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Police chief hanging up 2nd badge

Treasure Island's chief tries retirement - again. Last time it led to a new job.

By KATHY SAUNDERS
Published August 14, 2005

TREASURE ISLAND - After 18 years of service to the city, police Chief Joseph Pelkington is retiring on Friday.

Pelkington and his wife, Alice, are planning a move to Austin, Texas, where the chief hopes to put the finishing touches on the book he has been writing for the past two years: Shades of Blue - From Street Cop to Police Chief.

Police Sgt. Tim Casey, administrator of the department, has been named acting chief. He also will see his salary increase from $57,000 to $70,000.

Pelkington, a native New Yorker who will celebrate his 69th birthday this month, began his post with the city in 1987 after retiring from a 25-year career with the Tampa Police Department. He was deputy chief when he left there in 1985. For a couple of years, Pelkington took a job heading security for Lincoln Properties in Tampa. But he longed to be back on a police force.

During his tenure in Treasure Island, Pelkington managed a budget that doubled to $1.6-million and watched as technology engulfed the department.

But his main ingredient for crime-fighting, said Pelkington, has never changed.

"We still look for people with good character," said Pelkington, known for his candidness and honesty.

"Honesty is extremely important," said Pelkington, who allowed that he has sometimes been too trusting of people.

"But in the long run, I think you build a better relationship with the rank and file officers when they trust you and you have confidence in them," he said.

Finding individuals with the right character to take on police work was one of Pelkington's biggest challenges as chief.

"We're not getting that many people applying anymore," he said. "And, it's not just here, it's all departments.

A good candidate, according to Pelkington, "is someone with strong ethics, honesty, a strong work ethic and somebody who has a strong desire to serve the public."

He has tried to focus on those qualities himself, throughout his career.

Five years ago, Pelkington almost lost his job. Morale among officers was low and his former boss, then-City Manager Chuck Coward, gave him a poor annual evaluation, saying he had a "stale and rigid" management style that was not well-suited for Treasure Island. The city spent $8,000 on a study of the department.

The criticism blindsided Pelkington, who maintained that he could deliver whatever leadership the city wanted.

In the end, Pelkington was put in charge of implementing a series of changes, including a restructuring of the department's management team. He later was praised for his performance and ability to rally the officers. Shortly thereafter, the city also remodeled the police department, improving the amenities for the officers.

Pelkington says he survived the department reorganization, in part, because of support from the community who wrote letters and spoke at commission meetings in his favor.

"I will never forget the support from people in this community," Pelkington said. "I don't know how to repay them."

He will miss the officers, too.

"To say they are an outstanding police team is an understatement," said the chief in a farewell letter to the community. "They have never failed to stand tall even in the most difficult of times and always made me very proud to be their chief."

City leaders will make a formal farewell presentation to Pelkington before their regular meeting on Tuesday.

Mayor Mary Maloof, who once campaigned in the 1990s to have Pelkington fired, said she long ago changed her mind about the chief.

"I have come to know him as a very quality person," said Maloof. "I don't think the morale issue in the department had anything to do with him. To his credit, the chief just worked it all out honorably and beautifully."

Pelkington has high praise for Sgt. Casey, who was promoted to sergeant before he even finished his probation as an officer.

In Pelkington's opinion, it would be better to hire Casey as the new chief than to contract with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Jim Coats is planning an October presentation to commissioners about such a proposal.

"I think this community wants its own department and I think they would be losing the personalized service they receive," said the chief.

Just last week, he said, his officers found a student who had missed the school bus. They called the child's parents and later took the student to school in a patrol car.

"You can't compare the type of policing in a small community," Pelkington said. "The city owns this department and the city can demand whatever it wants."

A "Farewell and Good Luck" open house in honor of Chief Joseph Pelkington is planned for 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 120 108th Ave. The public is invited.

[Last modified August 14, 2005, 01:12:50]