TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

New Chief Proposed

ADVERTISEMENT

By LAURA KINSLER

lkinsler@tampatrib.com

Published: October 23, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - After a year of turmoil, the Zephyrhills Police Department needs a leader to usher in stability and accountability.

City Manager Steve Spina said acting Chief David Shears is the right man for the job. On Wednesday, Spina said he is recommending that Shears be appointed to the job full-time.

A police captain who oversaw the department's patrol division for five years, Shears was appointed acting chief in late July after Russell Barnes resigned. An internal investigation showed Barnes had falsified payroll records.

"I think from Day One, he was eager to show it was important to get back on the right track," Spina said of Shears.

The payroll scandal sullied the department's reputation. After being suspended without pay, Barnes resigned an hour before the city council was scheduled to vote on his firing. Sgt. Rob Perrault, the department's head of internal affairs, also resigned in the midst of the investigation to teach at Zephyrhills High School.

Another detective, George MacKnight II, was suspended and transferred to patrol duty. Both Perrault and MacKnight were paid for hours they claimed to have been on duty while they were teaching classes at Pasco Hernando Community College.

As acting chief, Shears revised the department's overtime policies and changed how the department tracks officers' work hours. He also updated job descriptions and revised the disciplinary procedures.

Some of the policies needed to be updated to close loopholes, Shears said. Disciplinary issues also need to be addressed in "a more timely manner," he said.

Spina agreed. "These are areas where we've had problems and needed more oversight," he said.

Trimming the budget was another priority, Shears said. He concluded the department was wasting money by leasing police cars, for example.

"There's no sense in leasing when we can purchase the vehicles outright and save $10,000 in interest payments," he said.

Shears' appointment will be on the city council's agenda Monday.

Mayor Cliff McDuffie does not have a vote, but he participated in all of the candidate interviews and endorsed Shears.

"He has a lot of experience, and he's done a good job as acting chief," McDuffie said.

Shears, 45, joined the department in 1992 - straight out of the police academy - and spent most of his career as a patrol officer and sergeant. He worked as a detective for a year and was promoted to captain in 2003.

He was Zephyrhills' police officer of the year in 2001.

Originally from Michigan, Shears moved to Florida in 1983. He worked as an electrician before entering the police academy at age 29.

Police Capt. Robert McKinney, the department's public information officer, and Assistant Fire Marshal Hector Noyas also applied for the job.

Spina said he received 10 unsolicited letters and applications from outside of the department. City policy requires that jobs be posted internally first, so no outside applicants were considered for the job.

Spina is recommending Shears be paid $60,674.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 865-4844.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT