Sarasota Police Department
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Town Marshal & Chief L.D. Hodges
1908 – 1921
On October 14, 1902, a group of 53 residents formed the Town of Sarasota. Between 1902 and 1908, the City of Sarasota had two Town Marshals, T.F. Blair and D.S. McCrae. In the beginning, the Town Marshal received $1 per arrest and 2.5% of all license money collected. In addition, he received $3 for taking care of the streetlights, however, there were none at the time.
During this period, cattle roamed the dirt streets and fights were the major police issues.
In 1908, Mr. L.D. Hodges served as Town Marshal and was later named as the first Chief of Police after Sarasota split from Manatee County. Chief Hodges resigned in 1921 and became the first elected Sheriff of Sarasota County.
Chief S. Tilden Davis
1921 – 1937
In 1921, Mr. S. Tilden Davis was appointed as the Chief of Police. Chief Davis was previously a fireman and came to Sarasota on the first train that arrived on March 22, 1903.
In the 1920’s, there was no application process for hiring officers and they received $100 per month plus $25 per month for hazardous pay for riding a motorcycle. Officers worked 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, except for their annual two-week vacation.
Chief Davis retired in 1937.
Chief Edgar Garner
1937 – 1949
In 1937, Mr. Edgar A. Garner was appointed as Chief of Police during an era in which the Sarasota Police Department would earn a reputation as a progressive and professional agency. Under Chief Garner, the Sarasota Police Department began using written reports and a records system. In addition, the department purchased the first police radios and had them installed in all patrol cars, which was a great technological advancement in its time and enhanced officer safety.
In 1947 the Sarasota Police Department sponsored the first extension of the Florida Police Academy, a cutting-edge training that helped to reinforce the Sarasota Police Department's professional reputation.
Chief Robert N. Wilson
1949 – 1959
In 1949, Mr. Robert N. Wilson was appointed as Chief of Police. Chief Wilson was responsible for the construction of the new Sarasota Police Department headquarters located at 2050 Ringling Boulevard. For more than 20 years prior, the Sarasota Police Department operated in the old Florida Power and Light Building located in the southeast comer of State Street and Lemon Ave. The new air-conditioned headquarters would be a vast improvement.
Unfortunately, Chief Wilson died suddenly of a heart attack on Sunday, August 10, 1959 while working long hours investigating a homicide.
Chief Francis Scott
1959 – 1982
From 1959 to 1982 Francis L. Scott served as Chief of Police. Chief Scott is credited with modernizing the agency by adopting computer technology.
Under Chief Scott’s command, the agency saw many firsts, both good and bad. He was an early visionary among other Chiefs to recognize the need for diversity. He recruited two African American men to be part-time police officers.
In 1961, Lieutenant Wingate was the first Sarasota police officer to attend the prestigious Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, Session #68, in Quantico, Virginia. Since then, ten other SPD officers have joined this elite class.
On April 5, 1975, Officer Warren Jones would be the first Sarasota Police Department officer killed in the line of duty.
Officer Jones was murdered by a suspect during an attempted arrest for gas siphoning. During a struggle, the suspect took Officer Jones service weapon and shot him in the chest. The Sarasota Police Department did not have ballistic vests at that time.
Officer Jones was just 25 years old and had been on the force for 2 years. In 2015, the Sarasota Police Department dedicated street signs on Adams Lane in honor and in memory of Officer Jones.
Chief Earl Parker
1983 – 1988
After serving in the military during World War II, Chief Parker served the Sarasota Police Department for 43 years. He began his career in 1945 as a beat officer on foot patrol and worked his way through the ranks to be appointed as Chief of Police in 1983.
In 1951, Officer Parker responded to double homicide involving the suspect’s wife and stepdaughter. The suspect shot Parker in the chest, however, the bullet passed under his ribs and exited his back. He returned to work after a five week recovery.
Chief John Lewis
1988 – 1992 and 1996 – 2000
1996 to 2000, John Lewis would serve as Chief of Police. Chief Lewis instituted more progressive changes at the Sarasota Police Department, including in-car computers.
During 1992 – 1996, John Lewis oversaw the city’s emergency services.
Chief Gordon R. Jolly
1992 – 1996 and 2000 – 2002
From 1992 to 1996 and 2000 to 2002, Gordon R. Jolly served as Chief of Police. Chief Jolly spent his entire career with the Sarasota Police Department and helped establish many changes in specialty units, such as Downtown foot patrols.
During his tenure, the number of crimes in the city decreased and he was praised for building relationships within the community.
Chief Jolly retired from the department in 1996 but came out of retirement and was re-hired as Chief until 2002.
Chief Peter J. Abbott
2002-2010
In 2002, the City of Sarasota went outside its ranks and hired Peter J. Abbott as Chief of Police. Chief Abbott retired from NYPD prior to joining the Sarasota Police Department.
During his tenure, the Sarasota Police Department became an accredited agency in 2002 and Chief Abbott instituted a formal COMPSTAT process, which many agencies would follow as a best practice to monitor and respond to crime trends. In 2005, the Sarasota Police Department initiated paperless report writing in an effort to streamline operations.
In October 2008, construction began for the current Police Department located on 2099 Adams Lane. Following Chief Abbott’s retirement, SPD opened its doors to the public in September of 2010.
Chief Mikel Hollaway
2010 – 2012
Hired in 1980, Officer Mikel Hollaway rose through the ranks to Captain and was appointed as Chief of Police in 2010. Chief Hollaway was the first African American Chief of Police for the City of Sarasota. As Chief, Hollaway strongly encouraged community policing and adopted the
philosophy agency wide.
Chief Bernadette DiPino
2012 – 2021
In 2012, the City of Sarasota again looked outside its ranks and hired Bernadette A. DiPino, a former Chief of the Ocean City Police Department in Maryland. Chief DiPino served as the first female Chief of Police in the history of the City of Sarasota.
Chief DiPino brought a new and modern policing philosophy to the Sarasota Police Department through community policing and intelligence led philosophies.
In partnership with the City of Sarasota, Chief DiPino helped to implement a Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) to assist the homeless population with housing, medical and other social services needed. Chief DiPino also partnered with Selah Freedom, an organization committed to helping combat prostitution and human trafficking by offering these women the social services needed to change their lifestyles. This partnership led to the creation of the Turn Your Life Around (TYLA) program, a first of its kind in law enforcement.
Chief James Rieser
2021
Hired in 1992, Officer James Rieser rose through the ranks to Captain and was appointed as Chief of Police in January 2021. During Chief Rieser’s tenure, he made a significant impact by focusing on community policing principles. Prior to becoming Chief of Police, he was responsible for the research and policy development for the future Body Worn Camera (BWC) program. In July of 2021, the BWC program was successfully rolled out and implemented agency wide under his command. The addition of the BWC program has strengthened community trust and transparency.
Chief Rieser retired in August 2021. While his term as Chief of Police was brief, he was a 29-year veteran of the department when he retired and was a supervisor in all four divisions of the Sarasota Police Department.
Chief Rex Troche
2022 – Present
Rex Troche was appointed as Chief of Police in April 2022.
After Chief Troche was hired in 2002 as an Officer, he rose through the ranks, serving at every supervisory level within the Sarasota Police Department. In addition, Chief Troche is the first Hispanic Chief in the history of the Sarasota Police Department.
Chief Troche is a family-oriented Chief and works to ensure the wellness of all SPD staff, sworn and civilian. He is forward thinking when it comes to technological advances in equipment and programs that will enhance our agency’s mission to serve the citizens of Sarasota.
Sarasota Police Department Headquarters
1911
Until the 1920’s, the Sarasota Police Department worked out of the Municipal Building on the Bayfront at the foot of Main Street.
1920’s
When the on-duty officer was not in the office, a streetlight outside would flash if the phone rang.
1930’s to late 1950’s
1959-1973
1973 – 2010
2010- Present Day
The old headquarters building remained in place until all items were moved into the new building (both shown below). The old building was eventually demolished.
In front of our headquarters, you will find a large piece of metal from the World Trade Center in New York City. You will also find a Fallen Officer Memorial dedicated to our fallen, Officer Warren Jones.