Gainesville Police Department

08/28/2026

𝐆𝐏𝐃 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Chief Nelson Moya has announced the following promotions subsequent to a recent promotional testing process.

Please join us in congratulating all of the newly promoted members of the Gainesville Police Department. Their hard work, dedication, leadership, and commitment to serving our community are truly appreciated.

Congratulations, and well deserved!

Effective Monday, September 28, 2026, Sergeant Stephen Hayes shall be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

Effective Monday, September 28, 2026, Sergeant Jason Rarey shall be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

Effective Monday, September 28, 2026, Corporal Joseph Crews shall be promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Effective Monday, September 28, 2026, Corporal Gilberto Gonzalez-Welker shall be promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Effective Monday, September 28, 2026, Corporal Darren Graham shall be promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Effective Monday, September 28, 2026, Corporal Warren Meek shall be promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Effective Monday, September 28, 2026, Corporal Aaron Stemen shall be promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Effective Monday, September 28, 2026, Officer Katie Boyett shall be promoted to the rank of Corporal.

Effective Monday, September 28, 2026, Officer Rabindranuth Narayan shall be promoted to the rank of Corporal.

08/28/2026

It’s a new school year and a new opportunity to connect with and educate our UF students and the Gainesville community.

Tonight, beginning at 10 p.m., the Gainesville Police Department will partner with several law enforcement agencies and community organizations to provide alcohol awareness, safety information, and helpful resources to students and community members.

We will also be partnering with those same agencies to conduct a high visibility DUI enforcement campaign throughout the city.

Come out and visit us at 1700 W. University Avenue. We’ll have FREE pizza for those who stop by and participate!

We look forward to seeing you tonight and starting the new school year off on the right foot. Stay safe, Gators!

08/27/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨-𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫?

Mental health co-responders are trained behavioral health clinicians who partner with law enforcement officers to respond together to calls involving mental health crises, emotional distress, or substance use.

The Gainesville Police Department currently has four co-responder teams, partnering with behavioral health clinicians from Meridian Healthcare. Together, they respond to community members in need and work to connect them with the appropriate resources, services, and support.

These partnerships allow us to better serve people experiencing a crisis and, when appropriate, connect them with help that can make a lasting difference.

We are proud of the work our officers and Meridian Healthcare clinicians do every day to support the Gainesville community.

08/25/2026

It can be scary when a friend or loved one is experiencing mental health challenges or thinking about su***de. You don’t have to face it alone.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, confidential, free, 24/7/365 help is available.

Reach out. Listen. Help is available.

Call or text 988 to connect with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

08/25/2026

𝐖𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞/𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟔?

The Gainesville Police Department is continuing to investigate the disappearance of Delores Jean Stanton, who has been missing since April 13, 1976.

We are attempting to locate individuals who may have been witnesses or may have information that could help investigators learn what happened to Delores.

Investigators are especially interested in speaking with anyone who may have known Delores in 1975-1976, including:

• Barbara Klein – Delores' roommate in Gainesville
• Dave Scholtes, possibly listed as “Davey Shoth” in some records – Delores' roommate
• Alan Jones – attended school with Delores and may have lived on a horse farm in 1976
• James “Jim” Carpenter – previously dated Delores and lived in Newberry in 1976
• Joel Haley – was dating Delores in 1976
• Mike Rodgers – someone who may have information about Delores
• Joan Beth Slovich – a friend of Delores
• Robin – reportedly a good friend of Delores who worked at Florida National Bank

We are also asking anyone who worked with Delores at the Gainesville Golf and Country Club or Florida National Bank during 1975-1976 to contact us.

Additionally, if you attended Santa Fe College in 1976 and were in Delores' special education class (EH199), taught by Janet Turhoon, we would like to hear from you.

If you recognize any of these names, knew Delores, attended school with her, worked with her, or lived in the Gainesville/Newberry area during this time, please contact Detective Bernal at 352-393-7729 or [email protected]

08/21/2026

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬!

We had a great time yesterday and today welcoming UF students back to Gainesville! We enjoyed meeting so many students and having some great conversations.

We were able to provide information about GPD services and how to access them, crime prevention tips, volunteer opportunities, and many other important resources.

We look forward to getting to know our newest Gators and working together to make this a safe and successful year!

Welcome back, Gators! Go Gators!

08/21/2026

𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝

Last night at approximately 9:30 p.m., Gainesville Police officers responded to a burglary alarm at Ironwood Golf Course, located at 2100 NE 39th Avenue.

When officers arrived, they discovered the glass in a rear door had been shattered. Officers established a perimeter around the business and cleared the interior to ensure no one remained inside.

Surveillance video captured the break-in, and officers quickly identified the suspect as 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐤 (𝟏𝟏/𝟐𝟕/𝟏𝟗𝟓𝟗). The video showed Hardwick using a concrete block to shatter the door before entering the Pro Shop.

Several hours later, officers located Hardwick less than two miles from the golf course. He was still wearing the same clothing seen in the surveillance video.

Hardwick was taken to the Alachua County Jail and charged with Business Burglary and Felony Criminal Mischief.

Great work by our officers using surveillance footage and investigative efforts to quickly identify and locate the suspect.

08/20/2026

𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬

“This sentence is a reminder that there are consequences for violating the law,” said Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya. “We will continue to work with our federal partners to hold those who illegally possess fi****ms accountable and help keep our community safe.”

See the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida release

Gainesville, Florida – Kenneth Ellis Wetherington, 60, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison for one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

08/20/2026

𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐦

Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya said: “Those who have been convicted of a felony and choose to possess a firearm put our community at risk and will be held accountable.”

See the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida release

Gainesville, Florida – Curtis Lee Smith-Carter, 28, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

08/19/2026

𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠 & 𝐆𝐮𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬

“Our goal is to make Gainesville a safer place, and that means keeping dangerous drugs and illegal fi****ms out of the hands of those who would use them to harm others,” said Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya.

See the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida release

Gainesville, Florida – DaMorie Lamontay Miles, 20, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for one count of possession with intent to distribute ma*****na and one count of receipt, possession, transfer, or production of a firearm which is not registered in the Nationa...