Jupiter Deputy Police Chief Michael Barbera will be the city’s new police chief

JUPITER – Deputy Police Chief Michael Barbera will become Jupiter’s new police chief effective Wednesday, Oct. 30.

The city announced his promotion Monday. The decision came five weeks after Police Chief David England announced his resignation. Jupiter’s charter gives the city manager the power to choose the head of the police department, as opposed to the city council.

“Jupiter is a special place and the Jupiter Police Department is one of the finest law enforcement agencies in our state and across the country,” Barbera wrote in a prepared statement. “I look forward to contributing to the legacy of this institution as the next police chief.”

Police chief retires: Jupiter Chief David England is retiring Oct. 31, ending his 30-year law enforcement career

Jupiter’s new police chief has spent 28 years with the department

Barbera has worked for the Jupiter Police Department for 28 years and has served as its deputy chief for the past three years. Before joining the police force, he served four years in the US Marine Corps.

He spent three years as a major and was the operations support commander, where he led the criminal investigations and special operations divisions before becoming deputy chief.

Barbera has served as a patrol officer, field training officer, Honor Guard commander, K-9 unit and SWAT team supervisor, and district commander. He was also a member of the department’s hostage negotiation team.

He served as a detective in the Criminal Investigation Department for six years and worked in the Street Crimes Unit for two years. Barbera was promoted to sergeant in 2009. Six years later he became a captain and a major in 2018.

Barbera completed the FBI’s National Academy, the FBI’s Florida Executive Development Seminar and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Leadership Academy.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Barry University and a master’s degree in criminology from Florida State University.

Barbera will be the city’s fourth police chief since 2005. Frank Kitzerow, the city’s former boss who resigned in 2018 and is now its city manager, said Barbera “dedicated his life to the Jupiter community.”

“He has demonstrated excellence at every stage of his career at JPD and I know he will continue to do so as he leads the department as the new chief,” Kitzerow wrote in a prepared statement.

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Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida network. Reach them at [email protected]. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared in the Palm Beach Post: Jupiter announces new police chief after its last one retires