Letter to the Editor: Putting faith in the WPPD

As chairman of the Winter Park Civil Service Board I am committed to making public safety Winter Park’s first and highest priority. I am extremely proud of the Winter Park Police Department and the senior staff that leads this exceptional agency. The WPPD is one of 70 agencies in Florida to receive accreditation from Commission for Florida Law Enforcement. Although it is correct that within 20 months the entire senior staff is poised for retirement, it should not be an issue of concern. Chief Railey and Deputy Chief King have diligently prepared for this succession by cultivating and promoting a team of highly qualified personnel to line officer positions. There are a number of candidates in the current chain of command who are fully prepared to step into new leadership roles upon retirement of the incumbents.

Notwithstanding, at a recent meeting of the Civil Service Board a lengthy discussion ensued arising out of a heightened public awareness and concerns regarding public safety and domestic security resulting from recent violent acts of terrorism throughout the world. Widely reported armed robberies and breaking-and-enterings occurring in Winter Park prompted the general public to inquire of the Civil Service Board if our public safety agencies are adequately staffed to effectively respond if the threat levels of domestic violence are raised. The Civil Service Board is very conscious of the fact that staffing levels of the police department have significantly eroded since 2008 with the onset of the economic downturn, and we certainly understand that budgetary pressures necessitated fiscal adjustments by the city manager and the City Commission.

With the recent increase in property development within the city and stronger economic activity, the total policing population of Winter Park is growing rapidly. In 2004 the WPPD staffing level was at 91 sworn personnel. By 2008 the authorized sworn personnel was down to 90 officers, including upper management positions, or 3.1 officers per 1,000 residents, and the entry-level pay grade for a sworn officer was ranked second or third for agencies in the metropolitan area.

Today, the “authorized” sworn personnel staffing level is at 84 officers, with four of those positions currently frozen and unfunded, bringing that number down to 80 officers including upper management positions, or 2.7 officers per 1,000 residents. The entry-level pay grade for a sworn officer is today ranked sixth for agencies in the metropolitan area, a factor which has resulted in unvested officers with less than 10 years of service seeking employment with competing agencies.

The Civil Service Board has recommended restoring four authorized but unfunded positions. Furthermore, I support and advocate raising WPPD pay grades that rank second or third for agencies in the Central Florida metropolitan area.

Sincerely,

Gary Brewer

Chairman, Civil Service Board and Candidate for City Commission Seat 1