Sarasota NAACP, Police Plan Community Conversation

Sarasota, FL — In the wake of the two shooting deaths of black men by law enforcement officers and the sniper attack on police in Dallas, Sarasota community leaders have decided “it is time for a frank discussion.”

With that in mind, the Sarasota County branch of the NAACP and the Sarasota Police Department plan to meet with other community groups and the community in general on Wednesday, July 13. The open discussion is set to take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bethel CME Church, 1719 22nd St.

Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino and members of the agency’s command staff plan to be in attendance at the meeting, police department spokeswoman Genevieve Judge said.

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The meeting follows the shooting deaths of black motorists in Baton Rouge, La., and Falcon Heights, Minn. It also comes after a sniper attack in Dallas during a Black Lives Matters protest left five police officers dead and seven wounded. Two civilians were also injured in the attack, which has been characterized as the deadliest day for law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

Following the July 7 shooting in Dallas, DiPino issued a memo to her department. Her words are as follows:

Thank you for choosing this honorable profession. You didn't pick it to get rich or famous. You picked it to make a difference and protect our community. Thank you for standing on that thin blue line. You are the guardians of our great nation. Thank you is not enough but you need to hear it. Thank you.

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