13 Applicants Vying For AP Police Chief

AVON PARK - Police Cmdr. Michael J. Rowan, now serving as interim Avon Park police chief after the forced resignation of former chief Frank Mercurio, said Wednesday that he plans to apply for the open position.

City Manager C.B. Shirey said he's already received 13 applications for the position.
The new acting chief has been busy adjusting to the transition and wants to take his time to submit an application.

"To me, the department is more important," Rowan said. "I'm going to take care of the department before I take care of myself. I want to take the time to submit a thorough application."

It's been a big change for everybody, said Rowan.
"Their chief was just asked to resign," he said. "This was someone they went to for guidance and looked up to. Monday was awkward. Tuesday seemed to be a little better."

Mercurio left his office spotless.
"It was hard to walk into his office and there wasn't the first piece of paper in there," he said. "It was awkward to say the least. But he always drilled into our heads to take the initiative, pick up the pieces and move on. I'll carry on this role (as chief), but people will still address me as commander."

Rowan said he wants to continue to move the department forward, obtain grants and keep equipment up to date. People should expect the same level of service they have been getting, he said.
"I would like to see the community get a little more involved with us," he said. "It's going to be a relationship-building process. It's not something that's going to happen over night. It's going to take some time."

"We're going to maintain our productivity, we're going to be proactive and we're going to move forward," Rowan said.
Whoever is selected, the police chief position is hired by and reports to Shirey. The chief oversees a $2.6 million budget and a department of 26 sworn officers and 15 civilians.

Shirey said Wednesday that at Monday's Avon Park City Council meeting he will clarify if the hiring freeze applies to the $68,000 per year police chief position.
If not, he already has 13 applicants, not including Rowan, from as far away as California and New York to as close as Sebring. The job was advertised in local newspapers, the Florida League of Cities data-gram, the International Police Chiefs Association bulletin and on the city's own Web site.

One applicant had dual addresses in Santa Cruz, Calif., and Knoxville, Tenn. She worked as a United Nations police officer and as a police advisor to Haiti, Shirey said.
"I found her application interesting," said Shirey. "She listed one of her skills as combat knife fighting."

Seriously, said Shirey, all applications will be looked at and if they have sufficient law enforcement training and experience, they will be considered.
"The position will remain open until it is filled," Shirey said.
Another issue will be if the chief is going to be required to live within the city limits, Shirey said.