This morning, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves held a press conference at the Louis Goss Police Headquarters to formally introduce Acting Police Chief Kristin Brown, following the departure of Chief Eric Randall on July 10.
A Veteran Leader Steps Up
Acting Chief Brown brings 29 years of distinguished service to her new role as the department’s most senior captain. She has spent the last five years in administration, overseeing training, personnel, finance, and re-accreditation efforts.
- “This police department, the city of Pensacola, has unknowingly maybe trained me to do this job,” Brown said. “They’ve had confidence in me, they have given me the education, they have given me the training to move forward.”
Brown outlined two primary responsibilities: “The first one is to you, Pensacola. I have a responsibility to keep you safe and to keep you happy in your communities and to move your community services forward. And my second responsibility is to my brothers and sisters in this department to give them the resources and the support they need.”
Data-Driven Decision Process
Mayor Reeves emphasized that the leadership change was based on comprehensive data, not isolated incidents. The city conducts annual employee engagement surveys across all departments, measuring trust and confidence in leadership. Note: I mentioned the surveys last week in my analysis of the situation.
- “We don’t make decisions flippantly or without data,” Mayor Reeves explained. “I was elected to work for the 55,000 people who live here in this strong mayor form of government. To serve our constituents effectively, my primary function is to serve and lead the 850 people who work for the city of Pensacola, including the 170 sworn officers among the 230 PPD employees.”
He continued, “I cannot serve the 55,000 effectively if the people who proudly wear a badge or the city seal or the city logo aren’t confident in the direction of leadership and cannot show up consistently engaged as they serve the public.”
The mayor revealed that expectations for employee engagement “had not been met to the agreed-upon standard over months and years of time, and we mutually agreed to part ways last week.”
Respect for Chief Randall’s Service
Both leaders expressed respect for Chief Randall’s service. “I want to commend Chief Randall for his service to the city. This is a difficult job, maybe the most difficult we have,” Mayor Reeves said. “I always have the utmost respect for someone willing to answer that call.”
He emphasized the decision reflected no ill will: “There’s no mystery to that… any theories out there… that has anything to do with ice that it has anything to do. Absolutely not.”
Community Programs Continue
Acting Chief Brown assured residents that ongoing initiatives will continue without interruption. “Chief Randall had a slew of community projects on the burner front and back. The command staff is aware of these, and we’re very supportive of them. They will continue.”
She emphasized her advantage in rebuilding trust: “I know all my brothers and sisters, I know all the professional staff, and we have a good working relationship. I have worked in every division that is in the police department.”
Timeline and Future Planning
Brown is enrolled in the city’s DROP program and will retire on Jan. 10, 2026. “A lot can happen between now and then. I expect it to, and I expect for our department to continue the service it’s giving.”
Mayor Reeves indicated that while a search for a permanent chief is likely, there’s no immediate rush. “I really am looking forward to hearing from all of her experience. And she saw the light at the end of the retirement tunnel, and we took it away from her. But I’m most interested in prioritizing an assessment of where we are and what our opportunities for inclusion are from Chief Brown.”
He added, “I want to allow the dust to settle around this. She’s been here plenty of time and knows backwards and frontwards everything happening here. And so I’m really looking forward to digging in on that and seeing how we can best empower folks here.”
Commitment to Excellence
When asked about the unique challenges of building trust in law enforcement, Brown emphasized the stakes: “This is a life and death job. That’s where the trust is… They make life and death decisions. They make decisions that aren’t always favorable to who the decision making is being done to.”
She concluded with confidence about the department’s future: “You are used to a certain stellar form of police service that is not going to stop. I only hope that it’s going to increase.”
