2024

~Gary Louis Floros safely reunited with family following recovery by State Trooper~

GRAND RIDGE, Fla.-This week, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) demonstrated their commitment to public safety while patrolling Interstate 10 (I-10) in Jackson County, near mile marker 152. They received multiple calls from individuals who spotted a grey Ford with a Florida tag matching the description associated with a Silver Alert issued by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office for 72-year-old Gary Louis Floros of Spring Hill, Florida.

Upon locating the vehicle, troopers made contact with the driver, who was identified as Floros. After questioning him, they determined that although he was coherent, he was confused, which made it unsafe for him to operate a vehicle. Floros was transported to a local hospital and safely reunited with his family. Flores had traveled over 260 miles from Hernando to Jackson County, where he was recovered, a testament to the effectiveness of the Silver Alert program.

Florida Silver Alerts are a result of a collaborative effort. They are used to locate missing individuals who suffer from irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties. Through the joint efforts of local and state law enforcement and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), not only are statewide ‘be on the lookout’ (BOLO) bulletins issued, but dynamic highway signs also display information to assist in the safe recovery of the missing person.

The criteria for a Silver Alert are:

• The person must be 60 years or older, or the person must be 18-59, and law enforcement has determined that the missing person lacks the capacity to consent and that the use of dynamic message signs may be the only possible way to rescue the missing person.
• Must have an irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties (e.g., Alzheimer’s or dementia) that has been verified by law enforcement.

Additionally, the person must be traveling by motor vehicle with an identified license plate number or other vehicle description.

To learn more about the Florida Silver Alert program, visit https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/AMBER-Plan/Silver-Alert. To register to receive these alerts, visit: Sign up for AMBER, Silver, Purple, and Blue Alerts – Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

If you experience or witness an emergency, would like to report drunk drivers, traffic crashes, stranded or disabled motorists, subjects of Silver, Amber, Blue, or Purple Alerts, or any suspicious incidents occurring on Florida roadways, please dial 911 immediately or *FHP (347) from your mobile phone.

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The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education, and enforcement. Learn more on our website.

The Florida Highway Patrol strives to achieve core values of courtesy, service, and protection. It is FHP’s job to help ensure the safety and welfare of millions of Florida’s residents and visitors every day.

To learn more about FHP or how to become one of Florida’s Finest, visit BeATrooper.com.