Do you feel safe in Charlotte County?
Feeling safe in your community is one of the top reasons people choose to live where they do. It is common to envision children being able to play in their front yards, riding a bicycle to the store and knowing your purse is safe in your car if you forget to lock the door when you run into the grocery store.
According to USA Facts, the population in Charlotte County has increased 7.8% from 2020-2022. In comparison, the FL Health Charts show the number of violent crimes from 2020-2022 as having a decrease.
The Sheriff’s Office believes in community involvement. From the ‘Citizen Police Academy’ and ‘senior outreach program’ to ‘Shop with a Cop’ and ‘Cops and Goblins Halloween’, the members of the Sheriff’s Office stay involved to be available for questions, provide information and build relationships in our community.
Mental Health has been a top priority for law enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office has a Mental Health Unit which also provides services and outreach. Working closely with the
Charlotte Behavioral Health Care, the Sheriff’s Office strives on helping to provide resources. Since 2021 the Integrated Response for Intervention and Support (IRIS) has deployed their skills to safely handle mental health and substance abuse-related calls for service, to include suicide attempts, overdoses, and follow-ups.
Common misconceptions in regards to the Sheriff's Office
“Cops have a ticket quota”
There is no quota for writing tickets. Florida State Statute 318.18 specifies how ticket fines are distributed. Three dollars must be remitted to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Trust Fund to be used as provided in s. 943.25.
The Law Enforcement Budget revenue is generated from ad valorem and MSTU taxes. The breakdown is in the Charlotte County government budget.
“The budget is too big for law enforcement”
32.69% of your tax bill goes to the Sheriff’s Office. This includes law enforcement, corrections, court services and dispatch (911). As the budget increases, so does the need for additional proactive measures to keep our community safe. From School Resource Officers, to IRIS and from community involvement and mental health issues, this is the reason 97% of the people in our community stated they felt safe in their neighborhood in the last Public Safety Scorecard.
Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has four districts (soon to be 5), plus protects our community from the air, land and water. The Sheriff’s Office also oversees the E911 department. There are numerous departments that focus on helping and protecting our community. From IT crimes to Economic Crimes and from major crimes to domestic crimes, the sheriff’s office has officers dedicated to the most important issues to keep our community safe. A full list is available the in Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Annual Report.
“There is corruption in the sheriff’s office”
Since 1991, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. This accreditation is earned and focuses on integrity, transparency and accountability.
The Sheriff’s Office has an Internal Affairs Department and in 2023 documented 137 investigations and citizen complaints. 97 were unfounded. The twenty-three charges sustained included violation of official procedures or directives (both endangering and not endangering persons or property), conduct unbecoming, violations of law, untruthfulness, and neglect of duty. The discipline imposed on investigated members included withdrawal of appointment, documented oral counseling, remedial training, and presentation to command staff. Three members resigned in lieu of withdrawal.
Sometimes there are mistakes made. Deputies are held to the highest standard, and if that standard is not met, the Sheriff’s Office has been proactive on correcting the situations.
