Sarasota Police

In a saddening turn of events, the Sarasota Police Department has lost its accreditation according to The Sarasota Herald Tribune. In an article released June 15 2014, it describes the loss of the departments accreditation. 

Every department of any significant size strives for accreditation as a "pinnacle of excellence". My former dept, The Richardson Police Department was accredited as are local departments such as the Tampa Police Department.

As you will see, every department that is accredited proudly boasts such achievement on their web site. It is an embarrassment that the Sarasota Police Dept has lost their accreditation. 

Essentially they have been downgraded in the eyes of governing bodies of Law Enforcement. Despite any suggestion to the contrary, this is negative. This is a downgrade and our city, and its residents deserve better.

Since her arrival, Chief Bernadette DiPino has been under scrutiny by her piers and doubted by her officers. Many have felt her transition to Sarasota was too big a step from her previous job and not equipped to handle the issues of Sarasota.

To her critics, this latest debacle will only serve as more evidence of her inability to effectively lead the agency. In the past few months, many of her officers have been fired for excessive use of force to most recently a DUI case where an off duty officer crashed into the back of an on duty Lieutenant. 

Regards,

Jordan Letschert