By: Kate Kimmel
Fernandina Beach Police Chief Jeffrey Tambasco presented the department’s 2025 annual report to the city commission last month, emphasizing the importance of training programs, community outreach efforts, and officer wellness for running a successful police force.
Tambasco announced that the department responded to 32,553 calls in 2025, an increase of more than 2,000 from the previous year. At the same time, Tambasco said overall crime has decreased, despite what may appear in the data at first glance.
Behind those numbers is a relatively small department handling a wide range of calls, from traffic stops to more serious incidents.
FBPD operates with 38 full-time sworn officers, along with part-time officers and civilian staff, and a $7.05 million budget. Of that, 76.8% is allocated to salaries, 17.3% to operating costs and 5.8% to technology.
Most calls involve traffic-related offenses, including DUIs, as well as vehicle thefts. Violent crimes are less common and typically involve domestic violence or alcohol-related altercations, Tambasco said.
Tambasco, now in his 31st year in law enforcement, came to Fernandina Beach five years ago after working in the Orlando area. He was initially hired as deputy chief and later promoted following the retirement of former Chief James Hurley.
He said the apparent contradiction between rising calls and declining crime is largely due to changes in reporting. In 2025, the department fully transitioned to the National Incident-Based Reporting System, which records each offense within a single incident.
Under the previous system, only the most serious offense was counted, meaning incidents that once generated a single report may now be recorded as multiple crimes.
Much of Tambasco’s focus as chief has centered on training, particularly de-escalation techniques. Of 346 arrests involving resistance last year, only two resulted in the use of force, which he attributed to that training.
The department has also incorporated new technology into its approach. A recently acquired virtual reality system allows officers to train in simulated scenarios and review performance data that scores reflexes and decision-making.
“With the VR system, we have thousands of training simulations available, and we can pull data afterwards that shows us things like response times or how many times a trigger was pulled,” Tambasco said.
Officers completed 4,969 hours of training in 2025, and Tambasco said that he would like to increase that by 1,000 hours in the coming year. He said he would also like to see more leadership training to help prepare officers for supervisory roles.
“I want to keep promotions in-house, I hope to be the last person at this department who came into a leadership role from the outside,” Tambasco said.
This focus on training and leadership development is paired with efforts to better support officers.
The department’s newly-formed Critical Incident Support Team brings together police officers and firefighters trained to help colleagues process traumatic calls. The program was shaped by employee input and allows first responders to speak with peers outside their immediate workplace, Tambasco said.
In addition to officer and employee wellness, Tambasco spoke on the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with the Fernandina community. FBPD officers engage with residents through programs like “Coffee with Cops” at Holy Grounds, reading to students at Southside Elementary, and mentorship initiatives with Fernandina Beach High School students.
Officer Tina Smith serves in a dedicated community engagement role with the help of Hanna the dog, and the department’s “Shop with Cops” program provides holiday shopping opportunities for more than 150 local children each year.
“The better we know the community, the better we can serve them, and the easier our job is,” Tambasco said.
Looking ahead, Tambasco said the department’s upcoming initiatives include the reduction of response times to about 2½ minutes by strategically positioning officers across the city. He also said traffic enforcement will increase in an attempt to address dangerous and impaired driving.
kkimmel@nassaunewsline.net
