Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/138828
Sarasota News Leader June 21, 2013 Page 11 Knight said he felt one reason his officers are being asked to assist more regularly in the city is because of the reduction of force in the Police Department. Knight pointed out to the News Leader that when he took office in January 2009, the city had 203 police officers. Last week, News Leader City Editor Stan Zimmerman reported the total number of police officers is 175. Knight added that he understood the City Commission also is considering whether budget constraints will force it to eliminate additional positions in the next fiscal year. "If they cut more, [my deputies] will be in there more," he said. The News Leader reported on March 1 that retiring city Finance Director Chris Lyons told the City Commission in late February that seven police officers were being cut from the 2014 fiscal year budget to try to balance it. Commissioner Joe Barbetta. File photo Knight told the News Leader he had met with DiPino three times since she began work on CITY POLICE RESPONSE Dec. 31, 2012. On one of those occasions, May The News Leader was unsuccessful in reach- 6, Knight invited DiPino and Moyer for lunch ing Police Chief Bernadette DiPino this week with him and his staff. for a response to Knight's comments; her assistant said she was away at a conference. "The bad guys are running back and forth However, her deputy chief, Col. Stephen Moy- across jurisdictional lines," Moyer told the News Leader, which necessitates a coordier, told the News Leadnated approach. "And er, "We have all decidwe'll back them up ed we need to work When bad things happen … they as often as we can as collectively together," referring to the Police call the sheriff. … Is it becoming more well," he added of the Department and Sher- frequent? Yes. Is it becoming a major Sheriff's Office. concern of mine? Is it affecting my iff's Office. overtime? Yes. Yes. Does it create a "We're not in MaryMoyer added, "We continuity of command and control? Yes. land," Knight told the meet on a regular baNews Leader in resis with all the local sponse to Moyer's Tom Knight Sheriff sheriffs and police comments. Both DiPiSarasota County chiefs" in the area. no and Moyer had long