Community Policing Credited in Tracking Murder Suspects

It took just 15 hours for Bradenton detectives to solve what seemed to be a random shooting death early Saturday.

Detectives had arrested suspects and gotten a confession by 9 p.m. Saturday night, according to the police report.

Catching the suspects happened quickly, but solving the case was based on years of work to build relationships and trust between neighborhoods and police.

Charles A. Brown, 25, of Palmetto, and Tarvin L. Martin Jr., 23, of Bradenton, were charged with second degree murder in connection to the shooting of a motorist in east Bradenton. It is the city's second murder of 2011.

Police say residents were open to the request by police for help after the shooting. Businesses were eager to provide  surveillance video, because they knew police as helpful since they frequently check in  to make sure everything is all right.

"Our philosophy has paid off," Chief Michael Radzilowski said. "The vast majority of the department has bought into it. It's all about partnership, and it has to be in concert with community and businesses."

Cops in the Community

The Bradenton Police Department implemented community policing in 2003 when Radzilowski came to Bradenton from Washington, D.C. Today community policing extends from the rank and file to top leaders.

Officers are in the same neighborhood day after day, so they get to know the neighborhood.

"They know who is there and the cars that are there," Radzilowski said.

The program is designed to prevent crime. It worked like a charm Saturday to solve a crime. The neighborhood and local businesses worked with police to track down the two suspects connected to the fatal shooting in an east Bradenton neighborhood. The victim's name has not been released yet, pending notification of next of kin.

Fewer Cops, Bigger Impact

The chief said that community policing has allowed him to reduce the crime rate even with fewer police officers than other departments. Crime statistics show that Bradenton's crime rate is lower than Sarasota's, even though the police department is smaller.

Officers are on the streets and sidewalks. They are riding bikes and travelling on Segways. The travel in cars rarely because they want to be accessible to people in the businesses. They want to be approachable to everyone, including kids in the neighborhoods.

Officer Troy Masterson rides his Segway through downtown and surrounding areas. He doesn't go far before someone stops his to ask about the vehicle.

The vehicle makes him approachable when nothing is going on and it helps Masterson build relationships throughout his district that are helpful when there's an issue or a problem with crime.

Masterson said he likes the community policing philosophy because it "opens people up to be more personalbe with officers."

They share information and "information is power in our jobs," he said.He said the vehicle also attracts kids and helps open up conversations with some who mmight be afraid to talk to him otherwise.

Community policing is natural for Officer Timothy Gunst who was awarded a bronze star for his service in Iraq when he was part of a team that helped to save 14 Marines under fire.

Gunst's mission in the Army was to help build relationships and trust with the people of Iraq who often viewed the members of the military as occupiers, rather than liberators, Gunst said.

Working a district that includes 13th and 14th Streets West also required Gunst to win the trust of people who had been besieged by crime and who initially didn't trust that the police cared about their community.

By building relationships, finding out about their lives and answering their calls personally, Gunst was able to work with people in the neighborhood to make 14 arrests.

Brent Sohenour, who owns the Gator Lounge on 14th Street West said that the community policing has made a difference for his business. He said he has had fewer problems with the people who come in to his business and that has meant more people patronizing his business overall.

Sohenour has Gunst's cell phone number. If he says a crime happening he can call the officer anytime. He tells people to call anytime and he will have someone with the department meet them if he is not on duty. If he is on duty, he responds to their calls personally.

"If you don't do that then they truly won't see the benefit," Gunst said. "For me to be effective, I have to be available."