Sheriff Tom Knight insults SPD: Knight suffers from anxiety

(left) Chief Bernadette Dipino and (right) Sheriff Tom Knight

Sheriff Tom Knight offered an assessment of the city's police force and its administration.

It was blistering.

Sheriff Knight told the County Commission that the Sarasota Police are not keeping the city safe, forcing him to deploy deputies to battle violent crime in the city.

“If I've got to put resources in the city, I'll just go ahead and take it and be done with it,” Knight said. “I'll take the area. We'll get rid of the crime problems.”

“I've never said this publicly: I can assure you that I rescued the city of Sarasota,” Knight told commissioners.

Knight said that the sheriff's office deserves all the credit for the city's reduction in crime, along with the other municipalities reductions in crime.

“Crime reductions in these cities are not because of the police, but it's because of the sheriff's office,” Knight told commissioners.

Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino said Knight's comments do not “accurately depict what is going on in Sarasota.” Her officers, she said, are responsible for the drop in city crime -- not Knight.

“I'm not sure how Knight's statements can be justified or proven. I believe Sarasota officers worked hard for the 10 percent reduction in crime,” DiPino said. “I respect the sheriff and want to work with him, but his comments do not accurately depict what's going on, nor do his comments accurately reflect municipal crime-fighting.”

“I'm really not sure the purpose Knight's comments,” she said. “I want to take the high road with the sheriff. I was surprised by his comments.”

At the county commission's workshop, Knight addressed his earlier comments, saying his “anxiety is high.”

“I go home every night worrying,” Knight said.

His spokeswoman, Wendy Rose, said the sheriff stands by his comments, which she said speak for themselves.

City manager Barwin said, “Knight is under stress.”

The PBA...

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20 ... ce-efforts

viewtopic.php?f=84&t=150426&p=1050579#p1050579

Interesting H-T reader comments:

IF you go home at night and worry about that Phone ringing.....Its time to call it quits.....Hang up the badge.....go do something else....look else were......have a new beginning.....start fresh....what ever you want to call it....when it gets to the point you worry that much....no matter the career....its time to move on. You are not being healthy to YOU.....and it effects your words....(Hence your back track to high level of Anxiety)......it effects your work....See the signs....walk away.....live life...

Several dimensions of this story need further watching -- begin with that famous saying, "Follow the money."

Knight is a politician, beginning budget talks with the Commission, his political allies.

Sarasota, on the other hand, has recently elected "the other guys." Add in possible Empire building and also some arrogance, see his recent unilateral withdrawal of school officers in Venice and tangle with the Mayor there.

Union negotiation in the City may be another thread.

Use of fear tactics and no prior discussion with Sarasota Chief makes this smell funny.

This article should be titled 'Sarasota Sheriff Bullies Police Chief'.

A bully attempting to gain turf by bulling and degrading. This outdated and ineffective attempt at control should not be tolerated and remembered at the polls.

it's all about EGO!

The sheriff did not have any tangible data to back up his statements. He was specifically asked and he could not provide ANY tracking of data to back up his statements. The commission should have either told him to come back with data or assisted him in tracking data and then work with, instead of against, the city law enforcement.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20 ... c=pg&tc=ar
(scroll to the very bottom to read viewer comments)

Cool. A Sheriff with BALLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Knight just earned my respect.

SPD has been slacking off ever since Childers was fired for abusing that handcuffed prisoner.

I may go apply @ SSO.

Knight sounds like the kind of Sheriff we need up here. Grady Judd would be proud.

I may go apply @ SSO.

Knight sounds like the kind of Sheriff we need up here. Grady Judd would be proud.

Pick up some extra applications for D1 guys.

Apply if you want --but lets not get in the middle of this--- its between them. Don't drag the rest of us into it who don't want to leave.

That Sheriff seems very arrogant, and went too far, we don't have the same problems in Bradenton!

Tom Knight is a great Sheriff. We need more leaders like him.

SPD needs to get out of their cars and clean up Newtown instead of letting the criminals rule the area.

I talked to a BPD officer who was doing a detail at the Golden Corral (or the Golden Trough?) and he said he was thinking about coming to my agency (the Sarasota Sheriff's Office). I told him to stay where he is at because you guys have an excellent retirement package, so don't throw away the years that you've already done.

If all you want is Sheriff Tom Knight, then maybe we can simply send him packing to Bradenton? :snicker:

One of Knight's politically appointed staff members (a captain) was accused of pedafilia -- but Mr. Knight refused to send him to IA to be interviewed under oath.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20 ... /120609978

At least Chief Radzilowski isn't afraid to send someone into IA.

I talked to a BPD officer who was doing a detail at the Golden Corral (or the Golden Trough?) and he said he was thinking about coming to my agency (the Sarasota Sheriff's Office). I told him to stay where he is at because you guys have an excellent retirement package, so don't throw away the years that you've already done.

If all you want is Sheriff Tom Knight, then maybe we can simply send him packing to Bradenton? :snicker:

One of Knight's politically appointed staff members (a captain) was accused of pedafilia -- but Mr. Knight refused to send him to IA to be interviewed under oath.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20 ... /120609978

At least Chief Radzilowski isn't afraid to send someone into IA.

Chief Radzilowski sends everyone to IA except his pets. If your well liked, you'll never see IA.