St. Cloud Main Street welcomed residents and local leaders to its first Breakfast with the Pros event of 2025 on Tuesday, January 14, at VFW Post 3227. The event, centered on public safety, featured insightful updates from St. Cloud Police Chief Doug Goerke and St. Cloud Fire Rescue Department Chief Jason Miller, offering a look at their departments’ 2024 accomplishments and plans for 2025.

The series, supported by sponsors Land Title Professionals, Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital, and Chick-fil-A St. Cloud, focused on the city’s rapid growth and its impact on public safety infrastructure and services.

Police Chief Doug Goerke’s Updates

Chief Doug Goerke, who began his tenure as St. Cloud’s Police Chief in January 2022, provided a comprehensive overview of the St. Cloud Police Department’s 2024 achievements. Before becoming Police Chief in St. Cloud Goerke had over 20 years of experience at the Orlando Police Department. The Chief highlighted his department’s strides in maintaining safety amidst the city’s and county’s rapid expansion.

  • Calls for Service: In 2024, the department handled 93,022 calls for service, a decrease from 101,487 in 2022. However, arrests rose significantly to 1,249 in 2024, compared to 996 in 2023, a statistic the Chief says shows his agency is doing their job.
  • Vehicle Crashes: The city experienced an increase in vehicle crashes, with 1,957 incidents in 2024, up from 1,824 in 2023.
  • Future Enhancements: Goerke shared exciting plans for 2025, including the development of a new Emergency Operations Center facility, which will house a Property and Evidence area and a Crime Scene Facility, and will be “future ready,” citing the importance of building a facility that will be able to handle the needs of a rapidly growing community.
  •  The department is also implementing Rapid 911 Call Identification software to address cell tower routing issues for emergency calls.
  • New Equipment: A SWAT Bearcat Rescue Vehicle is scheduled to arrive in St. Cloud by mid-2025.
  • Redistricting Initiative: The department is redistricting the city into 7–12 zones, which will improve officer deployment to areas where they are most needed.

The St. Cloud Police Department currently has 219 team members, with four open positions. However, Chief Goerke noted that there are seven internal candidates competing to fill those spots, demonstrating a strong pipeline of talent within the department.

Goerke made a point of thanking his St. Cloud Police Department’s Community Engagement Unit, that focuses on community outreach, community policing, and community advocacy. From visiting seniors to mentoring youth, the Community Engagement Unit made a hugely positive impact in 2024, and will continue in 2025.

The Chief closed his session by praising the support of City Manager Veronica Miller and the City Council, noting that their commitment has been vital in meeting the growing needs of St. Cloud’s public safety departments.

Fire Chief Jason Miller’s Updates

Fire Chief Jason Miller emphasized the importance of community engagement and proactive education in fostering public safety. He highlighted that in 2024, St. Cloud Fire Rescue visited local schools and educated over 9,000 children aged 4 to 6 years old, teaching them vital fire-safety skills and what to do in case of a fire.

Miller, a St. Cloud native, has shared his personal journey to becoming Fire Chief. Even as a teenager, he aspired to serve as a firefighter in his hometown. While still in high school, he began volunteering with the Deer Run Volunteer Fire Department, determined to make firefighting his career. After a remarkable 23-year tenure with St. Cloud Fire Rescue, Miller’s dream came true when he was named Fire Chief.

Miller shared with Breakfast with the Pros attendees, “Station 34 on Nora Tyson Road is fully operational, while Stations 35 in Tohoqua and 36 on Center Lake have been funded and are in the planning stages. Additionally, the city has acquired a former prep school located at Nolte Road and Budinger Avenue in St. Cloud, which will serve as the new department headquarters, offering an impressive 23,000 square feet of space to support operations.”

Miller also highlighted key departmental achievements and future plans:

  • Training Center Success: The St. Cloud Fire Rescue Training Center, launched in 2024, continues to train the next generation of firefighters. Through a partnership with “First Response,” 20 cadets are currently undergoing fire standards training, with hopes many will join the department upon completion.
  • New Fire Stations: The department celebrated the opening of Fire Station 34 in 2024 and announced the construction of Fire Station 35, which is set to further bolster the city’s fire rescue capabilities.
  • Enhanced Readiness: Years of careful planning and teamwork have significantly improved the department’s ability to meet the demands of St. Cloud’s rapid growth.

Of the 108 positions within the St. Cloud Fire Department, 106 are currently filled. Chief Miller highlighted that SCFD has resumed hiring fire trainees to address the growing demand for firefighters in Central Florida, marking a significant step in combating the regional shortage.

Chief Miller credited the City Council for their unwavering support and commitment to ensuring the department has the resources it needs to adapt to the city’s evolving needs.

“Thanks to our planning and partnerships, we’re in a better place than ever to keep pace with St. Cloud’s growth while ensuring the safety of our residents,” Miller said.

A Unified Vision for 2025

The Breakfast with the Pros event underscored the City of St. Cloud’s commitment to fostering strong public safety partnerships. Chief Goerke and Chief Miller’s presentations highlighted the city’s strides in adapting to growth while maintaining safety and service excellence.

Residents and leaders in attendance expressed appreciation for the dedication of both departments and their forward-thinking strategies to serve the community.

For more information on future events and initiatives, visit St. Cloud Main Street’s website.