Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/110922
Sarasota News Leader February 22, 2013 Page 14 say he should not be concerned with the business environment downtown. I wouldn���t say that at all. I think he���s sort of turning a deaf ear to the cries of the condo people who are trying to sleep at night. But they will have a voice too. Just like with anything, you have good apples and bad apples. I���m a preacher and there are some preachers who just want the gold and the girls, but for every one who chased the gold and the girls you have five who are sincere and want to help people. ��������� I think [the police] believe it was a witch-hunt, and our group was able to hopefully bridge some of that. I was very purposeful in trying to ride with these guys, to show them my motive for serving. I see what they are doing, and I know how many young people I���ve buried. I was able to win some guys over, and I think they sense I understand where they���re coming from. Do you support the continued operation of the two civilian police review panels? Dorfman: I do not. Have you attended any of their meetings? Dorfman: I have read the transcripts, but I have not attended meetings. ��������� ��������� Do you support the continued operation Do you support the continued operation of the two civilian police review panels? of the two civilian police review panels? Have you attended any of their meetLumpkin: In their present form, I don���t know ings? they are being effective, and I serve on one Theisen: No. I haven���t attended their meetof them. I think Peter Graham [staff coordiings, but I���ve read all the accounts. nator] is a great mind, but I think we need to give some serious thought to what their role ��������� is going to be. Maybe we can be the eyes and ears of the chief and say this is what���s going The Sarasota Police Department (SPD) on in the community. But if it was knee-jerk consumes the largest fraction of the reaction to an incident, I don���t know if it was city���s budget, using more than the sum of all property taxes collected annually. best reason to have them. Is there room for improvement in how Don���t get me wrong: I believe everyone needs Sarasota polices itself? If so, where and to be accountable, from the City Commission how? to police officers. Maybe we need to re-think the role, or clearly define it, or maybe they���ve Dorfman: I think there is probably room for outlived their purpose. It took us some time improvement for any industry, in any business to win the cops over. Talk about a cold recep- and any person on the planet. Specifically the tion. But if I were in their shoes, I���d under- police department: I think the police need stand why, because they feel persecuted, and to be given clear direction in some of their there are a lot of great cops. duties. They need clear rules of engagement.