Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom is a finalist for the police chief position in Pensacola, Florida. Winstrom, who has led the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) since March 2022, previously served over 20 years with the Chicago Police Department. The announcement was made by Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves on Tuesday (December 23).
Winstrom expressed his commitment to Grand Rapids, asking for patience as he considers his options over the next three weeks. "I remain fully committed to ensuring the City of Grand Rapids is a community where people feel safe and are safe at all times," he said in a statement. Winstrom will participate in a public forum on January 13, followed by formal interviews on January 14.
Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington praised Winstrom's leadership and the significant progress he has made in advancing constitutional policing and transparency within the GRPD. Washington acknowledged that Winstrom's expertise makes him a desirable candidate for other communities.
The other finalists for the Pensacola position include retired Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan and Erik Goss, the current acting deputy police chief of Pensacola. A decision is expected after the mid-January selection process.