FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — After a four-month nationwide search with an outside firm and candidate interviews led by city leaders and retired officers, Fort Pierce has a new top cop.
Fort Pierce announced Thursday that City Manager Richard D. Chess has selected David M. Smith as the city’s new police chief. Smith, who most recently served as commander of Eastern District Operations for the Prince William County Police Department in Virginia, brings 24 years of experience, the city said.
His accolades include service as Commander of the Personnel Bureau and extensive leadership in patrol operations, personal management, strategic planning and community engagement.
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His educational background includes a graduate certificate in Criminal Justice Education, a Master of Arts in Executive Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Management.
“This selection reflects the City’s dedication to securing a strong, forward-thinking leader who will continue building trust, advancing accountability, and strengthening partnerships throughout our community,” said City Manager Richard D. Chess, MBA. “Commander Smith’s experience and proven leadership make him a compelling candidate to serve the residents of Fort Pierce.”
City Manager Chess will present his recommendation to the Fort Pierce City Commission at a regular meeting scheduled for December 8, where the city commission will discuss and consider the appointment.
The selection of the new police chief comes after Chief Diane Hobley-Burney resigned in May, following a department survey that revealed deep frustration among officers over low pay, poor morale, and lack of support—issues that have contributed to high turnover.
Dan Zaros of Fort Pierce hopes out-of-state leadership will help curb the violence.
“I always look for changes and having somebody come in from Virginia, not knowing what the area is like, I think it’d be helpful to get somebody new to look at things from a different perspective,” Zaros said.
Others question why the two internal candidates were overlooked.
“I just hope that whoever the candidate is brings some structure and helps make the city better because this is a growing community,” said Walter Roeder of Fort Pierce. “There is a lot of potential here. It’s a beautiful place to live and I think whoever comes should be aware of what is going on. Honestly, I think somebody with an outside perspective might see some things, but I think it’s really important to have someone that has been here in the trenches, if you will.”
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