City of Sarasota Police Officer Rashad Jones: SERVING BY EXAMPLE
Officer Rashad Jones wants t o be part of change in his community. Growing up with role models such as his coaches, retired police officers Mykel Hollaway, Lucius Bonner and Wade McVay, he decided he wanted to go into law enforcement. Jones joined the Sarasota Police Department (SPD) in April of 2020. He went through the Police Academy while an active employee of the City. He attended City School and then spent four months in field training, on track to becoming a police officer.
“I had many different mentors growing up,” Officers Jones said. “But my coaches who were in law enforcement at the same time they were coaching made a big impact on me.
They volunteered their time to work with the youth in this community and inspired me to want to give back where I was born and raised. I want other young people to know that we can do the same thing – we can make a difference in our community.”
Officer Jones is part of SPD’s Homeless Outright Team – HOT Team – which interacts with those experiencing homelessness throughout the City of Sarasota with the hopes of providing those individuals with alternatives to homelessness. “I enjoy my work with the HOT Team because I have an opportunity to reach out and help those individuals experiencing homelessness. The goal is to get them off the street and help them get the services they need.”
Recently, SPD recognized officers for their actions during 2024, presenting them with life-saving medals and a humanitarian service award. Officer Jones, along with Officers Julius Gonzalez and Anthony Pullara, received life saving medals for their efforts last year when they responded to an unconscious overdose victim and administered two doses of Narcan, successfully reviving the individual. The humanitarian service award was presented to the department’s Emergency Response Team who responded to historic flooding in Sarasota following Hurricane Debby last summer.
“My mentors have shown me that you can make a difference; so, that’s my goal, that’s what I want to do,” Officer Jones said, “because I see the results that come from giving back and helping others and I want to be part of the change.”
