Boca Raton Police Department Did Not Release Fatal Crash Information Until We Gave Them Our Amex Card. Demand For Cash Comes As Police Department Budget Rises Nearly $20M Since 2021.
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — At least six people have died in crashes in the City of Boca Raton since the start of 2024, but unlike all other police departments in the region, Boca Raton PD refused to release the information until we paid the agency. The Boca Raton Police Department demanded payment following our requests for the reports under Florida Statute 119 — Florida’s Freedom of Information Act. The City of Boca Raton Police Department routinely released this information — without fee — under former Police Chief Dan Alexander. He departed in 2019.
Boca Raton PD’s demand for $32 — it’s not the amount that matters — is unprecedented in South Florida, where police departments including the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Delray Beach Police, Boynton Beach Police, Coconut Creek Police, and the Broward Sheriff’s Office routinely release fatal crash information within hours of the event. Florida Highway Patrol — responsible for crash investigations on major roads like I-95 and the Florida Turnpike — provides updates from just minutes after a highway is closed due to a deadly crash to a complete wrap-up of events once the highway is reopened. (FHP released details of a Delray Beach fatality just after I-95 was reopened on Saturday). None of these departments want a payout for public safety information.
In the City of Boca Raton, however, the police department does not release fatal crash details until the department receives cash. The Police Department’s latest dash for cash comes as it seeks a $7M increase in its budget — and a nearly $20M increase since 2021.
Before BocaNewsNow.com provided the CIty of Boca Raton Police Department with its Amex card, we had no idea about the six deaths we are now reporting on, below. Constant requests for the Boca Raton Police Department to routinely release fatal crash information have been denied since Chief Michele Miuccio succeeded Dan Alexander in 2019. Here are the people who died in crashes in the City of Boca Raton since the start of the 2024 calendar year:
KENNETH REED: Kenneth Reed of the 3800 block of NW 4th Street apparently suffered a medical emergency on February 22nd when he crashed into a residence in the area of his home. He was pronounced dead. A medical examiner determined that Reed’s death occurred prior to — and not as a result of — the crash. He was 69.
SHAWN MATTHEWS: Shawn Matthews, 36, was killed in a crash in the area of 121 NW Spanish River Boulevard in Boca Raton on March 21st. The case, according to Boca Raton Police, remains open nearly six months after the incident. The Department did not provide a narrative of events.
SOWMYA GUDLA: Sowmya Gudla of 5501 North Military Trail died at the age of 25 in a crash in the area of 6503 North Military Trail. The crash occurred at 9:23 p.m. Even though it was back in May, the Boca Raton Police Department says it has no narrative of what happened at this point as “the investigation continues.”
ABBOTT FRANK: Abbot Frank, 97, died in a crash at 1 West Yamato Road in Boca Raton on June 7th, 2024 at 9:34 p.m. Even though the crash was in June, the Boca Raton Police Department says it has no narrative of what happened as “the investigation continues.”
BRIAN BOOTH: Brian Booth, 28, of the 5600 block of Pacific Boulevard, died in a crash at 5599 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton on August 4th around 7 p.m. Although the crash apparently involved several other vehicles, the Boca Raton Police Department does not have a narrative of what happened. The Department claims “the investigation continues.” We do know that they claim Mr. Booth was driving a 2017 Hyundai EV6. There is no 2017 Hyundai EV6.
MARY CHAUVIN: Mary Chauvin, 75, died on August 22nd following some sort of medical emergency that led to a crash in the 600 block of East Palmetto Park Blvd. We don’t know more than this because, again, the City of Boca Raton Police Department is not releasing a narrative of events — claiming “the investigation continues.”
Even with our payment, the City of Boca Raton Police Department may have violated Florida Statute 119 by not providing narratives like most other agencies in the area. In fact, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office released the document above within hours of Monday’s fatal crash in West Boca Raton. In that incident, a car ended up in a canal. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue also issued its own statement while rescuers were still on the scene.
BocaNewsNow.com will now file routine public records requests — in the interest of our readers and the public — which will require the Boca Raton Police Department to release this information in near real-time, or explain why it is keeping the information secret. No other law enforcement agency or municipality in the region requires official requests for routine police information. No other agency in the region routinely requests cash to provide details of fatal incidents or crimes. If you have information about deaths or crimes in the City of Boca Raton that have been unreported, text 561-576-NEWS (561-576-6397), or use the news tip menu, above.
