Chief plans to stay and says commission has more to decide
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE — Bradford Sheriff Gordon Smith said the transfer of policing authority in the city of Starke to his office is going smoothly with the cooperation of Police Chief Jeff Johnson.
On Jan. 16, city commissioners voted 4-1 to move forward contracting with Smith. Several factors contributed. To reduce spending of utility revenue on general government and prioritize neglected infrastructure, the commission cut the budgets for the police and fire departments last year. Some of the police department’s most senior employees departed, leaving the vacancies to be filled by less experienced officers. Then, what Johnson called “oversights” during the budgeting process made it clear the department’s $1.1 million budget would be overspent.
At the commission’s request, the sheriff sent a proposal saying he would take over law enforcement in the city for the equivalent of 2.5 mills of the commission’s 4.8754-mill property tax levy. According to the city finance office, that currently amounts to $625,000.
Several of the police officers applied to work for the sheriff’s office, and Smith said two have been hired pending their background checks. Others have applied or been offered positions out of county, and a couple employees are pursuing opportunities in the private sector. Smith also fired two who will not be coming back, he said.
Records are being turned over, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will inventory evidence before it is transferred. Several vehicles are also being transferred to the sheriff’s office as well.
Deputies have already been assigned to cover the city of Starke and the sheriff’s office is taking on more calls inside the city.
Smith said Johnson, a lifelong friend and colleague, has made the process “pretty much seamless.”
“It’s actually moving at a fast pace, but much smoother than we anticipated,” Smith said.
Johnson described the process as “organized chaos,” but he agreed things were getting done to comply with the commission’s decision.
The amount paid to the sheriff does not include the cost of the police chief’s salary. That will continue to be a factor as Johnson said he isn’t going anywhere. He doesn’t anticipate the commission altering his pay. Ordinance requires a minimum annual salary of $45,000.
Some commissioners have been asked if they were going to pay the police chief to do nothing.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Smith said. “He loves the city. There’s going to be advantages there. He’s not going to sit around and be lazy and do nothing. I don’t believe that at all.”
Both Smith and Johnson were ambiguous on Johnson’s role, saying he would be a liaison between the city commission and sheriff’s office.
Johnson’s term doesn’t end until the city’s next election in the fall of next year, but his status as an elected official will remain up to the people. Yes, Johnson said he plans on running for police chief again in 2025.
The only thing that could change that he said is the city commission holding a charter referendum and voters removing the police chief as one of the city’s elected officials. He has previously expressed confidence that the vote would go his way, and so he plans on holding the commission to the requirements of the charter. In addition to holding an election for police chief, that includes hiring a nightwatchman.
Aside from the salary and benefit packages, Johnson said they will need an office budget that covers operations, vehicles, maintaining certifications, etc. He didn’t estimate the cost, but it would be in addition to what the city commission has agreed to pay the sheriff’s office and diminish any projected savings.
Johnson said the city commission will also have to confront the police retirement issue. The city doesn’t have the money to close the police retirement system and buy everyone out, he said, estimating 10 current retirees receiving payments and several more vested and waiting to reach retirement age. The commission would have to pay them all if the plan is closed, he said.
“They’ve got a lot of stuff to try to figure out. They got a lot to do,” he said.
Johnson said he was “extremely upset” by the commission’s police department decision, but not for his own sake. Financially, he said he is in “good shape.”
“I just hated if for the guys. I got 11 guys who just overnight lost their job (as of) March 1,” he said. “They gave these guys six weeks. That is not how we need to operate as a city. We need to take care of the employees who have taken care of us, and we didn’t do it.”
In Johnson’s opinion, the commission didn’t think the decision through with the exception of one member.
“I want to thank Danny Nugent for his support the entire time. He has not wavered from his support,” Johnson said.
Smith said he doesn’t think anyone has noticed or will notice a difference. The city will receive the same amount of law enforcement coverage, he said, but inside things will be more streamlined and efficient.
“I won’t fail. It’s just that simple,” Smith said.
