A year after a fire severely damaged the Wildwood police headquarters, rendering officers homeless, the department is well on its way through a major transformation.
A $7-million police headquarters is slated for completion next summer and Police Chief Randy Parmer, a 31-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office hired earlier this year, has brought new procedures and more professionalism.
The electrical fire last Oct. 21 sent dispatchers fleeing for their lives from the old block building on Huey Street. It also set in a motion a series of events that resulted in Parmer’s hiring.
A year ago, police officers were dealing with out-of-control block parties. At Monday’s meeting of the Wildwood City Commission, Parmer presented statistics that show improvement.
For 2019, the overall crime rate is down 3.9 percent, he said, which includes a 7.1 percent reduction in violent crimes and a 3.5 percent reduction in property crimes. Average response time for calls is three minutes and four seconds.
The department’s changes go well beyond crime statistics. Parmer also has beefed up the capability for crime analysis and stepped up recognition for good work. With the new police station, the city also is working to upgrade the department’s image.
Parmer said new software will boost his staff’s ability for crime analysis.
Emergency call dispatching was transferred several months ago to Sumter County and a former dispatcher now is a crime analyst.
At Monday’s meeting, the chief presented the department’s first community service award to Officer Christine Reynolds and said he plans to present more awards every few months. He also recognized Shooters World near Brownwood for opening its range to Wildwood officers and honored 21-year employee Lt. Russell Poitevent on his retirement.
City Manager Jason McHugh said Tangent Media, a local firm that designed the city’s new logo, has been asked to help improve the department’s image, which includes new uniform patches and website upgrades.
“It’s becoming a professional agency,” he said of the department.
Mayor Ed Wolf praised Parmer for providing a weekly report to commissioners.
“I’m so proud of what you’ve done for the city of Wildwood,” he told the chief.
The exterior walls are up for the new police station on the southwest corner of U.S. 301 and County Road 462 West, north of the railroad bridge. Commissioners Monday approved a construction payment of about $332,000.
The building will have a sally port for smooth prisoner transfer, a community room and a small tower near the entrance.
A year ago, the department’s prospects looked bleak. Construction of the new station was bogged down and the fire led to clashes between McHugh and then-chief Paul Valentino.
After the fire, Valentino and other police officials expressed concerns about mold and asbestos in the old building. A dispute with McHugh led to Valentino’s retirement at the end of last year and the departure of Deputy Chief Gerald Olbek and Capt. Ashley Rogers. Paul Sireci served as interim chief through the end of March.
Since the fire, officers have been operating out of a temporary trailer on the old station site and substations at Brownwood and on Jackson Street.
The turmoil, however, now is long past and the department clearly has set a new course.