The Tallahassee Police Department’s top brass are all leaving the agency after opting into the city’s voluntary severance program.
All three deputy chiefs — Maurice Holmes, Tonja Bryant-Smith and Jason Laursen — are taking the city’s buyout after 20 years or more with TPD, according to records obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat. They report directly to Police Chief Lawrence Revell and Assistant Police Chief Mike Suleski.
The two majors, who directly report to Laursen, and a lieutenant are also leaving, alongside nearly two dozen officers and employees taking the severance package.
Revell in an exclusive interview with the Democrat said he has mixed emotions about the turnover, as there’s a lot of experience “walking out the door.”
“It’s a bittersweet time,” he said. “We’re sorry to see these people leave and excited for their new phase of life, but also really excited for the opportunities that lay ahead for the great people we have here to step up in new roles and lead.”
Everyone had different reasons for leaving with some citing family reasons, while others decided it was just time, he said.
“This is not an easy decision, but it is the right one for me at this time,” Holmes wrote in his resignation letter that the Democrat obtained in a public records request. “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have served alongside each of you and for the relationships, support and experiences we have had over the last six and a half years.”
Bryant-Smith said in her resignation letter that after 34 years in law enforcement, she now needs to focus on her family.
“It is with a heavy heart that I submit my retirement from the Tallahassee Police Department,” she wrote. “I am thankful for the opportunity, support and guidance you have provided me with. I will be forever grateful.”
The three deputy chiefs were all in the city’s DROP program, which allows city employees to technically retire but stay on the job for a period of time.
Because of this, Revell said he knew their resignations were a possibility after the buyout was announced, but he didn’t know five people at the top of his 19-person command staff were all going to resign at once.
The city commission approved the voluntary separation program April 15 during a budget workshop as a way to stay on top of budget constraints, giving nearly 2,800 employees the choice to exit.
Any full-time city employees that were hired before the beginning of 2026 were eligible for the severance package, which would equate to either 12 weeks of pay or $20,000, “whichever is greater.” The city is also covering 100% of the employee’s health insurance premium costs through the end of the calendar year, according to the city’s presentation at the meeting.
The exodus of TPD’s top officials comes at the same time as the city’s top post is in a period of transition. City Manager Reese Goad announced his plans to retire roughly two weeks after the city’s severance program was approved and would take effect weeks before a pivotal city election that could decide whether the moderate or progressive faction controls City Hall.
Goad told the Democrat in an exclusive interview that he isn’t taking the severance package and that he’s leaving because the “timing is really good” considering everything happening in his personal and professional life.
Although he still is leading the agency, Revell technically retired several years ago after he entered and completed the DROP program. He’s been working under a contract with the city that is set to expire in 2029 and did not elaborate on how the exodus of employees might impact his decision to officially retire.
While the city budget director said the impacts of the severance program wouldn’t be severe and he only anticipates that between 75 and 125 employees would take the offer, the hollowing out of the top ranks at TPD could pose challenges to the department.
Revell, however, said the agency has “very qualified people” ready to step up to the plate.
“I told patrol the other day … I can’t sit here and say we have the best people in the world and then promote somebody else from outside,” he said.
The chief said he doesn’t have any intention of hiring externally to fill the command staff positions, and TPD is going to take this opportunity to look at restructuring the department.
“We’re exploring all those options and seeing what that looks like,” he said. “What I can assure the community of is we will be very methodical in how we do it. We’re not going to rush to fill the positions. We have people who will step in in acting roles so that nothing falls through the cracks.”
This article contains previously reported material. Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: TPD’s top brass leaving, taking city buyout
Reporting by Elena Barrera, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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