GREEN COVE SPRINGS – John Guzman has been the Commander and acting Police Chief for the City of Green Cove Springs for the past four months – all while taking online classes to get his master’s degree from the University of Florida.

Guzman’s workload got a littler lighter Monday when City Manager Steve Kennedy officially promoted to Chief of Police.

Guzman took over for Derek Asdot after the popular chief was diagnosed with COVID-19 in August. Asdot died of complications from the virus in September.

“Commander Guzman has done a great job in keeping the police department focused and on track with the priorities Chief Asdot established,” Kennedy said. “The department staff have been supportive of Cmdr. Guzman, especially over the last four months, and will continue to support him as Chief of Police.”

Kennedy’s

As the Police Chief, Guzman said he will continue to build on programs he and Asdot established.

“My vision is to continue and improve on our community events, community relations,” he said. “Also, getting accreditations in the future. We’ve been working on that. We’ve started the process to be accredited through CALEA [Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies]. That’s one of the goals that’s been set by the city manager. It’s something Derek and I started working on. We just signed a contract with CALEA. We’re moving forward with it.”

Most important, Guzman said, is creating a positive connection between his department and the residents of the city.

“A chief’s job is to be in the community, to be the face of the organization.”

According to the city’s press release, Guzman started his career in law enforcement with the Green Cove Springs Police Department in 2003 as a patrol officer, field training officer, street crimes officer and instructor. He was assigned to serve as a Detective with the county-wide drug/vice task force in 2010. He was promoted to Sergeant in the GCSPD in 2017 and again as Lieutenant in 2018. Before serving as the Acting-Chief of Police, Guzman worked as the department’s Administration Division Commander overseeing Criminal Investigations, Communications, Accreditation and Training, School Resource Officers, Records and Evidence Sections of the police department.

Guzman is a graduate of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Leadership Academy with more than 800 hours of law enforcement training. Throughout his 18 years working in law enforcement, he has received the Medal of Valor, Chief’s Achievement Award, Police Commendation Award, Educations Achievement Award, Community Service Award and a Letter of Commendation from the Clay County Sheriff in 2012.

He holds a Bachelor in Science degree from Vincennes University and is currently in the Master of Science in Management program at Florida.

“Now I can hire somebody to do my commander job and I don’t have to do both the chief’s job and the commander’s job at the same time, which is what I’ve been doing,” Guzman said. “I’m looking forward to getting someone promoted into that position so I can get some relief, some assistance.”