Edgewater cop shop brass: Joe Mahoney replaces Dave Arcieri

Photo for Headline Surfer / Above, Joe Mahoney, left, and Dave Arcieri are shown together just before the Oct. 26 termination of Edgewater City Manager Tracey Barlow, and then Arcieri, the public safety director, who was forced out earlier this month in a political purge led by Council members Gary Conroy, Megan O'Keefe and Amy Vogt. Voting the other way were Mayor Mike Ignasiask and Christine Power.
 
By HENRY FREDERICK
Headline Surfer

EDGEWATER, Fla -- Officially, Dave Arcieri's last day with the Edgewater Police Department is Dec. 16, but that's just the last of his accrued time earned as he's been gone a couple of weeks.

Taking Arcieri's place is Joseph Mahoney, the longtime captain who has been named acting chief. by Interim City Manager Brenda DeWees.

Dave Arcieri, a loyal employee for 24 years who rose through the ranks of the police department to chief and then the added umbrella title of public safety director only to be forced out in a political purge may have the last laugh after all.

That's because Joseph Mahoney, now serving as acting police chief wants to be given permanent top cop billing, but it has been a nightmare since Arcieri's exit following the stunning Oct. 26 termination of longtime City Manager Tracey Barlow.

And there was Mayor Michael Ignasiak's current lame-duck status since he was sacked in the Nov. 6 elections following the retired ex-police chief's meltdown on the dais last month after yet another former cop, Councilman Gary Conroy engineered Barlow's firing in a 3-2 vote.