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The mission of the Tavares Police Department (TPD) is to work in partnership with the community to protect life and property, solve neighborhood problems, and enhance the quality of life in our City.
The TPD comprises 32 sworn officers, one civilian code enforcement officer, and 4.5 civilian employees. The Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency.
The TPD serves a resident city population of 19,000. Also known as "ORLANDO WEST," Lake County, Florida's 2020 population was estimated to be more than 400,142. Lake County has ranked among the top 6 fastest-growing counties in Florida. Lake County is expected to experience significant population growth over the coming decades as the Orlando urban core approaches build-out. Forecasts predict Lake County’s population to grow more than 431,500 by 2030 and more than 780,500 by 2050."
Source: BEBR Bureau of Economic and Business Research, University of Florida Florida Estimates of Population 2020
Tavares, FL Demographics are available on Google from the US Census Bureau (not linked because of frequent link changes), or visit UF BEBR for a deep dive at this link > University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR)
Also of note is that Tavares has a large transient workforce population during the day (we are the Lake County Seat), which doubles the population. The department comprises a Uniform Road Patrol, a Criminal Investigations Unit, Street Crimes Unit (narcotics and vice), Code Enforcement, and Marine Patrol.
The department is deeply committed to community policing, and its motto is "People Helping People."
Chief Sarah Coursey, a third-generation Tavares native, oversees the department's operation. She has been with the city since 2009 and became chief in 2022. She has a Master's degree in Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement Administration and graduated from Columbia College. Chief Coursey is a Southern Police Institute Officer Command Development course graduate and received the Trilogy Award from FBI-LEEDA for Supervisor, Command, and Executive Leadership.
