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Sarasota Police present 2024 year-end review; highlight crime drops, new outreach programs
Summary
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche told the City Commission on March 17 that the department’s work helped produce a 21.8% drop in index crimes in 2024, and presented new community programs, training metrics and technology investments during a year-end review.
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche opened the department’s 2024 year-end report to the City Commission on March 17, noting “we dropped crime 21.8% this year,” and saying the two-year decline totals about 38 percent. Chief Rex Troche and division commanders presented departmental performance data, training and new programs and accepted formal recognitions for officers and civilians.
The presentation summarized declines in force incidents, a sustained reduction in total index offenses and several unit-level results: the Criminal Investigations Division reported clearing seven homicides in 2024; the strategic investigations unit recorded more than 100 arrests and seized significant currency, narcotics and firearms; and the community action team reported hundreds of arrests and dozens of firearms seized during targeted operations. Leadership said specialized training (including Brazilian jiu-jitsu supplemental training, crisis intervention and de-escalation models) contributed to a 36% reduction in use-of-force incidents from 2023 to 2024.
Commanders described expansion of community-facing programs. Captain Rob Armstrong said the department launched a police explorers program and a remote-control car STEAM summer camp; Sergeant Pat Komack’s CREW unit was credited with summer camps, Barbers & Badges, youth outreach and other projects; and the homeless outreach team reported thousands of contacts focused on housing and treatment rather than criminal enforcement. Captain Dimitri Constantopoulos outlined storm response and investments in technology, including a school-zone speed detection program, a mobile command center and a real-time operations center (ROCK) used to review camera footage and assist investigations.
Commissioners asked for additional detail on several points. Vice Mayor Trice asked how long real-time camera data is retained; Deputy Chief Scott Mayforth said the department retains video for up to a year and that the ROCK allowed investigators to track vehicles across jurisdictions. Commissioner Ahern Koch pressed for clarification of measurements in drug seizures and the meaning of “clearance” for homicides; Captain Jonathan Todd explained clearance means arrest of a suspect and said the average homicide clearance time reported by the department was roughly two days in 2024. Commissioners also asked whether board changes at the state level had affected community oversight; Chief Troche said the department continues to pursue best practices and the city manager’s office said staff are working with legal counsel to structure citizen advisory panels within the constraints of recent state law.
The presentation included recognition of the Sarasota Police Department’s 2024 award recipients and highlighted the department’s disaster response in a busy 2024 storm season. No formal commission action was required on the report; commissioners thanked department leaders and asked staff for follow-up information, including more detailed breakdowns of seized evidence measures and status updates on advisory-board revisions and Sheriffs/county coordination for storm response.
