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Officer's career takes U-turn to past avenue
It's back to emergency management, this time with the city, after years as a police spokesman.
By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published March 24, 2006
TAMPA - Joe Durkin, voice of the Tampa Police Department for 71/2 years, departed his post Thursday after taking a new job with the city.
The 45-year-old cop-turned-police-spokesman became known for his gravely voice and dry, gruff wit while working with the media in the force's public information office.
In 1994, at age 33, Durkin's career as a street officer ended after a man in a stolen van ran a stop sign and plowed into Durkin's patrol car. The wreck left Durkin in critical condition with a broken leg, broken ribs and internal injuries.
When he returned to the force, it was first to work in the department's emergency management division, a job that laid the groundwork for his latest move. He eventually moved to the department's public relations, but Durkin's newest position will be back in emergency management, this time with the city of Tampa.
Assistant police Chief Jane Castor characterized the move as a lateral one for the 20-year-plus Tampa police veteran. She said he will keep his current salary.
The head police public information officer, Laura McElroy, said Durkin makes about $55,000.
Castor said the department had been in discussions with fire Chief Dennis Jones regarding the city's newly restructured emergency management division. Because Durkin has experience and historical understanding of the city, leaders believed he would work well with Chauncia Cuellar, the city's new emergency management coordinator, who has been on the job for three months.
"We're looking forward to Joe Durkin joining our emergency management team on Monday," Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade said.
Durkin could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon. McElroy said he'd cleared his office Thursday. Though the announcement of Durkin's departure seemed sudden to the media he worked with, McElroy said it was not sudden news to those within the department.
Wade said he wasn't sure what Durkin's new title would be, but he would be helping design disaster response plans in coordination with county government.
Times researcher Cathy Wos contributed to this report.
[Last modified March 24, 2006, 02:15:43]
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