Starke Police Department disbanded as city looks to cut costs for new water treatment plant

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Starke City Commission voted in January to disband the city’s police department and have its duties taken over by the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office.

At its peak, Starke Police had 19 full-time and 15 part-time officers.

Five officers have now joined the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office and all the rest have either taken jobs elsewhere or retired. Police Chief Jeff Johnson is now the last man standing and will retire on May 1.

Starke officials have been looking for ways to cut costs because of the need to build a new water and sewer treatment plant with an estimated cost of $20 million.

Construction on the new facility began last year.