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Resident urges Pinellas Park to contract policing to county, alleges officer unresponsiveness
Summary
John Michael, a resident and property manager, told the council he will start a campaign to replace the Pinellas Park Police Department with county services, alleging repeated unresponsiveness to juvenile misconduct at his properties and poor complaint handling; council members publicly defended the local police department.
At the Dec. 12 meeting, John Michael—identifying himself as a manager who lives in Crystal Lakes Mobile Home Park and manages apartments on 78th Avenue North—urged the council to consider contracting police services to the county and to replace the police chief.
Michael said dozens of tenants complained about "juvenile delinquents" allegedly terrorizing residents and that repeated phone calls and emails to the police went unanswered. He said he was mocked by department staff when raising concerns and alleged a sergeant threatened him. “Frankly I think he’s incompetent and should be replaced immediately,” Michael said.
Council members responded in the meeting. One council member said the city has “the best chief, the best department” and that mentoring youth is part of officers’ duties. Vice Mayor Sedo urged residents to keep perspective and said he stands behind the city’s sworn officers. Council members emphasized the department’s public-safety role and cautioned that replacing local policing with the sheriff’s office was not a straightforward improvement.
The council did not take formal action on policing policy or administration at this meeting. No patrol logs or formal complaint records were presented during the public comment; Michael said he had sought meetings with shift commanders but described unsatisfactory responses.
