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Tampa's 'cop's cop' headed up to Carolina

By SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER
Published August 16, 2005

TAMPA - Scott Cunningham, the Tampa Police Department's No. 2 man in charge of operations, is leaving to take the police chief's job in Cary, N.C. - a growing, affluent town near Raleigh that likes to brag about its enviably low crime rate.

Cary Town Manager Bill Coleman announced Monday that Cunningham, a 24-year veteran of Tampa's police force, was chosen among 59 applicants from across the United States.

"What made him stand out is the amount of executive experience, leadership experience, the amount of operational experience and the depth of experience in all those areas," Coleman said.

"We are a very safe community. His primary responsibility is keeping us safe."

Safety has been Cunningham's priority in Tampa, too.

Known among fellow brass as a "cop's cop," Cunningham loves street patrol. He also holds a doctorate in adult education from the University of South Florida and excelled in administrative posts.

As assistant chief since October 2003, he has overseen patrol divisions credited with dramatically reducing Tampa's crime rate, said Police Chief Steve Hogue.

"The crime reduction is a big testament to him," Hogue said. He called the Cary job "a great opportunity" for Cunningham, 48.

Great, and remarkably different.

Tampa has nearly 1,000 sworn officers policing a population of about 325,000 residents. Cary has 143 sworn officers for 110,000 residents. There were 32 murders in Tampa last year, 56 the year before. Cary has had fewer than 10 murders in 20 years.

"The Police Department has done well with keeping the crime low with the resources they have," Cunningham said. But he foresees challenges as he takes the helm.

Cary's population is projected to grow to 200,000 within the next 10 to 12 years, he said, and already gangs are becoming a problem in that area of the Carolinas.

"We're going to have to make sure the service residents get today is the same as it is, or better, when they are up by 60(,000)-80,000 people," he said.

Cunningham said it will be difficult to leave the Tampa Police Department, but the move to Cary suits his family's needs as well as those of his career.

He has three sons, the eldest of whom is about to start college at Furman University, about fours hours from Cary.

In Cary, his wife, Amy, and youngest sons, 12 and 7, will find a highly educated community where the median per-household income is $75,000. In Tampa Bay, the median household income is $40,633, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

Cunningham's last day at TPD is Thursday. He starts in Cary on Aug. 26, and he will make $113,000 a year, Coleman said. That's a few thousand dollars less than what he makes here, said Tampa Police spokesman Joe Durkin.

Hogue said he and Tina Wright, assistant chief in charge of administration, will discuss the selection process for Cunningham's replacement in the weeks ahead.

"You could bring someone in from the outside," Hogue said, "but I think we have plenty of talent here in the department."

--Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler can be reached at 813 226-3373 or svansickler@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 16, 2005, 05:25:05]