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{{Short description|County law enforcement agency in Florida, U.S.}}
{{for|the law enforcement agency of the city of [[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]]|Sarasota Police Department}}
{{for|the law enforcement agency of the city of [[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]]|Sarasota Police Department}}
{{Overly detailed|date=April 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname = Sarasota County Sheriff's Office
| agencyname = Sarasota County Sheriff's Office
| commonname = Sarasota Sheriff's Office
| commonname = Sarasota Sheriff's Office
| abbreviation = SSO
| abbreviation = SCSO
| patch =
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| badge = SRQSheriff.png
| badge = SRQSheriff.png
| badgecaption = Logo and badge of the Sarasota Sheriff's Office.
| badgecaption = Logo and badge of the Sarasota Sheriff's Office.
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| formedmonthday = May 14
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| budget = $111,343,435 (2018)
| country = United States
| country = United States
| countryabbr = US
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| divtype = State
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| divname = Florida
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| divdab =
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| subdivtype = County
| subdivtype = County
| subdivname = Sarasota
| subdivname = Sarasota
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| map = Map of Florida highlighting Sarasota County.svg
| map = Map of Florida highlighting Sarasota County.svg
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| headquarters = [[Sarasota, Florida]]
| headquarters = [[Sarasota, Florida]]
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| chief1name = Tom Knight
| chief1name = Kurt A. Hoffman
| chief1position = [[Sheriffs in the United States#Florida|Sheriff]]
| chief1position = [[Sheriffs in the United States#Florida|Sheriff]]
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| website = [http://www.sarasotasheriff.org Sarasota County Sheriff's Office]
| website = [http://www.sarasotasheriff.org Sarasota County Sheriff's Office]
| footnotes =
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}}


'''Sarasota County Sheriff's Office''' ('''SSO''') is the primary [[law enforcement agency]] for [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota County]], Florida. The agency is responsible for law enforcement services in unincorporated areas of Sarasota County, jail facilities, and courthouse security for Florida's [[Florida Circuit Courts|12th Judicial Circuit]]. SSO also operates Public Safety Communications (PSC), the county's primary 911 center.
'''Sarasota County Sheriff's Office''' ('''SCSO''') is the primary [[law enforcement agency]] for [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota County]], Florida. The agency is responsible for law enforcement services in unincorporated areas of Sarasota County, jail facilities, and courthouse security for Florida's [[Florida Circuit Courts|12th Judicial Circuit]]. SSO also operates Public Safety Communications (PSC), the county's primary 911 center.


==History==
==History==

⚫
The sheriff's office was established in 1921 upon the creation of Sarasota County from the southern portion of [[Manatee County, Florida|Manatee County]].<ref name="Snell 1999 3">{{cite book|last= Snell|first= Robert M.|date= 1999|title= From Shield to Star|url= |location= Sarasota, Florida|publisher= Coastal Printing|page= 3|isbn= |access-date= December 24, 2014}}</ref> Florida Governor [[Cary A. Hardee]] appointed Burna Dale "Heinie" Levi as the first Sheriff of Sarasota County that year.<ref name="Snell 1999 3"/> On August 22, 1921, [[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]] city marshal L.D. Hodges became the agency's first deputy.<ref>{{cite book|last= Snell|first= Robert M.|date= 1999|title= From Shield to Star|url= |location= Sarasota, Florida|publisher= Coastal Printing|page= 4|isbn= |access-date= December 24, 2014}}</ref>
=== Founding ===
⚫
The sheriff's office was established in 1921 under the separation of Sarasota County from the southern portion of [[Manatee County, Florida|Manatee County]].<ref name="Snell 1999 3">{{cite book|last= Snell|first= Robert M.|date= 1999|title= From Shield to Star|location= Sarasota, Florida|publisher= Coastal Printing|page= 3}}</ref> Florida Governor [[Cary A. Hardee]] appointed Burna Dale "Heinie" Levi as the first sheriff of Sarasota County that year on July 1, 1921.<ref name="Snell 1999 3" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=HISTORY|url=https://www.sarasotasheriff.org/about_scso/history/index.php|access-date=2021-11-01|website=Sarasota County Sheriff's Office}}</ref> On August 22, 1921, [[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]] city marshal L.D. Hodges became the agency's first deputy.<ref>{{cite book|last= Snell|first= Robert M.|date= 1999|title= From Shield to Star|location= Sarasota, Florida|publisher= Coastal Printing|page= 4}}</ref> Hodges would later become elected as sheriff in 1922 as Levi decided not to run in the general election that year. He would begin his tenure in December 1922. <ref name=":0" />

=== 1900's ===
A sheriff's deputy would be arrested under charges of having assaulted an African American man named Robert Walthau with his gun and baton on October 23, 1926. The deputy said he had asked Walthau if he was working, and offered him a job unloading some trucks. Walthau allegedly sait that this was none of his business to which deputy allegedly responded to this by saying that he should treat him with more respect because he was white. Mayor Bacon of Sarasota would have no comment when asked by a reporter from the Sarasota Herald but Sheriff Hodges would respond by saying that an investigation would be done and would suspend the deputy if necessary. Between October 18-23, 1926 the Bob Morton Circus would help the [[Ku Klux Klan]] hold an event in Sarasota and it is possible that the deputy was encouraged by this.<ref>{{Cite web|last=LaHurd|first=Jeff|title=Separate But Not Equal|url=http://www.sarasotahistoryalive.com/history/articles/separate-but-not-equal/|access-date=October 31, 2021|website=Sarasota History Alive!}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=LaHurd|first=Jeff|date=June 12, 2020|title=Sarasota's history replete with echoes of racial injustice|work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2020/06/12/sarasotarsquos-history-replete-with-echoes-of-racial-injustice/41970401/|access-date=October 31, 2021}}</ref>

Sheriff Hodges would lose in the Democratic primary on June 5, 1928, to W. Albert Keen. Keen would begin his tenure on January 8, 1929. Three months into his tenure he would get shot along with Special Deputy Walter Whitted while doing a gambling raid in Laurel. Both of them would go to [[Sarasota Memorial Hospital]] and Keen ended up getting an amputation on his right leg.

He would resume his duties as sheriff in June 1929 and he would continue to serve until he lost a run-off election to Clem Pearson, a former [[Sarasota Police Department]] officer. Pearson was sworn in on January 3, 1933.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Rossi|first=Danielle|title=Prohibition in Sarasota County|url=http://www.sarasotahistoryalive.com/history/articles/prohibition-in-sarasota-county/|access-date=November 1, 2021|website=Sarasota History Alive!}}</ref>

Pearson would serve until retiring in May 1939 for health reasons with his son B. Douglas "Doug" Pearson who had previously been a deputy for one year took over. He would continue to serve for another 13 years before leaving office in January 1953 when he was defeated by Ross Boyer. Boyer had previously served with the Florida Highway Patrol and had run unsuccessfully for sheriff in 1948. During Boyer's time in office he would dramatically expand and modernize the Sheriff's Department. He would also help with creating the [[Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches|Florida Boys Ranch]] in 1958 and became the president of the [[National Sheriffs' Association|National Sheriffs Association]] in 1969. Boyer would win reelection election four times as a Democrat, despite Sarasota County becoming strongly Republican. He would end up retiring in 1972 for health related reasons.<ref>{{Cite web|title=HISTORY|url=https://www.sarasotasheriff.org/about_scso/history/index.php|access-date=November 4, 2021|website=Sarasota County Sheriff's Office}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Mark|title=Longtime Sheriff Wore Many Hats|url=http://www.sarasotahistoryalive.com/history/articles/longtime-sheriff-wore-many-hats/|access-date=November 4, 2021|website=Sarasota History Alive!}}</ref>


== List of Sheriffs ==
== List of Sheriffs ==
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* Geoffrey Monge (January 8, 1985 – January 2001)
* Geoffrey Monge (January 8, 1985 – January 2001)
* William Balkwil (January 2001 – January 9, 2009)
* William Balkwil (January 2001 – January 9, 2009)
* Thomas M. Knight (January 9, 2009 – present)
* Thomas M. Knight (January 9, 2009 – January 9, 2021)
* Kurt A. Hoffman (January 9, 2021-Present)


==Divisions==
==Divisions==
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====Patrol bureau====
====Patrol bureau====
Deputies in the patrol bureau provide round-the-clock patrol services and answers calls for service in their jurisdiction, which is unincorporated Sarasota County.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarasotasheriff.org/about_scso/divisions/patrol_bureau.php|title=Patrol Bureau|publisher=Sarasotasheriff.org|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref>
Deputies in the patrol bureau provide round-the-clock patrol services and answers calls for service in their jurisdiction, which is unincorporated Sarasota County.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarasotasheriff.org/about_scso/divisions/patrol_bureau.php|title=Patrol Bureau|publisher=Sarasotasheriff.org|access-date=February 15, 2019}}</ref>


====Special Operations bureau====
====Special Operations bureau====
The Special Operations division assists the patrol bureau in providing specialized law enforcement services to the county. Divisions within this bureau include:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarasotasheriff.org/about_scso/divisions/special_operations_bureau.php|title=Special Operations Bureau|publisher=Sarasotasheriff.org|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref>
The Special Operations division assists the patrol bureau in providing specialized law enforcement services to the county. Divisions within this bureau include:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarasotasheriff.org/about_scso/divisions/special_operations_bureau.php|title=Special Operations Bureau|publisher=Sarasotasheriff.org|access-date=February 15, 2019}}</ref>
*Agricultural Unit
*Agricultural Unit
*Animal Services Unit
*Animal Services Unit
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====Investigative bureau====
====Investigative bureau====
The Investigate Bureau employs detectives along with civilian crime analysts. Divisions within the bureau include:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarasotasheriff.org/operations/law-enforcement/investigative-bureau.html|title=Investigative Bureau|publisher=Sarasotasheriff.org|accessdate=October 15, 2014}}</ref>
The Investigate Bureau employs detectives along with civilian crime analysts. Divisions within the bureau include:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarasotasheriff.org/about_scso/divisions/investigations_bureau.php|title=Investigation Bureau|publisher=Sarasotasheriff.org|access-date=February 15, 2019}}</ref>
*Criminal Investigations Section
*Criminal Investigations Section
*Drug Laboratory
*Drug Laboratory
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====Specialized units====
====Specialized units====
Deputies may also be assigned to specialized units in addition to their regular duties. These units include:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarasotasheriff.org/operations/law-enforcement/specialized-units.html|title=Specialized Units|publisher=Sarasotasheriff.org|accessdate=October 15, 2014}}</ref>
Deputies may also be assigned to specialized units in addition to their regular duties. These units include:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarasotasheriff.org/operations/law-enforcement/specialized-units.html|title=Specialized Units|publisher=Sarasotasheriff.org|access-date=October 15, 2014}}</ref>
*Bomb Unit
*Bomb Unit
*Crisis Negotiation Team
*Crisis Negotiation Team
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===Corrections===
===Corrections===
The Agency is responsible for staffing and maintaining the Sarasota County Jail.
The agency is responsible for staffing and maintaining the Sarasota County Jail.


Corrections Deputies are charged with the care, custody & control of inmates in the County facility.
Corrections Deputies are charged with the care, custody & control of inmates in the County facility.
Line 163: Line 177:


===911 Center===
===911 Center===
The Sheriff's Office operates Public Safety Communications (PSC), the county's primary 911 center. In addition to dispatching for the Sheriff's Office, it provides law enforcement dispatch to the [[Sarasota Police Department|Sarasota]] and [[Venice, Florida|Venice]] Police Departments and fire/medical dispatch for the Sarasota County Fire Department, [[Nokomis, Florida|Nokomis]] Fire Department, Venice Fire Department, [[North Port, Florida|North Port]] Fire Department, and [[Englewood, Florida|Englewood]] Fire Department.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarasotasheriff.org/operations/911-call-center.html|title=911 Call Center|publisher=Sarasotasheriff.org|accessdate=October 15, 2014}}</ref>
The Sheriff's Office operates Public Safety Communications (PSC), the county's primary 911 center. In addition to dispatching for the Sheriff's Office, it provides law enforcement dispatch to the [[Sarasota Police Department|Sarasota]] and [[Venice, Florida|Venice]] Police Departments and fire/medical dispatch for the Sarasota County Fire Department, [[Nokomis, Florida|Nokomis]] Fire Department, Venice Fire Department, [[North Port, Florida|North Port]] Fire Department, and [[Englewood, Florida|Englewood]] Fire Department.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarasotasheriff.org/operations/911-call-center.html|title=911 Call Center|publisher=Sarasotasheriff.org|access-date=October 15, 2014}}</ref>


==Ranks==
==Ranks==
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==Vehicle fleet==
==Vehicle fleet==
The agency currently uses police vehicles manufactured by [[General Motors]]' [[Chevrolet]] brand. The department's patrol fleet primarily consists of the [[Chevrolet Impala]], [[Chevrolet Caprice PPV]], and [[Chevrolet Tahoe]].
{{Citation needed span|{{As of|2014|October}}, the agency was using police vehicles manufactured by [[General Motors]]' [[Chevrolet]] brand. The department's patrol fleet primarily consisted of the [[Chevrolet Impala]], [[Chevrolet Caprice PPV]], and [[Chevrolet Tahoe]]. {{As of|2022|January}}, the fleet included undercover cars ranging from Ford Mustang, Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150 & F-250.|date=November 2023}}


==Lawsuits==
==Lawsuits==
The sheriff's office has been the subject of numerous lawsuits from both civilians and employees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120923/ARTICLE/120929846|title=60 lawsuits pending against Sarasota County|work=HeraldTribune.com|accessdate=October 15, 2014}}</ref> A civil rights lawsuit by the family of Rodney Mitchell alleges that Sheriff Knight's law enforcement policies are unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/local/sarasota-sheriff-s-office-faces-lawsuit-over-rodney-mitchell-shooting/article_b0d39cda-f01f-11e3-8a61-0017a43b2370.html|title=Sarasota Sheriff's Office faces lawsuit over Rodney Mitchell shooting|work=Sarasota News – Mysuncoast.com and ABC 7|accessdate=October 15, 2014}}</ref>
The sheriff's office has been the subject of numerous lawsuits from both civilians and employees.<ref>{{cite news |title=60 lawsuits pending against Sarasota County |first=Lee |last=Williams |date=2012-09-23 |newspaper=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]] |url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120923/ARTICLE/120929846 |access-date=October 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135327/http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120923/ARTICLE/120929846 |archive-date=2015-09-24}}</ref> A 2014 civil rights lawsuit, in the June 2012 police shooting death of Rodney Mitchell, alleged that Sheriff Knight's law enforcement policies were unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sarasota Sheriff's Office faces lawsuit over Rodney Mitchell shooting |date=2014-06-09 |work=[[WWSB#News operations|WWSB News]] |url=http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/local/sarasota-sheriff-s-office-faces-lawsuit-over-rodney-mitchell-shooting/article_b0d39cda-f01f-11e3-8a61-0017a43b2370.html |access-date=October 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115071725/http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/local/sarasota-sheriff-s-office-faces-lawsuit-over-rodney-mitchell-shooting/article_b0d39cda-f01f-11e3-8a61-0017a43b2370.html |archive-date=2018-01-15}}</ref>


===Employee retaliation suits===
===Employee retaliation suits===
Sergeant Chris Iorio sued the sheriff's office in 2013, claiming that Sheriff Knight retaliated against him for reporting Captain Ron Locke to the [[Florida Department of Law Enforcement]] after hearing reports that Locke may have molested an underage girl during the mid-1990s.<ref name=iorio>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20130710/ARTICLE/130719990|title=Sarasota Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Iorio files civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Tom Knight|work=HeraldTribune.com|accessdate=October 15, 2014}}</ref> No charges were filed against Locke.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120612/ARTICLE/120619860|title=FDLE: No charges will be filed against Sarasota County Sheriff's Capt. Ron Locke|work=HeraldTribune.com|accessdate=October 15, 2014}}</ref>
Sergeant Chris Iorio sued the sheriff's office in 2013, claiming that Sheriff Knight retaliated against him for reporting Captain Ron Locke to the [[Florida Department of Law Enforcement]] after hearing reports that Locke may have molested an underage girl during the mid-1990s.<ref name=iorio>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20130710/ARTICLE/130719990|title=Sarasota Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Iorio files civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Tom Knight|work=HeraldTribune.com|access-date=October 15, 2014}}</ref> No charges were filed against Locke.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120612/ARTICLE/120619860|title=FDLE: No charges will be filed against Sarasota County Sheriff's Capt. Ron Locke|work=HeraldTribune.com|access-date=October 15, 2014}}</ref>


Captain Richard Mottola, who supervised Iorio, filed a lawsuit in 2014 alleging that Sheriff Knight retaliated against Mottola for failing to punish Iorio.<ref name=mottola>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20140324/ARTICLE/140329812|title=Captain files civil suit against Sheriff Knight|work=HeraldTribune.com|accessdate=October 15, 2014}}</ref>
Captain Richard Mottola, who supervised Iorio, filed a lawsuit in 2014 alleging that Sheriff Knight retaliated against Mottola for failing to punish Iorio.<ref name=mottola>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20140324/ARTICLE/140329812|title=Captain files civil suit against Sheriff Knight|work=HeraldTribune.com|access-date=October 15, 2014}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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*{{Twitter}}
*{{Twitter}}


{{Fla LawEnforce}}
{{Fla LawEnforce}}{{Sarasota, Florida}}

[[Category:Sarasota County, Florida]]
[[Category:Sarasota County, Florida]]
[[Category:Sheriffs' departments of Florida]]
[[Category:Sheriffs' departments of Florida]]

Latest revision as of 14:26, 27 December 2023

For the law enforcement agency of the city of Sarasota, see Sarasota Police Department.

Sarasota County Sheriff's Office
Logo and badge of the Sarasota Sheriff's Office.
Logo and badge of the Sarasota Sheriff's Office.
Common nameSarasota Sheriff's Office
AbbreviationSCSO
Agency overview
FormedMay 14, 1921
Annual budget$111,343,435 (2018)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionSarasota, Florida, US
Map of Sarasota County Sheriff's Office's jurisdiction
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersSarasota, Florida
Agency executive
Facilities
Helicopters2
Website
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office

Sarasota County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) is the primary law enforcement agency for Sarasota County, Florida. The agency is responsible for law enforcement services in unincorporated areas of Sarasota County, jail facilities, and courthouse security for Florida's 12th Judicial Circuit. SSO also operates Public Safety Communications (PSC), the county's primary 911 center.

History

[edit]

Founding

[edit]

The sheriff's office was established in 1921 under the separation of Sarasota County from the southern portion of Manatee County.[1] Florida Governor Cary A. Hardee appointed Burna Dale "Heinie" Levi as the first sheriff of Sarasota County that year on July 1, 1921.[1][2] On August 22, 1921, Sarasota city marshal L.D. Hodges became the agency's first deputy.[3] Hodges would later become elected as sheriff in 1922 as Levi decided not to run in the general election that year. He would begin his tenure in December 1922. [2]

1900's

[edit]

A sheriff's deputy would be arrested under charges of having assaulted an African American man named Robert Walthau with his gun and baton on October 23, 1926. The deputy said he had asked Walthau if he was working, and offered him a job unloading some trucks. Walthau allegedly sait that this was none of his business to which deputy allegedly responded to this by saying that he should treat him with more respect because he was white. Mayor Bacon of Sarasota would have no comment when asked by a reporter from the Sarasota Herald but Sheriff Hodges would respond by saying that an investigation would be done and would suspend the deputy if necessary. Between October 18-23, 1926 the Bob Morton Circus would help the Ku Klux Klan hold an event in Sarasota and it is possible that the deputy was encouraged by this.[4][5]

Sheriff Hodges would lose in the Democratic primary on June 5, 1928, to W. Albert Keen. Keen would begin his tenure on January 8, 1929. Three months into his tenure he would get shot along with Special Deputy Walter Whitted while doing a gambling raid in Laurel. Both of them would go to Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Keen ended up getting an amputation on his right leg.

He would resume his duties as sheriff in June 1929 and he would continue to serve until he lost a run-off election to Clem Pearson, a former Sarasota Police Department officer. Pearson was sworn in on January 3, 1933.[2][6]

Pearson would serve until retiring in May 1939 for health reasons with his son B. Douglas "Doug" Pearson who had previously been a deputy for one year took over. He would continue to serve for another 13 years before leaving office in January 1953 when he was defeated by Ross Boyer. Boyer had previously served with the Florida Highway Patrol and had run unsuccessfully for sheriff in 1948. During Boyer's time in office he would dramatically expand and modernize the Sheriff's Department. He would also help with creating the Florida Boys Ranch in 1958 and became the president of the National Sheriffs Association in 1969. Boyer would win reelection election four times as a Democrat, despite Sarasota County becoming strongly Republican. He would end up retiring in 1972 for health related reasons.[7][8]

List of Sheriffs

[edit]
  • Burna D. Levi (July 1, 1921 – December 1922)
  • L.D. Hodges (December 1922 – January 8, 1929)
  • W. Albert Keen (January 8, 1929 – January 3, 1933)
  • Clem Pearson (January 3, 1933 – May 1939)
  • B. Douglas "Doug" Pearson (May 1939 – June 1953)
  • Ross E. Boyer (January 6, 1953 – January 1973)
  • Jim Hardcastle (January 2, 1973 – January 8, 1985)
  • Geoffrey Monge (January 8, 1985 – January 2001)
  • William Balkwil (January 2001 – January 9, 2009)
  • Thomas M. Knight (January 9, 2009 – January 9, 2021)
  • Kurt A. Hoffman (January 9, 2021-Present)

Divisions

[edit]

Law enforcement

[edit]

Patrol bureau

[edit]

Deputies in the patrol bureau provide round-the-clock patrol services and answers calls for service in their jurisdiction, which is unincorporated Sarasota County.[9]

Special Operations bureau

[edit]

The Special Operations division assists the patrol bureau in providing specialized law enforcement services to the county. Divisions within this bureau include:[10]

  • Agricultural Unit
  • Animal Services Unit
  • Aviation Unit
  • Emergency Response Team (ERT)
  • Fugitive Apprehension Unit
  • Hazardous Devices Unit
  • K-9 Unit
  • Marine Unit
  • Mounted Patrol Unit
  • Sheriff's Underwater Recovery Force (SURF)
  • Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit
  • Traffic Unit
  • Youth Services

Investigative bureau

[edit]

The Investigate Bureau employs detectives along with civilian crime analysts. Divisions within the bureau include:[11]

Specialized units

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Deputies may also be assigned to specialized units in addition to their regular duties. These units include:[12]

  • Bomb Unit
  • Crisis Negotiation Team
  • Emergency Response Team
  • Mounted Patrol
  • Sheriff's Underwater Recovery Force (SURF)
  • SWAT Unit

Courts

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The agency is responsible for providing court security for all Courthouses and Courtrooms in Sarasota County.

There are two courts in Sarasota County - a courthouse in Venice, as well as the main courthouse in downtown Sarasota. Bailiffs also provided security at the Clerk of Courts building as well as at the Sheriff's Office main headquarters at 2071 Ringling Blvd.

There are several units in the Bailiffs section, to include Security (for the building), Transport and Courtroom security.

Corrections

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The agency is responsible for staffing and maintaining the Sarasota County Jail.

Corrections Deputies are charged with the care, custody & control of inmates in the County facility.

The current jail is located in downtown Sarasota and consists of three interconnected jails. The current inmate census is about 950 inmates.

911 Center

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The Sheriff's Office operates Public Safety Communications (PSC), the county's primary 911 center. In addition to dispatching for the Sheriff's Office, it provides law enforcement dispatch to the Sarasota and Venice Police Departments and fire/medical dispatch for the Sarasota County Fire Department, Nokomis Fire Department, Venice Fire Department, North Port Fire Department, and Englewood Fire Department.[13]

Ranks

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Title Insignia
Sheriff
Colonel
Major
Captain
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Deputy

Vehicle fleet

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As of October 2014, the agency was using police vehicles manufactured by General Motors' Chevrolet brand. The department's patrol fleet primarily consisted of the Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Caprice PPV, and Chevrolet Tahoe. As of January 2022, the fleet included undercover cars ranging from Ford Mustang, Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150 & F-250.[citation needed]

Lawsuits

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The sheriff's office has been the subject of numerous lawsuits from both civilians and employees.[14] A 2014 civil rights lawsuit, in the June 2012 police shooting death of Rodney Mitchell, alleged that Sheriff Knight's law enforcement policies were unconstitutional.[15]

Employee retaliation suits

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Sergeant Chris Iorio sued the sheriff's office in 2013, claiming that Sheriff Knight retaliated against him for reporting Captain Ron Locke to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement after hearing reports that Locke may have molested an underage girl during the mid-1990s.[16] No charges were filed against Locke.[17]

Captain Richard Mottola, who supervised Iorio, filed a lawsuit in 2014 alleging that Sheriff Knight retaliated against Mottola for failing to punish Iorio.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b Snell, Robert M. (1999). From Shield to Star. Sarasota, Florida: Coastal Printing. p. 3.
  2. ^ a b c "HISTORY". Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  3. ^ Snell, Robert M. (1999). From Shield to Star. Sarasota, Florida: Coastal Printing. p. 4.
  4. ^ LaHurd, Jeff. "Separate But Not Equal". Sarasota History Alive!. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  5. ^ LaHurd, Jeff (June 12, 2020). "Sarasota's history replete with echoes of racial injustice". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  6. ^ Rossi, Danielle. "Prohibition in Sarasota County". Sarasota History Alive!. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  7. ^ "HISTORY". Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  8. ^ Smith, Mark. "Longtime Sheriff Wore Many Hats". Sarasota History Alive!. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  9. ^ "Patrol Bureau". Sarasotasheriff.org. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  10. ^ "Special Operations Bureau". Sarasotasheriff.org. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  11. ^ "Investigation Bureau". Sarasotasheriff.org. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  12. ^ "Specialized Units". Sarasotasheriff.org. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  13. ^ "911 Call Center". Sarasotasheriff.org. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  14. ^ Williams, Lee (September 23, 2012). "60 lawsuits pending against Sarasota County". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  15. ^ "Sarasota Sheriff's Office faces lawsuit over Rodney Mitchell shooting". WWSB News. June 9, 2014. Archived from the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  16. ^ "Sarasota Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Iorio files civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Tom Knight". HeraldTribune.com. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  17. ^ "FDLE: No charges will be filed against Sarasota County Sheriff's Capt. Ron Locke". HeraldTribune.com. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  18. ^ "Captain files civil suit against Sheriff Knight". HeraldTribune.com. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
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