OKEECHOBEE — When answering a call complaining of an obstruction in the roadway in Florida, a deputy never knows if he might run into an alligator or something worse.
On Wednesday, Aug. 17, around 5:45 p.m., Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Deputy Timothy Porter found something a bit more harmless — two barrels filled halfway with water. Both barrels had signs on them. One sign stated: “Slow Down,” while the other proclaimed: “Get off your phone.”
As he began to remove the barrels from the 2800 block of Northwest 35th Drive in Bassword, an upset, crying woman approached him, according to the incident report.
She informed Deputy Porter that she had placed the barrels in the roadway because people speed up and down Northwest 35th Drive all the time. The young mother of three small children, one of whom is autistic, has had two dogs struck by vehicles because people reportedly refuse to drive safely through the neighborhood.
The mother, concerned that her children may get hit due to people’s lack of consideration, had contacted the road department in hopes of getting speed bumps, stop signs or even an “Autistic Child” street sign placed on the street.
However, these requests have been denied, stated the report.
The mother, very passionate about this matter, felt nothing is being done to ensure the safety of her children as well as other children in the neighborhood.
She also informed Deputy Miller that she would be attempting to contact the county commissioners on this matter.
Deputy Miller assured the distressed mother that he would patrol the area more frequently and would pass the information along to the other deputies.