VIDEO: Cocoa Police Department Looks Back On Very Active, Successful 2017

cocoa police responded to 48,274 calls for service

ABOVE VIDEO: The Cocoa Police Department looks back on a very active and successful 2017 for the department’s 67 full time sworn officers, one part-time booking officer, seven reserve officers, one auxiliary officer and 30 civilians. (CPD video)

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – The Cocoa Police Department looks back on a very active and successful 2017 for the department’s 67 full time sworn officers, one part-time booking officer, seven reserve officers, one auxiliary officer and 30 civilians.

The Cocoa Police Department saw more than 50-years of experience retire, making way for the next generation of leaders including the promotion of three lieutenants and three sergeants.

The agency also welcomed nine new police officers and continues to recruit the best and brightest law enforcement professionals to protect and serve more than 18,000 residents in the City of Cocoa.

During the calendar year as of December 17, the men and women of the Cocoa Police Department responded to 48,274 calls for service. In addition, dispatchers answered more than 25,000 911 calls.

The collective efforts of the agency also yielded a mid-year drop in reported crime of nearly 8 percent. This includes a 4.4 percent reduction in reports of violent crime and an 8.8 percent reduction in the number of total property crimes reported.

These percentages are for the first six months of 2017 compared to the same time period in 2016. The data for the second half of 2017 won’t be available until the first quarter of 2018, but the trend continued to show a drop in reported crimes.
2017 was also marked by noticeable challenges.

In April, Cocoa Police Motor Officer Rickford Leith suffered serious injuries following a hit and run crash as he participated in the police escort of the Moving Wall Vietnam Memorial. The hit and run driver was arrested after a three day search and Officer Leitch is expected to return to full duty in early 2018.

In July, a group of teens’ video recording of a man drowning sparked national outrage and a call for new laws in Florida to require citizens to act when a person is in distress.

In September, the impacts of Hurricane Irma caused an estimated $150 million in damages countywide, including an estimated $6.1 million in damage within the city of Cocoa.

The department continued to place a high priority on connecting with the community through outreach and community education. The Community Resource Unit reached thousands of people through partnerships with local schools, community events, community watch and crime prevention programs.

The chief and city leaders also continued a partnership with the city’s faith leaders in an effort to find solutions to crime and other issues. Also in 2017, the Code Enforcement Division became a part of the police department. This added four civilian personnel to the department roster.

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