ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. -- A meeting today will decide the fate of a local police department.
The future of the St. Augustine Beach Police Department is on the agenda for the city commissioners' meeting at 7 p.m.
The city commissioners are looking at three different options with the police department:
- Keep the police department and hire a new chief
- Take a blended approach - hire a new chief, reduce the amount of officers and use deputies with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
Reportedly it would save the city of St. Augustine Beach around $720,000 a year if the city goes with option 3.
The department has battled some very public problems this year. In May, several of the officers filed a complaint against Chief Richard Hedges. It lead to a state investigation. In the end, the chief was cleared of any criminal wrong doing, but he resigned anyway.
The public is welcome to attend the meeting, anyone wishing to speak will be given three minutes. It will be at 7 p.m. at the St. Augustine Beach city hall.
First Coast News