Events did not go by the book when a man wielding a meat cleaver met a Pensacola code enforcement officer at a routine inspection Friday.
The officer, Jason Hendricks, had been responding to a neighbor's complaint that he had too much junk in his yard, according to the Association of Code Enforcement Web site. Hendricks is recovering from his wounds to his head, nose and arms.
In an effort to protect themselves from a job that can be more dangerous than expected, Gainesville's code enforcement officers will all be trained in self-defense.
The Florida Association of Code Enforcement Inc. began sponsoring statewide self-defense training for the officers in October.
Three of the attendees from the first class were officers from Gainesville, who hope to bring the training back home.
Code enforcement officers' responsibilities can and do generate hostility, said Jim Garrett, Gainesville's code enforcement manager.
A code enforcement officer was even shot and killed while working in Aurora, Colo., on Nov. 13, said Garrett said.
Officers serve violation notices and place liens on property - bills that are owed to the government.
They can also be authorized to physically remove cars and tear down homes, he said.
Although Gainesville hasn't had an attack in more than 15 years, Garrett said it could only be a matter of time given the high number of cases the city deals with. Officers have completed 10,400 cases this year alone, he said.
The division hopes to cut costs by working with local enforcement agencies to bring the founders of the self-defense program to the area to teach the course, he said.
"We have a staff of 19 and want everyone to be trained," he said.
The division also plans on working with city officials to have them trained, he said. Their training would focus more on workplace violence.
Although the self-defense training is new, the code enforcement division's safety team has already worked to get officers strobe lights on their cars, identified vehicles and uniforms, Garrett said.
Striking an officer in uniform is a felony, so the uniform discourages possible attacks, he said.
In the future, they would like to add radios to officers' cars, giving them a direct link to the Gainesville Police in case there is danger, he said.
The public can also help keep officers safe.
If people witness a confrontation where a code officer could be in danger, they should call the police, he said.
Code enforcement officers protect neighborhoods, property values and the quality of life, Garrett said.
"And they do it at risk to themselves," he said.
