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| Support
Services Division Units |
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S.W.A.T.
- Special Weapons and Tactics Unit
The main objective of the S.W.A.T. Unit is to respond to critical
incidents and provide for the safety and protection of any
hostages, innocent citizens, responding police officers, and
perpetrators. The S.W.A.T. Team is led by Lt. Stan Beishline.
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Crisis Negotiation Unit
The Crisis Negotiation Unit of the Sarasota
Police Department is a highly trained and specially equipped
team that is deployed whenever a critical incident
involving a hostage taker, barricaded subject, or suicidal person occurs,
or in any other crisis intervention situation where the skills of
a trained professional negotiator are needed.
The Crisis Negotiation Unit is one of four (4)
teams assigned to the Special Response Unit of the Sarasota
Police Department. There are eight (8) Negotiators assigned
to the team. A Team Leader and an Assistant Team Leader are appointed
to direct the training and deployment of the Unit. Candidates
are selected on the basis of their experience, communication
skills, and ability to operate under highly stressful circumstances.
Negotiators must attend and complete the Basic, Intermediate,
and Advanced Hostage Negotiation Courses, and must attend
monthly team training sessions. The Unit is assigned a heavy
support vehicle that is equipped with an array of sophisticated
electronics equipment designed specifically for the negotiation
environment.
Since its inception, the Crisis Negotiation
Unit has been instrumental in bringing many critical incidents
to a successful and safe conclusion.
E.M.U. - Explosive Materials Unit
The
Sarasota Police Department provides for the availability of
specially trained units capable of responding to emergencies
and other situations within the City of Sarasota.
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Honor
Guard
The Honor Guard is authorized, upon request, to represent
the Sarasota Police Department at parades, funerals and special
events.
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Underwater Search and Recovery Dive Team
The Dive Team Unit provides for the availability
of a specially trained unit capable of responding to emergencies
and other situations occurring within jurisdictional waterways
where the use of underwater divers may be needed.
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Records
Unit
Hours: Monday through Friday*, 8:00 a.m.- 4:45 p.m. *(open until Noon on Thursdays)
Phone: 941-954-7045
Information that can be obtained from the Records Unit includes:
OFFICIAL
RECORDS DOCUMENTS - Reports are available by 3rd working day
after the date of the reported accident/incident.
CRIMINAL
BACKGROUND CHECKS (LOCAL SARASOTA CITY ONLY) can be done,
or you may receive them directly from the Clerk of the Circuit
Court Internet Site www.clerk.co.sarasota.fl.us
A fee of $5.00 will be charged for a background check.
Fees for Copies of Reports :
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Basic
report requested by mail (must have self-addressed stamped
envelope enclosed)
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$.80 |
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In-person
one-sided copy
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$.15 |
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Two-sided
copy
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$.20 |
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Certified
copy
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$1.00 |
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Requests
for Research
**see below
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First
15 minutes |
no
charge
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Time
after first 15 minutes |
$13.22/hr.
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Portion
of an hour |
$3.31/qtr.
hr.
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**Additional
charges may be added for review time of the documents by the Supervisory and Public Information Officer
according to F.S.S. Chapter 119 of the Public
Records Law. Estimates on extensive requests will be given
BEFORE any work is begun. Requestors must pay the fee before
receiving any documents.
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Alarm
Enforcement Unit
Supervisor: Elaine Kidd
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Phone: 941-954-7054
The
Alarm Enforcement Unit oversees compliance of all alarm systems
(commercial and residential) within the City of Sarasota.
In accordance with City Ordinance 97-3971, every person who
owns, possesses or operates a burglar alarm system within
the City of Sarasota shall obtain an annual permit. For further
information regarding the permit , as well as the rules and
regulations set forth in City Ordinance 97-3971, contact Elaine
Kidd at the above number.
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Management
Information Systems (MIS)
MIS Manager:
Jerry Ghiglietti
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 941-954-7060
The MIS Department is comprised of both Computer Information
Systems and Telecommunications Technology. MIS is also responsible
for Terminal Agency agreements with FCIC/NCIC and FDLE.
This area incorporates and is responsible for all the latest
hardware and software technology as they relate to Police Department
activities listed below.
| Public
Record |
Criminal
Investigations |
Traffic
and Patrol |
| Criminalistics |
Parking |
Alarms |
| Inventory |
Property
and Evidence |
Pawn |
| Paging
Systems |
Telephone/Cell
Systems |
Voice
Mail Systems |
| Wireless/Paperless
Real Time Incident Record Input |
FCIC/NCIC
Inquiries |
FDLE
Criminal Justice Informtion System Inquiries |
| Crime
Statistics |
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Vehicle
Seizure Program
In August of 1997, the City of Sarasota implemented a Vehicle
Seizure Program, City of Sarasota Ordinance No. 98-4043, Section
33-271. The Vehicle Seizure Program was initiated to combat
the use of vehicles that were frequently used to facilitate
the commission of prostitution and drug related crimes which were affecting City neighborhoods by
bringing the undesirable aspects of these crimes to neighborhoods,
schools, and other areas within the City of Sarasota. When a
person is arrested for these crimes, the vehicle that is in
their custody is impounded and the following three options are
available to the registered owner
of the vehicle:
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The
registered owner requests a hearing and posts a bond.
Two types of hearings are available and both are held
before a Special Master appointed by the City Commission.
A preliminary hearing is held, at the request of the vehicle
owner, to establish if the seizing officer had probable
cause under this Section to seize and impound the vehicle.
A final hearing is held, at the request of the vehicle
owner, where the City will have the burden to prove by
a preponderance of the evidence that the vehicle was used
to facilitate the commission, or attempted commission,
of an act of prostitution, assignation, or lewdness as
defined in Section 796.07 of the Florida Statutes; contains
any controlled substance as defined in Section 893.02
of the Florida Statutes; or was used to facilitate the
commission of any violation of Chapter 893 of the Florida
Statutes. The preliminary hearing will be conducted within
two business days, or as soon as practicable, of proper
notice (five days) to the City. A final hearing will be
conducted within thirty calendar days, or as soon as practicable,
of proper notice (fifteen days) to the City. The vehicle
owner posts a bond equal in amount to the civil penalty,
hearing costs, and towing and storage fees. The vehicle
owner receives the release papers and does not have to
pay the towing company upon claiming the vehicle.
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The
registered owner leaves the vehicle in impound and requests
either a preliminary hearing or a final hearing using
the same guidelines as stated above. If the vehicle owner
selects this option, the vehicle remains in storage until
the case is decided. The towing company does charge daily
storage fees. If the City prevails at the final hearing,
the owner is responsible for paying the civil penalty,
hearing costs, and towing and storage fees before the
vehicle is released.
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The
registered owner waives the right to either a preliminary
hearing or a final hearing and pays the administrative
civil penalty. In this case, the vehicle owner pays the
penalty and receives the vehicle release papers and is
responsible for payment of towing and storage fees directly
to the towing company upon claiming the vehicle.
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The administrative civil penalty is $500.00.
The hearing cost is $50.00, the towing cost is $125.00, and
the storage cost is $25.00 a day. Also, the towing company
will
levy a one time administrative fee of $75.00 on the 6th day
of vehicle storage. This fee covers the retrieval of lien information
and notification cost pursuant to 715.05 of the Florida Statutes.
Helpful
Information:
A
vehicle owner who initially requested a hearing may decide
at any time during the process to waive the hearing and pay
the civil penalty.
If
the City fails to meet its burden of proof (probable cause
at the preliminary hearing/preponderance of the evidence at
the final hearing) all money posted by the vehicle owner will
be returned, or a vehicle held in storage, will be released
at no cost to the vehicle owner.
Failure
to pay the administrative civil penalty will result in a lien
against real or personal property owned by the vehicle owner.
In
the event that the vehicle owner does not pay the administrative
civil penalty, or request a final hearing, the City will dispose
of the vehicle after thirty-five days.
A
vehicle owner must present proof of ownership and a photo
ID to schedule a hearing, post bond, or to secure the release
of the vehicle.
The
civil penalty, or bond money posted, must be paid by cash,
cashier's check, or money order payable to the City of Sarasota.
To
request a hearing following the guidelines listed above, or
if you have any questions regarding the Vehicle Seizure Program,
contact Cheri Potts at (941) 954-7031, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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Quartermaster
Office
Egardo "Miguel" Gomez
Hours: Monday through Friday, 1:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Phone:
941-954-7033; Fax:
941-364-7356
The
Quartermaster's Office is responsible for ordering, maintaining
and issuing uniforms and equipment and general supplies related
to the personnel of the Police Department and the maintenance
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Off-Duty
Employment
The Sarasota Police Department allows, under certain conditions,
its officers to work off-duty assignments. These off-duty assignments
must meet the criteria and guidelines set by the Sarasota Police Department and City rules, in addition to Florida State Statutes 493, 112,
561.
For more information regarding off-duty assignments, contact the
off-duty assignment coordinator at (941) 364-7307 or (941) 954-7016.
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