Police increase marine patrol

Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming plans for the majority of his officers to be able to patrol the Key — both by land and by sea — by the end of 2014.

In addition to regular Marine Patrol Officers Dennis Silverio and Shawn Nagell, the department has trained an additional three officers to operate police vessels through an in-house program and added a second police boat. The department will seek candidates who are licensed to operate boats when it hires new officers.

“My goal is to have most of my patrol division trained by the end of the calendar year,” Cumming said.

Cumming said the goal is a response to a general increase in activity in the water.

In 2013, Longboat police handled 3.5% more boat-related cases than they did in 2012, with 432 boating incidents in 2013, compared with 417 the prior year.

According to Cumming, the increase in marine patrol is not in response to a string of approximately a half-dozen thefts from boats that occurred six weeks ago.

The stolen property consisted mostly of dash-mount electronic devices with a combined value of between $5,000 and $7,000.

“Although all but one occurred somewhere behind Country Club Shores, there was no pattern we could see,” Cumming said. “There was no pattern that led us to believe that it was the same people involved.”

The marine unit patrols the waterways surrounding the Key and also monitors compliance with boating and fishing laws.

Structure fires
Longboat Key Fire Rescue responded to two fires at condominiums during the first half of January.

Firefighters were dispatched to the first incident, at Sea Gate Club, at 11:26 p.m. Jan. 4. The Sarasota County Fire Department and West Manatee Fire Rescue also responded to the scene.

Firefighters determined the fire was contained to an air-conditioning/heating system within a unit on the 12th floor and forcibly entered six units to determine there was no extension of smoke and fire.

Residents waited in the building’s community room until personnel declared the building safe for re-entry.
The second incident occurred early Saturday morning at Marina Bay, where firefighters contained a blaze to the north elevator electric room. The building was not damaged in the fire.

Sarasota County, West Manatee and Cedar Hammock fire departments also responded to the call.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected]