Sarasota Police Department showcases new body cameras Sarasota P.D. body cam showcase. (Source: WWSB) By Rick Adams | May 5, 2021 at 8:18 PM EDT - Updated May 5 at 8:20 PM
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The Sarasota Police Department showcasing their new body-worn cameras on Wednesday. The police chief says officers have been training with Axon 3 body cameras out in the field since April 21. The department has 122 of these cameras now available and another 32 Axon Flex 2 bodycams for SWAT and Emergency Response Team Members.
“As far as the officers are concerned and protection for the officers, it absolutely is necessary and it’s also protection for our community and our agency,” said Chief Jim Rieser with the Sarasota Police Department. “I see this as a home run for the city of Sarasota and also for the police officer and the Sarasota Police Department.”
SARASOTA – Criminal justice advocates rejoiced two years ago when Sarasota city leaders unanimously voted to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Like cities in northeast Florida, Sarasota changed local law so that those caught with 20 grams of cannabis or less could be issued a civil citation, something along the lines of a parking ticket or a code violation, rather than arrested.
But the new rule was left up to the discretion of Sarasota Police Department officers – law enforcement officials who did not implement the directive from City Hall. Instead, they continued as usual, and arrested or issued a notice to appear in court to seven people.