West Michigan police chiefs vying for Florida post

West Michigan police chiefs vying for Florida post

David Rahinsky. Photo by Michael Buck

Grand Rapids Police Department Chief David Rahinsky and Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief Jeffrey Hadley are in the running to become the next police chief of Punta Gorda, Florida.

The two West Michigan men are among eight other candidates vying for the position, and they will be interviewed in November, according to an article last week by WINK News in Fort Myers, Florida.

Rahinsky was minted as the police chief of Grand Rapids in July of 2014.

Coupled with his three-year tenure as police chief, Rahinsky has more than 20 years of experience working in the law enforcement. He started his career in 1987 as a police officer for the Southeastern Transit Authority in Philadelphia, according to his resume posted on WINK News’ website.

Hadley was appointed chief of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety in June of 2008, according to the Police Foundation.

He oversees 225 police officers and firefighters. Hadley began his career in 1991 as a patrol officer with the Cape Coral Police Department in Florida.

Punta Gorda’s previous police chief was terminated in August after an internal investigation conducted by the city regarding a deadly shooting incident, WINK News reports.