Blog: Strengthening North Port through continuous improvement
Published on April 06, 2026
Ensuring the safety of our community is one of the most important responsibilities we have as a City. As North Port continues to grow, we must also ensure that our public safety services evolve alongside that growth and reflect the highest standards in modern policing.
That is why the City recently engaged the Center for Public Safety Management, an independent and nationally recognized organization, to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the North Port Police Department. This was not prompted by a single issue or concern. Rather, it reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement.
Inviting an outside expert to evaluate our operations provides valuable perspective. It allows us to measure our performance against national best practices, identify opportunities for improvement and validate the work already being done by our team.
The assessment found that the North Port Police Department is performing well overall. That is a testament to the leadership of Chief Todd Garrison and the dedication of the men and women who serve our community every day. Just as important, our team approached this process with openness and professionalism, fully engaging in the review and welcoming feedback.
Like any thorough evaluation, the report includes a range of recommendations. After careful review, we will be moving forward with implementing several of them. Many of the recommendations are already underway as part of ongoing efforts to enhance operations, staffing and service delivery. There are also recommendations where we have a different perspective based on local needs, existing data or operational considerations.
That balance is important. An independent study is not about adopting every suggestion without question. It is about using expert insight to inform thoughtful decisions that best serve our community.
This process reflects how we approach governance in North Port. We listen, we evaluate and we act in a way that is responsible and forward-looking. Our goal is not only to maintain a high level of service today but to ensure we are well positioned for the future.
Public safety is not static. It requires ongoing attention, investment and a willingness to adapt. By taking this proactive step, we are reaffirming our commitment to providing effective, efficient and community-focused policing. As we ask residents to support plans for a new Police Headquarters and other future public safety needs, they can rest assured the department is doing things the right way and continually improving.
We are proud of the work being done by NPPD and grateful for their continued dedication. We also appreciate the community’s trust and engagement as we continue working to keep North Port a safe place to live, work and visit.
To read the CPSM report and watch their recent public presentation, visit NorthPortFL.gov/Meetings and click on the agenda for the City Commission Special Meeting on March 24.