Crestview residents discuss issues with interim police chief over coffee

By Cody Long, WKRG
Original article HERE

Nearly a week after Police Chief Tony Taylor was fired, the community is getting to know the interim chief.

Officials said it was one of the highest turnouts for officers and residents at this month’s “Coffee with a Cop.”

“It’s good for them to come out and get in the community,” Doug Capps said. “I think that’s something that’s been missing.”

Capps went to Hub City Smokehouse and Grill and met Interim Chief Jamie Grant who’s been with the Crestview Police Department for 27 years.

A month-long investigation ended with Mayor David Cadle letting Chief Taylor go. More than 30 officers filed complaints about favoritism, rule inconsistency and unfavorable shift scheduling.

“We went back to the patrol schedule they preferred and that did bring morale up quite a bit and if you have a command staff that recognizes the people are the most important part of the department, you take care of them then they’ll take care of you,” Grant said.

Capps has concerns about keeping officers and making sure they don’t go somewhere else.

“We’ve had problems with retention,” Capps said. “That was my question for Interim Chief Grant this morning was around retaining these officers. We’re losing them. Some for pay, younger guys, for pay. They want to jump for a dollar or dollar fifty an hour difference. He spoke, they might want to come back. That means they jumped for something else.”

Grant said he thinks by going back to the previous schedule and listening to officers concerns, they will likely stay. He hopes to have more community outreach events like “Coffee with a Cop.”

Grant also said they will soon be stepping some foot and bicycle patrols in the downtown area after requests by business owners.