In 1982, the Broward County Sheriff's Department became the first police department in the world to form an abuse and neglect unit for the protection of animals. At the urging of Sherry Schleuter, then Sheriff Butterworth formed this unit. In its 17 years, the program has not been duplicated elsewhere, which is a concern for Detective Sargent Schleuter who travels around the country lecturing to law enforcement agencies on how to start similar units. Sgt. Schleuter heads this unit that in 1995 expanded to include the protection of children, the elderly and the disabled. Six other detectives and a secretary work under her. Schleuter has been a police officer for 20 years, and prior to that worked with the Humane Society for 7 years. "My only reason for becoming a cop was to help animals," says Schleuter. And helped animals she has: her office handles several hundred cases of abuse and neglect a year. The unit works cooperatively with Broward County Animal Control, which transports and cares for abused animals. The Humane Society is also a wonderful source of assistance for Sgt. Schleuter and her unit: they help find homes for animals removed from abusive situations. Florida has a tough felony statute (authored by Schleuter in 1988), in which misdemeanors carry charges and incur jail time.

The caring for and protection of animals has been Sherry Schleuter's life work. Her pager number (954-521-2569) is available to all who want to report a situation or need help. Besides her work with law enforcement, she dedicates her personal life to helping animals, too. In the late 1980s she formed the Fund for Abused Animals to help with the financial responsibilities in caring for abused animals (such as medical expenses, etc.). Along with Crimestoppers, she formed the Animal Abuse Reward Fund, granting monetary awards for those who report animal abuse cases. Most recently, she formed the Domestic Violence Companion Animal Care Effort, which allows domestic violence victims to take their animals to safety. The pets are placed in foster homes and returned to the victims cost-free, whenever they become able to care for them again. Sgt. Schleuter recently authored a bill currently being put before the Florida House which would create mandatory cross reporting, which forces law enforcement officers to report animal problems where the humans might also be abused or vice-versa. Recently Sergeant Schleuter joined all the organizations under one umbrella group called The Sherry L. Schleuter Fund for Animals, a 5013C tax-exempt foundation. Donations can be sent to 2601 W. Broward Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33312. To report a case of animal abuse, you can call the office at (954) 321-4830.

Dennis Franz (The Gentleman):
" I'm not actually a cop, but I play one on TV."

Shown L-R: Andrea Thompson, Kim Delaney, Rick Schroder, Dennis Franz, Gordon Clapp, Nick Turturro Photographer: Jerry Fitzgerald.

Dennis Franz is an avid animal lover. Dennis' beloved pets Hector(cockatiel) and Bigelow(dog) recently passed away.

When one thinks of versatility as an actor, you can't help but think of Dennis Franz. He is comfortable playing in a comedic role, as well as in a drama, and he has played both ends of the spectrum, good and bad. While perhaps one of the most diversely talented actors currently on television, he has made an everlasting impression on his audience through his role as law enforcement officers. With the help of Steven Bochco's genius and Dennis's incomparable performances, Lt. Norman Buntz and Det. Andy Sipowicz have become unforgettable parts of television history. The role of Lieutenant Buntz on Hill Street Blues was created after Dennis did a series of guest appearances as villain Sal DeBenedetto (he was voted Villain of the Year by TV Guide). When that characters role came to an end, Bochco invented the role of Lt. Buntz in order to have Franz back on the show as a regular. Years passed, and when Steven Bochco created the highly successful ABC drama NYPD Bluee, he knew from the beginning that he wanted Franz on his series. It has been for his role as the hardball, prejudiced Detective Andy Sipowicz that Franz has received his most acclaim. In fact, he has three Emmy's, four SAG Awards, and a Golden Globe to prove it.

Franz is first generation German American from Maywood, Illinois. Beginning his career with a high school performance in The Crucible, Dennis later went on to form his own theater companies with friends. In 1968, shortly after receiving his Bachelors degree in Speech and Theater, Dennis was drafted and did an eleven-month tour of duty with a reconnaissance unit in Vietnam.
 

L-R: James McDaniel, Dennis Franz Photographer: Frank Carroll

Rick Schroder (left) and Dennis Franz (Right) star in NYPD Blue which airs Tuesdays (10-11:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on the ABC Television Network. Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels

Besides his illustrious career on television, he has also starred in feature films-most recently in City of Angels with Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan as well as in Die Hard 2, Dressed to Kill, and A Fine Mess. He also starred alongside Dustin Hoffman and Sean Nelson in the film American Buffalo.

In his private life, Dennis takes advantage of his celebrity status to help the less fortunate. He will be hosting the Revlon Run/Walk in Los Angeles to benefit Breast and Ovarian cancer research as well as the LAPD Golf Tournament, an event that assists officers and their families in financial distress. He is an avid animal lover and is very involved in wildlife conservation. He is a board member of "Best Friends Animal Sanctuary" and a major supporter of "Actors and Others for Animals," and has previously hosted the Genesis Awards, presented by The Ark Trust. He recently suffered the loss of his dear pet Cockatiel Hector and his dog Bigalow.

We congratulate Dennis Franz on his talent and his noble philanthropic work. It is obvious that this tough guy has a heart.

-Kareem Tabsch is a freelance writer who specializes in celebrity interviews. He has interviewed celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Bob Hope, Joan Rivers, Julio Iglesias, Barbara Mandrell and others. He writes frequently on animal related issues as well as on the entertainment industry.