After a nationwide search, Plant City has a new police chief.
Edward Duncan is a retired Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputy, and no stranger to Plant City. He's lived there for almost 30 years.
Duncan took an hour to talk with reporters at City Hall on Monday. He says he realizes the sex scandal that rocked Plant City's police department earlier this year is still on people's minds.
"My goal to correct that is to get out there and meet with the community that may have some concerns, to be available for them as a sounding board for what they may perceive a lack of leadership, a lack of support," he said.
Although Duncan doesn't officially take the post until July 7, he's already held meetings with police officers and staff in the department to talk about what's next.
"I wanted to make sure I could stabilize any lack of confidence the community may have in light of what did transpire prior to me taking the position," Duncan said. "Any immediate change I'm going to take a slow look to evaluate, to see where we're at. I don’t want to walk in there and do random changes without having historical background as to why we’re at today."
Duncan doesn't believe the community has lost trust in the department after the former police chief, Steven Singletary, was fired.
Singletary was caught having an extramarital affair while on company time. Payroll records show he had sexual trysts with a local teacher in a hotel room paid for by taxpayers. An internal investigation also revealed Singletary used vacation and sick time to meet with his mistress.
It's no small task coming into a department after a sex scandal. but Duncan has experience handling big situations.
He had a big hand in planning security measures for the Republican National Convention. It was his last big accomplishment with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office before he retired.
Duncan says his biggest goal is keeping stability in the department in his first year.
Duncan is married with an adult son in law enforcement. He is married with three grandchildren.