TEACUP’s (Mark) Birthday Week
Happy Columbus Day Weekend
Week #1 The Tampa Police Department Citizen’s Police Academy
(Part 1 of 9 weeks)
What a HUGE Honor it is to be accepted into the Fall 2013 Tampa Police Dept. Citizen’s Academy. We hope you enjoy this fun 9 week blog. There are 2 classes with 25 students selected each year. We knew a couple of people in our fall class. From Attorneys, bank officers, students and general community leaders that were selected to help their local community.
The introductory class started with all the top Tampa Police officials introducing themselves. Cookies & drinks were provide. Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor then took the stage. If you ever get a chance to hear Chief Castor speak, do go. She is one of the most interesting & fun public speakers we have ever seen. Chief Jane has served under former Mayor Pam Iorio & current Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
Over the past 10 years Tampa has seen a 81% deduction in crime. Chief Castor talked about how the city was cut into 3 districts and is now run like a major business. The new Police Mission Statement was changed from lawyer talk to very day lay terms to, “The Mission of the Tampa Police Department is to Reduce Crime and Enhance the Quality of Life Through a Cooperative Partnership with all Citizens.”
In the USA there is a national crime database, U.C.R. (Uniform Crime Report) The Chief realized if she were to focus on 4 main areas in Tampa the UCR would drop. This became known was the “BIG 4”. The areas of crime in the Big 4 are burglary, robbery, auto burglary and auto theft. Other new groups include “The Quad Squad” focusing on street level drug sales & distribution, “ROCK SQUAD” and the “WOW” (Worst Of the Worst) program.
Tampa PD Public Information Officer Laura McElroy was introduced and talked about communications with the public. Laura comes from 16 years as a TV anchor & news reporter.
There is a facebook for the Police at https://www.facebook.com/TampaPD The web site is at http://www.tampagov.net/dept_Police/. There is also a Twitter and online magazine “Signal 14”.
Assistant Chief John Bennett gave a very interesting talk about the Tampa Police New Police computer software. It used to be that when a police report was filed by the officer, then taken in to supervisor, then post. This could take 3-5 or more days The new software lets the officer post his report in the field instantly. This new online system is made up of 4 parts. Part 1- the Data, part 2- Blogs, part 3- Validate & part 4- the reports. It is much like a doctors patients chart except for crime. All officers can add to it at any time. There is a civilian version like this at www.raidsonline.com
There is also a searchable data base to. Example… search for burglar thru dog door in xyz area. If several crimes popped up similar they probably are looking for the same person. This logical and common sense approach has caught the eyes of many law enforcement agency’s across America. Even the US Military are taking a closer look at this Tampa produced program. Talk about making you PROUD OF OUR TAMPA POLICE FORCE!!!
The remainder of our first class we went over the up coming weeks classes. Next week we will be at the Communications Center learning about 911 Tapes, Live dispatch and call center facility tour. We can’t wait to tell you all about it!!!
** “Dishing with Mark & Carrie” is an Award Winning Internet Syndicated E-blog followed by over 60,000+ people every week. Visit www.MCFilmFest.com to see more.
“FOUR”, Film Independent Spirit Awards Winner, 1 Night Show
Seduction and conflicted desire intertwine on a steamy Fourth of July evening in this requiem for the loneliness quietly hidden in everyday suburban American life. Pierce (HBO’s The Wire) gives a career-best, Independent Spirit Award-nominated performance as Joe, a married black man out on a date with a white teenage boy (Emory Cohen, The Place Beyond the Pines) he met online. At the same time, Joe’s precocious daughter seeks refuge from the mess of a home-life her father’s secrets have created, finding solace in the company of a former high school basketball player whose best days are behind him.
“squarely in the post New Queer Cinema tradition.” New York Post
Playing Special 1 Time Engagement at Westshore AMC Thursday, October 10th, 7:30 pm
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Every year on National Coming Out Day, we celebrate coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or as an ally. On Oct. 11, 2013, we mark the 25th anniversary of National Coming Out Day. This year’s theme is “Coming Out Still Matters.”
25 years ago, on the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, we first observed National Coming Out Day as a reminder that one of our most basic tools is the power of coming out. One out of every two Americans has someone close to them who is gay or lesbian. For transgender people, that number is only one in 10.
Coming out STILL MATTERS. When people know someone who is LGBT, they are far more likely to support equality under the law. Beyond that, our stories can be powerful to each other.
Every person who speaks up changes more hearts and minds, and creates new advocates for equality.
www.hrc.org/resources/entry/the-history-of-coming-out
Must Do Event of the Week
Tea Cups Birthday Celebration
This Sunday, Oct 13. On the balcony of Hamburger Mary’s 4-9pm
Looking forward to seeing everybody there.
Annual Tampa Intl. Gay & Lesbian Film Festival at Tampa Theatre now thru Sat. Oct 12th. www.tiglff.com
The Touch Tune Fun
Have you heard about Touch Tunes? If not you will soon! There are new high tec juke boxes popping up everywhere. These wall mounted boxes can do everything! Not only are they juke music boxes but photo booths and karaoke too. There is also a mobile app you can download to your cell.
Now the fun naughty part!!! From your cell phone you can log into boxes in the area and play your favorite song. Hummmm so the running joke in GaYBOR is people playing their favorite song when not in the bars!! If you hear, “Hay Hay we’re the Monkeys” it’s coming from Tea Cup. “All I want for Christmas” is coming from Sheriff Mike & so on.
All in all it’s just plain good old fun! Congratulations to Sheriff Mike who is now the Hamburger Mary’s Juke Box DJ!!!
Chad Michaels is CHER
Season 4 on Ru Paul Drag Race, contestant Chad Michaels accelerated her status as “Queen of the Universe” impersonating Diva icon, CHER. And with great success from performing around the world, Chad found himself in GaYBOR/ Ybor City Saturday performing on the Honey Pot’s stage to a cheering packed house! The outfits were exquisite and of designer Bob Mackie inspired fame.
Often photographed with CHER on the road, collaborating with Elton John, Cindi Lauper and many more singing celebrities. Most recently Chad has also been in a number of TV shows and in commercials.
Hundreds of partiers lined up to get a pictures and autographs at the Honey Pot with the reigning CHER fan club face after entertaining the crowd. The skimpy cut designed CHER outfits, the opulent singing, the stage performance was all top notch and of celebrity status.
Thank You Honey Pot for a great night out and kicking off the fall season in GaYBOR/ Ybor City.
Often photographed with CHER on the road, collaborating with Elton John, Cindi Lauper and many more singing celebrities. Most recently Chad has also been in a number of TV shows and in commercials.
Hundreds of partiers lined up to get a pictures and autographs at the Honey Pot with the reigning CHER fan club face after entertaining the crowd. The skimpy cut designed CHER outfits, the opulent singing, the stage performance was all top notch and of celebrity status.
Thank You Honey Pot for a great night out and kicking off the fall season in GaYBOR/ Ybor City.