Tampa, Fla.-(Newsradio 970 WFLA)-Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn has appointed Interim Police Chief Brian Dugan to the position of Chief of Police, replacing Eric Ward who retired in July.
Buckhorn says he's been watching Dugan over the past few months and says he has demonstrated steadfast leadership through two very significant events. Buckhorn points to Dugan's leadership during both Hurricane Irma and the Seminole Heights murders as examples of his great police work. Buckhorn says the department has not missed a beat since Dugan was appointed.
Dugan was hired in 1990 and spent several years in the North Tampa district that encompasses Sulphur Springs, Seminole Heights and New Tampa. He has also worked in the Criminal Intelligence Bureau, Street Anti -Crime Unit, Quick Uniform Attack on Drugs Squad (QUAD), Internal Affairs Bureau, Mayor’s Security Detail, and as a Field Training Officer.
Dugan earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from West Liberty University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Troy State University. He is a graduate of the prestigious Southern Police Institute’s Command Officers’ Development Course. Dugan attended the Senior Management Institute for Police in 2014.
Dugan will be making $171,412 per year.
Photo courtesy Tampa Police Department