Clermont Police Chief Charles Broadway Ends Successful Term as FPCA Chairman

by Chuck Seaver, South Lake Tablet

Clermont Police Chief Chuck Broadway recently completed his term as president of the Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA). The FPCA is one of the largest associations of state police chiefs in the United States with over 1,000 law enforcement officers and members throughout the state of Florida. The FPCA serves municipal police departments, airport police, college and university police, tribal community police, and rail and port authority agencies. Members represent every region of the state of Florida, including state and county agencies, along with private businesses and security contractors.

The association’s original roots date back to 1952 with a mission statement to promote legislation that would improve public safety by providing superior police protection to the residents and visitors of the state of Florida. Today, the mission has expanded to provide better communication, education, and training for the various police and security agencies in the state of Florida. The FPCA has a strong presence in Tallahassee and regularly testifies on legislative issues. Members are often recognized by legislative leaders for providing insight into public safety issues and problems facing the criminal justice system.

When asked about his accomplishments as president of the association, Chief Broadway was quick to point out that no one accomplishes anything on their own. “First and foremost, I would like to thank my command staff, the members of the agency, the leaders of the city of Clermont, and my family for the support that has given me the opportunity to serve over the past year. The presidential term has required extensive travel throughout the state, including Tallahassee, on several occasions to meet with legislators and lobbyists on issues relevant to law enforcement. I will always appreciate and respect the team that is the FPCA, because together we are a force multiplier,” Broadway said.

During Chief Broadway’s tenure, FPCA membership grew by 72 new members in the last quarter of 2023 alone, and training conferences now attract as many winter attendees as summer attendees. Chief Broadway advocated for proactive member engagement at all levels of law enforcement while fostering additional partnership relationships in the community.

In partnership with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Florida Sheriffs Association, the FPCA team launched a Post-Critical Incident Seminar (PCIS) program. The program is a statewide initiative to provide peer-to-peer counseling to police officers and their spouses to help them find healthy ways to cope with stress and accumulated trauma. Supported by the FPCA and the Florida Police Chiefs Education and Research Foundation, the program marks an important step in addressing the mental health of police officers. “The feedback from the first seminar in Orlando was extraordinary, with many suggesting that every officer experiencing trauma should attend. One officer even said the seminar gave his life a new meaning and likely saved his life,” Broadway said. Multiple studies have been compiled and they agree that the average police officer experiences 118-125 incidents of critical, traumatic experiences during the lifespan of the officer’s 20-25 year career, compared to the average civilian who experiences 2-5 such incidents in their lifetime.

First aidAn organization that tracks suicides among law enforcement and other emergency responders from a variety of sources, published a report in March of this year that revealed a staggering 1,287 suicides among public safety personnel nationwide during the reporting period of 2016 to 2022. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, in a 2022 report, identified 32 suicides out of 22 law enforcement agencies reporting nationwide. “It is imperative that we recognize and help our officers maintain not only the best physical condition they can achieve, but also the best and healthiest mental condition,” Broadway said.

Chief Broadway outlines another program, “New Chief’s Training,” that was a collaborative effort coupled with support from state lawmakers during his presidency. The program is the first of its kind in the state and has received funding from state lawmakers. The mandate for the 40-hour course began in March of this year and is applicable to newly appointed police chiefs (three years of service or less). Newly appointed chiefs must complete the course within one year of their appointment. The course focuses on giving new chiefs insight into many of the critical issues they will face and includes interaction with other chiefs and city officials from whose experience they can learn.

Another challenge that law enforcement leaders across the country face head-on is recruiting and retaining new officers. Negative media coverage of law enforcement incidents and competitive pay scales have made recruiting difficult in recent years. Chief Broadway is exploring ideas such as having each chief in the state of Florida select a community member who can influence others in their respective communities to become interested in law enforcement. “Be the change you want to see in your community” is the message Broadway wants to convey to potential police candidates. “We need to influence others to become interested in the joy and fulfillment of helping people in their community by serving in the law enforcement profession,” Broadway says. Chief Broadway, who was the keynote speaker for the FDLE’s 2024 class of graduating officers, has faced recruitment and retention challenges in his department in the past. “We are currently fully staffed except for 3-4 sworn positions. Our application, background check and field training programs ensure that we hire and retain the best of the best,” Broadway says.

The Clermont Police Department was until recently the highest paying law enforcement agency in Lake County. With a starting salary between $53,000 and $55,120 depending on experience, the agency now lags behind agencies like the Lady Lake Police Department. The Lady Lake City Council approved a 30% pay increase for its sworn officers in the fall of 2023, bringing the current starting salary to $62,000. Lady Lake currently has a population of 16,179, compared to Clermont’s population of 50,383. The size of the agency is also lopsided by comparison, as Lady Lake employs 39 sworn police officers compared to Clermont’s 89. “I support the union in its effort to secure a higher salary range for both starting and seasoned salaries. We must maintain a competitive compensation and benefits package to not only attract our new heroes when recruiting, but to retain our seasoned heroes as well. “There are also several intangibles, such as creating an environment and culture where our employees are valued, appreciated and their input is validated, as they are a critical part of the mission and success of the Clermont Police Department,” Broadway said. The Clermont Police Officers and Sergeants Association Local 6013/ 6014, International Union of Police Association is currently in contract negotiations with city leaders. Union President Robert Corbett was unavailable for comment as of press time.

When asked what he learned during his one-year term as FPCA chairman, Broadway pointed to the opportunity to learn about other aspects of law enforcement in the region of the state. “It was a pleasure and educational opportunity to see what other agencies, such as those in the panhandle and South Florida, are doing to meet the needs of their communities. While we are one state, different regions of the state require different approaches to cultural, seasonal and geographic demands. The experience also reminded me how blessed and honored I am to have the opportunity to serve in this capacity. It made me very grateful for my own department and city after seeing other parts of the state. I am very blessed to be a part of the Clermont family,” Broadway said.

Chief Broadway is a 28-year veteran of law enforcement. He began his career in 1996 with the New York City Police Department, and served with the Gainesville Police Department from 2002 and the Florida State Police in 2004. He joined the Clermont Police Department in 2010. Chief Broadway has built a legacy in the community, including the support of his staff and his involvement in the community with events ranging from the recent Summer Youth Basketball Camp, Coffee with a Cop gatherings, and the Special Olympics Torch Run, to name a few.