Ranch leaders discuss enhanced police patrols

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Although there’s been only one reported home burglary within the borders of the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club this month, some of its residents have not lost sight of what they consider a security problem.

A survey of the roughly 20 neighborhoods within Lakewood Ranch Community Development Districts 2, 5 and 6, will determine how strong the concern is, and if residents deem it worthy to pay for patrolling the communities 24/7.

A memo from Dick Moran, who represents CDD 2 on the Country Club/Edgewater Village Association’s Safety Committee, and signed by Steven Peters, the president of CEVA, asks chairmen of the neighborhoods in CDDs 2, 5, 6 and the Edgewater neighborhood to determine if their constituents would favor increased security patrols from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

“I know I would feel better if there was someone in a uniform and a car driving through here more than they do now,” Moran said. “It’s important knowing someone is five minutes away.”

The memo, sent to the neighborhood chairmen, specifically inquires about 24/7 or 12-hour patrols, although the CDDs could request less security than that, depending on neighborhood responses.

The residents of CDDs 2, 5, 6 and Edgewater would pay for increased security; the amount would appear on a household’s normal tax bill.

Moran determined that 24/7 patrols would cost $324,120 annually, equating to $129.08 per home, or about 35 cents per household, per day.

If the districts contracted for 12-hour patrols every day, the cost would be cut in half, to $162,060 annually, which amounts to $64.54 per home.

Currently, the CDDs pay for patrols specific to speeding. Those patrols occur five to six days a month.

Neighborhood chairmen should present the consensus of their neighborhoods — in the form of a written statement — before the February Country Club/Edgewater Village Association meeting, the memo says.

Based on that feedback, the CDD boards would then vote on any further action.

A formal public vote involving homeowners will not occur, Moran said.

CDD board members and community leaders have been discussing ways to enhance security — and to strengthen protective measures already in place — ever since a string of home burglaries hit the community this fall.

From Oct. 16 to Nov. 16, there were six home burglaries in the sheriff’s office N80 sector, encompassing Interstate 75 to Lorraine Road and State Road 70 to University Parkway.

Dave Bristow, public information officer for the sheriff’s office, says his team has made arrests related to the cases and has a “pretty good idea those people are responsible.”

Since Jan. 1, Bristow said, there has been one residential burglary in the N80 sector, an area governed by Capt. Lorenzo Waiters.

Bristow says the sheriff’s office provides the same level of patrols to Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club as it does to other communities. He believes the level of service is enough.

“We don’t do 24/7 patrols anywhere,” Bristow said. “And Lakewood Ranch is not exactly a hot bed of crime. Usually, when we do provide extensive patrols, it’s to a store that’s been burglarized or maybe an apartment complex at night. Everyone always wants more coverage. Lakewood Ranch has good coverage.”

Bristow says that on a typical day, Waiters will captain a squad with one sergeant, a lieutenant and about nine deputies.

The squad will venture to different areas of a zone during the day and night.

One squad per shift mans a specific area.

Whereas the squad features on-duty officers who can be called to a scene, patrols are off-duty, meaning the deputies still wear their uniforms and drive a sheriff’s car, but they cannot be called to an incident outside the patrol area.

Within the area they are patrolling, officers can detain someone acting suspiciously, ticket speeders and make arrests.

A previous attempt to institute 24/7 patrols in Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club failed years ago, Moran said. Homeowners voted the idea down.

“Perhaps these options are more than we need,” Moran said. “But one burglary is too many. Where do we draw the line?”

Contact Josh Siegel at [email protected].