Sarasota approves police funding

The Sarasota County Commission has agreed to fund $55,000 in West Coast Inland Navigation grant requests that the Longboat Key Police Department was seeking to fund its marine patrol operations for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

Longboat Key Police Chief Al Hogle, along with Mayor Jim Brown and Commissioner Jack Duncan, attended a June 29 Sarasota County Commission meeting, during which the decision was announced.

Hogle said the town has asked the Manatee County Commission to consider funding an additional $55,000 in grants during their summer budget deliberations.

If both counties officially approve the requests, the town’s marine patrol operations, which cost $110,000 annually to operate, will be fully funded.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].