St. Augustine Beach mayor want smaller police force
ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH | Mayor S. Gary Snodgrass is proposing that a smaller city police department ? a chief, sergeant and five officers ? working with St. Johns County sheriff?s deputies could blend together and keep the city safe and save $723,967 per year.
A Special Commission meeting has been called for 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall.
?My hope and expectation is that the commission will have discussions and initiate a course of action,? Snodgrass said. ?We have an opportunity to take a fresh look about how law enforcement services will be provided.?
Right now, the department is run by Interim Chief David Messenger, a Sheriff?s Office deputy appointed by Sheriff David Shoar. There?s also an assistant chief and 12 other officers. In May, nine patrol officers filed a 70-page complaint to the City Commission against then-Chief Richard Hedges, claiming they had no other option to bring management and ethical grievances to light.
Hedges was placed on suspension with pay by the commission. After weeks on suspension, he decided to retire.
After a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation, neither Hedges nor the complaining officers were found to have committed criminal or ethical infractions.
Snodgrass plans to offer a summary of events to date, the commission will review alternative proposals for law enforcement and an opportunity will be offered by residents for public comment.
In a letter to the public, Snodgrass said, ?Two times in the past decade, the city has encountered significant employee dissatisfaction, low morale and disputes involving the chain of command. Two police chiefs have retired under less than ideal circumstances.?
Part of the reason, he said, is the commission?s lack of ?effective direction and oversight? of the department.
?The financial numbers are compelling,? he said. Saving $724,000 a year ? roughly 17 percent of the city?s $4.4 million budget ? ?could provide the city with financial flexibility, potentially holding taxes in line while paying for numerous public works related initiatives.?
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