“A crime is committed in Boone County every 78 minutes,” said Josh Quinn of the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, during a recent presentation to the Florence Rotary Club. Deputy Quinn, a 16 year veteran law officer, shared several insights and offered tips for self-protection during the holiday season.
Boone County has 130 Sheriff’s deputies to provide services for almost 120,000 residents. Their responsibilities include protecting and carrying out court decisions, supporting safe elections, and providing law enforcement.
He explained that the Sheriff’s office has the same powers as a police department with one important addition: the job of collecting property taxes. Boone County sends out 46,000 annual tax bills totaling over $120 million dollars, with about 80% of the funds collected within 30 days.
With an airport and three major interstates passing through the county, this area is a target for all types of theft. Officer Quinn stated that around 80% of theft crimes are drug related. “It takes $1,500 a week to support a low level heroin habit,” he said, “so most users must steal to support their addiction.” The department has three officers working undercover to try and stop illegal drugs from entering the area, but Officer Quinn stressed that many thefts can be prevented by taking simple precautions. “Lock car doors, keep purses and wallets secure, and be aware of your surroundings at all times,” he said.
Scams continue to be a problem as well. Deputy Quinn shared several stories about phone scams including thieves who call dispatch pretending to need help in order to get information about their targets. And lottery scams are still being used, he said, because they work. A Boone County resident was recently scammed out of $200,000 dollars by criminals posing as desperate people who needed cash before they could send the alleged lottery winnings.
Officer Quinn mentioned several new resources in the war on crime. Volunteer groups are reviewing cold cases to help generate leads in unsolved murders, including the Bill and Peggy Stephenson case. Deputies are using online technology to look for stolen goods at pawn shops and jewelry stores. And a task force has been assembled to prevent and solve scrap metal thefts.
Concluded Deputy Quinn, “The Boone County Sheriff’s office is a wealth of information, and we’re here to take care of everyone.”
For information about weekly meetings, guest speakers and community service opportunities of the Florence Rotary Club, contact Brad Shipe, President, at bradshipe@hotmail.com or (859) 282-7040. Visit the group’s web site at www.florencerotary.org . Florence Rotary meets weekly on Mondays at noon at the Airport Hilton Hotel in Florence.
