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Hollywood commission proclaims suicide-prevention, hunger-action and Hispanic Heritage months; police honor officers
Summary
The Hollywood City Commission issued three proclamations recognizing Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Hunger Action Month and National Hispanic Heritage Month and heard multiple Police Department awards and remembrance announcements, including two officer suicides and community outreach programs.
The Hollywood City Commission used its Sept. 4 meeting to spotlight community outreach and public-safety efforts, issuing proclamations for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Hunger Action Month and National Hispanic Heritage Month and recognizing several Police Department awards.
Commissioner Collari presented a proclamation declaring September 2024 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Dr. Julia Long, introduced by the commission as a volunteer with the League of Women Voters of Broward County’s gun violence prevention committee, accepted the proclamation and urged residents to ask directly if someone is thinking of taking their life and to call 988 for help. “Ask them if they need help and ask them if they have lethal means,” Long said, adding that the League distributes gun locks and resources.
Hollywood Police Department Chief Jeff Devlin said the department has lost two officers to suicide and announced remembrance runs and walks on Sept. 28 and Oct. 18 at Charnell Park. “We do have gun locks as well,” Devlin told the commission, saying residents may request one at the police station free of charge.
The commission also presented Hunger Action Month proclamations to Feeding South Florida and Community Enhancement Collaboration. Nadine McCray, founder and president of Community Enhancement Collaboration, said the organization collects more than 658,000 pounds of food annually and serves roughly 34,000 families a year. Commissioners noted that consent-agenda actions earlier in the meeting included CDBG COVID-19 funding to support senior-feeding programs.
Commissioner Quintana read a proclamation recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15). A representative of Hispanic Unity of Florida accepted the proclamation and thanked the commission for acknowledging the role Hispanic residents play in local business, education and public service.
The commission also heard a series of Police Department awards for May through July, read by Deanna Betaneshi, public information manager for the Hollywood Police Department, honoring detectives and officers for firearms recoveries, arrests, lifesaving CPR and community engagement in local schools.
The meeting closed with routine announcements about upcoming community events, a city photometric lighting study planned this fall, and reminders about public hearings and groundbreakings.
The commission did not take formal policy action tied to the proclamations; the next procedural steps for agenda items were noted elsewhere on the agenda.
