By Dawn Krebs
dkrebs@hometownnewsol.com
FORT PIERCE - As part of a recent restructuring of the police department, five officers were promoted on Sept. 14. Three became sergeants, while two became deputy chiefs.
"The promotions are a result of a department reorganization we are undergoing," said Dennis McWilliams, public information officer for the Fort Pierce Police Department.
The reorganization came about when Capt. Brian Humm retired.
With only two captains left, Chief Sean Baldwin promoted the remaining sergeants to deputy chiefs, and then eliminated the captain positions completely.
While there isn't an increase of salary for the new deputy chiefs, the elimination of the captain positions will save the department money.
"It will save the department somewhere in the neighborhood of $100,000," Officer McWilliams said.
The two new deputy chiefs will share the duties of the previous captain positions.
Deputy Chief Frank Amandro has been with the Fort Pierce Police Department since 1994. He has worked in road patrol, investigations and administration. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and an adjunct faculty member at Indian River State College. In his new position, he will be in charge of the support services bureau.
Deputy Chief Gregory Kirk is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute, the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, the International Academy of Polygraph and the FBI Academy. He oversees the department's SWAT team and will be in charge of the community policing bureau.
The officers who were promoted to sergeant will get a salary increases with their promotions.
The new sergeants include:
Sgt. David Cuti, who has been with the department since 1998, has worked with road patrol, criminal investigations, major crimes, the joint terrorism task force and is cross designated with the Department of Homeland Security, as well as a faculty member at Indian River State College.
Sgt. Charles Donnon, who has been with the department since 2001, has worked with road patrol, traffic division and criminal investigations. He also works with the joint terrorism task force and is cross designated with the Department of Homeland Security.
Sgt. Melissa Martin has worked with the police department since 2006 in road patrol and major crimes. She is a certified hostage negotiator and a certified instructor in defensive driving and defensive tactics.