Community News and Updates

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January 2026

Published January 9



Happy New Year
Councilor Mike Howard

Happy New Year! I want to take a moment to wish everyone a happy and healthy 2026.

In 2025, we made significant progress in our recovery following two devastating events—Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Our town was one of the first on the Barrier Islands to issue permits and move forward with recovery, demonstrating resilience and leadership from our town’s administrative staff.

Our Police Department is second to none. Their professionalism and high level of training match any department in the area, and the strong support they receive from our community speaks volumes. Our public works staff also worked tirelessly to clear debris, restore public spaces, and help bring back the town we knew before the storms.

Let’s make 2026 even better. As an elected leader, my responsibility is to make decisions in the best interest of our residents and visitors and to be a responsible steward of public funds.  As we move forward, I ask our residents to continue the support you have shown to our administrative staff and employees. Together, we will continue to lead the way.



Indian Shores Police Department (ISPD)

On January 3, 2026, from 1200-2000 hours, officers from the Clearwater Police Department, St. Petersburg Police Department, Largo Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol (worked the Dunedin area), and Indian Shores Police Department participated in a multiagency E-Bike/Bicycle/Pedestrian Traffic Detail.

In December of 2025, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) contacted participating agencies regarding multiple citizen complaints across Pinellas County related to unsafe bicycle, e-bike, and pedestrian violations. They were also concerned that Pinellas County out of 67 counties ranked number one in E-Bike crashes over the last couple of years. Since each agency had been receiving similar complaints, a coordinated enforcement detail was organized and each agency worked in their respective jurisdictions listed above. 

Officers encountered a variety of scenarios during the operation; however, the primary focus of this detail was education. Officers provided warnings, distributed informational handouts, and engaged with the public to promote safe sharing of roadways, trails and sidewalks. Despite windy and rainy conditions throughout the day, participating officers remained committed to the mission. Below are the results from the detail.

Criminal Charges:
DUI Cases 3
Felony Charges 2
Misdemeanor Charges 3
DWLSR Arrest 1
Other felony arrest 1

Total Charges 10

Citations:
E-Bike Citations 8
Bicycle Pedestrian Citations 9
Speeding Tickets 2
Helmet/ Child Helmet Citations 3
DL Violations 4
Non-Moving Violations 16
Moving Violations 14
DUI Citation 2

Total Citations 56