Photos for Headline Surfer / TOP: Chris Kirk is shown waving to citizens in the audience of the New Smyrna Beach City Commission meeting after City Manager Kevin Cowper announced he had been promoted as permanent police chief on Tuesday, April 9, 2025, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. BELOW: Headline Surfer multimedia video of that portion of the meeting.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Chris Kirk is officially the New Smyrna Beach Police Department's new top cop.
The "interim" tag has been removed from his job title.
Kirk was officially elevated to police chief by City Manager Kevin Cowper at the beginning of Tuesday night's city meeting at City Hall. Kirk, who was seated in the back of the room, received a loud round of applause from the attendees and waved in acknowledgment.
The city manager did not divulge specifics on Kirk's salary, either as interim or as police chief, Tuesday night.
Headline Surfer made a public records request at 8 a.m. in writing for Kirk's salary as interim police chief and his salary as police chief, but the city has yet to provide these figures.
Numerous calls and emails seeking comments from Police Chief Kirk have gone unanswered, and the same inquiries have gone unanswered from City Manager Cowper, too. The question is, why?
At 10:33 a.m., the City of New Smyrna Beach put out a press release complete with canned quotes for its new police chief and city manager.
“I’m truly humbled to be our first home-grown chief of police in at least the quarter century,” Kirk was quoted in the city-issued press release. “I wouldn’t be here without significant support from the community and from all of the men and women of our department. I look forward to continuing our people-first approach to service.”
The city manager's quotes were a regurgitation of what he said Tuesday night: "This is really the result of a nationwide search that we’ve undertaken. We got many, many great applicants. Chris, as you know, has served as interim chief for the last couple of months and has done an outstanding job. We’ve successfully navigated through Spring Break, Bike Week, and many other community events."
The Cowper quote continued: "We’ve successfully navigated through Spring Break, Bike Week, and many other community events,” said Cower during his report to city commissioners at their April 8 regular meeting. “He has strong support from the police department, from the sworn officers, from the civilian employees there. Strong support from the police union, from the police foundation, and many, many other members of the community.”
The New Smyrna Beachpress release sent out by Phillip Veski, identified as the city's PIO, did not include information about Kirk's salary either as the interim or newly promoted police chief.
The press release stated the "move ends a nationwide search to replace outgoing Chief of Police Eric Feldman, who joined a private security firm effective March 1 following 3-½ years of service to the city." An official swearing-in ceremony is expected to be announced later this month, the release added.
Likewise, calls and emails for New Smyrna Beach Mayor Fred Cleveland have gone unanswered as well.
Headline Surfer was the first to report their breaking news on Christopher Kirk's promotion to police chief.
Background
NSBPD posted on Facebook that Deputy Chief Chris Kirk was appointed in preparation for Chief Eric Feldman’s departure.
“I am honored to take on the role of Interim Chief of Police and to continue strengthening the bonds between our department and the community,” Kirk said in the post. “I look forward to supporting our phenomenal officers and civilian staff as they serve the public, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to provide the highest level of service and maintain the trust of the people we serve.”
According to a press release from NSBPD, the previous chief, Feldman, resigned on March 1 after announcing his resignation in December 2024 to accept a new career opportunity. after nearly four years as police chief.
Kirk has been with the NSBPD for over 21 years and has served the City of New Smyrna Beach in various leadership roles.
The outgoing police chief wrote in an internal email that a culture of trust, respect, and mutual support built within the workforce during his nearly four years at the police department had become their hallmark.
“It’s evident in the way we rally around one another during tough times, our collective belief in ‘people first, mission always,’ and the shared commitment to living out our values every day. This culture didn’t happen by chance; it’s a testament to your hard work and dedication,” Feldman said in the message.
Eric Feldman, the outgoing police chief wrote in an internal email that a culture of trust, respect, and mutual support built within the workforce during his nearly four years at the police department had become their hallmark.
“It’s evident in the way we rally around one another during tough times, our collective belief in ‘people first, mission always,’ and the shared commitment to living out our values every day. This culture didn’t happen by chance; it’s a testament to your hard work and dedication,” Feldman said in the message.
After beginning his law enforcement career as a U.S. Border Patrol agent in 1997, Feldman rose through the ranks of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, concluding his career as an HSI attaché to the UK, Ireland, and Iceland
Feldman was hired as deputy chief of police in New Smyrna Beach in August 2021 and became interim chief of police in February 2023, when then-Police Chief Mike Coffin retired.
Multimedia video
Headline Surfer video / Announcement of Chris Kirk'ss promotion from interim to the permanent police chief of the New Smyrna Beach Police Department near the beginning of the New Smyrna Beach City Commission meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The announcement was made by City Manager Kevin Cowper.
New Smyrna Beach Police Department Funding
The New Smyrna Beach Police Department is currently funded for 57 sworn officers and 20 civilian employees. Here's a breakdown:
- Sworn Officers: 57
- Civilian Employees: 20
- Total Authorized PD Staffing: 79.5 FTE
- Sworn Staffing: 58 (49 filled)
- Leadership: 4
- Sergeants: 6
- Corporal: 4 (3 filled - 1 vacant)
- Officers: 44 (36 filled - 8 vacant)
- Support: Full-time - 16 (12 filled - 3 vacant)
- Parking: 2 Full-time (1 vacant) and 7 Part-time (2 vacant)
New Smyrna Beach Operating Budget for Fiscal 2025 is $136.917 million.
New Smyrna Beach Police Department's Operating Budget for Fiscal 2025 is $12.423 million.
About the Headline Surfer Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is an award-winning journalist who launched Headline Surfer in 2008, which serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando via