Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/127088
Sarasota News Leader May 3, 2013 Page 21 "I want that same thing here. And a lot of officers do think that way. But I want 'Newtown is mine,' and 'This community is mine.' I want every single community within our larger community to feel that same way, that somebody cares about them." ly happy about that. I'm pleased we were able to get everybody training on that in a short period of time." "The outreach to the citizens in the community. I think I've been able to establish some trust within the community. I've been so welcomed by the citizens that I have met. "Yes. The [Ringling] bridge and Lido Beach. I often will take my poodle and put her in my bike and ride up to the bridge. We'll walk around the bridge. It's so beautiful and peaceful and serene there. And then I'll get back on the bike and ride out to Lido Beach and look at the area, maybe grab something to eat at St. Armands Circle. I'm a water-beach person so that's my favorite thing so far." In this short period of time, have you found what you might call a personal favorite? A restaurant, a book, a vista — Your best achievement of the past 120 anything in the community you made a days? connection with? "Because of the interaction I've had with members of different [segments] of the community, we were able to bring in a shooting suspect, an attempted murder suspect, without any incident. And that's because members of the community called me and said, 'Hey, this person wants to turn themselves in.' That's a huge Have you had an enduring moment, something that really touched you personally, success to me. emotionally? "That means the community trusts and is buy"Yes. I went to visit the Boys and Girls Club. ing into the Police Department." [County Commission Chairwoman] Carolyn Conversely, what would you consider your Mason invited me out. There were a lot of worst mistake of the past 120 days? young kids, and I was being myself: 'Hey, how "Not having enough time, wishing I had more are you?' time to do ride-alongs with the police officers "The kids at first were wary; the girls were reand engage with them more. ally tentative. At one point after I was there a "More than three weeks were spent going couple of minutes talking to them, they felt so through the accreditation process. I wish I had comfortable, they came and surrounded me. that time back. I needed to get my [Florida po- They were touching my vest and wanting to lice officer] certification, but I could be three hold my hand. They all surrounded me, and weeks ahead or four weeks ahead of where I Carolyn Mason took a picture of me with the am right now. girls. "And I forgot about this [as an achievement] "My heart just beamed. I was so happy about — I taught the community policing class to ev- that because they felt so comfortable. That was ery officer within the organization. I was real- an endearing moment. It was amazing." %