One to Watch

New police chief Dennis Jones is ready to protect and defendChief Dennis JonesTechnology and Traffic are Top Priority

By Jason Dehart

Tallahassee Police Chief Dennis Jones has been pretty busy since he started work on May 21. He has been settling in, getting to know the community, and working on his plans to keep TPD on the cutting edge of community service and law enforcement.

“I’m very impressed with our crime prevention, very impressed with our C.O.P.P.S. (Community Oriented Policing and Problem-Solving) Program, and we’ve got a really good grasp on our homeland security,” said Jones, a 25-year veteran of the Daytona Beach Police Department. “(Former Chief Walt) McNeil ran a really great, professional organization, and that’s one thing that was pretty exciting for me.”

Tallahassee’s population is much larger than the popular beach town. With so many more people to meet and talk to, it has been a challenge to get his message out – but rewarding, nevertheless.

“I’ve found the community is very supportive and welcoming,” Jones said.

His goals are straightforward: continue the department’s popular and successful public interaction programs, and stay focused on traffic safety and enforcement.

“When we do our surveys, it seems that traffic enforcement is even higher than current concerns about drugs and street crime,” Jones said.

Overall, Jones’ transition has been smooth, but he’s not the complacent type.

“I’m looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead,” he said.