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Residents press commission to include local candidates in police‑chief process as debate erupts
Summary
Dozens of Fort Pierce residents urged the City Commission to reconsider the police‑chief shortlist and include internal candidates — particularly Deputy Chief Caleb Gillette — arguing outside hires would harm morale and urging more transparency in the search process.
More than a dozen residents urged the Fort Pierce City Commission on Dec. 1 to reopen or revise the search process for a new police chief so that local candidates are included among finalists.
At the start of public comment, Ellen Gillette told the commission the city ‘‘summarily dismissed’’ three local candidates after a single interview and asked the city to delay a final decision until a full commission is seated so District 2 is represented. ‘‘Please consider restoring the local candidates to the shortlist,’’ she said.
Several speakers reiterated that point. Jamie Beth Galinis, a 16‑year resident who said she is running for the open commission seat, asked who served on the selection committee and why its membership and recruitment materials were not publicly posted. ‘‘Transparency builds confidence,’’ she said.
Retirees, former officers and active department members testified that promoting from within would preserve institutional knowledge and help morale. ‘‘If it’s loyalty, experience and education, the man to hire is right here in his own backyard,’’ said Dennis McWilliams, a retired Fort Pierce sergeant, referencing Deputy Chief Caleb Gillette and his 24 years with the department.
Commissioner Broderick placed the item on the agenda at the start of the meeting and during the city manager’s update said she wants to ensure the commission and public have confidence in the process. City Manager Mr. Chess described a national recruitment conducted by an outside firm, said he selected three finalists from a list whittled down from seven candidates, and defended an impartial evaluation process.
HR Manager Jared Sorensen confirmed logistics: the three finalists were scheduled for a public ‘‘meet‑and‑greet’’ at the Riverwalk Center the evening after the meeting and for individual interviews with commissioners the following morning, followed by committee debriefing with the search firm.
Several commissioners asked whether an internal candidate could be added. Commissioner Broderick and Mayor Hudson said they wanted to interview Deputy Chief Gillette; Commissioner Gaines and others warned about setting precedent or overriding the city manager’s authority. City Attorney Hedges noted that, under the charter, the police chief is ‘‘appointed by the city manager with the approval of the city commission,’’ and that the manager controls the recruitment and initial selection process.
The debate left the process unresolved: the city manager will proceed with the three finalists he selected, HR staff said, while several commissioners and many public speakers said they would press for broader inclusion or for a special meeting to allow more public input.
What happens next: the three finalists are scheduled to appear at a public meet‑and‑greet and for commissioner interviews the following day; the city manager is expected to recommend a candidate to the commission, which must vote to approve or reject the appointment.
Why it matters: Commissioners and residents said the choice will affect officer morale, retention and public trust. Speakers warned that an external hire risks a ‘‘trust deficit’’ with rank‑and‑file officers and urged the commission to ensure both fairness and local representation in the selection.
