Thursday, January 27, 2011
A look at the STEP Unit’s run by the numbers.
With more than 30 arrests and 150 citations written, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s STEP Unit was busy during its two-week run in the Land O’ Lakes area. The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, or STEP Unit, for short patrolled the Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel areas Jan. 9-22. During that time, the deputies assigned to the unit made 31 arrests, wrote 157 citations and gave out 240 written warnings, Sgt. Art Rowand wrote in an e-mail. “(Thirty-one) people were arrested on the following charges: seven felony, 13 misdemeanor, five warrant, 17 criminal traffic and 16 DUI,” he wrote. “Four vehicles were seized for forfeiture due to being used in the commission of a felony.” The STEP Unit functions a little differently than patrol. …
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
A recent ride-along with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office served as an eye-opener about this detail’s mission.
Just because they ride around all night looking for speeders, aggressive drivers and impaired motorists, doesn’t mean the deputies assigned to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program really want to give people a hard time. In fact, according to Deputy Shane Metzler, prevention is more their focus. By being able to actively seek out people who are at an increased risk for being in or causing accidents, Metzler said he’s able to do something many others in law enforcement are unable to because of time constraints and the demands of a constant influx of calls. “I can deter the crime before it happens.” Metzler joined the sheriff’s office in 2006. He volunteered for the agency’s SWAT team in 2008 – a post he …
Sunday, January 9, 2011
A special unit will hit local streets Jan. 9-22.
Motorists driving on roads in Land O’ Lakes may want to exercise a little more caution than normal in the coming days. The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office plans to have extra deputies out in force. The STEP Unit, which stands for Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, is assigned to Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel Jan. 9-22. This special unit involves a six-deputy team that scours roads throughout the county looking for impaired drivers, speeders and other potential hazards. It rotates its focus throughout the county, moving from trouble spot to trouble spot, said Sgt. Art Rowand. This is “in addition to regular patrol,” Rowand said. “If they (regular patrol) do locate an impaired driver they can call the STEP unit.” The unit generally …
Friday, December 31, 2010
Officials urge motorists to slow down and stay safe.
New Year's Eve might be a time of revelry, but for Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Pasco County Sheriff's deputies, it's a time to hit the streets in force. "We have units out every night looking for impaired drivers," said Sgt. Art Rowand of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. Sgt. Larry Kraus of the Florida Highway Patrol urged motorists to use caution in regard to speed. "(We'll have) speed corridors throughout Pasco County (with) air enforcement," he said. "(People) need to be aware and mind their speed." Motorists can also expect to see extra law enforcement cruisers on the roadways, Kraus said. "We put our administrative staff out there," he explained. This increases visibility and enables the highway patrol to handle accidents …
Thomas Fish
8:26 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
Deputy Shane Metzler is the biggest asshole i have ever met! to bad this story makes him look like a good guy.if i get access to the video of him pulling me over i will prove my point. more ›