The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office invites community members to take part in a virtual ride-along beginning at 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 15.

Known globally as a “Tweet from the Beat”, the initiative sparked as law enforcement agencies began engaging social media followers through virtual ride-alongs as a tool for community outreach. The sheriff’s office launched their inaugural “Tweet from the Beat” in September 2016. The purpose of the program is to give community members a look at policing in real-time while exposing how challenging and dynamic a shift can be. A member of the agency’s Community Affairs Office accompanies a deputy for up to 12 hours to take photos and videos to share on the agency’s social media accounts in real time. “Tweet from the Beat: K-9 Edition” will focus on the agency’s Special Operations and Patrol Bureaus. Deputies will discuss the specialized training that goes into being a K-9 handler, how they track criminals, and locate missing persons. Deputies will also discuss patrol operations and what it takes to become a sworn law enforcement deputy.

 

“This is one of our favorite initiatives,” commented Community Affairs Director Kaitlyn Perez. “This is also our first ride-along with a K-9 Unit and we know how much this community loves and supports our dogs and their handlers. Friday should be a busy night because it is also spring break which means residents and visitors are out and about and our roadways are busier than usual. We can’t wait to get out there and share this experience with our community.”