Punta Gorda hopes to have a new permanent police chief in place next month. City manager Howard Kunik told NBC-2 he’s received more than 130 applications for the position- but, curiously, not one came from anyone within the Punta Gorda Police Department. Kunik said he hopes to develop a short list of 10 candidates before he begins the interview process. Of the more than 130 applicants, many came from outside of Florida- most from the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. The former chief, Tom Lewis, was fired in August after an investigation done by the city. That investigation found the “shoot, don’t shoot” demonstration that led to the death of Mary Knowlton in 2016 failed to meet multiple safety protocols. Kunik said he expects to make his choice for the position sometime in November.
