Friday, March 22, 2013
Lt. Arthur Madden will join the agency as a deputy in its patrol division.
Another leader of the New Port Richey Police Department is leaving the agency to join the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. Lt. Arthur Madden, who served a brief stint as acting chief recently, is resigning from the police department. He is joining the Sheriff’s Office as a deputy in the patrol division at the end of April. Madden joined the police department in 2002. He served as acting chief for a brief stint, succeeding chief James Steffens. For awhile, Madden has served as the police department’s lieutenant of operations, in which he supervises the department’s 40 sworn officers. Madden said that it has long been a personal goal of his to move on to a larger agency and that the time is now right. He tendered his resignation letter …
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
James Steffens announced today, Feb. 19, his last day on the job will be March 16.
New Port Richey Police Chief James Steffens is stepping down to take a position with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. Steffens announced his resignation today, Feb. 19, in a letter to Mayor Bob Consalvo. He was sworn in as the city's chief in December 2011. Steffens told Consalvo he intends to take a position working with Pasco County Sheriff’s Chris Nocco. His resignation letter reads: Dear Mayor Bob Consalvo: This correspondence is intended to serve as my official notice of Resignation as the Chief of Police. I have had the distinct privilege to have served the citizens, business community and visitors of this city. I have had the rare honor to have worked alongside the selfless professional men and women who proudly represent the New…
Sunday, January 20, 2013
OK, so you had a busy week. We understand. Let us catch you up on all the highlights from Patch!
The historic Hacienda hotel is a downtown New Port Richey treasure. Residents care about it so much, they flocked to help clean up the site last weekend. Someone saw Amanda Pinkston, 32, “going in and out of consciousness” at a Denny’s in the New Port Richey area on Sunday, according to a Pasco County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. It’s Girl Scout cookie time! Find out where you can get your fix in West Pasco. Pasco deputies are throwing their weight around, making big gains—and losses—in the process. The sheriff's office recently launched a new health and fitness initiative for deputies and staff, which benefits both the participants and the public, Sheriff Chris Nocco said. "This is part of how we're building up our agency," Nocco said…
Friday, December 28, 2012
Police say the suspect took the 86-year-old’s car and personal effects.
New Port Richey Police are searching for a suspect they say targeted an 86-year-old man in a home invasion robbery. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. today, Dec. 28, in the 6600 block of Trichel Lane, a police department media release said. It began when the man heard a knock at his door and opened it, believing the suspect was someone he knew. Instead of being a friendly face, the victim opened his door to a man wearing a hooded shirt who demanded his car and personal effects, police said. The suspect left the scene in the victim’s 1998 Chevrolet Malibu. The four-door car is light blue in color and has a damaged left headlight. It also has a green license plate on the front that reads “Super K,” and is missing its fog lights. The …
Friday, December 21, 2012
The two victims do not have life threatening injuries, police say.
New Port Richey police are searching for two men wanted in connection with a double homicide attempt that occurred last night at the Dunkin’ Donuts at Gulf Drive and U.S. 19. According to a media release, the shooting took place around 9:08 p.m. Dec. 20. New Port Richey police received an emergency call around that time saying a shooting had just taken place and that there was a victim at the Dunkin’ Donuts. When police arrived, they discovered there were two victims. One of the victims had fled to a nearby street. Both victims were taken to Bayonet Point Regional Medical Center Hospital for treatment. Police describe their injuries as not life threatening. Two men are being sought in connection with the shootings. No further details are …
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The $1,600 needed to make the purchase was raised through a charity poker run planned by Verizon and a matching donation from the company.
New Port Richey firefighters and police officers will soon have a new ally in their quest to teach children safety. Through a charity poker run and a matching donation, Verizon has helped raise about $1,600 to help make the purchase. Sparky the Fire Dog is a robotic dalmatian firefighter that rides around in a miniature fire truck and teaches kids about safety. He is also the official mascot of the NationalFire Protection Association. The New Port Richey police and fire departments will use Sparky in safety education programs at local elementary schools, according to a media release from Verizon. Verizon presented Police Chief James Steffens and Fire Rescue Chief Alex Onishenko a check for $1,600 on Aug. 21. The money was raised through a …
Thursday, August 23, 2012
New Port Richey police will have a shallow-draft Jon boat if people need rescue from flooding and the department's new patrol boat will be ready for use.
Already under a flood watch with at least another day of heavy rain forecast, New Port Richey police are preparing for the possible arrival of Tropical Storm Isaac early next week. Just in case, the city’s new police patrol boat will be ready to be deployed along with a smaller craft used with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office that can reach any residents endangered by flooding, said New Port Richey Police Chief James Steffens. “We’re already ramped up if people do find water around their homes,” he said. So far, Tropical Storm Isaac is too distant and its track too uncertain for county officials to activate the emergency operation center. The storm, expected to reach hurricane strength by Friday, is forecast to be south of Puerto Rico …
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
A major supporter of shifting animal control from the county to the city has strong misgivings about the effort as the City Council prepares to review the ordinance.
Despite concerns from a major leader of the effort, New Port Richey is set to move ahead with a plan to sever ties with the county and take over animal control duties by Oct. 1, the city police chief said. Police Chief James Steffens on Monday likened the effort to building a house when progress at first seems slow then becomes apparent at work accelerates at the end. The ordinance that shifts the job of handling animal complaints to the city and volunteers comes up for its first of two necessary votes at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The proposal has the potential to save New Port Richey $20,000 to $30,000 after fully operational and provide faster response time to animal complaints, backers say. The change is set to start Oct. 1 when …
Friday, April 13, 2012
A fundraising effort initiated by the Rotary Club of New Port Richey raised money for the T3 Motion Electric Standup Vehicles.
The Rotary Club of New Port Richey will present two, state-of-the art patrol vehicles to the city police department today that will be deployed for community policing and at special events. The T3 Motion Electric Standup vehicles are electrically powered and are three-wheeled, allowing an officer to cover more ground while standing. The vehicles are the result of a fundraising effort initiated by the Rotary Club. The chief sponsor of the event and donation is Thomas B. Dobies Funeral Homes & Crematory, The donation of the vehicles represents approximately $20,000. Thomas Dobies will present the donations at a ceremony starting at 6 p.m. at Spartan Manor, 6121 Massachusetts Ave. in New Port Richey. The vehicles will be on display during the…
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Now's your chance to get your questions answered.
Patch freelancer Daylina Miller is getting a chance to witness a day in the life of an officer of the New Port Richey Police Department. Daylina will be joining officer Joe Ioppolo on patrol for the day shift Friday, March 30. She has lots of questions about Ioppolo, who joined the force in May 2011, and his job as a police officer in the city. Do you also have questions about the job? Friday is your opportunity to get them answered. Pose your questions in the comments on this article or send them to Alex.Tiegen@patch.com. Daylina will be asking the questions you submit during her day with Ioppolo, which starts at 6 a.m. We are also interested in seeing if our readers are interested in getting their questions answered in real-time. Let us…
Madden
12:50 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
So very, very proud of my brother! Love you, Arthur ! more ›