Police department consultant nixed

City commissioners decided against City Manager Bob Bartolotta’s proposal to hire an outside consultant to look into the practices of the Sarasota Police Department.

In the wake of the videotaped kicking of a handcuffed suspect in June, the city manager proposed a systematic review of the police department.

Bartolotta wanted to bring in an outside agency to conduct that review, but Vice Mayor Kelly Kirschner proposed asking three to four local experts to review the department. Mayor Dick Clapp and Commissioner Fredd Atkins voted in favor of that proposal. Commissioners Suzanne Atwell and Terry Turner voted against it.

“I think we should hold the city manager accountable for results, not micromanage him,” said Turner. “We need to let him do his job.”

Commissioners also chose an 11-member citizens panel, which will assess the police department’s relationship with the community.

In other commission actions, commissioners voted 3-2 to go forward with the construction of the Palm Avenue parking garage. Kirschner had questioned the need for it at this time.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].