Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Dave Jacobs, second from right, placed second in a field of 48 pistol competitors. Jacobs’ team, which included Cpl. Jason Holloman, second from left, Deputy Sean Hawkins, left, and Cpl. Jim Stimmel, placed third overall. (BCSO image)
Florida Partners In Crisis 5th Annual Event
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Florida Partners in Crisis 5th Annual Performance Shooting Challenge was held on October 18 at the Port Malabar Rifle and Pistol Club as law enforcement officers and civilians from across Florida competed for awards in trap shooting, long range rifle or IDPA-Style pistol events.
Chief Doug Muldoon
Palm Bay Police Chief Doug Muldoon was the event chairman and honorary hosts included State Attorney Phil Archer, Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Public Defender Blaise Trettis.
Sheriff Wayne Ivey
Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Dave Jacobs placed second in a field of 48 pistol competitors. Jacobs’ team, which included Cpl. Jason Holloman, Deputy Sean Hawkins and Cpl. Jim Stimmel, placed third overall.
Cpl. Dave Jacobs
Holloman finished first in the Bass Pro Shops Challenge and had the fastest time in breaking a 1×2 inch wooden stick and received a Kimber Super Carry Pro donated by Bass Pro Shops.
INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM WINNERS
James King, left, Bass Pro of Palm Bay manager with Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Jason Holloman. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
• Individual FTR Rifle: Paul Liebenberg; • Rifle Open Class: Paul Larson • Rifle Sling: Sam Yarosh • Rifle Team: Three Men and A Cop – Fritz Braun, Paul Bruton, Paulo Donisi and Steve Dennis. • Trap Individual: Tim Boehm • Trap Team: Ernest L. Chang, P.A. – Ernie Chang, Ganon Studenberg, Michael C. Rowland, John Thompson • Pistol: Adam Petrulis, Lee County Sheriff’s Office • Pistol Team: Lee County Sheriff’s Office – Adam Petrulis, Bryce Hardin, Todd Olmer, Gustavo Vallejo
The annual event promotes awareness of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for law enforcement officers and first responders. Florida’s sheriff’s deputies, police and dispatch officers respond daily to calls regarding individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
Each year, more than 170,000 people experiencing serious mental illnesses are arrested and booked into Florida jails at a cost of $1 million per day.
Gail Cordial
“Our police chiefs and sheriffs from across the state will tell you they are seeing a continued rise in the number of mental health crisis calls,” said Gail Cordial, Florida Partners in Crisis Executive Director.
“Florida ranks 49th in per capita public mental health funding and until that figure changes dramatically, our jails will continue to be de facto mental health facilities. The sad fact is that our jails are not equipped to handle these individuals and they will not receive the treatment they need to gain and maintain their recovery. Tens of millions of individuals with mental illnesses live successful lives but for those unable to access treatment, they face a revolving door of hospitals, jails, homelessness or worse.”
CIT training provides specialized skills to first responders who handle crisis calls involving individuals with mental illnesses.
More than 18,000 Florida officers have been trained, resulting in fewer officer and civilian injuries, fewer officer involved shootings, fewer arrests of people with mental illnesses, decreased use of force and notable savings in jail bed days.
Event sponsors included Bass Pro Shops, I.O.Inc., Armor Correctional Health Services, Aramark, Space Coast Credit Union, UBS Financial, Kel-Tec, Bridges of America, Ernest L. Chang, P.A., Studenberg Law, Regions Bank, B&H Police Supply, Ron Smith, James and Jacie Stivers, and Palm Bay Holiday Inn Express and Suites.
