Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/305631
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office assumed full law enforcement dispatch service for the City of Venice as of May 1, the office has announced, making its transition to a regional law dispatch service on that date. The Emergency Operations Bureau assumed overnight dispatch service for the Venice Police Department (VPD) on Jan. 2 in prepa- ration for this consolidation, a news release points out, and residents "did not experi- ence any change in service." City of Venice residents should continue to dial 911 for all emergencies, but they should note the new non-emergency number to call is 941-316- 1201, the release adds. The Venice Police Department is the first law enforcement agency to consolidate dispatch services with the Sheriff's Emergency Operations Bureau since the Sarasota Police Department did so in 1996, the release contin- ues. Last year, Sarasota County Government offered each municipality the opportunity to save money and improve efficiency, it says. The Sheriff's Office now provides 911 call taking and dispatch services for five fire departments and three law enforcement agencies. "Regional law dispatch service throughout Sarasota County is the same concept used for more than 17 years with the fire agencies we serve," said Sheriff Tom Knight in the release. "While the change will not be noticeable to citizens, it is designed to increase effective- ness and improve safety for law enforcement personnel and the public in general." SHERIFF'S OFFICE TAKING OVER DISPATCH FOR VENICE AS OF MAY 1 A sign marks the entrance to the Sarasota County Justice Center on Ringling Boulevard in Sarasota. The county's 911 dispatch services will be relocated to the new Emergency Operations Center when it is completed next year on Cattlemen Road. File photo Sarasota News Leader May 2, 2014 Page 85