TITUSVILLE, Fla. – Titusville Police Chief Tony Bollinger abruptly retired from the department he has led for 12 years.
Bollinger informed City Manager Mark Ryan on Thursday morning of his resignation.
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The police chief, who is in the Deferred Retirement Option Program, cited his uncomfortableness with "double-dipping" while the department was facing furloughs and pay cuts, according to an email Bollinger sent to police personnel and city council members.
"I found it increasingly more difficult to look at each of you knowing your struggles and also knowing that my departure could save money that could be redirected to help offset and alleviate some of your financial troubles," Bollinger stated in the email.
The city has not announced how it will replace Bollinger, who earned an annual salary of $99,091, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.
Ryan said he was confident the department's command staff can fill the gap.
"He's given the community 27-plus years of experience and knowledge," Ryan said. "There is a very talented group there that is capable of keeping the department providing exceptional service."
Bollinger joined the Titusville Police Department in 1985 as a patrol officer. He was promoted to detective, sergeant and lieutenant before becoming interim police chief in 2002.
This year, the city manager asked department heads such as Bollinger to reduce personnel costs by 10 percent for next year's budget.
At a Citizen Budget Advisory Committee meeting this month, Bollinger spoke out about the difficulties furloughs and pay cuts will create for his department.
"We have fewer staff and more bad guys on the streets," Bollinger said. "We are at a crisis level. We are tapped out."
Bollinger admitted he became "disgruntled and burnt out" and regretted how he "pushed the envelope" on budgetary issues to protect his employees, he stated in the email.
"I went around it all wrong, maybe good intentions, but failed in application," Bollinger wrote.