Nelson Moya selected as Gainesville’s new Chief of Police
Press release from City of Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After a nationwide search, the City of Gainesville is pleased to announce Nelson Moya as its next Chief of Police. He assumes his new position effective Monday, September 16, 2024.
Moya joined the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) in June 2023 as assistant chief and has served as interim chief of police since March 2024. He has more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement, beginning as a 19-year-old officer in the City of Palm Bay, Florida, and rising through the ranks to eventually take the helm of the Palm Bay Police Department in 2019. In 2022, Moya accepted a position in Suffolk County in Long Island, New York, overseeing justice intervention initiatives and implementing the county’s first Threat Assessment and Management (TAM) team.
Since arriving at GPD, Moya has guided law enforcement strategies aimed at making Gainesville a safer community for all neighbors.
- Launched a Gun Violence Prevention Initiative that relies on data collection and analysis to enhance enforcement and intervention efforts
- Strengthened violent crime prevention and intervention efforts through firearm seizures, gun buy backs, and community outreach
- Sharpened the focus on recruitment with the goal of bringing new officers into the agency
The Human Resources Department conducted the police chief search process from July 22 through August 22, 2024. Applications were received from candidates in 22 states, with some as distant as Colorado, New York, and Oklahoma.
“Our recent search for a new chief of police brought us 45 submitted applications,” said City Manager Cynthia W. Curry. “Seven of those were selected for my review. Nelson Moya was one of the seven, and it became clear that, in this applicant pool, he was far and above the most qualified candidate to meet the needs of our agency.”
Moya was first selected by the City following a nationwide search for an assistant chief that concluded with a May 2023 public meet-and-greet for the four finalists identified during the recruitment process.
A public swearing-in ceremony will be held at a later date.
I’ve lived in the Gainesville area for the last 4 years. In that time, my perception is that crime continues to get worse. If he was selected by the Gainesville City Commission or Manager, then you can rest assured he is a DEI hire. Stay armed Gainesville.
meeting and talking with chief Montoya, I can assure you he’s not A DEI hire before you mouth off, how about you Google him and see his qualifications and maybe talk to him
Moya
Let’s see what he can do about the vagrants & panhandlers…they should all be given a ride to Grace and dropped off when spotted.
As a GPD cop, I can assure you he is not like his predecessors. He has done an awesome job and will continue to do so.
Great to hear. I respect the opinion of a GPD officer.
If you speak to GPD officers, you will quickly learn that they support his hire and welcome his already established leadership. I would bet the commissioners hired him because no one wants to be chief under their pathetic leadership.
What a joke of a comment. You’ve NEVER met the man, you’ve NEVER Spoke with him, You know nothing of his policies. Yet you speak as if you are an expert. I’m here to tell you, that he is the real deal. And the majority of the cops at GPD, including myself, are extremely happy he’s here. It’s a breath of Fresh air and competency.
A dam fine choice for police chief I have had the pleasure of meeting him and talking to him a couple times due to my work a very personal guy very knowledgeable law-enforcement. I do have to say I’m totally shocked that the CITY hired him he does not come across as one who can be controlled and told what to do
Hopefully he will follow the Constitution of the USA.
I sure hope he starts getting patrols to get the homeless out of the medians and ticket drivers who hand them money.
Can he also get the speeding under control
And distracted driving; especially school zones.
Doesn’t have to travel far – Stephen Foster.
Even with all his credits to his name, Moya will be kept on a short leash like his predecessors so as not to actually do the job he was hired to do.
Just look at Terrence Pierce, former deputy chief. Guy had good ideas on whipping the troops into shape.
City Hall put the kabash on that. ‘We didn’t hire you to do your job Pierce.’ It is a f@#$%&* disgrace what that department has become.
Bu bu but he’s not black!