After 45 minutes of discussion and tossing around the idea of a possible Destin police department, the Destin City Council voted to again enter into an agreement with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office for services at the cost of $3.3 million.
Destin City Manager Larry Jones told the council the contract with the sheriff’s office is a 7.88% increase from last year, for the same level of service.
However, reducing the funding would reduce the level of service, Jones said.
Council member Sandy Trammell made the motion to approve the 2025 Law Enforcement Service Agreement to provide law enforcement services to the City of Destin by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2026. Council member Teresa Hebert seconded. The motion passed 5-1, but not before much discussion.
Council member Torey Geile questioned how much of the 7.88% increase was a cost-of-living-adjustment.
Capt. Jason Fulgham of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said 6% was COLA.
Geile did not like the idea of paying an outside contractor 6% more while the city employees got just under 3% COLA.
“So, they want to double what we are paying city employees,” Geile questioned.
Jones reiterated that if the city did not pay the increase, it would result in a reduction of service.
The proposed staffing would include 16 patrol deputies, two investigators, one deputy front desk, one marine patrol deputy and one community resource deputy, for a total of 21.
“We have to have the 6% increase to stay competitive with the market, or else we are going to start hemorrhaging deputies to Walton County,” Fulgham said.
He also pointed out that one of the reasons the city has a problem keeping code enforcement officers is the need for higher pay.
The city of Destin currently has nine code enforcement officer positions with five filled and four vacant, pending job offers.
What about Destin having its own police department?
That question has been tossed around for the past 30-plus years.
Right now, Destin is contracting with the Sheriff’s Office.
“Maybe that is something we need to look at,” Geile said of Destin having its own police department.
The last time Destin looked at a police department was in 2010, Fulgham said.
At that time, it was going to cost $11 million just to set up the infrastructure, that was without hiring anyone, Fulgham said.
“I know there is going to be cost,” Geile said. But he liked the idea of being able to “dictate” what the deputies or police would do.
According to Geile, Destin would want pay them to do the job Destin asks them to do, not the job they feel they want to do. His big concern was enforcing codes.
“When we set that ordinance, we need someone that can enforce it,” Geile said.
Fulgham asked, “Why would you pay us to do something that you can pay code enforcement to do?”
Right now, Crestview, Niceville, and Fort Walton Beach all have their own police departments.
Council member Jim Bagby said he’s voted against the idea of a Destin police department two or three times; however, he said it might be something they need to revisit.
“It’s probably time … we are getting into unstainable,” Bagby said with the rising cost each year with the Sheriff’s Office contract. “We can’t sustain a 7% increase.”
Bagby said he would be willing to lose one deputy and maintain the cost.
“I don’t know what the solution is,” he said, noting he wasn’t sure he would support the motion to accept the contract.
Yes, we need the Sheriff’s Office
“This contract is always interesting,” said Council member Kevin Schmidt. “Our partnership has been long … and hope we can work something out.
“I support law enforcement and ya’ll keeping us safe. We need you, it’s that simple,” Schmidt said.
However, he was not opposed to looking at other avenues.
“For now, I want to keep the Sheriff’s Office,” Schmidt said.
Hebert echoed Schmidt’s support.
“We need you. We need your team,” Hebert said.
“It’s hard to stomach the increase of what we’ve got to pay to keep you,” she said. “We don’t have a bunch of money to pay code enforcement.
“I’m happy with what y’all have been doing … wish we could do it without the increase,” Hebert said.
“Wish we could to,” Fulgham said. “We don’t charge ya’ll more than what it costs to put a deputy out here.”
Fulgham reminded the council that the primary responsibility of government is to “protect the citizens and provide infrastructure.”
“We are the arm ya’ll chose to protect it,” Fulgham said.
“If not satisfied, you can go look for your own police department, but I don’t think you’ll be satisfied,” Fulgham said.
Council member Rodney Braden agreed about the quality of service.
“I don’t think I’ve ever got a complaint about the service,” Braden said. “Thank you for your service.”
Jones, who has been with the city a year, spoke highly of Fulgham.
“He has always been available,” Jones said. “From a city manager standpoint, it’s nice to have them on our side.”
The motion passed 5-1 with Geile casting the lone no vote.
What does Destin get with the contract?
In addition to the 21 positions spelled out in the contract specifically, Destin also gets district supervision with a captain, two lieutenants, four sergeants, four corporals, one beach/marine lieutenant, one beach/marine sergeant.
Fulgham said 68% of the district calls in 2024 occurred in the city of Destin.
Through the Sheriff’s Office, Destin also gets support allocation, including a records clerk, facilities maintenance personnel, mechanics, crime scene/evidence technicians, crime analysts, legal staff and finance.
“When you talk about reducing the percentage, you’re talking about reducing a position,” Fulgham said.
The service population of Destin is a little over 14,000, according to the 2023 census. In 2024, the Okaloosa Sheriff’s Department had 37,671 calls for service in Destin with 21 full-time positions, at a cost of $92.66 per call.
This article originally appeared on The Destin Log: Destin agrees to pay 7.88% more to contract with Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office for 2025-26
Reporting by Tina Harbuck, The Destin Log / The Destin Log
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