Biography

Chief Robert Vincent has served his entire law enforcement career with the Gulfport police department, where he rose through the ranks and was appointed chief of police in 2010. He has worked almost every assignment, including as school resource officer, patrol supervisor, accreditation manager, and commander of operations and investigations. As chief, he has held roles as chair of the Pinellas Police Standards Council, president of the Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Association, and district director for the Florida Police Chiefs Association. Since 2001, Chief Vincent has represented CFA as an onsite assessor. He also works occasionally as a vehicle operations instructor at the law enforcement academy at St. Petersburg College.

Under Chief Vincent’s direction, the Gulfport Police Department achieved and maintained recognition as an excelsior agency by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.

Recognized as a distinguished alumnus of the University of South Florida, Chief Vincent holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in professional writing and a Master of Arts in criminal justice administration. He attended the 227th Session of the FBI National Academy and completed the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institutes’ Chief Executive Seminar. Chief Vincent volunteers on the boards of the Gulfport Lions Club and the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council, Boy Scouts of America.