International Association of Chiefs of Police conducting staffing study of Sarasota Police Department

Public urged to attend community forum set for Sept. 13 at Payne Park Auditorium

The Sarasota Police Department is on Adams Lane. File photo

This month, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is conducting a staffing study of the Sarasota Police Department, with the cooperation of the City of Sarasota and the department, the department has announced.

“The staffing study will be a comprehensive operational assessment of the Sarasota Police Department,” a news release points out.

As part of the IACP study, a community forum will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 13, the release notes. It will be conducted from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Payne Park Auditorium, which is located at 2050 Adams Lane in downtown Sarasota, the release adds. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the session, the release says, as the IACP is seeking their comments.

“We value the input of our community,” said Police Department Chief Bernadette DiPino in the release. “As part of our partnership policing philosophy, this is an important step in determining the needs of our community and the resources needed to meet those needs,” she added in the release.