Sheriff's Office recognized Sergeant Scott Osborne for Siesta Key service

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office awarded Sergeant Scott Osborne for his 10 years of service on Siesta Key.

Osborne is being relocated to North Sarasota as a day-shift patrol supervisor. The Sheriff's Office presented him with a plaque at the Siesta Key Association meeting Thursday night. 

Normally, these kinds of presentations are given at the department's downtown office. However, due to his service on the Key and the recognition he's received from its residents, they presented the award within the community. 

"I'm sad to be leaving; I know so many people in the businesses, the residents... it's like a family," Osborne said. "Everyone has my number, everyone calls me - it's an informal relationship. I've never experienced a communtiy who cares so much and wants to be involved."

That kind of relationship is rare in law enforcement, he said. But after 10 years on the Key, Osborne is ready for a new challenge.

"I can continue to learn and grow," he said.

His new location will be a switch—he'll be covering areas from University Town Center Mall and Nathan Benderson Park to Newtown and areas south of Fruitville Road. The other members of the patrol have been in this area for years, he said, so he has a lot to learn about a new community.

Sergeant Chris Laster, who has served as the head of the mounted patrol unit since 1994, will replace Osborne on the Key.

The department also reported on the success of a recent patrol initiative targeted on Siesta during spring break. The Sheriff's Department utilized mounted patrol, additional squad cars and bicycle officers to amp up security during March. There were 330 charges and 235 traffic violations issued during March. According to the report, the largest charge category was underage drinking with 142 citations, followed by charges for narcotics. However, the report noted that local residents received the most serious charges—not tourists.