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Seven of Clubs Gives Florida Police a Winning Hand
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ShareOctober 19, 2007 6:50 PM
A Fort Myers, Fla. man was arrested and charged with murder after police say they got a tip from an inmate playing cards in prison.
The inmate was playing with cards issued by the state of Florida featuring the pictures of cold case homicide victims, missing persons and evidence.
During the summer, approximately 100,000 decks of cold case playing cards were distributed to 93,000 inmates doing time in Florida's prison system.
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"This just goes to show the potential of this initiative in terms of cracking some of Florida's most challenging cases," said Florida Department Of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey.
Police arrested Derrick L. Hamilton and charged him in the 2004 shooting death of Fort Myers resident James Foote. Foote's picture and facts about his murder were on the seven of clubs.
Florida law enforcement officials say they received more than 60 tips from prison inmates since the program was started. The initiative was inspired by playing cards distributed to U.S. troops in Iraq featuring that country's most wanted fugitives.
Florida officials say they plan to issue another deck of cards featuring 52 new unsolved cases soon.
"Solving just one crime makes the entire effort worthwhile," said Department of Corrections Secretary James McDonough. "This concept works because criminals are connected to other criminals and can often provide vital information. We hope this is the first of many crimes to be solved."
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October 19, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (8)
What a great idea.I am glad this case was solved.Maybe,those same cards could be distributed to the general public?
Posted by: whistlebeforedawn | Oct 19, 2007 11:21:42 PM
Glad to see at least one state has a prison board with brains. Wouldn't work here in Texas, because it promotes gambling.
Posted by: GC | Oct 20, 2007 12:01:42 AM
I'm glad the prison's are doing this; but didn't Crime Stoppers in Florida start this program? I received a card deck of unsolved homicides from Miami/Dade Crimestoppers awhile back.
So yes, the public can get them!
Posted by: Luisa | Oct 20, 2007 1:18:15 PM
Maybe this is something each state could do to advertise the MOST dangerous Sexual Preditors, that are wanted. Even getting these decks of cards into the hands of the younger than legal consent age would make them aware of those Men and Women lurking on the street corners, or near schools.
Posted by: Ron Handke | Oct 22, 2007 2:27:52 PM
Great Job.........Inovative thinking. Victims deserve all we can provide to solve their crimes. Congratulations to all those who made this happen.
Posted by: Joe Kress | Oct 22, 2007 3:10:45 PM
What a novel idea! I hope to see this implemented in additional states -- I believe this can really help with maintain some sort of stability in terms of the rate at which crime occurs vs solving a cold case.
Posted by: J. Walker | Oct 24, 2007 6:48:57 AM
Unfortunately criminal testimony rarely holds up in court. Most will say anything to either get back at someone or get out of jail. I wonder what sort of compensation is given to the inmate who reports a crime he should have already reported long ago?
Posted by: John | Oct 26, 2007 12:20:54 PM
Innovative and very perceptive..this will help the detectives...In society the officer of the law "NOW" more than ever needs the support from all directions...there are grey fields in every "Law" and it helps to set the Police Officers and Detectives "support to apprehend those "wanted" in and all over this land! Well Done Florida!
Posted by: Apachecheynne | Mar 29, 2008 1:38:30 PM
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