- January 7, 2025
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Next up for the Longboat Key Police Department is a search for a new chief. But there’s no rush, said Town Manager Howard Tipton.
In late December 2024, Tipton announced that Chief of Police George Turner would leave the department in January.
Turner’s tenure as chief began in 2021, which was his second stint with the Longboat Key PD. His first employment with Longboat Key began in 2001 when he served as patrol captain until 2007.
In 2007, Turner took over as chief of police in Brooksville, Florida where he led the department to its first accreditation. Later, in 2021, he was hired by former town manager Tom Harmer to do the same for Longboat Key.
He accomplished this in February 2024.
Tipton commended Turner on his 47 years of police service, but now Tipton looks to take the department in a new direction.
After Turner leaves on Jan. 11, Deputy Chief Frank Rubino will step up as interim chief of police.
Rubino will assume all the duties of the Longboat chief, which includes managing the budget process for the police department. Despite that sometimes being a difficult process, Tipton is confident in Rubino’s ability in the interim.
“I think we’re in good shape to go through this interim period,” Tipton said.
As for a search for the new chief of police, Tipton said he’s not going to rush into that.
During this interim period, Tipton said he hopes to meet with all police department employees and other department heads to find out what qualities they value most in a new police chief.
Then, once Tipton gathers this data, he said he will look at the next steps in a search. In other words, there’s no hard deadline for kicking off a search — he said that will start whenever they feel ready.
When Tipton does complete the search and select a new chief, he said having Rubino help lead the transition will make things easier by having someone already familiar with the department and the chief position.
“We’re anticipating a smooth transition,” Tipton said.
Tipton sent a memo to police department personnel on Dec. 12 to inform them that Turner will step down effective Jan. 11.
The memo did not list specific reasons behind Turner’s departure, but Turner told his staff in an email that he was informed that he would be stepping down due to Tipton wanting to take the department “in a new direction.”
“It has been an honor to serve the Town of Longboat Key,” Turner said in an email to town commissioners on Dec. 13. “My professional goal was to leave L.K.P.D. better than how I found it. Mission accomplished.”
In Turner’s email to his staff in December, he also acknowledged confidence in Rubino’s ability to lead the interim period.
“I have no idea of the new direction the town manager has in mind, but knowing that Deputy Chief Frank Rubino is named acting Chief of Police upon my retirement comforts me,” Turner said in his email to the department. “Deputy Chief Rubino will continue in the pursuit of excellence, Florida Accreditation and our high level of community service. I am sure he will have your support, as you have supported me.”
