St. Petersburg Police Department

Updated on Dec 29, 2024

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Common name St. Petersburg P.D. Formed 1903 Volunteers 62		Abbreviation SPPD Employees 757

Annual budget $86.9 million (2010 FY)

The St Petersburg Police Department (SPPD) provides crime prevention and public safety services for the city of St Petersburg, Florida. The department was created in 1903. The St. Petersburg Police Department has an authorized strength of 550 sworn officers and 212 civilian support staff. The department serves the fifth largest city in the state of Florida, with a population of 250,000. The St. Petersburg Police Department is one of over 1,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

The department utilizes a wide variety of proactive specialized units, both uniformed and undercover, to target specific public safety issues within the city (i.e.: auto thefts, violent crime). The department uses community outreach programs like Park Walk and Talk, Facebook, Twitter, and a tip 411 app to gather information from the community and address specific concerns.

Districts

The St. Petersburg Police Department has divided the city into three districts:

District One – Bethel Heights, Campbell Park, Bayfront Hospital, Roser Park, Lassing Park, Harbordale, Coquina Key, Albert Whitted Airport, Eckerd College, Lakewood Estates, Jordan Park, Maximo, Skyway Bridge

District Two – Downtown, Tropicana Field, The Peir, Northshore Park, The Vinoy, Harris Park, Placido Bayou, Meadowlawn, Fossil Park, Snell Isle, Shore Acres, Old Northeast, St Anthony's Hospital

District Three – Childs Park, Tyrone Square Mall, Azalea, United Central, Garden Manor, Holiday Park, St Pete General Hospital, Yacht Club Estates

Police Chiefs

Chief AJ Easters 1906 – 1921

Chief James Coslick 1924–1925

Chief Eli Vaughn 1925–29 and 1937–45

Chief R H Noel 1929–1937

Chief JR Reichart 1945–1958

Chief E. Wilson "Bud" Purdy 1958–1963

Chief Harold Smith 1963–1971

Chief Mack Vines 1974–1981

Chief Sam Lynn 1981–1990

Chief Ernest "Curt" Curtsinger 1990–1992

Chief Darryl Stephens 1992–1997

Chief Goliath Davis 1997–2001

Chief Charles "Chuck" Harmon 2001–2014

Chief Anthony Holloway 2014–Present

Fallen officers

Chief of Police James A Mitchell – December 25, 1905

Officer E.A. George – September 16, 1908

Officer Wayne Barry – May 23, 1929

Officer Eugene Minor – October 25, 1929

Patrolman Frank Pike – May 19, 1933

Officer James Thornton – October 16, 1937

Officer William Newberry – October 17, 1937

Officer James Goodson – December 25, 1947

Officer James Krupp – April 15, 1961

Officer Gene A. Bessette – November 10, 1961

Officer Charles L. Eustes – September 24, 1967

Detective Herbert Sullivan – August 18, 1980

K-9/SWAT Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz – January 24, 2011

Sergeant Tom Baitinger – January 24, 2011

Officer David Crawford – February 21, 2011

Events of 2011

2011 is considered by many to be the toughest year faced by the St Petersburg Police Department. In 2011 three SPPD officers were murdered within the span of less than one month.

Controversies with brutality

Riots occurred in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1996 following the shooting and death of an African American male teenage motorist during a police traffic stop.

The "Courageous 12" lawsuit

In 1965, a dozen officers (Officers Nero, Adam Baker, Freddie Crawford, King, Styles, Lewis, Leon Jackson, Wooten, Primus Killen, Deloach, and Keys) dubbed the Courageous 12 sued the city for discrimination with the assistance of attorney James B. Sanderlin. After initially losing their case, a Federal Appeals Court ruled in favor of the Courageous 12 in 1968, effectively ending the department's policy of segregation. The actions of these officers inspired African American officers experiencing discrimination in other departments to pursue similar lawsuits.

References

St. Petersburg Police Department Wikipedia

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