Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/116876
Sarasota News Leader March 22, 2013 report, obtained by The Sarasota News Leader, indicates there is a lot of work to be done to meet the ambitious goal outlined by Barwin. Lewis was the SPD chief for more than a decade (1989-2000). He later was appointed to fill a two-year term on the Sarasota County School Board; then, he stood for ��� and won ��� election to that board (2000-2006). Page 9 state-mandated qualification, qualifying, and leaving. This takes anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes, but deviates greatly from the eight-hour firearms training given in the past,��� the report says. ���Training was a constant concern for almost all those interviewed who were department employees. Many concerns centered on high-liability items, such as firearms training, defensive tactics, and pursuit driving,��� Lewis wrote. ���In addition concerns for new sergeants, lieutenants and captains were for the appropriate management/supervision training.��� ���[T]he employees to whom I spoke at all ranks were, for the most part, positive in their image of the department and the city. Most were very open, candid and honest in sharing their views,��� his report states early on. ���I commend all of the individuals with whom I spoke for Lewis singled out one specific area of concern: providing information that will be of assis- ���Incidents that were relayed to me indicate tance to the incoming Chief.��� there is a definite need for training in building Incoming Chief Bernadette DiPino started on searches,��� he wrote. ���This relates to buildings or homes that are found with a possible breakNew Year���s Day 2013. in and officers go through the building to deTRAINING ���MINIMAL��� termine if there are any subjects inside.��� IN A NUMBER OF AREAS Lewis��� primary focus was training, and he found it had declined over time. He said before 1997 officers received 64 hours of training per year. But after switching to a 12-hour patrol shift (from eight hours) in 2006, training per year was cut in half, to 32 hours. However, those on 12-hour shifts ���were paid overtime to attend in-service training on their days off ���.��� Nonetheless, because of budget cuts, ���funding to pay patrol officers overtime to attend in-service training was virtually eliminated,��� wrote Lewis. ���This resulted in minimal training for a number of areas��� ��� among them, firearms training. In all organizations with a formal rank structure, it is common for superiors to train their subordinates. But at the SPD, Lewis found this to be a sometime thing. ���A number of officers have commented on the excellent training they have received from their sergeants during their shift when calls for service permitted, but this, apparently, is not a requirement and is not being done by all supervisors,��� the report says. To begin filling the training gap, Lewis suggested finding out what kind of training is offered at the School Board���s Sarasota County Technical Institute. And he proposed looking for retired officers from the SPD or other ju���Sometimes what is called ���Firearms Training��� risdictions ���who are well-qualified and versed is simply a matter of going to the range for the in particular subject matter, and [contacting