Capt. Rex Troche named new deputy chief of Sarasota Police Department

He becomes first Hispanic officer to achieve that rank

Capt. Rex Troche. Photo courtesy Sarasota Police Department

On Feb. 16, Sarasota Police Chief James Rieser announced the promotion of Capt. Rex Troche to deputy chief.

Troche is the first Hispanic officer to achieve that rank, a news release points out.

With nearly 20 years of service to the City of Sarasota, Troche succeeds former Chief Deputy Pat Robinson, who accepted an offer earlier this year to serve as deputy city manager of the City of Sarasota, the release notes.

After former Police Chief Bernadette DiPino announced her resignation from the department as of Jan. 29, City Manager Marlon Brown named Rieser her successor.

When then-City Manager Tom Barwin chose to retire from his position in December 2020, the City Commission named Brown — who had been deputy city manager since 2009 — as interim city manager. After the commission in mid-January approved a new employment contract with Brown, Brown lost the “interim” in his title, and he removed it from Robinson’s title, as well.

That left the No. 2 position open at the Police Department.

“I’m excited to work alongside Deputy Chief Troche and promote him to our leadership team,” Rieser said in the city news release this week. “He has a passion and commitment to our city, residents and visitors and our community policing philosophy,” Rieser added in the release. “Deputy Chief Troche has been and will continue to be a leader for our community and agency as we keep moving forward to continue to make the city of Sarasota a safe place to live, work and play.”

Troche grew up in Chicago, where his father, Confesor Troche, served as an officer with the Chicago Police Department for 24 years, the release points out. When Confesor Troche retired, the family moved to St. Petersburg, the release adds.

Deputy Chief Troche attended Lakewood High School and St. Petersburg Junior College in St. Petersburg and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Florida in 1994, the release says.

In 1997, he began his career in law enforcement with the Largo Police Department. During his time with that organization, the release continues, he was a field training officer, SWAT member, Traffic Homicide Division investigator, Narcotics Divisoin detective, driving instructor, and defensive tactics instructor.

After five years with the Largo Police Department, “Troche and his wife wanted to move to Sarasota to raise their family,” the release notes.

Troche began his career with the Sarasota Police Department in 2002. He has served in all four agency divisions (Patrol, Professional Standards, Criminal Investigations, and Support Services) as either an officer or supervisor, the release points out. He was promoted to sergeant in 2013 and then to lieutenant in 2017.

In 2018, Troche earned a master’s degree in emergency management from Saint Leo University, the release says. Then, in June 2020, he was promoted to captain, the first Hispanic officer to achieve that rank, the release adds.

Sarasota Police Chief James Rieser. Photo courtesy City of Sarasota

“I’m honored and humbled to continue serving our community and agency alongside Chief Rieser,” said Troche in the release. “Growing up in Chicago, having the chance to be with my father at work and seeing community policing firsthand with the elderly and in socioeconomic neighborhoods is part of the reason I chose to serve as a police officer,” he continued in the release. “I firmly believe in community policing because I was raised and grew up in community policing.”

Troche added, “I also want to thank my wife, who has been my rock throughout this journey. She always encourages me to promote and further my education. Without her never-ending support, none of this would have been possible.”

Troche is a member of the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development. He and his wife live in Sarasota County “and are the proud parents of three daughters,” the release notes.

In his free time, Troche says he enjoys spending time with family and working out.