Latest news with #MichaelAdkinson
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
President Trump invites Walton County Sheriff to the White House
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – 10 sheriffs from around the country were invited to the White House this week, including Walton County's very own, Michael Adkinson. According to a Walton County Sheriff's Office Facebook post, Adkinson and nine other sheriffs met with President Trump and US Attorney General Pam Bondi to discuss mental health and public safety funding. Walton County Sheriff's said that the meeting was a promise from Trump to begin addressing those issues during his first 100 days in office. Panama City transportation impact fees get a second hearing date At the meeting, Trump signed an executive order that is intended to crack down on local governments that are not complying with federal immigration laws. Click here for more information about the Executive Order. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
Bay District Schools para-professional arrested, facing child abuse charges
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A Bay District Schools para-professional is currently on paid administrative leave following her arrest on child abuse charges. Bay County Sheriff's deputies arrested 31-year-old Debra May Groves Saturday at her home in Southport. She allegedly beat her 5-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son with a belt last Wednesday. Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson receives Hurricane Helene Response Award When the children's father saw severe bruising on their hips, he called authorities. After the children's advocacy center questioned the children, deputies decided to charge Groves with 2-counts of child abuse. She's on paid leave from her para-professional job at Bozeman School until she meets with the Bay District School Human Resources Department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson receives Hurricane Helene Response Award
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – During Hurricane Helene, safety was the priority for local sheriff's offices. Franklin County Sheriff A.J. Smith is showing his appreciation for the help he received during the storm. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is located near the coast and needed a place to house 100 of their inmates. They reached out to neighboring counties for help, and Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson responded, Without hesitation, they came to pick up their inmates, so Franklin County didn't have to worry about inmate safety. Four female inmates from the Walton County Jail graduated from their forklift operator course, and their skills were put to the test during a timed competition. 'We don't have storm shelters there. We don't have anything like that. And so it's you know, first priority is to get those inmates out and get them to a safe place,' Franklin County Sheriff A.J. Smith said. 'We operate on our word, you know, not not a bunch of signed agreements. Sheriff calls with says what he needs. We're gonna try to make it happen. That's the bottom line,' Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said. Sheriff Smith stopped by the Walton County Sheriff's Office today to present Sheriff Adkinson with a Hurricane Helene response award; expressing his gratitude for all the help Franklin County received during the storm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Florida law enforcement launches Peer Support Certification Program
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Each day, law enforcement officers face the realities of danger, violence, and trauma. They respond to critical incidents, witness life-threatening situations, and work in high-pressure environments. They're exposed to intense stress and trauma which can affect their mental health in ways that are not always visible. The Northwest Florida Health Network agency is taking a new approach to providing law enforcement with mental health resources. They've partnered with the Florida Certification Board to establish the Law Enforcement Peer Certification Program. Force protection exercise underway at Naval Support Activity Panama City 'All the research shows that a lot of the trauma and just kind of getting through your day and getting through life, the most important support comes from your own group, people that are around you, what we call natural supports. So, if you've done the job, you understand the job, if you've been through the trauma, you understand the trauma,' Northwest Florida Health Network CEO Mike Watkins said. The 50-hour program teaches law enforcement personnel about trauma, how to recognize it, how to effectively listen to peers, and how to react when someone expresses their passing a test, they're approved as a certified law enforcement peer. 'So, it's one thing to say, I want to help my peer. It's another thing to actually have the tools to do that,' Watkins said. 'There's no steadiness to the job'; State officials shine a light on mental health for first responders The program has been offered across 17 Panhandle counties for a year. 49 people are in the program, and 21 are certified. Walton County, Bay, Calhoun, Jackson, Holmes, Franklin, and Liberty counties already have deputies that have completed the certification or are in the process. 'So, what Deputy Goings did in partnership with NWF is to reach out. Get this really exceptional level of training so that he can be there for his peers. This is literally peer support, but he's trained to do this,' Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said. Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson says he hopes to see more of his deputies become peer-certified in the future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Yahoo
WATCH: Police chase ends in crash, 10 arrested in ‘Operation Burnout'
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Walton County Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol's joint operation resulted in 10 arrests and more than a dozen citations over the weekend. On Saturday, WCSO and FHP partnered to conduct Operation Burnout, which targeted dangerous driving on Highway 98 in Miramar Beach. Officials said the operation included 15 WCSO deputies and four FHP deputies and ran from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. on Saturday. The operation yielded 30 traffic citations, one arrest for driving under the influence, six arrests for street racing, one arrest for driving without a license, and one reckless driving arrest. Four vehicles were also impounded for 30 days for street racing. OCSO: Authorities responded to a vehicle vs. building crash In one of the traffic stops, a juvenile suspect driving his girlfriend's mother's car fled through the Silversands Outlet Mall parking lot. The chase ended when the suspect crashed into a WCSO deputy attempting to stop the car as it left the parking lot and jumped a median onto Highway 98, authorities wrote. There were no injuries as a result of the crash. 'Drivers be warned, if you are caught racing on Walton County roadways you will be without your vehicle for a month,' said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. 'We want to extend our thanks to the Florida Highway Patrol who, with their assistance, made this operation a success.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
