Daniel Carswell now serving as Chief of the St Augustine Beach Police Department
Melinda Conlon reported to Historic City News the official appointment of St Augustine Beach Police Chief Daniel Carswell from the interim position he has filled since November 9, 2020. The decision of the City Commission was unanimous.
Chief Carswell began his career with the St. Augustine Beach Police Department fifteen years ago in 2006. Carswell served as a patrolman for six years and was promoted to Patrol Sergeant where he supervised the daily activities of a patrol shift as well as the Field Training Program for the agency. He also served as Patrol Operations Lieutenant where he supervised all patrol activities, internal affairs, special events and agency training. Carswell was promoted to the rank of Commander by then Chief of Police, Hardwick in 2020. On November 9, 2020, Carswell was selected by the Commission to serve as Interim Chief of Police.
Life has taken unexpected turns for new St. Augustine Beach Police Chief Daniel Carswell.
Born and raised in Jacksonville Beach, he spent several years as a lifeguard in the city and planned to join the police department there.
But the department wanted him to have previous experience as an officer.
So he moved to St. Johns County and started working at the St. Augustine Beach Police Department in 2006. He planned to work a few years and return to Jacksonville Beach.
St. Augustine Beach is where his plans changed. I just fell in love with it out here, he said. I fell in love with the people here, the department, everything about it. And you couldn t force me to go anywhere else now.
The St. Augustine Beach City Commission Monday unanimously named Daniel Carswell the chief of police.
Carswell has served as the interim police chief since Nov. 9, when former chief Rob Hardwick was elected sheriff of St. Johns County. During the meeting, Hardwick voiced his strong support for Carswell as both the sheriff and personally from his family as residents of St. Augustine Beach.
Sgt. Natalie Gillespie also spoke favorably of Carswell, telling commissioners he “has poured his heart and soul” into the St. Augustine Beach Police Department since 2006.
“I am very excited and honored to be selected as chief of police,” Carswell said. “The St. Augustine Beach Police Department has an outstanding history of police chiefs who were loved by this community and the officers they led. I hope to continue in that tradition and maintain the reputation that the SABPD has earned. This agency means everything to me, and I am going to continue to work hard to serve this community
St. Augustine Beach selects new police chief
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Interim Police Chief Dan Carswell has been selected as the permanent St. Augustine Beach Police Chief. (Provided by St. Augustine Beach PD)
ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. – Interim Police Chief Daniel Carswell has been selected to take on the permanent role for the city of St. Augustine Beach.
The City Commission voted unanimously Monday to appoint Carswell as the permanent chief. He has served as the interim chief since Nov. 9, 2020, following the departure of Rob Hardwick to become the St. Johns County Sheriff.
Hardwick was among those who spoke on Carswell’s behalf at the meeting, saying he strongly supports Carswell both as the sheriff and someone with family living in St. Augustine Beach.