Fast Track

Rex Troche Appointed as Sarasota Chief of Police

Troche will serve as Sarasota’s 13th police chief and its first Hispanic chief.

04/28/2022 By Staff

Fast Track

Sarasota County Schools Police Department Names New Chief

Duane Oakes has been named the school district's new chief of police and executive director of safety and security, effective Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022.

12/17/2021 By Staff

Breaking News

Sarasota Police Chief James Rieser Announces Retirement

City of Sarasota manager Marlon Brown has announced that Deputy Chief Rex Troche will take over as interim chief of police.

08/25/2021 By Staff

Listening to Black Voices

Former New York Police Commissioner James H. Lawrence Jr. on 9/11, Vietnam and Peaceful Protests

On September 11, 2001, Lawrence was the highest-ranking officer at NYPD headquarters, just blocks from Ground Zero.

08/10/2021 By Heather Dunhill

Fast Track

James Rieser Appointed Sarasota Police Chief

Rieser joined the department in April 1992.

01/29/2021 By Staff

Breaking News

Sarasota Police Chief Resigns

Bernadette DiPino's resignation will take effect on 5 p.m. this Friday, Jan. 29.

01/27/2021 By Staff

Mental health

Behavioral Health Response Team to Work With Police Departments

First Step of Sarasota has partnered with local law enforcement agencies to help individuals in behavioral health crises.

12/16/2020 By Staff

The Fighter

Natasha Clemons Fights for Police Reform

Clemons is one of the voices of the local Black Lives Matter chapter and the CEO of the Rodney Mitchell Foundation, as well as a full-time hospital nurse.

09/17/2020 By Giulia Heyward

Data

USF Researchers Find Black and Hispanic Americans Much More Likely Than Whites to Fear Police Brutality

Two University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee researchers have found that Black Americans are nearly five times more likely than whites to worry "a lot" about police brutality.

06/22/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

News

How Safe Are Bean Bag 'Bullets'?

A Sarasota man was hospitalized after being shot by this “less lethal” option during a protest march in Tampa.

06/17/2020 By Isaac Eger

Photos

Photos: People Take to the Streets to Protest the Killing of George Floyd

Chants of "Black lives matter," "No justice, no peace," and "I can't breathe" echoed through downtown Sarasota on Wednesday.

06/04/2020 Photography by Joe Lipstein With Cooper Levey-Baker

Concrete Action

Were Sarasota Police Expecting a Riot After Video Emerged of Officer Kneeling on a Man's Neck?

Concrete barricades went up in front of the Sarasota Police Station as a precaution, police say.

06/03/2020 By Susan Burns

Rescue Mission

Pregnant Manatee Rescued On Siesta Key

The mother manatee—who had fresh boat strike wounds—gave birth to her calf today at SeaWorld Orlando, where she is being monitored around the clock.

05/12/2020 By Staff

Openings

International Union of Police Associations Opens New International Headquarters

The I.U.P.A. moved its headquarters to Bee Ridge Road from Ringling Boulevard, where it had leased office space since 2005.

03/11/2020 By Staff

Fast Track

Law Enforcement Director to Be Inducted into Hall of Fame

Jay Romine, director of the Manatee Technical College Law Enforcement Academy, also served as Holmes Beach chief of police for more than 20 years.

02/21/2020 By Staff

Weekly planner

A Chili Cook-Off, a Whiskey Dinner and More of This Week's Top Food and Drink Events

Also on the menu: a country concert and food truck rally and a community barbecue with the Sarasota Police Department.

01/08/2020 By Rachel Suwak

Health News

Sarasota Police Taking Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs

The public can bring pills for disposal to the lobby of the Sarasota Police Department or Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market Pharmacy.

10/18/2019 By Staff

Education

"Books & Badges" Literacy Event Takes Place Today

The dual-purpose event will provide free books for low-income children to read and mitigate summer learning loss, as well as provide positive interaction with officers.

07/16/2019 By Staff

Blue + You

Sarasota Police Department to Host Community Barbecue

The "Blue + You BBQ" will take place Saturday, June 9, from 1-3:30 p.m. at Gillespie Park.

06/03/2019 By Staff

Take Back

Sarasota Police Collect 38 Pounds of Unwanted Drugs During National Take-Back Day

Members of the DEA will collect the drugs that were dropped off from the Sarasota Police Department property unit and dispose of them properly.

04/30/2019 By Staff