Three candidates for the next City of Pensacola Police Department Chief of Police have been recommended to advance in the selection process and will participate in a public forum at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13.
The candidates are:
- Brian Dugan | Retired Chief of Police for the City of Tampa Police Department
- Eric Winstrom | Police Chief for the City of Grand Rapids Police Department
- Erik Goss | Acting Deputy Police Chief for the Pensacola Police Department
The public forum will be held at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St., providing an opportunity for members of the community to hear from each finalist and learn more about their leadership experience and vision for PPD.
Pensacola residents are encouraged to participate by submitting questions for the candidates online no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5.
Link: https://bit.ly/PensacolaPoliceChiefQuestionSubmission
The event will be recorded and posted to the city website. Forum attendance is open to the public.
Following the public forum, the selection committee will hold panel interviews beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14. The interviews will be livestreamed, recorded, and posted to the city website.
The selection committee reviewed 65 applications from across the country and ultimately selected three finalists based on leadership experience, professional qualifications, and alignment with the needs of the Pensacola community.
Each finalist will also have a one-on-one interview with Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves ahead of the Jan. 13 public forum.
“We had a strong pool of applicants for the position with many well-qualified individuals,” Mayor Reeves said. “Now, the focus is on finding out who is the best fit for the Pensacola community and how that person will lead PPD into the future.”
He continues, “It’s about leadership inside the building and trust in the community.”
The Pensacola Police Chief Selection Committee members:
- Associate City Administrator for Strategic Initiatives Cliff Collins
- City Administrator David Stafford
- Escambia County Sheriff’s Office General Counsel Debra Little
- Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police Labor Representative Daniel Harrnett
- Human Resources Director Ted Kirchharr
- Panama City Police Department Chief of Police Mark Smith
Pensacola Chief of Police Candidate Bios
Brian Dugan
Brian DuganDugan proudly served the Tampa Police Department for 31 years, finishing the final four years of his career as Chief of Police. Throughout his time with the department, he worked in nearly every division — giving him a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of police work.
As Chief of Police, Dugan faced some of Tampa’s most difficult and defining moments — from leading the city through a hurricane, a serial killer investigation, civil unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic, to mourning the heartbreaking loss of an officer killed in the line of duty.
At the same time, he helped the community celebrate some of its greatest moments, including hosting and winning a Super Bowl, Stanley Cup championships, parades, and other hallmark events that brought Tampa together.
Dugan earned his Master of Public Administration from Troy University and his undergraduate degree from West Liberty University in West Virginia. He also completed leadership programs at the FBI National Executive Institute and the Senior Management Institute for Police, as well as many other professional courses.
These days, Dugan serves as the managing partner of Dugan & Associates, where he continues to share his experience and leadership. Outside of work, he enjoys life in Tampa with his wife, Diana, and children, Ashlyn and Justin.
Eric Winstrom
Winstrom began his law enforcement career with the Chicago Police Department in 2000,
Eric Winstrompatrolling public housing on the city’s South Side. In his 21 years in Chicago, he rose to the rank of commander, taking on multiple leadership roles and guiding tactical, investigative, and administrative teams through some of the department’s most challenging periods.
In 2022, Winstrom was named the Chief of Police in Grand Rapids, Michigan’s second-largest city. Passionate about recruitment, training, community engagement, accountability and reducing crime, Winstrom consistently strives to foster a positive culture within his department.
He has been a guest lecturer on police issues at numerous colleges and universities and a regular expert witness in police-related litigation.
Winstrom was born in Buffalo, New York, and spent his childhood in both Austin, Texas, and northern New Jersey. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University, followed by a Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School.
Winstrom serves on the boards of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids and the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County. He was also appointed to the Michigan Community Corrections Board by Michigan’s governor.
Winstrom and his wife, Rachel — a former Chicago police officer — have been married for over 15 years and have a 12-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son.
Erik Goss
Erik GossGoss began his Law Enforcement career in 1997, serving as an intern for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement while completing his studies at Florida State University.
After graduation, he accepted a position with the Pensacola Police Department. Within three years, Goss was promoted to Lieutenant and served as the Patrol Watch Commander before being reassigned to PPD’s Specialized Patrol Division, overseeing the operations of the Traffic Unit, DUI Unit, K9 Unit and Airport Police Unit.
In this role, Goss also oversaw and led the Department’s Reserve Officer Program.
After five years as a Lieutenant, Goss was promoted to Captain and led the Special Services Division, which builds and maintains partnerships between PPD and the community through events, educational campaigns, and specialized policing units and programs.
As Captain, Goss led the School Resource Officers and programs, the Pensacola International Airport Officers, the Community Redevelopment Agency Officers, the K9 Unit, the Traffic Unit and recruitment programming. He also led the department’s non-sworn staff, overseeing social media, community outreach and new staff positions, applying a social work framework to law enforcement’s response to homelessness.
Since March 2025, Goss has served as Acting Deputy Chief of Police, responsible for the command, budgeting and day-to-day operations of the department’s four divisions, more than 200 personnel, and a $32.6 million budget.
Along with the Acting Chief of Police, he has served as part of the City of Pensacola’s leadership team, developing strategic police initiatives for enforcement and engagement in collaboration with the mayor, city administrator, other city leadership and community stakeholders.
Goss aims to continue serving the City of Pensacola, the greater Pensacola community, and the men and women — both sworn and professional — of PPD. He is committed to building the next generation of officers and leaders for the agency that has supported his 27-year law enforcement career.
