Robert Vincent, Chief of Police
Hello, and welcome to the Internet home of the Gulfport Police Department. I hope you find everything you're looking for, but if there is anything we can help you with, please let us know.
My goal as the chief of police is to help you maintain a desirable place to live, work, and play. To do that, I embrace and employ several key concepts:
Problem Oriented Policing (POP)
This means, quite simply, that we focus our resources on the problems. We put a lot of effort into collecting and analyzing data so we know where the crimes are happening, and where people feel unsafe. We then go to work with specific srategies aimed at specific issues. We do this because police resources are not cheap, and I want to make sure your tax money is used in the most effective and efficient manner possible.
Community Policing
Community Policing is the oil in the POP machinery. In order to identify and solve problems, we need to know the community. We need to know the criminals and the trouble spots, but we also need to know who can help us and how. To do this, I ask all of my employees to develop and maintain relationships and to become involved in the community rather than just coming and going to and from a job.
Open Communication
I believe wholeheartedly in sharing information, both with the community, and within the police organization. I use social media outlets such as Facebook and a blog, and I spend about an hour each day patrolling and talking with residents, visitors, and businesses. Recently, I started what will become a regular "chief's chat," which is an open forum for folks to come by and share what's on their mind. Internally, I keep an open door to hear employee's concerns, and I share information regularly on one of multiple electronic applications so everyone gets the same message and has the same opportunity to express concerns and provide feedback.
My belief is that this police department owes more to this community than to simply answer your calls. We must be, and we will be, an integral part of Gulfport.
Career
1993 - Graduated Police Recruit Class #117 at St. Petersburg College
1994 - Sworn in as a police officer @ Gulfport Police Department
1998 - Assigned as school resource officer at Boca Ciega High School
1999 - Promoted to the rank of sergeant, assigned as Patrol Supervisor
2000 - Began as adjunct Instructor in law enforcement academies @ St. Petersburg College
2002 - Promoted to the rank of lieutenant, assigned as Patrol Commander
2003 - Assigned as Investigative Services Division Commander
2004 - Began service as assessor for Florida law enforcement accreditation commission
2010 - Appointed Chief of Police
2019 - Appointed to Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission
Education
1990 - Graduated from Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg
1993 - Associate of Arts Degree, St. Petersburg College
2000 - Bachelor of Arts Degree (Professional Writing), University of South Florida
2002 - Florida Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar
2006 - FBI National Academy, Session # 227
2006 - Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education, University of Virginia
2008 - Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration, University of South Florida
2012 - Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, Chief Executive Seminar
2012 - Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, Advanced Chiefs Seminar
Professional Affiliations
International Association of Chiefs of Police
FBI National Academy Associates
Florida Police Chiefs Association (Board Member 2012-2018)
Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Association (2013 President, Current Member)
Pinellas Police Standards Council (2012 Chair, Current Council Member)
Florida Police Accreditation Coalition
Florida Sheriffs Association
Volunteer Service
Lions Clubs International
Contact
727-893-1049
My goal as the chief of police is to help you maintain a desirable place to live, work, and play. To do that, I embrace and employ several key concepts:
Problem Oriented Policing (POP)
This means, quite simply, that we focus our resources on the problems. We put a lot of effort into collecting and analyzing data so we know where the crimes are happening, and where people feel unsafe. We then go to work with specific srategies aimed at specific issues. We do this because police resources are not cheap, and I want to make sure your tax money is used in the most effective and efficient manner possible.
Community Policing
Community Policing is the oil in the POP machinery. In order to identify and solve problems, we need to know the community. We need to know the criminals and the trouble spots, but we also need to know who can help us and how. To do this, I ask all of my employees to develop and maintain relationships and to become involved in the community rather than just coming and going to and from a job.
Open Communication
I believe wholeheartedly in sharing information, both with the community, and within the police organization. I use social media outlets such as Facebook and a blog, and I spend about an hour each day patrolling and talking with residents, visitors, and businesses. Recently, I started what will become a regular "chief's chat," which is an open forum for folks to come by and share what's on their mind. Internally, I keep an open door to hear employee's concerns, and I share information regularly on one of multiple electronic applications so everyone gets the same message and has the same opportunity to express concerns and provide feedback.
My belief is that this police department owes more to this community than to simply answer your calls. We must be, and we will be, an integral part of Gulfport.
Career
1993 - Graduated Police Recruit Class #117 at St. Petersburg College
1994 - Sworn in as a police officer @ Gulfport Police Department
1998 - Assigned as school resource officer at Boca Ciega High School
1999 - Promoted to the rank of sergeant, assigned as Patrol Supervisor
2000 - Began as adjunct Instructor in law enforcement academies @ St. Petersburg College
2002 - Promoted to the rank of lieutenant, assigned as Patrol Commander
2003 - Assigned as Investigative Services Division Commander
2004 - Began service as assessor for Florida law enforcement accreditation commission
2010 - Appointed Chief of Police
2019 - Appointed to Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission
Education
1990 - Graduated from Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg
1993 - Associate of Arts Degree, St. Petersburg College
2000 - Bachelor of Arts Degree (Professional Writing), University of South Florida
2002 - Florida Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar
2006 - FBI National Academy, Session # 227
2006 - Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education, University of Virginia
2008 - Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration, University of South Florida
2012 - Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, Chief Executive Seminar
2012 - Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, Advanced Chiefs Seminar
Professional Affiliations
International Association of Chiefs of Police
FBI National Academy Associates
Florida Police Chiefs Association (Board Member 2012-2018)
Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Association (2013 President, Current Member)
Pinellas Police Standards Council (2012 Chair, Current Council Member)
Florida Police Accreditation Coalition
Florida Sheriffs Association
Volunteer Service
Lions Clubs International
- Gulfport Club President 2017-2018
- Pinellas County Zone Chair 2020-2021
Contact
727-893-1049