Since late 2012, overall crime has dropped nearly 25%
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Overall crime for 2016 was down 6.9% in the city of Sarasota, Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino recently reported to city staff.
“The Sarasota Police Department [SPD] has been diligently working with the community to build strong trust based relationships,” City Manager Tom Barwin wrote in his Feb. 17 newsletter. “This partnership policing philosophy is a proven method to help reduce crime in neighborhoods as residents and SPD officers strengthen their communications and trust,” he added.
During the past year, violent crime dropped 16.2% and property crimes declined 5.5%, Barwin pointed out.
Since DiPino came on board with the department in late December 2012, overall crime in the city has dropped nearly 25%, Barwin added.