Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/144898
Sarasota News Leader July 19, 2013 Page 34 AS PART OF HER 2014 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COMMISSION, CHIEF BERNADETTE DIPINO EXPLAINS HER REORGANIZATION OF UNITS By Stan Zimmerman City Editor It is not the same city Police department anymore. In six months, a new chief has turned things upside down. Bernadette DiPino used her one-hour slot during the City Commission's budget workshop Wednesday, July 17, to explain the stamp she is putting on the department. Six weeks ago, Pat Robinson was a police sergeant. Today he is the captain in charge of the largest of the four bureaus — Patrol Operations. When the current fiscal year began last Oct. 1, the SPD had 175 sworn police officers. When the new fiscal year begins, it will have 158 officers, and 98 of them will report to Robinson. Starting at the top, she has remodeled the whole organization. The Sarasota Police Department is now divided into four bureaus. Two of them are headed by people DiPino recently promoted. The Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, and the underwater search and rescue DIVE team also will report to Robinson — plus crisis negotiators, bomb defusers and other special operators. Chief Bernadette DiPino (far right) addresses officers after their promotions in June. Photo by Stan Zimmerman