Shalimar celebrates City Government Week with new playground and chief of police
SHALIMAR — Burgers, hot dogs and good company. At first glance, you would think it was just a chance to have a late summer cookout. Still, for the community of Shalimar, it was a chance for the city government and residents to come together to celebrate City Government Week with a meet-and-greet with the new Shalimar chief of police and the opening of new playground equipment in Combs Park on Wednesday.
The event headlined the celebrations from Shalimar as communities across Florida celebrate City Government Week, which aims to develop closer relationships between government officials and the residents they represent.
Specs of the new playground
The new equipment was priced at $71,400. Funds came from Okaloosa County Tourism Development. The Shalimar maintenance staff constructed the new playground, which includes a climbing wall, four slides and four new swings.
"Thank you to all involved for making this beautiful park even better," said Mayor Mark Franks.
Meeting the new police chief
Michael Jacobs moved to the area in 1992 after his dad was stationed at Hurlburt Field. Once he completed school at Gulf Breeze High School, he worked various jobs, one as a professional wrestler, until he landed a job as a security guard for the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, he was laid off from a contracting job and decided to enter law enforcement. By 2003, he was brought on by the Fort Walton Beach Police Department for two and a half years before transitioning to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.
After an almost 15-year span with the OCSO, he had to leave the law enforcement field after suffering a neck injury. After his recovery, he returned to law enforcement in Shalimar in January 2022 and became interim chief of police by April 2023, receiving the full title of chief this past August.
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"I am going to continue in the community-oriented policing and keep the Maybury feel of the community," said Chief Jacobs. "We are not just people in uniform; we are people like you and what can we do to help you."
Jacobs said the community has had an uptick in traffic stops that have removed drugs off the street and hopes to expand community involvement.
He also referenced Community Solutions of the Emerald Coast's efforts to solve the homelessness issues in the community. Jacobs noted that he would like to see an improvement in ordinances regarding getting homeless people the help they need to have a better future in life.
"We want to go further than just arresting people. We want to look and see how we can get people to services that can help them," said Jacobs. "The answer is not always to arrest them and get rid of them; sometimes its let's find the core of the problem is and let's get to that."
He noted that he is grateful to be the chief of police and looks forward to serving the community to the best of his ability.
When Jacobs is not on duty, he is the associate pastor at Ocean City Church.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Shalimar celebrates new chief and playground during City Government Week
