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Lt. Dobson recognized by Chamber of Commerce

By Staff | May 10, 2009

Lt. Richard Dobson was selected by the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce at its monthly luncheon as the Deputy of the Month. And Capt. Ed Tamayo, the former commander of Brava District of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, was honored as the Member of the Month. However, Tamayo was unable to attend and received a certificate because he was

sidetracked to a crime scene. Tamayo was transferred to the Division of Internal Affairs and was replaced last month by Capt. James Leavens.

Dobson however was at the luncheon held at the Majestic Golf Club of April 28 and was recognized by the Chamber and by Leavens.

Between 2006 and 2008, Leavens told the gathering that Bravo District has responded to hundreds of vacant homes that had been burglarized. He said thieves have made off with such things as appliances and air conditioners being the primary targets. He added that these burglaries have not only raised Bravo District’s crime statistics in Lehigh, but due to the number of reports that must ben completed, there have been many times during which marked patrol units have been forced to be reactive instead of proactive.

Leavens noted that on the night of April 15, the Sheriff’s Office received a call reported that a burglary was in progress at 2711 48th St. SW and Meadow Rd.

Leavens said Dobson responded to the area in an attempt to locate the suspect vehicle and passed a vehicle matching the description of the suspect.

The driver of the vehicle even waved at Dobson as they passed each other. But by the time Dobson had turned around, he lost sight of the suspect’s vehicle due to heavy traffic in the area.

Dobson continued to broadcast the description and the vehicle was located, this time traveling west on SR82. Dobson. The vehicle description, tag, and location along with directions of travel were called out by Dobson, Leavens said. Additional units arrived in the area and Dobson made a traffic stop.

Dobson discovered that the suspect had a suspended drivers license along with a warrant for failure to appear on a traffic related issue.

In addition, Leavens said, a search of the vehicle produced not only the two compressors from the 48th St. and Irene Avenue location, but seven other compressors from air conditioners, along with two compressor coils.

A further search of the vehicle in the trunk area, the discovered a cordless drill with a socket the same size as the bolts on the compressors, along with a pair of bolt cutters.

Leavens said the suspect admitted to stealing about 25 compressors over the last few weeks and was selling them to a recycling center.

The recycling center told investigators that there had been 31 visits there and usually with compressors for sale. The suspect was charged and additional charges are pending this week after results of further investigation into the other stolen compressors found in the vehicle.

Leavens said Dobson has dual responsibilities at the Lehigh substation as a tour commander and as the assistant district commander which often causes him to spend much of his time behind a desk.

“It is hard to keep him inside a building. We believe his actions exemplify what the Lee County Sheriff”s Office is all about,” Leavens said. The award was presented by Leavens a Chamber President Richard Thompson.

Capt Tamayo, who was not at the ceremony, was described a a man who fought for Lehigh and for increasing the number or deputies here and for the formation of the special team of crime fighters who have been assigned to Lehigh.

Also honored was Elba Crespo of Wal-Mart who was not present. Thompson said she has been very helpful working with the Chamber.