March/April 2009 - Port Canaveral

NEWSA R O U N DPort Welcomes First Police ChiefJoseph HellebrandChief of PoliceJoseph Hellebrand, a 30-year veteran ofthe Melbourne, Florida Police Department,recently moved into a job that is a policeadministrator’s dream come true. He isPort Canaveral’s very first Chief of Police,tasked with building a Port CanaveralPolice Department from the ground up.“It’s an exciting opportunity,” Hellebrandsays, “one most police chiefs would loveto have but which doesn’t come aroundvery often.”Experienced in LeadershipHellebrand holds a bachelors degree in Public Administration fromBarry University and a masters degree in Criminal Justice fromthe University of Central Florida, as well as having specializedlaw enforcement training from the Florida Department of LawEnforcement (FDLE) and the FBI.Coming up the ranks of the Melbourne Police Department fromrookie police officer to deputy chief, he gained a broad rangeof experience that will help him in his current challenge. Forexample, he commanded the department’s Emergency ServicesTeam, which included SWAT, Marine Operations, Canine Unit andCrisis Negotiations. He managed and supervised the AccreditationUnit, which is involved with law enforcement “best practices.”He coordinated and implemented the department’s response toHomeland Security and put together a mobile computerizationproject that provided complete automation of police vehicles. Fromdetails to overview, Hellebrand has been involved with it all.Elevating Security for the Port of TomorrowAs the Port grows, the security challenges are likely to increasein complexity. The Port Authority is taking the pro-active step ofestablishing its own Police Department now to help ensure thesafety of everyone who works in or visits the Port.“This is really a natural development as we continue to grow.We’re pleased to have found someone with Hellebrand’s leadershipexperience and dedication to the development of law enforcementpractices to take on the task of building our police force,” said PortCEO Stan Payne. “It’s an important job.”Hellebrand will be in charge of a department that includes thecurrent Port Seaport Security Officers, “We will be hiring a force ofsworn officers to work together with our non-sworn Seaport SecurityOfficers toward one common goal — the safety and security of PortCanaveral.Currently, several agencies help provide security and law enforcementwithin the Port: Florida Fish and Wildlife (waterside patrols), theBrevard County Sheriff’s Office and off-duty Sheriff’s deputies.Hellebrand stresses that the Sheriff’s Office will remain a valuableasset to the Port. “We will continue to collaborate and work withthe Sheriff’s Office as we build our department because they are antremendous resource that will be instrumental in helping us achievethe high quality of policing and safety we want here at the Port.”“We applaud Port Canaveral for their hire of Chief Hellebrand,”responded Brevard County Sheriff Jack Parker. “He is strongly suitedfor strengthening partnerships which will benefit the Port and all ofBrevard County.”New Representatives Briefed on PortDisney Names New ShipsJust a little more than a week after a steel-cutting ceremonythat heralded the start of construction on Disney Cruise Line’stwo next-generation liners, Disney President and CEO RobertIger announced the names of the new sister ships at the annualshareholders’ meeting of the Walt Disney Company in Oakland,California. Disney Dream is the name chosen for the ship that willarrive at Port Canaveral in 2011, closely followed by the DisneyFantasy in 2012.Port Commission Vice Chairman Ralph Kennedy presented freshman U.S.Representative Suzanne Kosmas with a framed photo of the Port during arecent meeting in Washington D.C.Former Florida State Senator, now U.S. Representative Bill Posey, visited thePort recently to become familiar with future plans and tour the Port to seerecently completed projects and new ones development.The names were chosen to celebrate Disney’s unique heritage,according to Karl Holz, President of Disney Cruise Line. “Disneyis known for creating incredible worlds of fantasy that go beyondthe imagination to where dreams really do come true.”12 March/April 2009 PORT CANAVERAL