In an epic showdown rivaling the fiercest pizza‑versus‑tacos debates, the Avon Park City Council meeting on May 12, 2025 voted 2–2 on whether to even study bringing back its own police department.
The tie? More tangled than headphone cords in a gym bag.
Having owned a home in Avon Park back in the early 2000's, I am quite familiar with the former PD.
Meet the Vote‑Split Squad
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For a feasibility study: Councilwomen Berniece Taylor and Michelle “Shelly” Mercure, armed with clipboards and visions of mounted K‑9 units.
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Against: Mayor Garrett Anderson, who may prefer his city served by Highlands County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies, and Councilwoman Brittany McGuire, possibly relieved she won’t have to pick out police cruiser paint colors.
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Absent: Deputy Mayor Jim Barnard—perhaps busy perfecting his “sheriff’s hat” at home.
High‑Level Dreams, High‑Dollar Realities
City Manager Dr. Danielle Kelly rolled out a “very high‐level” plan: hire consultants, hold public forums (popcorn provided!), and survey constituents on what they want in their law enforcement.
Next up: hire more consultants to “narrow down” those endless options.
But then came the cold tap:
“If that increase stays on that trajectory, you’re looking at well over $4 million” annually for HCSO contract costs alone, Kelly warned—nearly $800 per resident when you count patrol cars and deputy raises.
The Ghost of APPD Past
At this point, former Councilwoman Brenda Gray strolled to the podium for a cameo:
“The reason why the police department was disbanded in 2012 was because there was some corruption…and citizens did not want to go through that,” she recounted.
Cue the collective gulp.
Deputy Mayor to the Rescue?
Sheriff Paul Blackman—who personally delivers donuts to deputies—clarified that any future HCSO contract hike would tie directly to deputy pay raises.
“If we give our deputies a 5 percent raise—or 10 percent—the increase would be part of the contract,” he said, hands on hips, ready for budget negotiations stronger than a patrol car’s hydraulics.
When Shelly Mercure quipped,
“If we renegotiate and don’t give you the increase, what do we lose?”
Blackman shrugged:
“I’d need to dig into the data to tell you.”
Translation: “Let me consult the spreadsheet of doom.”
Startup Costs: The $8–10M Question
Pastor Moses Anderson—moonlighting as the audience’s question master—pressed on startup costs:
“If we don’t know what it’s going to cost us, why are we discussing it?”
Kelly ventured a wild guess of $8–10 million—a number so imprecise it might double or triple if you toss in bulletproof vests and fancy donut ovens!
DIY Police Department, Courtesy of HCSO
In a twist worthy of a buddy cop movie, Sheriff Blackman offered to skip the pricey study and share HCSO’s own numbers:
“If you want your own police department back, I will help you get it. We’ll do anything we can to help you get there.”
Suddenly, the feasibility study looked as useful as a “kick me” sign on a deputy’s back.
The Bottom Line
After two hours of cost estimates, county‐wide politics, and more acronyms than a texting contest, Avon Park stands pat: no study, no new badges, and more questions than reasons to revive the APPD.
For now, locals can relax under the safety net of 27 HCSO deputies—until next election season, when the entire debate starts again, shinier and budget‑busting as ever.
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