CLEARWATER, Fla. — Police Chief Eric Gandy is hitting the ground running in his new role with the Clearwater Police Department.


What You Need To Know

  • Chief Eric Gandy has been with the Clearwater Police Department since the beginning of his career

  • He was sworn in as police chief in July

  • Gandy originally retired from the force in 2022 but came back to be police chief 

Gandy began his career in Clearwater and has been in several roles including sniper, K-9, narcotics, internal affairs and as a deputy chief.

In July, he was sworn in as police chief.

He originally retired in 2022 and became director of the city’s Marine and Aviation Department, but that didn’t last long. He was offered the job of chief and couldn’t resist.

“I wanted to come back. There was more gas in the tank to get some things done," he said.

Gandy said he is proud to have the job and serve the community he has worked in for decades. 

He took Spectrum News on a tour of old areas where he used to patrol and says the neighborhoods have improved dramatically since the 1990s.

Gandy said he believes in community policing and getting to know the neighborhoods and the people in them.