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Independent review calls North Port police 'professional,' recommends four more patrol officers
Summary
An independent operational assessment presented to the North Port City Commission found the North Port Police Department to be a "professional organization" and offered 68 recommendations, including adding four full-time patrol officers mid-shift to address workload and response-time concerns; commissioners pressed for costs and implementation timelines.
City Manager Fletcher and outside consultants presented an independent operational assessment of the North Port Police Department to the City Commission on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, concluding the agency "is a professional organization" and offering 68 recommendations intended to align operations with modern policing standards.
The review, conducted by the Center for Public Safety Management (CPSM), relied on a year of computer-aided dispatch data, interviews and on-site observation. Jerry Bergwan, a retired police chief and CPSM presenter, told the commission the analysis showed North Port’s indexed crime rates compare favorably with state and national averages, but identified staffing and workload imbalances that can affect service and emergency response.
"Importantly, the overall conclusion of the consultants is, we have a professional organization," City Manager Fletcher said during the presentation. Bergwan said the report includes recommendations ranging from policy review and succession planning to dispatch-priority…
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