PEMBROKE — Grant Florita, a 13-year veteran of the Pembroke Police Department, has been named as its new chief effective on New Year’s Day.
Florita has been serving as interim police chief since September, when he took over the interim position from Detective Sebastian Veneziano. The position has been vacant since Frank Hernandez retired on June 25.
The announcement was made Monday afternoon in a statement by Town Manager Oryan Lowry.
“Mr. Florita has done a great job as interim chief over the last couple of months,” Lowry said. “He is well respected within the community and will continue to be an influential leader for the citizens of Pembroke.”
The statement said Florita was selected from “eight officers who had expressed an interest in the position.” The town conducted a written assessment of the officers and narrowed the finalists down to four, from which Florita was selected.
Florita will begin his new job today, but will be sworn into the position on Monday during the next Town Council meeting.
“My goals as police chief is to raise the standard of police service, to improve the quality of living in the town of Pembroke, to improve the image of the Pembroke Police Department,” said Florita, who has lived in the Pembroke area for 25 years, “and to strengthen the relationships with other law enforcement agencies.”
Florita currently lives in the Prospect area with his wife, Lisa, and three children. He graduated from West Robeson High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Pembroke State University in 1995.
Florita has been a member the Pembroke Police Department since 1999 when he joined as a patrolman, according to the statement. He has held the ranks of corporal and sergeant before being appointed as chief.
Post a Comment
