch a pro- ductive conversation with the teenagers.
In September, the students had the opportunity to tour the campus of the University of South Florida and were intro- duced to male students who are members of various Greek organizations on that campus.
The entire group will meet quarterly.
Two Men Charged With Murder Of Tampa Woman
IVONNE RIVERA RAMIS 7/4/1974 --- 7/28/2016
Police have arrested two men and charged them with first-degree murder. The mur- der took place at a Palm River apartment complex on July 28, 2016.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the Mc- Donald’s Restaurant, 1002 78th Street in reference to a shoot- ing. Upon their arrival, they discovered that Ms. Ivonne Rivera Ramis was dead from a gunshot.
During the initial investiga- tion, Detectives learned that she and her passenger met An- tonio Santiago Concepcion in the apartment complex. The purpose of the meeting was for Ms. Rivera Ramis to sell him some prescription pills.
Police said during the transaction with Santiago Concepcion, two armed unidentified men approached the 1991 white Toyota pickup truck Ms. Rivera Ramis and her passenger were riding in.
As the men approached, Ms. Rivera Ramis at- tempted to drive away when she was shot once in the upper back. The passenger was able to gain control of the vehicle and drove to the McDonald’s. The 42-year-old woman died en route to the McDonald’s po- lice said.
As the investigation contin- ued, investigators located San- tiago Concepcion, who admitted to meeting Ms. Rivera Ramis for the pur- pose of buying prescription drugs. He described two un- known individuals who ap- proached them, but said he did not know them and that he couldn’t provide a description.
Detectives reviewed mes- sages on his cell phone after he
JOSE ENRIQUE COLON SOTO
... Charged with first-degree murder
ANTONIO SANTIAGO CONCEPCION
... Charged with
first-degree murder
signed a written consent to search form, and discovered several text messages just be- fore the shooting. Santiago- Concepcion, 25, of Tampa, was communicating with Jose Enrique Colon Soto, of Brandon.
The messages showed that the two men conspired to lure Ms. Rivera-Ramis to the arranged location to be robbed and both men were present when the shooting occurred.
Detectives arrested 28- year-old Jose Colon Soto last Thursday and charged him with premeditated first-degree murder. Santiago Concep- cion was taken into custody on Friday after someone called Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay.
The investigation is contin- uing, police said.
Anyone with information pertaining to the murder is asked to contact the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200; or Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1- 800-873-TIPS or www.crime- stopperstb.com.
PAGE 4 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016