FORT PIERCE — The City of Fort Pierce has named seven finalists in its search for a new police chief, narrowing the field from an initial pool of 57 applicants from across the country.
The candidates include:
- Eric Chan, police major, Investigative Services Bureau, Fort Pierce Police Department
- Michael Dieppa, chief of police, Chamblee Police Department, Ga.
- Caleb Gillette, bureau commander and acting deputy chief, Fort Pierce Police Department
- Vernon Hale, former assistant chief of police, Prince George’s County Police Department, Md.
- Mirtha Ramos, chief of police, DeKalb County Police Department, Ga.
- David Smith, commander, Eastern District Operations, Prince William County Police Department, Va.
- Milo Thornton, deputy chief, Corrections and Judicial Services Bureau, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office
Maj. Eric Chan, commander of the Fort Pierce Police Department’s Investigative Services Bureau, has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience. He previously served as assistant special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations in West Palm Beach and held senior leadership roles in Washington, D.C., and Miami. Chan began his career with the U.S. Customs Service in 1995 and holds a degree from Kean University and an executive leadership certificate from Harvard Kennedy School.
Acting Deputy Chief Caleb Gillette has served with the Fort Pierce Police Department for 24 years, rising through the ranks since joining as a patrol officer in 2001. He has twice held the role of acting deputy chief and currently oversees the Administrative Services Bureau, which manages records, fiscal operations, community programs, and specialized units. A former SWAT commander, Gillette holds a bachelor’s degree from Lee University, a master’s in criminal justice from the University of Central Florida, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Florida Leadership Academy…