Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/104211
Sarasota News Leader January 18, 2013 Page 31 he said, was to look at the long-term needs — beyond his tenure as sheriff. "And I know facilities are an expensive proposition for you to look at," he added. In his cover letter for the 265-page report, Knight points out that he and the commission in 2011 "discussed the fact that the Sheriff's Office spends nearly $300,000 in rent for facilities countywide. My hope was to initiate a discussion on the potential for utilizing the Law Enforcement Impact Fee to begin the development of a central public safety facility." A little more than $3 million is in that fund, Knight told the commissioners on Jan. 8. The letter adds that the firm Architects Design Group Inc. of Winter Park, which is working with county staff on the design and deSheriff Tom Knight is joined by his wife, velopment of the new EOC, had undertaken Tracy, outside the County Commission the assessment of the Sheriff's Office's space. Chambers on Jan. 8. Chief Judge Andrew Owens presided over the swearing in of Its initial findings, the letter continues, show Knight and the county's other constitutional the office "operating out of what equates to officers before the commission meeting beapproximately 52% of the space it needs to gan. Photo by Norman Schimmel provide adequate law enforcement services to our community (104,000 occupied square feet Knight also pointed out that his office has inadequate space for storage of evidence and vs. 200,895 square feet required.)" confiscated property. Furthermore, he said, Knight told the commissioners his office is us- "Statutorily, we have to keep all firearms and ing 25 different facilities around the county, al- narcotics on the facilities," which also has though the headquarters remains on Ringling overtaxed space needs. Boulevard near the courthouse for the 12th Additionally, Knight noted, the Ringling facilJudicial Circuit Court in downtown Sarasota. ity does not meet state standards for hurriThe Ringling building, Knight pointed out, "is not designed for public safety." It has multiple entrances and insufficient closed-circuit camera coverage, he added. Moreover, many members of the public and his staff are in and out of the building all day. cane hardening. "Only a portion of the jail is rated [to withstand a] Category 2 [hurricane] or above. The main facility we sit in now does not," he said. "We are at a critical point," Knight pointed out, adding that both the City of North Port and