Interim City Manager Cynthia W. Curry has announced Acting Chief Operating Officer Tony Jones has been appointed the city’s special advisor for juvenile justice and community support programs. In addition, Acting Chief of Police Lonnie Scott will become the Gainesville Police Department’s next police chief. Both will assume their new roles Monday, July 25.
“Chief Jones will have the opportunity to leverage the networks and relationships he has built over his stellar 47-year tenure at the city,” Curry said.
In his new role, Jones will continue to impact the reduction of gun violence and develop effective intervention programs for at-risk youth and young adults across the city. He also will continue to serve as the neighborhood manager for the Pineridge Neighborhood as part of the city’s Community F.I.R.S.T. initiative that promotes a facilitative, innovative, restorative, supportive and timely approach to neighborhood needs.
Jones will report to the interim city manager with a working relationship in partnership with the chief of police. He will continue to serve as a board member for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the Coalition for Juvenile Justice. Most recently, he was elected as the Southern Region chair of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice.
Acting Police Chief Lonnie Scott’s 37-year career in law enforcement includes working in and/or supervising every component of a law enforcement agency from administration to patrol.
“Chief Scott brings decades of experience in the operational management of a police department, developing a well-trained workforce and ethical police force, and knowledge of violence intervention and prevention,” Curry said.
Scott was a member of the original Community Oriented Policing Team at GPD, and assisted with the design and implementation of the Community Oriented Policing philosophy. Under his leadership, GPD has excelled in developing community partnerships to assist with neighborhood problem identification and resolution resulting in improved community relations and crime reduction. He serves as the neighborhood manager for the Springtree and Hazel Heights neighborhoods as part of the Community F.I.R.S.T. initiative.
Chief Scott is a member of the Florida Police Chiefs Association, the Black on Black Crime Task Force, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.
Original source can be found here.
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