Deputy Christopher Tice

The Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce honored Deputy Christopher Tice, who is a member of the Bravo Station in the East District in Lehigh, at the Chamber monthly luncheon last week.

He was selected as the Chamber’s Deputy of the Month for his work in solving a crime with the use of technology, according to his commander, Capt. Ed Tamayo.

Tice had been displaced on March 30 to Troyer Brothers Potato Farms on SR82 in Lehigh where during an investigation, he discovered that one of the vehicles that had been broken into had a 20/06 rifle stolen and the other vehicle had several electronic devices taken.

Tice asked one of the owners of the potato farm operation if his stolen device had GPS capability and the victim recalled that he had just installed the GPS feature in his device, Tamayo said.

At that time, Tice was able to talk the victim through the process and install the GPS tracking map on his agency computer to track the device.

Presentation: Deputy Christopher Tice was chosen last week as Chamber Deputy of the Year. Shown here making the presentation to Tice at left is Capt. Ed Tamayo, commander of the Brava District in Lehigh, and at right Joe Whalen, the Chamber’s executive director. Photo by Mel Toadvine

It was learned that the GPS was showing the device to be in Hendry County. Along with Tice, other officers drove to LaBelle and began an investigation in a LaBelle neighborhood that the GPS was directing them.

Tamayo said the detectives were able to use technology to show that the occupant of a home had the device inside.

The first house that detectives checked had it, and occupant Eddie Deleon, 30, was the person identified.

A search of his residence revealed all of the stolen property other than the rifle. The suspect cooperated and was charged with burglary and theft.

“I believe Deputy Tice did an outstanding job during his preliminary investigation and assisted detectives.

Chamber Member of the Month: Jose Morillo, Lehigh Regional Medical Center’s CEO, is presented an award naming him the Chamber Member of the Month last week at the April Chamber luncheon. Photo by Mel Toadvine

In addition, he showed great investigative imitative and keen expertise in using technology to law enforcement’s advantage, the captain said.

Tamayo said the potato farm operation has had several unsolved crimes so this arrest and closure was very positive for the victim.

“Deputy Tice is well respected and several detectives have told me that he regularly conducts his own preliminary investigations this well and would make a fine detective in the future,” Tamayo said.

Each month, the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce also selects an Employee of the Month and a Member of the Month to recognize their outstanding efforts as it relates to the Chamber and the community.

The Member of the Month was Jose Morillo, the CEO of Lehigh Regional Medical Center and his work in bringing about the recent concert by Jose Feliciano and others was recognized.

Chamber Employee of the Month. Inke Baker is recognized as the Chamber of Commerce’s Employee of the Month. She received her plaque from Joe Whalen, the Chamber’s executive director. Photo by Mel Toadvine

“This man put it all together,” said Joe Whalen, the Chamber’s executive director and president. Morillo was given a plaque by Whalen.

The Chamber monthly Employee of the Month Award went to Inke Baker, who works for the Chamber of Commerce. Her dedication and work in the promotion was recognized as outstanding.