PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Neighbors gathered to say goodbye to the Port Richey Police Chief.

  • Police Chief Gerard DeCanio says retirement date was chosen for him
  • According to the city charter, the city manager can make that decision
  • Supporters gathered Wednesday to thank chief for his service

Gerard DeCanio’s retirement is effective on May 1 but in true Port Richey fashion, there is some controversy with that decision.

DeCanio says his last day on the job was chosen for him by the City Manager, Vincent Lupo.

When we asked Lupo, the city clerk provided documents about the retirement.

Included was a letter from DeCanio to City Councilman Todd Maklary, describing an April 7 meeting that led to his retirement. According to the letter, Lupo asks the chief about a police “sting” he heard about against the current mayor, Scott Tremblay.

DeCanio said there was no such thing. Then the subject changed to his retirement.

“The conversation turned to retirement,” DeCanio said in an interview. “But there was no sting. There was no allegation on any criminal activity on the mayor’s part.”

Days later on April 15, the chief offered a letter of retirement to the city manager.

After inquiries about this from city council, DeCanio spoke at Tuesday’s meeting, saying he wanted to stay on the job longer due to the pandemic.

“I would never have turned my back on this city and walked out in two weeks. It just doesn’t make sense,” DeCanio said.

Lupo responded that the conversation was between him and the chief and he accepted his retirement. According to the city charter, the city manager can make that decision without council input. 

In response to all of this, neighbors, firefighters and fellow officers all came out to surprise the chief at City Hall on Wednesday, to thank him for his service.

“Pretty amazing. I didn’t realize I had this kind of effect on everyone,” DeCanio said.

The West Central Florida PBA also wrote a letter of confidence for Chief DeCanio and sent it to the city.

The chief is still not sure what exactly led to the date for his Port Richey career to end but he’s staying around town for now.

In fact, he plans to continue to volunteer for Pasco County Fire Rescue.

DeCanio took over at PRPD in October 2016. His career started in 1981 with NYPD.