New Smyrna Beach Police Chief Mike Coffin announces retirement.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News 

The City of New Smyrna Beach announced on Wednesday, November 2, that Police Chief Mike Coffin, who has served with the New Smyrna Beach Police Department for the last eight years, is retiring.

“As I look forward to the next chapter in my career, I will always count the time as Chief of Police here as some of the best years of my life,” wrote Coffin in his retirement letter to City Manager Khalid Resheidat. “I am honored to have worked alongside some of the best that this profession has to offer, and I am confident that they will continue to provide the high level of service that our citizens and visitors have come to expect.”

According to a release, under Chief Coffin’s leadership, the New Smyrna Beach Police Department has had some notable accomplishments, which include: 

• Developing and implementing an intelligence-led policing program that resulted in a six-year decline in crime
• Solving the 27-year-old cold case homicide of Whitney Gunn
• Embracing restorative justice by being one of the top agencies in the state for the issuance of civil citations to juvenile offenders
• Being the first agency in Volusia County to require all sworn personnel to use body-worn cameras, including command staff, detectives, and SWAT
• Reducing the use of force through mandatory crisis intervention, de-escalation, and Autism awareness training for all sworn staff
• Achieving state accreditation and re-accreditation twice
• Creating a Homeless Outreach Team to address homeless and disadvantaged communities
• Implementing the K9 for a Day program resulted in a nearly 100% adoption rate for featured Southeast Volusia Humane Society animals
• Implementing a Christmas holiday Shop-with-a-Cop program

“We thank Chief Coffin for his years of service to New Smyrna Beach and wish him success in his future endeavors,” said Resheidat. “His commitment to our community and efforts to lead a department that values transparency and accountability have been second to none. The City will begin immediately to make interim and permanent plans for his departure to ensure a smooth transition.”

Chief Coffin’s retirement will take effect as of February 3, 2023.