Police Chief applicants released
The Kissimmee City Commission met last week to conduct their annual strategic goal-setting retreat for the next fiscal year, which starts in October 2025.
The multi-part annual process started early in January when individual city departments developed their goals and objectives. Department heads then met with City Manager Mike Steigerwald and other senior city staff, along with strategic planning consultant Lyle Sumek, to collaborate, refine, and prioritize goals from the city staff’s perspective.
At the same time, Sumek, who has been the city’s consultant for this process for over two decades, conducted one-on-one interviews with city commissioners to obtain their input on what areas the city should be focusing on for the coming fiscal year. Sumek, who works with cities and counties extensively in the State of Florida and nationally, is able to advise his clients on the issues, challenges, and trends he sees occurring in other jurisdictions.
Wednesday’s meeting was the culmination of these several efforts, enabling the commission, with two new members including the mayor, with further input from the city senior staff, to draft their goals for the city in 2026.
As in years past, the need for additional police officers and firefighters and expanded facilities for first responders came in high on the list. Facing the ever-increasing competition to retain and hire first responders across Central Florida, the city is looking to develop a fourth shift of firefighters to reduce the average work week from 56 hours to 48, with firefighters working a standard 24-hour work shift. Two previously planned fire station projects are continuing towards becoming operational in early 2027.
Commissioners are looking at a “safe downtown” effort that to address incidents that will require additional police officer positions. To complete a planned expansion of the existing downtown Kissimmee Police Department facility, the adjacent former Bruce Wilson photography studio property has been purchased and will be used for expansion. During the discussion on goals associated with public safety, Mayor Jackie Espinosa pointed to the recent terrorist shooting in New Orleans and wildfires in Los Angeles as reminders to ensure action was being taken to be prepared continuously.
On the police topic, City Manager Steigerwald advised he was in the initial round of interviewing nine applicants for police chief, with the Osceola County Sheriff ’s office and the St. Cloud Police Department assisting him in those interviews. He indicated that a candidate would be selected by the end of March.
The list of nine includes: retired OPD chief Orlando Rolón; longtime Osceola Sheriff’s Major and current Universal Studios security manager Michael Fisher; former Osceola sheriff captain and current state trooper Alejandro Guevara; former Osceola Sheriff Major and now Sarasota County Schools Safety and Security director; Jacob M. Ruiz: Clermont police chief Charles L. Broadway; New Mexico Deputy police chief Kyle A. Dowdy; Georgia Deputy police chief Timothy Powers; Miami Veterans Affairs Federal police chief Steven D. McCarver; and retired St. Lucie County Sheriff Stephen R. Sigmon.
Steigerwald also advised that a required report to the State Attorney’s office responding to a Grand Jury’s October 2024 Presentment findings on excessive force would be sent by early March. The report will address the police department’s culture, training, and resources in connection with recent excessive force allegations.
By the end of the session, a slate of goals for 2026 emerged outside of public safety. Funding $25 million in park infrastructure at Lancaster Ranch includes site preparation for a field house to be developed with a private partner. Several projects at the city’s Kissimmee Gateway Airport, including a new control tower and a U.S. Customs facility ranked high and would be largely funded by state and federal aviation grants.
Other goals include continuing efforts to combat homelessness and boosting economic development by supporting workforce development training with partners such as Valencia College and Osceola Technical College. Several other economic development projects include using public-private partnerships to develop the now city-owned former Kmart property on Vine Street and the surge in interest in developing a downtown hotel at the Toho Square garage site and renovating the Civic Center. There is also private interest in constructing an extended-stay hotel on airport property.
The finalized draft of the goals and objectives will be presented to the commission for adoption at a future commission meeting.
