OKEECHOBEE  —  On Sept. 13, the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) Task Force released the results of Operation Safe Kids, a strategic initiative in 42 Florida counties that called attention to traffic safety in and around schools to ensure that children returned safely from Summer Break.

During the Task Force Operation Safe Kids, Florida's sheriffs issued 7,218 warnings and 5,171 traffic citations, dedicated 5,900 hours during the enforcement period, delivered 5,520 educational messages, and posted 80,674 social media messages throughout the state.

"Safeguarding Florida's future through youth-focused programs and services is a crucial objective for law enforcement statewide.

This goal has been achieved today by identifying and monitoring high-risk areas, issuing warnings and citations, and educating the public on the importance of school zone safety," said FSA President and Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. "Implementing this program highlights Florida sheriffs' strong commitment to upholding the security of families and local communities in our state."

The following are the specific total numbers for Okeechobee County:

• 85 warnings or citations issued:

• 3 criminal citations

• 60 total hours were dedicated during the enforcement period.

• 16 educational messages were delivered.

• Over 40k interactions from social media messages were posted.

"We will continue to have a dedicated effort to enforce the increasing traffic concerns of Okeechobee County, especially within our school zones," said Sheriff Noel E. Stephen, "They (our children) are our most precious resource and deserve that."

Operation Safe Kids contributes to two of the FSA business operations goals: To foster effective law enforcement and crime prevention for the public safety of the citizens and visitors of Florida and to protect Florida's future by promoting public support of programs and services focused on the youth of our state.

The 42 sheriffs' offices that participated in the operation are from Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jackson, Lake, Lee, Leon, Marion, Martin, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Volusia, Wakulla, and Washington counties.