Everyone wants to be city's top cop

Filling the shoes of retiring Zephyrhills police Chief Robert Howell may be a tough job, but 74 men from across the country have applied for it.

By BRADY DENNIS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 5, 2002

ZEPHYRHILLS -- It's been a busy few months for mail at Zephyrhills City Hall.

The packages arrived in large envelopes and small ones. Some came in plastic binders. Some were brown, others white, others gray. But all of them are inquiries about the same job: Zephyrhills police chief.

By the time the last applications arrived Monday, 74 men had applied for the position.

The one who wins the post will have hefty shoes to fill.

Retiring Chief Robert Howell started at the department at age 24 and has worked there for 40 years. In that time, he has built a reputation as a calm leader in the community, both on and off the job.

"I feel safe and secure and comfortable that we have a person of high integrity," City Council member Elizabeth Geiger said at a recent meeting. "I like him. I don't want him to retire."

Nevertheless, Howell said he will step down in October. City officials hope to have the new chief in place by June so that he can work alongside Howell for several months and grow into the job.

Getting the job will be no easy task. Tougher still will be deciding whom to hire.

A five-member, high-profile search committee assembled by City Manager Steve Spina will whittle the pool of applicants to 10. They will interview those and forward a list of five finalists to Spina.

Spina then will nominate one applicant to be approved by the City Council.

Since the city first advertised the opening, applications have poured in from across the country, from Clearwater to Kansas to California.

Locals have shown interest as well, with Zephyrhills Sgt. Randy Belasic and former Pasco County Sheriff Jim Gillum applying for the job.

"We were surprised but real pleased with the numbers of resumes," Spina said. "I think it shows a good reflection on the Police Department. It shows that we have a good reputation."

The Zephyrhills Police Department has a $2.5-million budget and currently employs 29 officers. The chief's job will pay $45,283 to $65,660, depending on experience.

-- Brady Dennis covers the city of Zephyrhills and crime in east Pasco. To reach him, call (352) 521-5757, ext. 23, or send e-mail to dennis@sptimes.com.

Applicants for Zephyrhills police chief

This is a list of the 74 applicants for Zephyrhills police chief, including their current occupations and education. The information on the list comes from application materials submitted to the city by candidates:

Cameron D. Arthur, Galena, Kan., chief, Galena Police Department. Bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Bellevue University; master's degree from Troy State University.

Russell Barnes, Port Richey. Criminal investigator for Public Defender's Office in New Port Richey. Associate of arts, general education, St. Petersburg Junior College. Bachelor of arts, criminology, University of South Florida.

Randy Belasic, sergeant at Zephyrhills Police Department. B.A., organizational management, Warner Southern College.

Michael Joel Belmarez, chief of Newell Police Department, Newell, Iowa. B.A., interdisciplinary studies, Jones College. M.A., law enforcement management; Ph.D., philosophy, Madison University.

Robert Boone, Marco Island. Public safety director, Ocean Reef. B.S., law enforcement administration; M.A., law enforcement administration, Western Illinois University. MBA, Lake Forest College.

Gregory J. Brand, Cooper City. Major, Hollywood (Fla.) Police Department. B.A., criminal justice, St. Thomas University.

Thomas G. Brooks, Spring Hill. Police officer, Tampa International Airport. B.A., criminal justice, University of South Florida. Master's in public administration (MPA), Golden State University.

Gerald D. Brown, Papillion, Neb. Sergeant, Sarpy County Sheriff's Department. B.S., criminal justice, University of Nebraska. M.A., management, Bellevue University.

Dwayne Keith Carr, Stroudsburg, Pa. Chief of Stroud Area Region Police Department. B.S., criminal justice; MPA, East Tennessee State University.

Alexander Connolly, Stuart. Division chief of Stuart Police Department. B.A., liberal studies, Barry University. MPA, Florida Atlantic University.

Richard H. Crowell, Decatur, Ala. Lieutenant, Decatur Police Department. A.A., police science, John C. Calhoun Community College. B.S., public safety administration, Athens State University.

Hermon Davis, Tallahassee. Technical coordinator for Leon County Board of County Commissioners. B.S., criminal justice, Troy State University.

Edward DeCoste, Lawrenceville, Ga. Chief deputy U.S. Marshal, Atlanta. B.S., Arizona State University (no subject listed).

Daniel DeCoursey, Fort Lauderdale. Investigator, Broward County School District. B.A., public administration, Barry University.

Robert DeGroot, Ellensburg, Wash. Undersheriff, Kittitas County Sheriff's Office. B.A., liberal arts, Evergreen State College.

John Donadio, Oneonta, N.Y. Patrol sergeant, Pemberton Township (N.J.) Police Department. A.A., criminal justice, Burlington County College.

Robert A. Drago, Lake Worth. Night commander, Broward County Sheriff's Office. A.S., criminal justice, Broward Community College. B.S., criminal justice, Florida Atlantic University.

Daniel J. Driscoll, Hanover Park, Ill. Lieutenant at Hanover Park Police Department. Harper College (no degree listed).

Mark Eaves, Cozad, Neb. Chief, Cozad Police Department. B.A., criminal justice, Moorhead State University.

Jerry W. Freeman, Hialeah. Officer, Hialeah Police Department. B.A., criminal justice, Florida International University. M.S., management, St. Thomas University.

Marc D. Freese, St. Pete Beach. Joint security operations center officer, U.S. Marine Corps. B.A., justice studies, Northern Kent University. MPA, University of Oklahoma.

Walter Ganzer, Gulfport. Unit Commander, Gulfport Police Department. B.A., public administration, Saint Leo University.

Jeffery L. Gillespie, Seffner. West Central regional supervisor, Florida Capitol Police. B.A., criminal justice; M.A., criminal justice, Florida International University.

Jim Gillum, New Port Richey. President, Gillum & Associates. Former Pasco County sheriff. Attended University of South Florida (no degree listed).

Edward Glaser Jr., Vero Beach. Commander of uniformed operations, Indian River County Sheriff's Office. B.A., professional studies, Barry University.

Michael Grigg, Garden City, S.C. Chief, Surfside Beach Police Department. B.A., history and political science; M.A., criminal justice, St. Joseph's University.

Victor Harris, Solon, Ohio. Police consultant. Law enforcement certification from Cuyahoga Community College.

George H. Hartwig, Perry, Ga. Assistant district attorney. B.A., criminal justice, University of Florida. Law degree, Mercer University.

William Harvey, Savannah, Ga. Lieutenant at Savannah Police Department. B.A., criminology, St. Leo (Ga.) College.

Clyde Hedrick III, Largo. Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. B.A., independent studies, University of South Florida.

Craig Heneveld, Tampa. Deputy, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. B.S., education business administration and management, University of Cincinnati. MPA, Golden Gate University.

Roy Hudson, Jr., Fort Pierce. Major, St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office. B.A., public administration, the Union Institute.

Robert Huntley, Johnstown, Pa. Chief, Johnstown Police Department. Studied law enforcement at Eastern Kentucky University (no degree listed).

Fordham A. Hutton, Valrico. Reserve deputy, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. B.A., criminal justice, Monmouth University. M.A., government and political science, Harvard University.

Robert W. Jones, New Port Richey. Captain, Clearwater Police Department. A.A., criminology, Community College of Allegheny County (Pa.). B.A., criminal justice, University of South Florida.

Neil Kearns, High Point, N.C. Captain, High Point Police Department. B.A., public administration, Guilford College.

Cornelius A. Kelleher, New Port Richey. Supervises security officers assigned to the U.S. District Court building in Tampa. B.A., criminal justice, Iona College.

John P. Kelly, Staten Island, N.Y. International affairs bureau, New York Police Department. B.A., sociology, Saint Francis College. MPA, Long Island University.

William Kohnke, Coral Springs. Major, Broward County Sheriff's Office. B.A., business management, DePaul University. M.S., management, Lewis University.

Michael Kostecki, McHenry, Ill. Chief, McHenry Police Department. B.A., law enforcement administration, Western Illinois University. M.A., criminal and social justice, Lewis University.

Arthur Mabry, Olathe, Kan. Police consultant. Former Olathe police chief. B.S., administration of justice, American University.

Carmine Macedonio, Venice. Former Port Richey police chief. B.S., criminal justice; MBA, Metropolitan University.

Joseph Martin Jr., Cocoa. Operations commander of security force at Kennedy Space Center. B.A., public administration, Barry University. M.A., management, Webster University.

John McCann, Zephyrhills. Retired police master sergeant, Miami-Dade Police Department. B.A., history; M.S., human resources administration, Biscayne College.

Raymond R. McGill, Mahwah, N.J. Captain, Mahwah Police Department. Ph.D., criminal justice, Rutgers University.

W. Nolan McLeod, Live Oak. Chief, Live Oak Police Department. B.A., criminology, Saint Leo University.

Vincent McNally, Lutz. Retired special agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation. B.A., sociology, Wheeling College. M.A., professional studies in criminal justice, C.W. Post University.

William McNeil, Lake Mary. Deputy chief of operations, Casselberry Police Department. B.S., administration, Saint Leo University.

Wayne R. Meissner, Clearwater. Captain, Clearwater Police Department. B.A., criminal justice, Saint Leo University.

Brian J. Moeller, Port Huron, Mich. Investigator, state of Michigan. A.S., law enforcement, St. Clair County Community College (Mich). B.S., criminal justice, Grand Valley State University.

Bruce Morris, Wheeling, Ill. Police chief and city administrator, Prospect Heights Police Department. B.A., Northeastern Illinois University. MPA, Roosevelt University.

Howard H. Morris, LaVergne, Tenn. Chief, LaVergne Police Department. B.A., criminal justice, Middle Tennessee State University.

Scott Neubauer, Palmyra, Wis. Chief, Village of Palmyra Police Department. B.A., criminal justice; MPA, University of Wisconsin.

Richard Ortiz Jr., Lutz. Retired from National Insurance Crime Bureau. B.A., sociology, University of South Florida. M.S., criminal justice, Nova University.

Robert W. Patton, Hillsdale, Mich. Chief, Waldron (Mich.) Police Department. B.S., criminal justice, Chadwick University.

William Pease Jr., Fort Pierce. director of security for private security firm. Also commissioner of Rye (N.Y.) Police Department. B.S., criminal justice, New York Institute of Technology. MPA, Pace University.

H. Sonney Peixoto, Stoneham, Mass. Officer, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston. B.A., criminal justice, University of Massachusetts -- Lowell.

Richard Prentice, Hawthorne, Calif. Captain, Hawthorne Police Department. B.A., Pepperdine University. MPA, University of Southern California.

Bruce Price, Crossville, Tenn. Former lieutenant with Paterson (N.J.) Police Department. B.A., criminal justice, William Paterson University. M.S., criminal justice, Jersey City State College.

David Purdy, Kalamazoo, Mich. Deputy chief of public safety, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. B.S., police administration and criminal justice, Michigan State University. M.S., public administration, Florida International University.

Dennis Richardson, Detroit. Acting deputy chief, Detroit Police Department. B.S., police administration, Wayne State University. M.A., liberal studies, Eastern Michigan University.

Michael Roy, Miramar. Miami-Dade Police Department. B.S., criminal justice; M.S., criminal justice, Florida Atlantic University.

William Sammon, New York. Lieutenant, New York City Police Department. B.S., business management, St. Francis College.

Willard R. Schlieter, Ocala. Retired chief of Simi Valley (Calif.) Police Department. B.A., law enforcement administration; M.S., criminal justice administration, San Jose State College.

Joseph A. Seroka, Wellington, Ohio. Officer, Wellington Police Department. B.A., education, Bowling Green State University. M.S., criminal justice; M.A., forensic psychology, Tiffin University.

Frank Siwak, Libertyville, Ill. Lieutenant, Winnetka (Ill.) Police Department. B.A., applied behavioral science, National-Lewis University.

James Spires, Fort Walton Beach. Employee of safety office, state Department of Transportation. B.A., political science, Marquette University. MPA, University of Illinois.

Raymond Stevens, Dunedin. Investigation specialist, state of Florida. B.S., public administration, Pace University.

Robert Surdyk, Shorewood, Wis. Retired chief, Village of Shorewood Police Department. B.A., political science and criminal justice, Marquette University.

David R. Syrkus, West Melbourne. Chief, Melbourne Village Police Department. B.A., criminal justice, Florida Metropolitan University.

Hayes Alan Tubbs, Miami. Sergeant, Miami-Dade Police Department. A.A. criminology and police science, Miami-Dade Community College.

Stone Tweten, Tampa. Former Naval officer. B.A., criminal justice, Rollins College. M.A., history, University of San Diego.

John Walsh, Brooklyn, N.Y. Retired chief of Milford (N.Y.) Police Department. B.A., criminal justice, St. John's University. M.A., criminal justice, State University of New York at Albany.

William Weingartner, Sorrento. Retired police commander, Apopka Police Department. B.A., criminal justice, Columbia College. MPA, Webster University.

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