Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 7-7-17

Feature
Tampa Police Chief Retires To Pursue Other Interests
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Thursday morning,
Mayor Bob Buckhorn
announced that Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward would be retiring to pur- sue other interests. Mayor Buckhorn has appointed Assistant Chief Brian Dugan to serve as Acting Tampa Po- lice Chief.
Mayor Buckhorn
said the City will conduct a national search in an effort to fill the vacancy. The transfer of power will take place on August 1st.
Chief Ward said he made the decision based primarily on two factors: he has accomplished the goals he set for himself as Chief, and the new posi- tion represented a unique opportunity that he could not pass up.
“This has been an ex- tremely difficult decision. “I have spent virtually my entire adult life at the Tampa Police Department. This department and the people here have made me the person that I am today. I will always be grateful to Mayor Bob Buckhorn for the experiences and opportunities to serve the Tampa community as
MAYOR BOB BUCKHORN
their Chief of Police.” Chief Ward contin- ued, “I know that I’m leav- ing the department in excellent shape and in good hands. Now, I’m looking forward to the
next chapter.’’
Chief Ward will begin
his new career with the rapidly expanding Tampa- based Coca-Cola Bever- ages Florida, LLC in the coming weeks.
Mayor Buckhorn
said he will conduct a na- tional search to find Ward’s successor. During this transition, Assistant Chief Brian Dugan will serve as interim chief.
Mayor Buckhorn said, “From his time as a young officer to the leadership he’s provided to Tampa’s finest, I can certainly
ERIC WARD
... Tampa Police Chief
speak for the entire City of Tampa staff when I say Eric’s presence will be sorely missed. “His career and service to the City of Tampa has been impecca- ble at every turn and I am grateful for his years of service to the community and department he loves. The Tampa Police Depart- ment is better for his lead- ership and ready for its next chapter. We wish him all the best in his next en- deavor.”
Mayor Buckhorn se- lected Chief Ward to fill the position after former Chief Jane Castor re- tired in May 2015.
A Tampa native, Chief Ward is a 29-year veteran of the department. He graduated from Hillsbor- ough High School in 1984,
BRIAN DUGAN
... To serve as Acting Tampa Police Chief
and prepared himself for a career in law enforcement. He joined the Tampa Po- lice Department in 1988.
Chief Ward enrolled at St. Leo College, where he earned his degree in Criminal Justice. He con- tinued his education at that institution of higher learning and earned his B. A. degree in Criminal Jus- tice.
During his career in law enforcement, Chief Ward has been assigned to the Criminal Intelli- gence Bureau, K-9, Gang Suppression Unit, Fire- house Program, Street Anti-Crime Squad and Se- lective Enforcement Bu- reau.
Chief Ward was also a member of the depart- ment’s Tactical Response Team, Honor Guard, and Hostage Negotiation Team before becoming a senior
staff member.
He is a graduate of the
prestigious Police Execu- tive Leadership Develop- ment program and the United States Secret Serv- ice Dignitary Seminar for Managers.
Chief Ward was raised in East Tampa, where he was a member of the Belmont Heights Little League. He is married and the father of two children.
Assistant Chief Brian Dugan most re- cently was responsible for the department’s high pro- file investigations, Special Operations, and Support Division.
During his career, As- sistant Chief Dugan has gained experience working in practically every area of the department.
He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Crim- inal Justice from West Liberty University. He continued his education at Troy State University, where he earned a Master of Public Administration Degree.
He also graduated from the prestigious Southern Police Institute’s Com- mand Officers’ Course and the Senior Management Institute for Police.
Assistant Chief Dugan is married and the father of two children.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017