With the retirement of Chief Michael Cantaloupe in December 2020, after serving 30 years with the Cocoa Police Department, the City of Cocoa will be initiating a recruitment process for the next Chief of Police. Below is more information about the process.

Phase 1: Ideal Candidate Development (September 2020)

• City Manager to meet with and survey each member of City Council to identify ideal characteristics for the ultimate selected candidate including management style, department focus and experience.
• City Manager to solicit input from Police Department personnel and unions to identify ideal characteristics for the ultimate selected candidate.  
• City Manager to solicit input from the Police Community Relations Advisory Board members to identify ideal characteristics for the ultimate selected candidate. 
• City Manager to solicit community input to identify ideal characteristics for the ultimate selected candidate. Survey was open from  September 11 - 25, 2020 for citizen input.

Phase 2: Recruitment (September - October 2020)

• The City will review and revise the job description accordingly and create a recruitment brochure. 
• Recruitment initiated through a national broad-based search.

Phase 3: Candidate Evaluation (November - December 2020)

• City Manager will organize a committee to assist in evaluating/interviewing top candidates. Each City Councilmember and the City Manager will appoint a member of this committee. This committee will review the qualified applicants and assist in narrowing the field to conduct virtual interviews and narrow the pool to three (3) candidates.
• Community Meet and Greet for top three (3) candidates: Each of the top three (3) candidates will answer community questions. More information to come soon on the exact date for this event.

Phase 4: Candidate Selection (January 2020)

• Candidate selection anticipated in January 2020.