Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/277189
speak, you must be arranging an illegal sex- ual tryst. Unfortunately, the rules of evidence, the pre- sumption of innocence, due process and a host of other constitutional complications prevent the chief and her minions from bust- ing these nefarious evildoers on the spot, so they do the next best thing: They send a let- ter to the registered owner of the vehicle. The letter essentially alerts the vehicle's owner to the sincere belief of DiPino and the police that a crime was committed by the occupants of the vehicle and the sidewalk denizen with whom they were conversing. But — because of the Constitution, the rule of law, blah blah blah — all DiPino can do is send this warning letter alerting the owner to the horrific penalties that befall those who … do things that are against the law — which stopping in a public area and talking with someone is not. But let this be a warning to you anyway. In classic "ready, fire, aim" fashion, the SPD apparently did not consider that these letters would be a matter of public record. In addi- tion to creating some domestic consternation in situations in which the vehicle is owned by the driver's wife or girlfriend, the SPD also has opened up all of these recipients to public ridicule by any person who wants to pick up a copy of the letters at the police station. When confronted with this question, SPD offi- cials reportedly did some backpedaling and maintained that the question of the letters being public records was still being determined by the city attorney (who likely knew nothing about this boondoggle before it blew up in city staffers' faces). Yet at the bottom of each letter sent out is the following: "SPD Case # _____ was generated documenting this incident." And since all case files are public records, the letters should be public records, too. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Sarasota News Leader wel- comes letters to the editor from its readers. Letters should be no more than 300 words in length, and include the name, street address and telephone num- ber of the writer. Letters should be emailed to Letters@SarasotaNewsLeader.com, with "Letter to the Editor" in the subject line. Let- ters actually printed will be selected based on space available, subject matter and other fac- tors. We reserve the right to edit any letters submitted for length, grammar, spelling, etc. All letters submitted become the property of The Sarasota News Leader. Law enforcement is a tough job b e c a u s e y o u h a v e t o c a t c h t h e criminals without infringing on the rights of the innocent. OPINION Sarasota News Leader March 14, 2014 Page 88