DENNIS LEMMA

At a news conference Friday, Seminole County’s sheriff and superintendent of public schools updated local parents on what to expect when sending their children back to classes on Wednesday, Aug. 10.

VIDEO: Seminole County sheriff’s office helps kids get back to school with ‘shop with sheriff’ event VIDEO: Seminole County sheriff’s office helps kids get back to school with ‘shop with sheriff’ event (WFTV)SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Inflation has taken its toll on just about all aspects of life, including back to school. This school year the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office is doing its best to make a difference. On Monday, the sheriff’s office had its 18th annual “shop with the sheriff” back-to-school event at a Walmart in Sanford. When you get people together, it’s that kind of bonding experience,” said Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma. You know you look at the price of gas, the price of milk, I mean families, a good number of families are absolutely struggling,” said Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma.

Most students in Central Florida will be heading back to class next week but on Monday, some got the opportunity to shop for new clothes and uniforms thanks to the “Shop with the Sheriff” event in Seminole County.

Video: Seminole County students receive ‘Future Dreamers and Achievers’ scholarships Two students in Seminole County had a special day Thursday. (WFTV)SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Two students in Seminole County had a special day Thursday. WATCH: Florida manatee deaths slowing down, but still a concern, experts saySeminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma helped to present them with scholarships from the nonprofit organization “Future Dreamers and Achievers.”The students were recognized for their achievements and were given a check during a short ceremony. Photos: Seminole County students receive ‘Future Dreamers and Achievers’ scholarshipsExpand Autoplay Image 1 of 7 Seminole County students receive ‘Future Dreamers and Achievers’ scholarshipsDespite the money, both students were just happy to know there are community officials that have their back. WATCH: Seminole County residents with special needs can register for emergency shelter programRecipients Cruz and Santiago Parra were both awarded $5,000.

The latest initiative to promote Mental Health Awareness Month has brought several alarming statistics to light, including the record number of drug overdose deaths in 2021.

Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma sat down with anchor Justin Warmoth on “The Weekly” to break down how the opioid epidemic has evolved over the years and what it’s going to take to get the crisis under control.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday will hold a news conference at a fire station in Lakeland.

Video: $400K in federal funding to help fight opioid crisis in Seminole County Sanford's Hope and Healing Center received a large check Monday to help fight the opioid crisis. SANFORD, Fla. — Sanford’s Hope and Healing Center received a large check Monday to help fight the opioid crisis. U.S. Congresswoman, Stephanie Murphy, and Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma presented the $400,000 check to the center, which helps people overcome opioid addiction and other substance abuse. “Prior to this if someone didn’t have proper health care coverage or insurance, they had limited resources and limited places to go,” Lemma said. Central Florida Spotlight: Project Opioid Channel 9 anchor Greg Warmoth talks with local law enforcement leaders about Project Opioid.

Project Opioid is set to discuss the latest overdose crisis data at the Citrus Club in Orlando Thursday morning, organizers announced.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A Seminole County nonprofit said it’s seeing a rise in child abuse. WATCH: Osceola school employee arrested on child abuse chargesLocal leaders spoke on the growing problem Thursday, as part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Kids House revealed it saw a 16% increase in new child abuse cases in the last fiscal year. Photos: Central Florida nonprofit see troubling increase in child abuse casesExpand Autoplay Image 1 of 11 Central Florida nonprofit see troubling increase in child abuse casesSeminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said the isolation from the pandemic kept many cases of child abuse hidden for a long time. READ: With students in turmoil, US teachers train in mental healthThe organization spoke about the increase at a garden named after Faith, a 3-year-old girl who died from child abuse in 2014.

Seminole County deputies released a 911 call in reference to the killing of a maintenance worker at Husseini Islamic Center near Sanford on Thursday.

The suspected killer of a maintenance man at Sanford's Husseini Islamic Center has been shot by police in Indian River County. According to authorities, 38-year-old...

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies in South Florida on Thursday shot a man whom authorities were seeking in connection to a fatal beating at a mosque more than 100 miles to the north earlier in the day, authorities said. Deputies responded to a Sam’s Club parking lot and conducted a traffic stop, the television station reported. Deputies shot the man three times, the newspaper reported. The way he pulls his fingers out, points them at the deputies,” Flowers told reporters. I’m not sure if he will make it or not.”None of the Indian River County deputies were injured, Flowers said.

Deputies are looking for a van following a suspicious death at Husseini Islamic Center in Sanford, according to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.

The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office has been quietly putting an emphasis on hiring women for non-traditional roles in law enforcement.

The Everyone Campaign is set to focus on the dangers of drugs like fentanyl and help people who are struggling with the opioid crisis by using marketing billboards.

Eight illegal casinos were busted as a result of a monthslong investigation in Seminole County, according to the sheriff.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — The Seminole County sheriff will make an announcement about a major undercover investigation on Wednesday morning. Sheriff Dennis Lemma will speak at 10:30 a.m. at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Professional Development Center in Sanford. Channel 9 will livestream the news conference on its website when it happens. READ: Florida Tech holds vigil for dead student, community safety; parents announce investigationThis is a developing story. Check back and watch Eyewitness News for the latest updates.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Opioid deaths are taking hold across Central Florida. On Wednesday, Project Opioid said between 80% and 90% of overdoses are caused by the dangerous drug fentanyl. Andre Bailey, founder and CEO of Project Opioid said overdoses are rising at an unprecedented rate. The increases are in almost every community in Central Florida, and fentanyl is driving this crisis. Sheriff Dennis Lemma said to combat the issue, drug dealers need to face stiffer penalties.

A Florida-based initiative teamed up with the Seminole County Sheriff’s office Wednesday to release a new report about a historic rise in local opioid overdose deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said nationwide, overdose deaths are up 30% in the last year. Seminole County has already surpassed the total number of overdose deaths from 2020. READ: Woman dies after being hit by several vehicles on State Road 436Last year, the sheriff’s office reported 103 overdose deaths. In Orange County, there have been 224 overdose deaths this year compared to 202 the same time last year. READ: Sanford police release 911 calls after Seminole County school employee shotVolusia County said it’s not seeing the same numbers, but the majority of the overdose deaths in all three counties are linked to dangerous fentanyl.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A Seminole County woman has been arrested for selling fentanyl while running a drug rehab facility. The sheriff’s office doesn’t think the woman did it alone, and the arrest is just the start of busting up the operation. READ: “With both middle fingers up”: Elementary school principal arrested after neighborhood disputeSheriff Dennis Lemma said 50-year-old Misty Leigh Gilley was selling fentanyl to the rehab patients out of the business and out of her home. READ: Coronavirus: FDA panel endorses Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for children 5-11Multiple bags of fentanyl in a backpack and drug residue were found throughout the facility. Lemma said they even uncovered a trail of on-site injections in a group therapy room, and not one drop of Narcan.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office is holding a news conference Tuesday morning on a "significant drug arrest."

As the coronavirus pandemic raged on, the CDC said nearly 100,000 people lost their lives to drugs in 12 months with almost 10% of the overdose deaths reported happened in Florida, according to the data.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Five children have been hit by cars while riding their bikes to school, according to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. He said all of those incidents happened in the last week or so, and he is raising the alarm. “This is a very disturbing trend that we have seen,” Sheriff Dennis Lemma said, adding that he sees responsibility on both sides and wants to educate. Cloud mother Nicole Montalvo dies in prisonThe sheriff plans to have more patrols around school areas to keep a closer eye on things. The sheriff’s office has bike helmets and lights they are giving away if children need them.

SEMINOLE COUTY, Fla. — Newly released video shows the tense moments that led to a fatal deputy-involved shooting Thursday morning. Deputies: Man dies after being shot in chest during deputy-involved shooting in SanfordNeighbor Maximilian Ranieri said he saw the man, later identified as Samuel, Kirk attacking the woman. According to the sheriff’s office, as deputies were investigating Kirk came out of the home with a gun. Body camera footage released by the sheriff’s office appears to show Kirk approaching deputies with his gun already drawn. Deputies said Kirk then fired at deputies, who then returned fire and struck Kirk in the chest at least five times.

Authorities investigate a deputy-involved shooting in Seminole County.

The county is on track to surpass last year's overdose deaths.

Health officials say the coronavirus pandemic has created the greatest mental health, substance abuse and overdose crisis in U.S. history.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Last year, the Seminole County sheriff helped to establish the hope and healing center for individuals who battle opioid addiction. Now, he is hoping to do the same thing when it comes to those suffering from mental illness. Sheriff Dennis Lemma said about 300 people are Baker Acted in Seminole County every month, and a lot of those people are repeat offenders who are in mental crises and shouldn’t be Baker Acted; they just need help. Law enforcement will work in tandem with licensed clinical social workers to provide services 24/7. READ: CDC: COVID vaccine effectiveness declines over timeLemma is working to get around $9 million in American Rescue Relief funds from county commissioners to help address the problem.

With the July 4th holiday weekend approaching, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office is stepping up patrols on the water to increase boating safety.

As Seminole County deputies opened fire on a man wanted in connection with a recent murder, nearby residents were left in fear, wondering what exactly had happened.

A vehicle connected to the death of a woman whose body was found along a Volusia County trail led to a shooting in Sanford that prompted a school lockdown, authorities said.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Church leaders and law enforcement are working together to address the rise in overdose deaths within the last year. “What we are seeing is a perfect storm of the previous overdose crisis now colliding with COVID-19 and driving the numbers of deaths from overdose to historic levels,” Andrae Bailey, CEO of Project Opioid said. Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma, a coach for Project Opioid, said they are working to bring more community programs to reach those struggling with opioid addiction. “We’ve incorporated a lot in various programs in Seminole County and this project with project opioid brings the faith community together, the business community together and the public sector to come up with real reasonable solutions,” Lemma said. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6′s coronavirus newsletter and go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Seminole County has opened a vaccination site in downtown Sanford exclusively for K-12 teachers and law enforcement officers 50 years old and older. The site will distribute 660 Pfizer first doses per day Monday through Thursday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Sanford Civic Center. Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said he is considering incentivizing his deputies to get the vaccine. “I also think that indirectly this sends the message the public that if our law enforcement officers and school teachers are out here getting vaccinated, that it’s safe to do so.”Dietra Frederick, a teacher at Lyman High School, said she feels “special” and “honored” that the county designated a vaccine site exclusively for teachers and law enforcement. Law enforcement and teacher ID badges will be checked at the site.

OVIEDO, Fla. – New gun detection technology is being tested at Oviedo High School in hopes of keeping the campus safe. It’s been used at Oviedo High School on a trial basis for the past three months. [TRENDING: Mega Millions jackpot hits $750M | Fla. firefighter charged in Capitol riot | How to get vaccine in Fla. | Gun background checks skyrocket]ZeroEyes is the company behind the gun detection technology, the team includes several military veterans with a background in information technology. ZeroEyes gun detection technology is currently being used in nine different school districts, including schools in New Jersey, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. That new technology has been used at Oviedo High School on a trial basis for the past three months.

Tiffany Church, 35, and her boyfriend, Trodarius Rainey, 26, went missing Dec. 30. Their car was found abandoned on New Year’s Eve with at least one bullet hole, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday. Investigators believe the assailants knew the victims, the sheriff said. He added that detectives have “a pretty good idea of what happened,” and are continuing to gather evidence. The sheriff said preliminary evidence shows that Church and Rainey were killed and then their bodies were dumped in different places.

SANFORD, Fla. – Authorities have identified the body found Tuesday as that of Tiffany Church, a 35-year-old Sanford woman who was reported missing along with her boyfriend, according to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. Their car, a black Toyota Camry, was located in Sanford with a bullet hole in it on Dec. 31. Sheriff Dennis Lemma said both victims were shot. Lemma said Church and Rainey were last seen Dec. 30 at a gas station then were unreachable by family and friends. The sheriff said it’s unclear where both victims were killed but it appears Rainey was shot and his body was moved to where he was discovered.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Community members and colleagues from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office gathered for the funeral and celebration of life of 48-year-old Sgt. LaRue was a Marine before spending more than 20 years with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Department of Corrections. During his celebration of life, Lemma shared that LaRue earned the nickname “inmate whisperer.”[TRENDING: Safe to shop during pandemic? The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office said his legacy will live on through the Sgt. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office said it does not believe LaRue contracted COVID-19 while working at the John.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Republican Dennis Lemma has been declared the winner of the Seminole County sheriff race with more than 58% of voters opting to re-elect Lemma. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns]RACE DETAILS BELOWThe voters of Seminole County have decided who will be their top cop going forward and decided to continue with Sheriff Dennis Lemma. The Republican candidate, Dennis Lemma, has served as Seminole County sheriff since 2017 while Democrat Paul “Spike” Hopkins unsuccessfully ran for the role in Orange County in 2016. Lemma will continue deciding how crime is enforced in Seminole County for the next four years and manage the sheriff’s office’s multi-million dollar budget. Here’s what you need to know about the candidates:Dennis Lemma (R)Before he was re-elected, Dennis Lemma was a decades-long Seminole County resident who has served as sheriff since he was sworn in on Jan. 3, 2017.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – It’ll be up to the people of Seminole County to decide who will be their top cop going forward as they vote for the next sheriff. The Republican candidate, Dennis Lemma, has served as Seminole County sheriff since 2017 while Democrat Paul “Spike” Hopkins unsuccessfully ran for the role in Orange County in 2016. Here’s how to track your ballot]Whoever wins will decide how crime is enforced in Seminole County for the next four years and manage the sheriff’s office’s multi-million dollar budget. Here’s what you need to know:Dennis Lemma (R)Dennis Lemma is a decadeslong Seminole County resident who has served as sheriff since he was sworn in on Jan. 3, 2017. Paul “Spike” Hopkins (D)Paul “Spike” Hopkins is emerging from his retirement after 30 years in law enforcement in hopes of serving as the county’s next sheriff.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Florida will use a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to fund a pilot program designed to help people recovering from opioid addiction re-enter the workforce through training as well as continue to receive recovery and support services. [TRENDING: ‘Smell of rotting flesh’ leads to body in trunk | How to celebrate Halloween during pandemic | 98 ‘murder hornets’ removed]The pilot program is called Support to Communities: Fostering Opioid Recovery through Workforce Development. “There is no question that the isolation and collateral unintended consequences of COVID-19 stop people who were in treatment,” Lemma said. The DeSantis' said the program is designed to partner with communities including local colleges, CareerSource in Central Florida and law enforcement. “This new pilot program is focused on connecting individuals who have been impacted by opioid abuse addiction and other substance use disorders, with the resources they need to recover and find meaningful employment in their communities,” Gov.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A Seminole County sheriff’s deputy struck and killed a Geneva woman who was standing in a road while talking to her boyfriend, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The fatal crash was reported at 7:50 p.m. Sunday on Snow Hill Road near Winding River Lane, a remote area north of Chuluota. The FHP said the deputy, a 28-year-old Sanford woman, was driving a marked Seminole County sheriff’s SUV south on Snow Hill Road and hit the woman. FHP is investigating after a Seminole County Sheriff’s deputy hit and killed a woman on Snow Hill Rd last night. Snow Hill Road was closed immediately after the crash, but it was later reopened.

Cornelius Blue rose through the ranks of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office over the last three decades after making a promise to his grandmother in 1990. “How can I not be in Ministry and law enforcement,” Blue said. “We pay for their Academy, and they’re essentially working full-time receiving a salary while they’re in school or the academy and is being paid for by the Sheriff’s Office,” Blue said. “We wanted do a better job of recruiting minorities and people with the level of diversity to help police and provide service to our community.”The Sheriff’s Office now also recruits at historically black college and universities. Blue said already the Sheriff’s Office is looking to hiring several minority recruits as deputies or corrections officers.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Newly promoted Captain Cornelius Blue rose through the ranks of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office over the last three decades after making a promise to his grandmother in 1990. “How can I not be in Ministry and law enforcement,” Blue said. “We pay for their Academy, and they’re essentially working full-time receiving a salary while they’re in school or the academy and is being paid for by the Sheriff’s Office,” Blue said. “We wanted to do a better job of recruiting minorities and people with the level of diversity to help police and provide service to our community.”The Sheriff’s Office now also recruits at historically black colleges and universities. Blue said already the Sheriff’s Office is looking to hiring several minority recruits as deputies or corrections officers.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said statistically, the areas crime rate is at the lowest its ever seen adding that its likely substance and domestic abuse crimes are being underreported due to the coronavirus pandemic. The sheriff made his remarks Wednesday afternoon during a mental health roundtable at AdventHealth in Altamonte Springs. You know (crime) is down across the state and Florida and in its 107-year history, its never been as low in Seminole County as it is today, Lemma said. Ron DeSantis and his wife praised the Seminole County Sheriffs Office work with a number of agencies to mitigate substance and domestic abuse from different angles. To report suspected abuse to the Florida Department of Children and Families call 1-800-962-2873 or report abuse online by clicking here.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. Leaders in Seminole County are expected to hold a news conference Friday to discuss new updates regarding safety and school preparations ahead of the 2020 school year. The discussion will include updates from Superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin, Seminole County, Sheriff Dennis Lemma, School Board Chair Karen Almond and School Safety & Security Director Captain Rick Francis. You can watch the live news conference in the video player atop this story. Check back here for updates following the news conference.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. - Inmates arrested for drug-related crimes are leaving the Seminole County jail free of their addiction and going directly to a long-term rehabilitation facility. The recovering addicts live together in a large open room inside the jail with murals painted on the walls and without bars. Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said no one else in Florida is doing anything like it. More and more Seminole County judges are ordering inmates struggling with opioids into O-pod. Guckberger said he moved to Brevard County to change everything about his life, especially the people with whom he hangs around.

Winter Springs, Florida At just 11 years old, Zechariah Cartledge runs a mile for every first responder who loses their life in the line of service. "All I think about during the runs is the fallen heroes, the fallen officers, the fallen firefighters, their families. Zechariah Cartledge even ran in the rain to honor 37-year-old Brian Ishmael, a sheriff's deputy from El Dorado County, California. CBS NewsOn one night, Cartledge ran to honor 37-year-old Brian Ishmael, a sheriff's deputy from El Dorado County, California, who was shot and killed recently. Elementary school students in El Dorado were inspired by Cartledge to run and remember their fallen hero.

Shutterstock via CNNALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - AdventHealth has partnered with other local health and law enforcement leaders to bring a new opioid treatment facility to Sanford next year. Officials from the hospital, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, Seminole County EMS/Fire Rescue and the Seminole County Board of Commissioners announced the center Thursday, noting that it's the first time in Florida that a health care system and law enforcement officers have come together to unveil an opioid treatment facility. "Unfortunately, people with opioid issues have been trapped in a cycle of catch, treat, release,'" Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said. "This partnership and new model for using medically based treatment to help those with substance abuse disorder, will help us break that cycle. Deputies said there were 650 overdoses, 82 of which were fatal, in Seminole County during 2018 alone.

Florida had little to no oversight, and it's a big reason we're in the middle of an opioid crisis 10 years later, according to Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma. More than 1 billion hydrocodone and oxycodone pain pills were shipped to pharmacies in nine counties throughout Central Florida between 2006 and 2012, according to a newly-released federal database. The legal prescription medication delivered to Central Florida was among the 76 billion pain pills that drug companies distributed nationwide during that six-year period. Seminole County, the data shows, received an average of 21 million pain pills per year between 2006 and 2012. "In Seminole County alone, one of the most affluent counties in the Central Florida area, we had more than 400 overdoses last year and an unprecedented number of deaths," Lemma said.

Seminole County sheriff at the forefront of statewide, local opioid crackdownLast week, News 6 investigator Mike DeForest reported on the newly released government data, showing that 1 billion opioid pills flooded Central Florida over a six-year period. State lawmakers and Central Florida law enforcement agencies continue efforts to help solve the opioid epidemic. Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma sat down with News 6 anchor Justin Warmoth about his new role on a statewide panel on opioid addiction. Flagler County deputy finds slithery surprise during traffic stopA traffic stop was made after a driver failed to keep a safe distance from other vehicles on the road. Click here for video of that traffic stop.

Florida had little to no oversight, and it's a big reason we're in the middle of an opioid crisis 10 years later, according to Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma. More than 1 billion hydrocodone and oxycodone pain pills were shipped to pharmacies in nine counties throughout Central Florida between 2006 and 2012, according to a newly-released federal database. The legal prescription medication delivered to Central Florida was among the 76 billion pain pills that drug companies distributed nationwide during that six-year period. Seminole County, the data shows, received an average of 21 million pain pills per year between 2006 and 2012. "In Seminole County alone, one of the most affluent counties in the Central Florida area, we had more than 400 overdoses last year and an unprecedented number of deaths," Lemma said.

SANFORD, Fla. - More than 1 billion hydrocodone and oxycodone pain pills were shipped to pharmacies in nine counties throughout Central Florida between 2006 and 2012, a newly released federal database shows. The legal prescription medication delivered to Central Florida was among 76 billion pain pills that drug companies distributed nationwide during that six-year period, records show. "People would literally walk out of the pharmacy, go into the parking lot and try to sell pills," said Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma. Patel's pharmacy was receiving an average of 2,735 pain pills each day from 2006 to 2012, according to the federal database. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office is working with other county agencies to help opioid addicts recover.

MAITLAND, Fla. - A dentist office in Maitland is the latest victim of a ransomware attack in Seminole County. Dr. Carl Bilancione said all of his Quickbooks accounting files were encrypted and a pop-up screen instructed him to pay $10,000. "I think it's a business strategy that these people are asking for ransom," Lemma said. "Somebody might've opened something, but we don't know, they don't know," Bilancione said. Lemma encouraged all business owners to report ransomware attacks but said they're often difficult to investigate.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – After an unannounced code red drill at Lake Brantley High School caused panic among students, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma announced a new protocol going forward. Pre-planned code red drills will also still take place. The bottom line is this – we are no longer going to do these unannounced Code Red drills in that manner anymore," Lemma wrote in a news release. On Thursday, an unannounced code red drill was held at Lake Brantley High School. "I want to highlight the positive working relationship that the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office has with the Seminole County Public Schools.