TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Juliana B. Bellia, Acting City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the Sarasota County Government and the City of North Port, Florida on Behalf of the North Port Police Department Regarding Carrying of Firearms and Weapons in Court Facilities
Recommended Action
Approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the City of North Port, Florida on behalf of the North Port Police Department regarding carrying of firearms and weapons in court facilities.
Background Information
On August 5,2014 Chief Judge Andrew Owens signed Administrative Order No. 2014-11.2 titled Security and Operations of Court Facilities which regulated firearms and weapons in court facilities. The Order permitted law enforcement officers to carry firearms and weapons in court facilities providing their agency executed an MOU.
In 2015 the City of North Port executed an MOU between the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the North Port Police Department to authorize the North Port Police Department law enforcement officers to carry firearms and weapons in court facilities.
On March 2, 2017, Chief Judge Charles E. Williams signed Administrative Order No. 2017-4.2, titled Security and Operations of Court Facilities, which regulates the firearms and weapons within court facilities. The new MOU, which references the revised Order, is being requested by the City so that North Port Police Department officers can continue to carry firearms and weapons in court facilities. This MOU shall supersede the previously executed memorandum of understanding.
This MOU has been reviewed by the City Attorney’s office as to form and correctness.
Strategic Plan
Maintain the adopted level of health and public safety services
Financial Impact
N/A
Procurement
N/A
Attachments:
1. Firearms in Court Facilities Memorandum of Understanding
Prepared by: Christopher Morales, Deputy Chief of Police
Department Director: Todd R. Garrison, Chief of Police