AP Police Chief Search On Hold?

AVON PARK - The city's search for a new police chief could be put on hold if City Manager C.B. Shirey becomes the Avon Park Executive Airport's manager next month.

Shirey said that the council would instead try to find his replacement before they fill the vacant police chief position. He had no estimate on how long this could take, saying it depends on how quickly the city begins advertising the open position.

The Avon Park Police Department has had its police chief position vacant since late September, when then-Police Chief Frank Mercurio was forced to resign. Since then, Shirey received 60 applications for the position.

APPD Cmdr. Michael Rowan, who has assumed Mercurio's old duties while the city was searching for a new chief, said he did not expect this delay to have any further impact on the department.

"We're going to keep plugging along here," said Rowan, who is one of the 60 applicants. "We're managing and we're getting through it."

The city manager is supposed to hire the other department heads, including the police chief and, under normal circumstances, the newly created airport manager's position. Since Shirey is the city manager, however, the council will have to hire the airport manager's position. The council required Shirey to resign as the city manager if he's hired to lead the airport.

Shirey decided to apply for the position after the Dec. 10 city council meeting. At the meeting, he said he reviewed 16 applications for the job since the city began advertising for it in October, and only three of the applicants had airport experience. He argued at the time that he had an extensive background with the airport, a point the council members agreed upon during that meeting.

The city council will meet at 7 a.m. Jan. 2 to decide, among other items, whether it will hire Shirey.