Then And Now: Gulfport Police Department

The City of Gulfport is more than 100 years old. Just as the city and it's people have molded the city it is today, the Gulfport Police Department has helped shape what we see everyday. Read along and learn about some of the department's history.

When Gulfport was first established as a small town, there were not many residents and hence no need for law enforcement. According to the book Our Story of Gulfport by the Gulfport Historical Society (1985), when a law officer in St. Petersburg wanted a criminal on warrant for arrest, he simply asked the trolley conductor to fetch him. Johnney Leigh was known to be the first real police officer in Gulfport. He only worked on Sundays, holidays or when important people came to visit. 

The first official police department arose in 1910. The first marshal was John C. White. A bond issue for $4,000 was approved to build a town house and jail. This was how the first police department came to be. Since the town of Gulfport was a small fishing town, the marshal did not have much crime that required his attention. And to help out, he would deliver utility bills on the last Saturday of each month.

In the early 1920’s, the first police station was moved from Chase Park to city owned lots in Veteran City subdivision which is located in the present City Hall complex. The police station has remained in this particular area since this movement took place. There are no former police stations still standing.

In the economic pinch of the 30’s, counsel decided to ask the county sheriff to make our police chief a deputy of Pinellas County. The “blue laws” increased police duties and when they were rescinded the auto was causing lots of activity- speeding limited to 15 miles per hour meant collection of many $15 fines or 30 days in jail.  

In 1935 Lloyd Mount, the first appointed Chief of Police, was the go-to man in Gulfport. He was known to have a sense of magic when it came to handling crime in the town of Gulfport.

“They called him Mout because he used to say ‘I mout arrest you, I mout not’” Gulfport Historian Lynne Browne said.

The pay back then was $12.50 for a seven day week. The chief was also allowed to pump five gallons of gas from the city tank weekly for his ’55 Chevy. Since there was not much crime and therefore not many police officers when the marshal needed another cop’s assistance it was said that he would signal them by lighting the water tower. The problem with this was that criminals could also see the light and knew to flee the scene.

Police logs and court records used to be written out by hand. Several records are preserved and on hand at the Gulfport Historical Society today. They date from 1912 to 1926.

The mayor of Gulfport had played many roles back in the day, one of those roles was judge.

“The mayor used to run the city court back then, that was really a good system because everybody knew what everybody was doing.” Lynne Brown said.

According to Lynne Brown’s Book, A Definitive History, in 1942 the Gulfport Police Department hired its first woman officer. Her name was Edna Christman. Although she was not paid for her duties she is considered to be the first woman police officer in Gulfport. In 1946 she was elected to city council, but remained the town police woman while serving her duties on council.

In the early 1960’s the police department was only equipped with a 20 X 20 room, a kerosene stove, no air alert system or restroom, and their old radio room was enclosed in the building which was previously the police station before our current one. The old one resides right next door to the current police station. 

The prior police station, which would have faced the current police station from across the parking lot, was considered top notch; having three computers. Our current one is obviously much more technologically sophisticated as our world continues growing with its copious technological advances. Our current police station was built in 1994, and is adjacent with the city hall, as well as, double the size of its predecessor. 

“Four sergeants shared an office the size of one cubicle (in the previous police station),” a crime analyst for the current Gulfport Police Station said. 

The working conditions for Gulfport police officers have improved drastically over the last few decades. 

Our current Chief of Police is Robert Vincent. Vincent has been the Gulfport Police Department for 18 years, and was promoted to chief February 2, 2010. There have been thirteen chiefs in total since the first one was appointed in 1935.  

Detective Sergeant Robert Burkhart has served the community for twelve years, first as a dispatcher and today as a sergeant. Sergeant Burkart’s grandparents owned property in Gulfport throughout his childhood. 

“Although Gulfport is not my hometown, it has always been a second home to me growing up,” Burkhart mentioned.         

The Gulfport Police Department has seen many officers come and go and has encountered changes as well as badges. 

There have been four different badges and the current badge shines gold with a vibrant emblem in the center. Older badges were round and took the shape of a Chinese star. 

“In ’89 Stetson University purchased the badges we have now,” Sgt. Burkhart said.

Gulfport currently has 29 officers including the Chief of Police. While several changes have occurred over the last few decades, seeing new faces, new buildings and new technology, the heart and spirit of Gulfport police officers remain.  

“I have always liked this area,” Burkhart said.  

Historical information obtained from Our Story of Gulfport, (1985) by the Gulfport Historical Society and A Definitive History (2004) by Lynne Brown.