Search for new Plant City police chief down to five finalists.
May 30 will be Plant City Police Chief James Bradford’s last day behind the whistle.
In Feb. 8, Bradford announced he would be resigning as the city’s police chief to move out of Florida to be closer to family in Virginia.
Shortly after Bradford’s announcement, Plant City sounded the alarm and began searching for his replacement to oversee the department’s 81 officers.
Plant City Manager Bill McDaniel said the search for a new police chief is already well underway, with five candidates already selected as finalists for the position.
They are:
• Chiquita Thomas-Butler – assistant chief of police, Miami Police Department.
• Joseph Centanni – chief of police, Water Vliet Police Department, New York.
• Justin Duralia – Drug Enforcement Agency, supervisory special agent.
• James “Jim” McGrew – assistant chief of police, Tequesta Police Department.
• Richard Mills, Jr. – major, Tampa Police Department.
McDaniel said those candidates will take part in a public meet-and-greet event, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., April 25, at Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center, 1601 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
At the meet-and-greet event, McDaniel said the police department will be collecting feedback from the guests at the meeting. He said it’s important for the public to attend because they can meet the finalists, ask them questions and give the police department feedback on their feelings about each candidate.
McDaniel, who served as Plant City Police Chief from 1996 to 2012, said he hoped the current police chief vacancy would be filled before May 31.
In the search for a new chief, McDaniel hired Baker Tilly, an executive recruiter for public sector positions, to find qualified candidates to fill the position, which was posted on several websites.
The initial review of applications took place Mar. 11.
The consultant produced a list of 100 applicants which was reduced to 10 semifinalists and that was reduced to the five finalists,” McDaniel said Monday. “(The process) is moving along just fine.”
As police chief, Bradford has been known for his leadership and strong commitment to public safety. He was hired in mid-November 2020 after former Chief Ed Duncan’s retirement at the end of 2020. More than 80 applicants for the position were submitted and when the field of candidates was narrowed down to four, the city hosted a public meet-and-greet with each candidate. McDaniel hired Bradford, who had worked for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for 31 years, shortly after.
