Robby Hogan named Carrabelle police chief

Carrabelle Deputy Chief Robby Hogan was sworn in this afternoon as the city’s new police chief, following a unanimous vote by the city commission.

Following a motion by Mayor Brenda La Paz, and seconded by Tony Millender, the commission voted 4-0 to approve Hogan’s hire. Sebrina Brown, who was absent from the special meeting, had sent a note in support of Hogan’s appointment.

Following the vote, Hogan, 50, was sworn in by City Clerk Keisha Messer at about 1:40 p.m.

Hogan starts as chief on Friday, March 10.

He replaces Chief Kevin Shuman, who stepped down, effective March 3, after nearly two years on the job. Shuman resigned after being told by City Administrator Courtney Dempsey and City Attorney Dan Hartman that three commissioners wanted to replace him as chief of police.

“One (had) said they didn’t feel the job was right for me,” Shuman said he was told. “And that parking and golf cart issues were not handled the right way.”

He said that during later discussions with La Paz, and commissioners Keith Walden, Bill Gray, Millender and Brown. he was told that “I have not done anything wrong, nothing unethical, nothing criminal (but) they just wanted to move in a different direction.”