Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight Issues 2017-2021 Strategic Plan

                                                                                                                                                             MARCH 3, 2017

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office today released its 2017-2021 Strategic Plan, a roadmap for success that will aid the agency over the next four years.

Since taking office in 2008, Sheriff Knight has focused on ensuring the use of effective management and law enforcement practices throughout the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. During his first term, Sheriff Knight launched the agency's first comprehensive strategic plan in order to develop strategies that would enhance the quality of life in Sarasota County, reduce crime, and guide members toward effective and progressive practices.

The 2017-2021 plan's development began in August 2016 with a citizen advisory group participating in facilitated discussions to answer questions about their expectations of the sheriff's office and pressing community issues. The group included several key stakeholders from various organizations as well as teens from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County. Simultaneously, an internal advisory group comprised of 22 members from throughout the agency, convened to develop the strategic plan. The agency's command staff served as a governance body to review, refine and approve the recommendations of the internal and citizen advisory groups.

During the planning process, the sheriff's office reviewed the Final Report of The President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing in comparison to the 2013-2017 strategic plan, with assistance from Dr. Jim Sewell, retired Assistant Commissioner for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The new plan illustrates similarities between agency objectives and defined goals of the task force report which aim to enhance policing methods that meet the expectations of community members.

"This document is something we hope the public and our members will be very proud of," said Sheriff Knight. "Essentially a roadmap for success, this document will help us focus on the importance of keeping our employees healthy, our community safe, and further, making Sarasota County a premier place to live, work and visit. I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone who helped put this document together and encourage all citizens to review our objectives that will chart our course and hold us accountable for the next four years."

To view or download a copy of the 2017-2021 Strategic Plan, visit www.SarasotaSheriff.org and under the "News" tab on the right side of the home page click "Notices and Publications."