Dear Commissioners, May 30, 2018
I write to you as it is my hope that each of you will look at what I am sending and try to make some financial sense out of it.
In my almost 32 years with the Sarasota Sheriffs Office, I have never heard of a Sheriff sending a bureau commander, a Captain, to a school to learn how to operate a piece of equipment that is to be utilized in the field by a deputy, detective or crime scene investigator. Yet, Sheriff Knight did it.
He sent Captain John Walsh to a Drone Seminar in San Jose, CA, November 13 to November 20th, 2016. This cost the taxpayers $4,687.28 and that does not include his salary and benefits. The Sheriff also sent two other deputies, who I surmise would be the drone operators. So, my question is, why would we spend almost $5,000 dollars to send a Captain? Well, I did some research and found that Captain John Walsh was part owner of SRQ Drone Pro LLC, located at 1776 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236, which have articles of incorporation on February 05, 2016 at Sunbiz.org. Was the Sheriff doing a favor for one of his guys so Captain Walsh could learn all about how to operate a $40,000 drone for his own personal benefit? By the way, the Sheriff paid $40,089.99 for a drone that has yet to be put into operation according to what I could find. The drone was purchased from Draganfly Innovation Inc, 2108 St. George Ave, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on December 11, 2017. I have to believe that the Sheriff felt this was the best price for a drone that was not made in the United States. I did some research on that also. I found no less than 40 companies in the USA that make drones for law enforcement and the GSA VENDORS LIST IS LOADED WITH DRONE VENDORS FROM THE USA. This price included training for the two deputies and Captain Walsh. While reviewing the contract with Draganfly Innovation Inc, I see that the use of the drone was to be for crime scene reconstruction, aerial photography and videography.
Now we are at $50,000 dollars, including the two deputies travels and training along with Captain Walshs travel and training. What do we have to show for it going on two years since the training and the purchase in December of 2017? One of the deputies was fortunate enough to leave the department and take a great job as a pilot, so now we must train someone new. This sometimes happens. From all accounts, the drone became broken shortly after the delivery of it and has been sitting in a box until a public records request seeking information on this program was made recently. Since that request, the Sheriff has sent 3 more deputies to learn how to fly the drone in Jacksonville, FL. The cost, $2500 dollars for the school. That covers the three pilots training and one, two-hour commander training. $1740 for the three pilots and $760 for the 2-hour special services commander training. That does not include, travel, hotel and per diem. That cost is $3,080 dollars according to an internal Sheriffs Office Memo. Now we are at about $55,000 dollars for something that has not been utilized since its purchase in December 2017. Must have been a very well thought out and very important purchase for the agency!
Could that $50,000 dollars been utilized to put another School Resource Officer in a school to protect our children? I dont have the answer to that question, but I hope that each of you will be vigilant and provide and answer for us.
Attached to this email are all the supporting documents that you will need to validate what has been sent to you today.
I wish the best for each of you and thank you for your service to Sarasota County.
Respectfully,
John Kost
Kost Security Solutions
I write to you as it is my hope that each of you will look at what I am sending and try to make some financial sense out of it.
In my almost 32 years with the Sarasota Sheriffs Office, I have never heard of a Sheriff sending a bureau commander, a Captain, to a school to learn how to operate a piece of equipment that is to be utilized in the field by a deputy, detective or crime scene investigator. Yet, Sheriff Knight did it.
He sent Captain John Walsh to a Drone Seminar in San Jose, CA, November 13 to November 20th, 2016. This cost the taxpayers $4,687.28 and that does not include his salary and benefits. The Sheriff also sent two other deputies, who I surmise would be the drone operators. So, my question is, why would we spend almost $5,000 dollars to send a Captain? Well, I did some research and found that Captain John Walsh was part owner of SRQ Drone Pro LLC, located at 1776 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236, which have articles of incorporation on February 05, 2016 at Sunbiz.org. Was the Sheriff doing a favor for one of his guys so Captain Walsh could learn all about how to operate a $40,000 drone for his own personal benefit? By the way, the Sheriff paid $40,089.99 for a drone that has yet to be put into operation according to what I could find. The drone was purchased from Draganfly Innovation Inc, 2108 St. George Ave, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on December 11, 2017. I have to believe that the Sheriff felt this was the best price for a drone that was not made in the United States. I did some research on that also. I found no less than 40 companies in the USA that make drones for law enforcement and the GSA VENDORS LIST IS LOADED WITH DRONE VENDORS FROM THE USA. This price included training for the two deputies and Captain Walsh. While reviewing the contract with Draganfly Innovation Inc, I see that the use of the drone was to be for crime scene reconstruction, aerial photography and videography.
Now we are at $50,000 dollars, including the two deputies travels and training along with Captain Walshs travel and training. What do we have to show for it going on two years since the training and the purchase in December of 2017? One of the deputies was fortunate enough to leave the department and take a great job as a pilot, so now we must train someone new. This sometimes happens. From all accounts, the drone became broken shortly after the delivery of it and has been sitting in a box until a public records request seeking information on this program was made recently. Since that request, the Sheriff has sent 3 more deputies to learn how to fly the drone in Jacksonville, FL. The cost, $2500 dollars for the school. That covers the three pilots training and one, two-hour commander training. $1740 for the three pilots and $760 for the 2-hour special services commander training. That does not include, travel, hotel and per diem. That cost is $3,080 dollars according to an internal Sheriffs Office Memo. Now we are at about $55,000 dollars for something that has not been utilized since its purchase in December 2017. Must have been a very well thought out and very important purchase for the agency!
Could that $50,000 dollars been utilized to put another School Resource Officer in a school to protect our children? I dont have the answer to that question, but I hope that each of you will be vigilant and provide and answer for us.
Attached to this email are all the supporting documents that you will need to validate what has been sent to you today.
I wish the best for each of you and thank you for your service to Sarasota County.
Respectfully,
John Kost
Kost Security Solutions