GPD Chief Sworn In
Gainesville Police Department (GPD) Chief Nelson Moya was officially sworn in to the position of chief Thursday afternoon at the Gainesville City Commission meeting.
Several Alachua County officials attended the meeting, including State Attorney Brian Kramer, outgoing Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey, and newly appointed University of Florida Police Chief Bart Knowles.
City Manager Cynthia Curry introduced Moya. “Born in Ecuador and a childhood in Columbia, Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya was nine years old when he immigrated to the U.S. with his family…. Moya began his career in law enforcement at 19 joining the Palm Bay Florida Police Department. He started as a field training officer and became a criminal investigations detective and field training program coordinator. Chief Moya continued climbing the ranks to become an internal affairs investigator in 1997, a sergeant in 1999, sworn commander in 2006, lieutenant 2010, district captain in 2012, special operations division commander in 2015, deputy chief in 2017, and chief of police of Palm Bay in 2019. In 2022, Chief Moya moved to New York, where he became the first latino immigrant to take the helm as deputy county executive for probation and juvenile intervention of Suffolk County. He oversaw the development of the region’s first specialized secure detention facility for youthful offenders. He also created and expanded the county’s probation department. Chief Moya arrived in Gainesville in March 2023 to serve as assistant police chief. In April 2024, he was appointed interim chief of police. After a national search, he was named chief of the Gainesville Police Department in September 2024.”
Curry commended Moya and said he is “tested every day—and I know he knows what I mean by that.”
Moya was sworn in by Bishop Christopher Stokes of the New Beginning Christian Worship Center.
Moya received a standing ovation from almost everyone in the room after being sworn in (video cred. gnvinfo)
After Moya was given a ceremonial pin by his wife, he began speaking to the city commissioners. After thanking them, Moya went to the other side of the stand and faced the meeting’s attendees when he spoke.
Moya said, “We wanna model our behavior for our children,” and that he was happy to experience the moment with his daughter. Moya said he wanted her to be proud and thanked his wife for being by his side through employment changes.
Moya said, “As you know, I tend to be very stoic at work. Although passionate, I am stoic; I try not to show too much emotion, even during those tough days. Believe me, when I go home there’s that release, and that’s one person—her,” Moya said, pointing to his wife.
Moya continued, “We must do our part to leave a legacy for years to come. This agency and city has been around for 150+ years. We have to define what our history will be, and it starts now.”
Moya stated that GPD “does incredible things for you every day. They see in one day what we don’t wish for most to see in a lifetime…. Give them grace, try to understand their perspective, and rest assured that we hold them to a high degree of accountability. It is my job to ensure they do right.”
