Sarasota Police Partner with Sarasota Police Foundation and Crime Stoppers of Sarasota County for Free Gas Giveaway
Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC
SPD
Officers from the Sarasota Police Department Community Relations Unit spent part of Giving Tuesday giving away free gas to drivers throughout the City of Sarasota. The gas was paid for by the Sarasota Police Foundation and Crime Stoppers of Sarasota County. Each organization donated $1,000 toward the gas giveaway for a total of $2,000.
“One of our core values for the Sarasota Police Department is service,” said Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche. “It’s an opportunity for us to give back to our community, especially on this Giving Tuesday. This is an opportunity for officers to interact with people in a one-on-one setting, and it really shows what police officers are all about. Officers are about service, professionalism and dedication, so this builds our relationships with our community even more.”
As drivers pulled up to a gas pump, Sarasota Police officers walked over and asked whether they wanted to take a photo together. Once they agreed, officers took the photo and then shared that they were going to fill up their gas tanks.
“A lot of people are very humble and they are very thankful, but we don’t know what people are going through,” said Officer Whitney Bentz, Sarasota Police Community Relations Unit. “If we can just give them a little bit of gas to get drivers through the day, that’s the least we can do.”
Officers visited three gas stations: Wawa, 2257 Fruitville Road; Speedway, 600 N. Washington Blvd.; and Circle K, 1801 S. Tamiami Trail.