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Atlantic Beach police, fire chiefs request new administrative and patrol roles
Summary
Police Chief Dave Clifton requested a Community Policing/Patrol Administration position and higher part-time pay; Fire Chief Mike Simpson requested a year-round administrative EMS coordinator and noted radio-frequency testing may require future funds pending county upgrades.
At the retreat both public-safety chiefs outlined staffing and pay requests tied to ongoing operations and grant opportunities.
Police Chief Dave Clifton asked council to approve a new Community Policing/Patrol Administration position and to increase part-time pay, saying pay had not been raised in years and was not comparable to neighboring towns. Councilmember Joseph Starling suggested the new position could also handle code-enforcement duties if the town's ordinance were rewritten to permit that work.
Fire Chief Mike Simpson said his department is fully staffed in both full-time and part-time roles. He requested one year-round staff member to cover a three-person shift pattern and to perform administrative duties as an EMS coordinator to manage continuing education, grants and clerical needs. Chief Simpson also noted that required radio-frequency testing is pending and recommended waiting to request funds until after the county articulates its upgrade plan.
Council did not record a formal vote on staffing requests during the retreat; staff was asked to review job descriptions and potential ordinance changes and to return with recommendations.
