The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office invites community members to take part in a virtual ride-along beginning at 8:00 a.m., Friday, December 13.

 

Known globally as a “Tweet from the Beat,” the initiative sparked as law enforcement agencies began engaging social media followers through virtual ride-alongs as a tool for community outreach. The sheriff’s office launched their inaugural “Tweet from the Beat” in September 2016. The purpose of the program is to give community members a look at policing in real-time while exposing how challenging and dynamic a shift can be. A member of the agency’s Community Affairs Office accompanies a deputy for up to 12 hours to take photos and videos to share on the agency’s social media accounts in real time. “Tweet from the Beat: Holiday Safety Edition” will focus on heavily populated shopping areas and well-traveled roadways in Sarasota County. Topics will include holiday travel tips, theft prevention and how to shop safely. Deputies will also discuss what they are doing to increase traffic enforcement and deter crime during the seasonal rush.

“This is an exciting and festive time of year for our community,” commented Sheriff Tom Knight. “The holiday season is in full-swing in Sarasota County, which means residents and visitors are out and about and our roadways are busier than usual. This is the perfect opportunity to connect with members of our community to encourage them to shop smart and stay safe.”

 

To follow along during “Tweet from the Beat,” citizens can create a Twitter account by visiting www.Twitter.com/SignUp and following the sheriff’s office account @SarasotaSheriff. Photos and videos will also be posted to the sheriff’s office Facebook and Instagram accounts.