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This year, we wanted to illustrate the significance of Mothers Against Drunk Driving State-Wide recognition and, most importantly, highlight the Heroes among us!<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
This year, we wanted to illustrate the significance of Mothers Against Drunk Driving State-Wide recognition and, most importantly, highlight the Heroes among us!<\/p>\n
For the first interview, we feature Officer Kevin Kleis with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.\u00a0 He was the 2017 top honoree for Outstanding Dedication to BUI Enforcement.<\/p>\n
Officer Kleis was nominated by FWC Captain Mitts Mravic.\u00a0 His nomination reads:<\/p>\n
[blogcontent width=’100′]<\/p>\n
It is my privilege and honor to nominate Officer Kevin Kleis of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement in Collier County for MADD\u2019s Outstanding Dedication to B.U.I. Enforcement. Officer Kleis was born in Miami Florida and it was there that ignited his interest in B.U.I. enforcement when he loss a close friend to an alcohol involved boating accident.<\/em><\/p>\n In 2016, Officer Kleis is credited with 12 operating under the influence of which 5\u00a0<\/em>where for operating a vessel. Bigger than his own accomplishment in B.U.I.\u00a0<\/em>enforcement, is Kleis passion to helping his teammates get better at their BUI\/ DUI\u00a0<\/em>investigations. He has become the Collier County B.U.I. expert that mentors other\u00a0<\/em>officers to enhance their B.U.I. detection and enforcement. Officer Kleis takes the time\u00a0<\/em>to show other, less confident, Officers that B.U.I. enforcement isn\u2019t difficult. An\u00a0<\/em>example of Officer Kleis\u2019 commitment occurred when a new officer completed the FTO\u00a0<\/em>program and joined his squad. Kleis took the new officer under his wing and continued\u00a0<\/em>his commitment to mentor. Within a couple days the new officer had his first BUI arrest\u00a0<\/em>and by day five, three of his team members had BUI arrests.<\/em><\/p>\n Additionally, Officer Kleis is a member of the FWC South Region <\/em>Bravo, B.U.I. Task\u00a0<\/em>Force Team and has travel around the state to participate B.U.I. details to include such\u00a0<\/em>places as Miami Dade and Fort Walton Beach. Officer Kleis has also taken an active\u00a0<\/em>role of working with our partnering marine agencies to include Collier County Sheriff\u2019s\u00a0<\/em>Office, Marco Police Department and Everglades National Park during targeted patrols\u00a0<\/em>in an effort to detect B.U.I. operators and encourage strong enforcement.\u00a0<\/em>Officer Kleis is looking forward to becoming a DRE in the future as he continues his\u00a0<\/em>role in B.U.I. \/D.U.I enforcement.<\/em><\/p>\n There is no doubt that Collier County waters are a safer place to boat because of\u00a0<\/em>Officer Kleis\u2019 dedication and enforcements efforts.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/blogcontent]<\/p>\n I think, as a whole, FWC is a leader in BUI enforcement so the fact that someone from FWC received the award is pretty awesome.\u00a0 Sometimes, BUI isn\u2019t looked at the same as DUI, but it can be just as deadly. During the week, most people are at work so we don\u2019t tend to see as much boating activity. However, the weekends tend to be busier so our job becomes critical on the weekends.\u00a0 This upcoming weekend is Memorial Day and the start to the summer which is a busy boating season, so we will be very busy and keeping an eye out for BUI\u2019s.\u00a0 For us, summer is busier for BUI\u2019s because there\u2019s more young people who vacation here in the summer and drink while captaining a boat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nWe wanted to know more so we spoke with Officer Kleis recently.<\/h5>\n
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