Ever wanted to ride in a police car?  Let's be more specific...the front seat of a police car? 

In a continued effort to familiarize the public with Mount Dora Police Department's functions,  Chief O-Grady implemented the Citizens Police Academy (CPA) two years ago.  His hope is gain the trust, respect, understanding and awareness between the department and the community.

Each week students are presented with varying subjects.  Some may take the entire night or multiple subjects may be discussed throughout the class.  The curriculum teaches citizens how and why decisions are made, the different functions of the agency and supporting departments.

The Citizens Police academy also features a ride-a-long and tours of the police department tour and Lake County Jail.

The next CPA class is scheduled to begin August 17 from 6p-9pm.  Applicants can apply directly though the City of Mount Dora's website.  Class size is limited to twelve participants.  

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The City of Mount Dora invites citizens to participate in an Open House for the Grandview Commercial Market Study on August 4, 2016.

The event will give citizens the opportunity to provide comments on the vision of this project and help set priorities for future actions in the North East Community Redevelopment Agency (NECRA) Commercial Market District.

The open house will take place from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Center located at 803 Florida Avenue.   Anyone who lives in, visits, or enjoys what Mount Dora has to offer is encouraged to participate.

​Get more news for Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis here.   'Like' the Mount Dora Buzz Facebook page for more local events.

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Approximately 25 local members of Black Lives Matter peacefully walked the sidewalks from Cauley Loft Park in Mount Dora to the city's police department.  The group, carrying an array of signs, discussed the protest in advance with MDPD, a department focused on proactive community-oriented policing to improve public safety.

Protesters later expressed their appreciation to officers for  assisting them in their efforts.  Officer Mike Garcia went beyond the call of duty and personally treated the group to hamburgers after the event.  

​Events took an interesting turn after the protest.  As another officer drove home from the event, he stopped to help a disabled car on S.R. 46.   Officer Sevin Still discovered a panicked woman with an unresponsive infant in her arms.   He immediately assessed the child and administered what was likely life-saving first aid.  

Another officer returning home after the protest, Officer Severance, stopped to assist.   Within minutes the baby began to show signs of life.

This morning MDPD Sargeant Bennett checked on the infant at the hospital and dropped off a stuffed animal. The grateful parents reported their daughter was doing well.

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​Big improvements are coming to downtown Tavares.  The city breaks ground on the Ruby Street Stormwater and Beautification Project today.

The project is designed to improve and protect the water quality of Lake Dora, which has been designated as an impaired lake by the Environmental Protection Agency.

An 8-acre, walkable park will be created, which will consist of a series of beautiful “ponds” and wooden bridges, which will serve as sustainable stormwater treatment area. Floating flower and fauna mats will fill the ponds, which will also contribute to removing pollutants. This cutting-edge stormwater treatment “park” will create a scenic green space addition to downtown.

The city of Tavares is committed to reducing the flow of pollutants into Lake Dora and this aesthetically pleasing stormwater treatment plan utilizes innovative aspects that have never been used in Florida.

In addition to the implementation of new stormwater technology, Tavares will be replacing 80-year old drainage pipes and outfalls, which will resolve the flooding issues that currently plague Ruby Street during heavy rains.

The conclusion of the project will include a complete beautification and streetscape of Ruby Street, including hand-laid Ruby red brick, and comprehensive landscaping and planting of trees.  The project is scheduled to be completed in October, 2017.

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