SURFING SHERIFF'S DETECTIVES FIGHT YOUTH WAVE OF DRUG USE

By: Scott Gunnerson

Citing an increase in crime influenced by young people using or seeking prescription drugs, three detectives with a passion for surfing want to get bored teens interested in boards to curb the problem.

Brevard County Sheriff's investigators Steve Fernez, Troy Deavers and Brandon Gish created the Law Enforcement Officer Surfing Association this year to shred prescription drug abuse among youth. They initially want to target beach communities rich with surfing tradition.

"There are a lot of cops that surf. We thought this would be a great way to present drug education," Gish said. "It all came about while we were surfing."

Gish, who investigates property and violent crimes, said drug dependency is the root cause in most of his assigned cases from the past three years.

"It's astounding how bad, specifically, the prescription drug epidemic has become," Gish said. "Teenagers get in trouble when they are idle and they have nothing else to do to occupy their time."

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