On March 29, Florida Gov. Charlie Christ appointed Brad Steube as Manatee County Sheriff, replacing retired Sheriff Charlie Wells. Steube was a 30-year veteran of the sheriff's office.
The following is an interview with Steube on law enforcement in Manatee County:
Q: What is the biggest challenge facing law enforcement in terms of crime in Manatee County?
A: Theft of copper has become a major problem for us. It seems like every drug user in town is stealing copper, and a lot of citizens are losing money because of it.
Of course, gangs and robberies still remain a problem, even though we have seen a decrease in violent crime so far in 2007 because of our efforts in fighting gangs. We still have a long way to go.
Q: What has recently been done to combat gangs?
A: Instead of arresting gang members for every crime they commit, we have worked with prosecutors to use racketeering laws to prosecute people as members of a criminal organization. So far, we have had gang leaders plea to prison, and others have agreed to testify against other gang members.
Q: What do you think drives crime in Manatee County?
A: Drugs. Plain and simple. Drugs are the cause of most of our robberies. They drive gangs to commit crimes and people to steal things like copper.
Q: What do you think are the toughest challenges young people face in staying clear of crime?
A: Peer pressure causes a lot of kids to get involved in crime. That and drugs. I would like to say that there are no drugs in our schools, but that just isn't the case. And that peer pressure often leads to experimentation and, often times, addiction.
Q: What can parents do to keep their kids away from drugs and crime?
A: Stay involved. Nearly every juvenile we encounter does not have involved parents. Parents are the greatest deterrent to youth crime. We have plenty of preventative programs we do in schools. But parents can't sit back and put it all on the shoulders of law enforcement. By then, it is too late.
Q: What are some basics for citizens to protect themselves from crime?
A: It is so important to make sure to lock your doors, and make sure you don't leave valuables in plain sight. Also, neighborhood watches are very successful. Citizens are the best source for help in fighting crime. It is their eyes and ears that help us make arrests and prevent crime. Who better knows about what is going on in their neighborhoods than the people that live there?
Q: What is the biggest challenge you face in being sheriff?
A: Keeping crime down, because we have problems here. I want to turn the corner on a lot of issues. I think we have made strides in fighting gangs and in other areas. But there is still work to be done.
- Robert Napper
