Police Department Shares Overview With City Commission

Chief Diane Hobley-Burney, Deputy Chief Robert Ridle, Deputy Chief Kenny Norris and several other officers appeared before Mayor Linda Hudson and members of the City Commission on June 12 to present an overview of the Fort Pierce Police Department.

Chief Hobley-Burney talked about the Centennial Anniversary of the Police Department and offered thanks to all of those who participated in the special event. She also highlighted many of the significant achievements for the Police Department, including accreditation, the unveiling of the “Hero” statue, the dedication of the Sergeant Danny Parrish Fallen First Responders Park, the Faith & Blue event, a ceremony honoring volunteers, charity bike rides honoring fallen officers, the highly successful Tip A Cop events for Special Olympics, the weekly Courageous Kids program and the growth of the agency’s Facebook page.

Chief Hobley-Burney also discussed current staffing levels and future needs as the local community continues to grow at a rapid pace. She offered a variety of statistics about calls for service, areas that need extra attention, deferred calls, and the impending retirements of 23 officers in the next five years.

Deputy Chief Ridle addressed some of the technological advantages the Police Department is putting to good use, such as Flock Safety Automatic License Plate Readers, patrol vehicle camera systems and body cameras. He also talked about future equipment needs that include more cameras, new patrol and rescue boats and more patrol vehicles.

Deputy Chief Norris discussed the Community Policing Bureau, which includes the Patrol Division, the Criminal Investigations Division, the Crime Suppression Unit, and the K-9 Unit. He also addressed the rapidly increasing volume of calls for service and traffic enforcement, followed by a breakdown and statistics regarding each of the units he oversees.

Chief Hobley-Burney closed the session by pointing out that “Heroes Work at the Fort Pierce Police Department.” She offered thanks to the members of the Police Community Advisory Committee and answered questions from the Mayor and all the Commissioners

Swearing In of Major Michael Santiago

On June 12, 2023, the Fort Pierce Police Department welcomed the newest member of its family, swearing in Major Michael Santiago, a 27-year law enforcement veteran who spent 25 years with the Lauderhill Police Department. He was sworn in by Chief Diane Hobley-Burney in front of his immediate family members and his Fort Pierce Police Department family.

Prior to joining the Fort Pierce Police Department, Santiago held positions in a variety of operational assignments, including an attachment to the FBI organized crime task force, supervisor of Patrol Operations, a Major Narcotics group assigned to the Metro-Broward Drug Task Force, and Major Crimes for the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division. He also served more than eight years as the SWAT Team Commander, the Major for the Special Operations Division and the Public Information Officer until his recent retirement from the Lauderhill Police Department.