Sarasota County's murders double and crime rises

[News Flash]

Sarasota County's murders double and crime rises

Sarasota County had 21 homicides last year -- an increase of 11. Total crime was up 9.9 percent.

Chuck Lesaltato, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office spokesman, believes the increase has a lot to do with the economy, as more and more residents find themselves jobless. However, he can't explain the murder increase.

"We've probably had one of the busiest years in Sarasota County with homicides," Lesaltato said.

Charlotte County reported an overall decrease in crime.

According to the FDLE, Charlotte County had decreases in robbery, aggravated assault, larceny and burglary cases.

Click here for the full story.

We've probably had one of the busiest years in Sarasota County with homicides.

C'mon Lesaltato, don't try to minimize it: Sarasota County broke it's old murder record of 13 by doubling our murders last year!!!! We now have a new murder record in Sarasota County, in addition to the fact that "violent crimes" are skyrocketing, according to FDLE and FBI statistics!!! The new murder record was set while Chief Deputy Larry Dunklee was/is in command. Violent crime is skyrocketing while Chief Deputy Larry Dunklee is (and was) in command.

If you always do what you've always done, then you'll always get what you've always got. It's time for a change. :?

In the old days, we used to have a vice squad. It's been given several different names over the years:
1. vice squad aka vice
2. TAC aka tactical squad
3. CSU aka crime suppression unit
4. etc.

Vice targets the core of the crime problem by focusing on the "worst of the worst." That's their job and that's all they do. Vice goes out and deals with the nasties. Vice constantly harasses them and surveils them and targets & tracks them. Vice works when it's dark out in the high crime areas and constantly harasses those who WOULD commit murders and robberies. Vice keeps them down and keeps them constantly looking over their shoulders. We've finally completely abolished our vice squad. We no longer have anybody doing vice. Period. None. Not even one. And we wonder why violent crimes are rising and murders have doubled? You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out -- or do you?

It's true that every agency has to closely watch vice squads becuase of internal corruption, but that's the nature of the beast. It doesn't mean that we should COMPLETELY ABOLISH VICE, as we have done! Vice in Sarasota County is gone!!! And that's why violent crime (like robberies) and murders are breaking all our old records.

When the new sheriff comes into town in January of 2009, he needs to bring vice back to address rising violent crimes and skyrocketing murders. Let vice deal with the nasties.

Yea its the chief's fault the murder/crime rate went up. Under that theory its everyones fault that works here. I hear the crime rate at New College and the schools went up. Must be Gustafsons or Lavarello's fault. Oh and I heard crashes in the state are up, guess Knight shuld pack it in.

Stupid. Anyone with any kind of smarts knows the #1 factor in crime is the economic conditions of the time. Its been proven time and time again in countless cities all over the country.

Oh I forgot we dont require college anymore how could most of our employees know that!

Come on guys get a grip of course politicians will use that but they all know its just good for sound bites. Doesnt really mean anything.

Yea its the chief's fault the murder/crime rate went up. Under that theory its everyones fault that works here. I hear the crime rate at New College and the schools went up. Must be Gustafsons or Lavarello's fault. Oh and I heard crashes in the state are up, guess Knight shuld pack it in.

Stupid. Anyone with any kind of smarts knows the #1 factor in crime is the economic conditions of the time. Its been proven time and time again in countless cities all over the country.

Last year was the "boom" and the market was robust, so how did violent crime rise and murders double? The bust didn't come until this year. So much for your theory.

Why doesn't the media interview the ladies at records to see how the UCR's were classified last year as to this year. The above poster is correct, when you take away proactive policing units (which we are scared of) and get them off the streets so we can answer barking dog calls and stupid family fights then you will have real crime taking place, while a cop is calming some out of control pet. This place is backwards. If you want to change moral let us do police work by putting bad people behind bars!! If violent crime is up then create a "task force" to deal with it don't just say "it's up" and do nothing. We are police officers we fix problems like this. Unreal!!! This is what real Sheriffs do......

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2008/4/3/337265.html

Grady Judd for Govenor!!!! I wish he could be our Sheriff also (two counties at once)

Yea its the chief's fault the murder/crime rate went up. Under that theory its everyones fault that works here. I hear the crime rate at New College and the schools went up. Must be Gustafsons or Lavarello's fault. Oh and I heard crashes in the state are up, guess Knight shuld pack it in.

Stupid. Anyone with any kind of smarts knows the #1 factor in crime is the economic conditions of the time. Its been proven time and time again in countless cities all over the country.

Last year was the "boom" and the market was robust, so how did violent crime rise and murders double? The bust didn't come until this year. So much for your theory.

the boom ended in 2006. get your facts straight, "reporter".

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080117/economy.html

Most of our homicides last year were drug related. Dealer vs dealer or dealer getting back on bad debts kind of thing. Manatee County has put great efforts to arrest and push out of their county gang members and drug dealers and some have come to Sarasota. CIB thithere is no gang problem and refuses to put guys on the gang task force. OK, VM says we have guys on the task force but does not let them do anything but keep a list of gang members names.

Until we get serious about ourng and drug problems we will continue to see these problems. Also, you can't put all the blame on the SSO management. Crime stats are way up fro the entire state and nationwide. We are returning to one of those cycle whereaw enforcement is being cut and ignored and the criminals know it. Get ready for another ride on the bus to hell.

We are returning to one of those cycle whereaw enforcement is being cut and ignored and the criminals know it. Get ready for another ride on the bus to hell.[/quote]
First they have to remove BB from under the bus since Dunk threw him under it at tiger bay.