SARASOTA – The chief of police for the City of Sarasota announces her resignation from the force – this comes after the police chief received backlash over an alleged joke, she made a few months ago.
Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino submitted her resignation as chief of police effective 5 p.m. on Friday.
Chief DiPino’s resignation comes fresh of the heels of a controversial incident where she was heard joking about using a Taser on a mentally ill homeless man who heckled her officers during a special performance by the Sarasota Opera on Nov 18th.
An officer who overheard the joke filed a complaint to the city saying after the performance, as the crowd was walking back into the building, DiPino allegedly turned to a group of officers and said: “Anybody have a Taser they can give me so I can get rid of him?”
DiPino admitted she made the comments and apologized.
In a statement DiPino released through SPD she says in part “we have worked together to accomplish incredible things as an agency both internally and for our community. I am leaving feeling a sense of accomplishment and pride at what we have been able to accomplish over the last eight years.”
In an interview with SNN back in Dec of 2020 DiPino assures her officers were taking the proper training to rebuild the trust between SPD and members of the Newtown Community.
“I assure you our officers are receiving all the necessary training, to know about treating people with dignity, with respect and kindness and appropriately using force,” said DiPino. “De-escalation and learning about biased based policing and making sure they are not practicing that.”
City Manager Marlon Brown has accepted the resignation and executed a separation agreement on behalf of the City.
Brown says the process of appointing an interim chief of police will begin immediately.
The city is expected to conduct a national search for DiPino’s replacement.
