Police chief retiring from Mexico Beach

Mexico Beach Chief of Public Safety Brad Hall submitted a letter to city administrator Chris Hubbard on Aug. 2 informing Hubbard that Hall would be retiring effective at 4:30 p.m. CT on Oct. 2.

Hall?s retirement comes at a time when the Department of Public Safety is in upheaval.

Hall, as well as two officers, is currently on paid administrative leave pending inquiries or investigations by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Bay County Sheriff?s Office.

In addition, leaders of the volunteer fire department have expressed dissent with several budget proposals from the city council to cut funding to the department, resulting in a threat to disband the department.

According to the Sheriff?s Office, FDLE has completed its initial inquiry, opening the way for the Sheriff?s Office to undertake an investigation, which just go underway.

According to Hubbard, who addressed the subject at last week?s city council meeting when asked by Councilwoman Tonya Castro, Hall?s retirement plans did not negate or stop the investigations in progress.

The announcement that Hall was retiring was met by an audible gasp from the audience during the meeting.

The FDLE inquiry was launched in May into what to date have been unspecified allegations. The council asked the BCSO to undertake an internal investigation after the FDLE was through.

Castro said she wanted the council to look into hiring an independent agency to vet candidates for the chief?s position, and not to simply hire internally without a more in-depth search, although, she added, current Mexico Beach police officers could apply for the position.

No decision was made at last week?s meeting.

In his retirement letter, Hall noted that he has been associated with the City of Mexico Beach since the age of 12 when he became a Chief of the Junior Fire Department. He served later as a volunteer firefighter, auxiliary police officer, reserve officer, full time officer and was promoted from corporal to sergeant to lieutenant and finally chief of the Department of Public Safety, created in the late 1990?s to consolidate police, fire and EMS services.

He noted that his tenure has featured ?ups and downs? but ?I have many great experiences and memories to take with me on my next endeavors in life.?

Saying he would be ?grateful to assist? in the process of administrative transition, Hall added that, ?I want to thank all of the citizens who supported me and gave me the opportunity to serve them as a true public servant for the last 21 years. This will be my greatest memory of all, I will forever cherish my public service.?

* There will be a special city council meeting at 5 p.m. CT tonight at the Civic Center as the council discusses the design and plans for the new city hall and police department to be constructed within the rehabbed Parker House, which the city purchased last year.

Source: http://www.starfl.com/news/hall-25351-hubbard-mexico.html

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