St. Pete Beach chief resigns

ST. PETE BEACH -- Police Chief Ray Kaminskas has resigned after three years at a department with long-standing internal issues, including a current investigation of his captain.

Last summer, Kaminskas was criticized for neglecting to resolve a rivalry between Capts. Todd Kirchgraber and Joe Cornish. Kirchgraber resigned effective May 31 after being investigated for a "hostile work environment" issue.

Cornish now is being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for issues about e-mail handling, according to City Manager Mike Bonfield. He said the preliminary investigation of Cornish, who is on vacation this week, has been going on for the past three weeks.

The chief's resignation, effective Aug. 1, was amicable, Bonfield said.

"There is a long history of issues here, and it was a mutual understanding that we needed to make a change," Bonfield said. "We've been talking for some time."

The manager met with the department's officers on Tuesday to discuss the transition to a new chief in this town of 10,000. He is negotiating to hire a consultant from Punta Gorda to oversee the department and conduct a leadership study of the operations.

Kaminskas, whose annual salary is $69,186, will receive his pay and health insurance for three months, a package worth $18,373.

Kaminskas started the job in St. Pete Beach in July 1999 at the age of 49. When he took over, he was the first chief to be hired from outside in 10 years.

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