Bonifay police chief discusses imminent administrative center move

cbreaux@kentsmith.biz

The Bonifay Police Department’s coming transition into the old Holmes County Sheriff’s Office building on North Oklahoma Street is moving along.

Police Chief Johnny Whitaker discussed the looming transition during a City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 23. A contract between Holmes County and the City of Bonifay is currently being reviewed by legal representatives. 

‘We’re still waiting on, I guess, the contract,’ Whitaker said. ‘They were trying to do a month-to-month. I think we finally settled on a two-year (agreement). Once their attorney gets everything sent back to (the Holmes County Board of County Commissioners) prior to their next meeting, it should be approved.’

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been notified of the move. The BPD, along with the city’s fire department, is currently at 809 South Waukesha Street. The new HCSO administrative office is at 1173 East Highway 90 in the old agricultural center. 

The BPD’s wish to move into the North Oklahoma Street center was brought up during a Holmes County Commissioners meeting on Oct. 17. Holmes County officials were receptive to the proposal.

‘(There will be) a little bit of cleaning but we should be fine,’ Whitaker said. ‘There’s still a lot of paperwork’s that has to be done. … I feel like two year’s going to benefit both the county and the city. It gives us two years to try to get some appropriations, some other funds, to build our own agency and move our agency to another location than where we’re at now.’

The move is expected to happen sometime after the next Holmes County Commissioners meeting on Nov. 7, Whitaker said. 

‘We’re all making sure everything reads right-who’s paying insurance, who’s doing this, who’s paying what bill because we’re transitioning one of the ladies from the Veteran’s Association into our office to offset some office space for them,’ Whitaker said. 

Whitaker said he and Holmes County Sheriff ‘work good together’ and are frequent communication about existing items at the old HCSO center that would still be good for the BPD to use. 

‘We’ve been friends for 30 years or so. We talk daily,’ Whitaker said. ‘It’s all about moving forward and getting things done.’