Arrest down in Sarasota

Some feel the recent reduction in arrest in Sarasota are the result of better police work in reducing the amount of crime in Sarasota. However, others feel that it is a result of less police work. It has been expressed that the police are more reluctant to make arrests now after the negative publicity last year involving a police officer arresting an hispanic man for disorderly conduct and then kicking him to the ground after he climbed out of the window of the police patrol vehicle which was captured on video. Compounding the problem, it came out that the police then tried to quickly settle any lawsuit with the suspect by offering him a small amount of money. Things like this certainly will have an effect on police morale. However, it is not evident that any crimes, such as DUI, domestic battery, robbery, larceny, murder, drug crimes involving marijuana or prescription narcotics like oxycodone, are actually occurring less. Any view as to why arrests are down in Sarasota would be greatly appreciated. Or if someone has information that arrests in Sarasota are up, those views would be appreciated as well.