Police chief list down to 13

Interim City Manager Terry Lewis’ final assignment for the city of Sarasota this week is to pare down a list of police chief candidates for new City Manager Tom Barwin to review.

On Wednesday, Lewis whittled that list down to 13 top candidates for Barwin, who starts Monday, Sept. 4. The short list doesn’t include any internal police employees.

A list that once stood at 98 applicants was reduced to 24 applicants last week. Barwin will review the final list when he moves into his office next week.

The new police chief will replace Police Chief Mikel Holloway, who retires in October.

Lewis, along with city Human Resources Director Kurt Hoverter and former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Assistant Commissioner Jim Sewell, reduced the list for Barwin.

The list doesn’t include current Sarasota captain and Public Information Officer Paul Sutton and retired Sarasota Capt. Thomas “Stan” Duncan.

“They are great police officers for this city and outstanding candidates, but they just didn’t make the cut when you reviewed the qualifications of the entire pool,” Lewis said.

Florida candidates who did make the list include Clearwater Maj. Mark Tenuis, retired West Palm Beach Assistant Police Chief Dennis Crispo and Salvatore Ruggiero, a retired Tampa police captain who this week is responsible for hotel security at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

Lewis said background checks on the 13 finalists will be performed before a candidate is selected. Lewis also said Barwin has the right to select a candidate who didn’t make the list.

Lewis, though, said he’s “very comfortable with the list.”

“It’s important this is a smooth transition between Capt. Holloway and the new captain,” Lewis said. “It’s one of the most important decisions for Mr. Barwin to make.”