Chief Troche calls it a ‘game-changing investment in public safety for Sarasota’
On Friday, Jan. 31, members of the Sarasota Police Department (SPD) officially welcomed the arrival of their new Mobile Command Center, which is “a state-of-the-art resource designed to enhance public safety across the community,” the agency noted in a news release.
The Mobile Command Center arrived at SPD Headquarters at 10:30 a.m. that day, “escorted by the Sarasota Police Motor Unit,” the release said. Sarasota city commissioners “were the first to step off the new command center as it arrived, walking the red carpet to highlight the significance of this advanced resource,” the release pointed out.
“This is a game-changing investment in public safety for Sarasota,” said Chief Rex Troche in the release. “This Mobile Command Center gives us the tools we need to respond more effectively to large-scale events and critical incidents, collaborate with other agencies, and ultimately, better serve our community,” he added.
“Equipped with cutting-edge technology,” the Mobile Command Center “enables real-time monitoring of body-worn camera and drone footage, providing critical situational awareness during emergencies,” the release explained. “A dedicated space for the Crisis Negotiation Unit ensures essential functionality in high-stakes scenarios, while satellite technology guarantees uninterrupted communication during disasters — such as hurricanes — when traditional connectivity may be lost,” the release added.
“A unique aspect of the Mobile Command Center is its custom exterior wrap, designed by talented students from Ringling College of Art and Design,” the release said. “Their names are proudly displayed on the back of the vehicle, celebrating the creative collaboration behind this project.”
The unit, which cost slightly less than $925,000, “was funded through $800,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds awarded by the Sarasota City Commission on July 5, 2022,” the release pointed out. “The remaining amount was covered by the Sarasota Police Department’s Law Enforcement Trust Fund,” the release said.
The vehicle “replaces a converted 24-foot maintenance trailer purchased in 2014, which served as a temporary solution but lacked the capacity and technology to meet the city’s growing needs,” the release added.