FORT PIERCE, Fla. — After a seven-month vacancy, the city of Fort Pierce has a new police chief.
The city commission on Monday unanimously approved the hiring of David Smith to lead the Fort Pierce Police Department.
Smith is the former commander of Eastern District Operations for the Prince William County Police Department in Virginia.
WATCH BELOW: Fort Pierce unanimously approves hiring of new police chief
Last week, Fort Pierce City Manager Richard Chess announced that Smith was his choice to lead the agency.
"I believe he'll be able to bring unification and bridge the fragmentation that exists," Chess said Monday.
Smith has 24 years of law enforcement experience, including leadership in patrol operations, strategic planning and community engagement.
Fort Pierce City Commissioner Michael Broderick told WPTV he spoke to Smith, who said he intends to keep the existing command staff.
"It's going to help with retention, it's going to help with recruitment," Broderick said.
Commissioner Curtis Johnson said he was pleased to learn that Smith wants to create an annual plan for the department.
"I think that that's going to provide the level of transparency people are asking for and seeking, and I think that that will also allow for us to continue to see how we can be of support to the police department and be of support to our community," Johnson said Monday.
The new police chief's contract still needs to be negotiated.
Commissioners hope to approve Smith's contract by the next commission meeting, scheduled for Dec. 15.
New chief named after 7 months
The position has been unfilled since Police Chief Diane Hobley-Burney resigned in May. Her resignation came after a report made an extensive request for recommendations for the agency, even though it found the agency performed quality law enforcement services.
The Fort Pierce Police Officers Union announced in October that they supported the city choosing acting Deputy Chief Caleb Gillette to become the next head of the department. However, he was not among the finalists announced on Friday.
WPTV also obtained a union survey revealing a deep dissatisfaction among Fort Pierce police officers, who critiqued the chief over her lack of visibility within the department and a "hostile" work environment.
WPTV anchor Meghan McRoberts also reported on an internal investigation that found decades of mismanaged evidence, ultimately leading to cases being dropped or people losing personal belongings.
According to a spokesperson for the city of Fort Pierce, the city spent about $25,000 on a search firm to hire the next police chief.
