Fort Pierce Police Chief Resigns Amid Staffing, Morale Challenges

Fort Pierce Police Chief Diane Hobley-Burney has submitted her resignation, effective 90 days after acceptance by the City Commission, following internal turmoil and calls for leadership change. Her resignation came shortly after a critical report by the Center for Public Safety Management highlighted issues such as low staffing, difficulty retaining officers, and outdated policies within the department. Commissioner James Taylor had called for her termination, citing dissatisfaction with the department's status quo, which contributed to eroded morale and trust, as Hobley-Burney noted in her resignation letter. Former employee Larry Croom underscored concerns about a toxic work environment, lack of transparency, inadequate equipment, and excessive overtime negatively impacting public safety. The City Commission voted 3-2 to accept her resignation and placed Hobley-Burney on administrative leave with Deputy Chief Robert Ridle appointed acting chief for 90 days. If a permanent chief is not selected within that period, an interim chief will be appointed to lead the department.