BigBendBureau_LeonCounty: Will Pitts

A senior broadcast journalism student at the beautiful Florida A&M University. My name is Will Pitts and I will be covering primarily the sheriffs department and any other related news here in Leon County, Tallahassee. News posted on this page will consist mainly of audio clips and photos. Stay tuned and also follow my new and growing twitter @WPitts_FNN where I will be posting various updates in the future.

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Drink or Swim
Despite the latest news on the DUI traffic stops in Tallahassee, the Leon County Sheriffs Department is still stumbling in drunk drivers.

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HEARST MULTI-MEDIA ENTRY
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Meeting the Security at the Fair

The North Florida Fair is a popular tourist attraction for the Big Bend Area. It can also be a criminal attraction and can put fear into active fairgoers. The fair hires different groups of security to insure safety and enjoyment.

I'm here at The North Florida Fair in Tallahassee, which attracts people from all over the Big Bend area, seeking enjoyment, the food and the thrill rides.
Not so thrilling is the criminal activity that could happen at a fair.
Mark Harvey is the manager of the North Florida Fair and is fully prepared.
"We have a number of private security officers. The fair hires security officers that supplemented by law enforcement officers from the Florida Highway Patrol, Capital Polices and Gaming Official Commission." - Mark Harvey 12sec
One protective service at the fair is the company, One Brave Marine.
Its owner and founder, is retired Leon County law enforcement officer Harry Chaires.
Who hires veterans returning home from duty.
"To bridge a gap between coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq back into the civilian workforce." - Harry Chaires 11sec
Fairgoers may rest a little easier knowing that hard-working security officers are always on the scene.
At the North Florida Fair in Tallahassee, for the Big Bend Bureau, Will Pitts FNN.

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Creating A Secure Fair for A Secure Experience

Enjoying the view from a tall Ferris wheel with a corn dog in one hand and your sweetheart in the other. That’s how a few attendees spent their time at the 72^nd annual North Florida fair. Each year the excitement builds up at the Fairgrounds for the fair to begin, and tourist from all over join the city locals and collage students on an adventure worth remembering for a lifetime. Despite the locations family atmosphere and romantic aromas, the safety of patrons at the fair have been quiet the concern this season.

Nice fair ride overnight view

On Nov. 16, Chadric Anderson, 16, was shot and killed just outside of the North Florida Fair, on Paul Russell Rd. A 14-year-old was also shot and treated at the hospital. Investigators are still poking and prodding for more clues at the crime scene. The fair’s last opening day for the season was Nov. 17, 2013.

During the fair, security enforcers were confident in their ability to keep the fairgrounds safe. Owner and operator of One Brave Marine, Harry Chaires was working security at the fair and is a veteran when it comes to protective services.

“I retired from the sheriffs office in ’05 and my youngest son was killed in Iraq in ’06,” said Chaires. “To work through the grieving process, I came out of retirement and started the company One Brave Marine in honor of him… .”

Chaires spent 40yrs with the Leon County Sheriffs department and has built the knowledge to run an arms security-contracting business. The usual situations that happen at the fair were more so protocol for him and his experiences.

“We had a 14yr-old who was trying to come into the Midway with a pistol, he was arrested before he came on to the grounds. Then we had one that was under house arrest and he had taken his ankle bracelet off, he tried to come out to the Midway and we arrested him.”

Chaires was confident in catching and sustaining any other threats towards fair patrons enjoyment on the premises.

Tight security at the fair

Manager of the North Florida Fair, Mark Harvey said that the fair hadn’t received any major security issues prior to the 16^th.

“We have not had any serious incidents,” said Harvey. “Every year there’s always somebody who may cause a little concern but, it’s a little concern, it’s not a big one.”

Until more information is acquired from law enforcement on the Paul Russell Shooting, some locals may be able to feel at ease knowing that hard worker are on the case. Caution however, is always useful in the south-side area. The North Florida State Fair will be expected to return next year and safety may continue to be a huge, if not greater concern for patrons in the area.

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What Type of Crime

The North Florida Fair is an annual attraction for thrill seeking and corn dog eating activity. What's not attractive is the criminal activity that can happen at a fair. F-N-N's Will Pitts decided to see just how prepared security at the fair really is.

"We have not had any serious incidences. Every year there's always somebody that may cause a little concern, but it's a little concern, it's not a big concern." - Mark Harvey

"We have 24 hour a day security here, but we really beaf it up when it's business operating hours. While there're patrons here we insure there safety." - Mark Harvey
"I think tonight we've had about ten or twelve missing children since the gate opened at five o'clock." - Harry Charies
"There all certified security officers and it's been a very good arrangement for us." - Mark Harvey

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The Meaning of Attraction!