Interim Police Chief Named As City Looks To Fill Role Permanently

SARASOTA, FL — Deputy Chief Rex Troche was appointed Sarasota’s interim police chief by City Manager Marlon Brown after former Chief James Rieser retired abruptly Wednesday due to unexpected health issues.

Rieser has held the position for the past seven months. He replaced former Chief Bernadette DiPino, who suddenly resigned after a complaint was filed following a joke she made about Tasering a mentally ill homeless man who heckled officers during a Nov. 18 Sarasota Opera performance outside Sarasota police headquarters.

Troche took on the role of interim chief effective Wednesday at 5 p.m., the city said in a news release.

“We appreciate Chief Rieser’s dedicated service to Sarasota for the past 29 years and his leadership as police chief over the past seven months,” Brown said. “Now, we look forward to a seamless transition with Deputy Chief Troche stepping into the interim role. With his extensive background in law enforcement and his exemplary service to the department in a variety of positions over the past two decades, he is a natural choice to immediately step into this role while continuing to serve the community.”

Troche began his career with the Sarasota Police Department in 2002. He’s served in all four agency divisions – patrol, professional standards, criminal investigations and support services – as either an office or supervisor.

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“It’s been an honor and privilege to serve under Chief Rieser’s direction. He‘s been extremely impactful not just for our agency but for our community,” Troche said. “I would like to ensure our community that the Sarasota Police Department will continue to move forward with initiatives that are in place and keep the city of Sarasota a safe place to live, work and play.”

Troche was promoted to sergeant in 2013 and to lieutenant in 2017. In 2018, he earned a master's degree in emergency management from Saint Leo University and was promoted to captain in June 2020.

Troche is a member of the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police and FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development. He recently graduated from the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), a leadership program hosted by the Police Executive Research Forum.

Brown, working closely with Deputy City Manager Pat Robinson, a former deputy police chief with SPD, and Human Resources Director Stacie Mason, will begin the process of hiring a new permanent police chief soon, the city said.