Jupiter's Police Chief Closes Out A 50-Year Career

Friday is the last day at work for Jupiter's police chief.

Dan Kerr has spent 50 years in law enforcement, joining the Jupiter Police Department in 2009, and becoming chief in 2018.

"I've been fortunate to work for some great organizations and Jupiter has been definitely the highlight of my career."

71-year old Kerr says that's because of the great people he's worked with, citing a high profile case.

"We had a homicide that occurred right as the pandemic was really hitting us back in March. At the same time our computer system was hacked here and our detectives, our patrol officers, our support personnel...everybody came together and really investigated that old school. (They) tracked this perpetrator all the way to New Mexico, with all that going on."

He counts not being able to locate the victim's body as his most challenging moment on the job.

"One of the things I wanted to see happen before I ended my career was being able to put some closure to the case for the family."

Defendant David Anthony led detectives to the remains of his wife in December as part of a plea deal. He's serving a 38 year prison term.

Kerr's time as chief also saw the department make national headlines when New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was arrested in a multi-county prostitution investigation at massage parlors.

Police and prosecutors said Kraft and several other men were caught on video paying for sex acts at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in January 2019. But the video was thrown out as evidence with a judge and appeals court ruling that the Jupiter Police Department violated the rights of spa customers who did nothing wrong when they too were captured on the hidden camera video.

Charges were dropped against Kraft and the other men, but not the spa workers.

The new chief is David England, Chief Kerr's deputy chief since 2018.

We also spoke with him.

"To be chosen to be the police chief for this organization is an honor."

England is a Palm Beach County native who attended FSU and Nova Southeastern University.

He's been with the Jupiter Police Department since 1998 and says there won't be any radical changes in the agency just because there is a new chief.

"Now I'm sure there will be change over the next few years but it will be driven by purpose. It will be driven by data and the needs of the community."

Photo: Jupiter Police Dept.


View Full Site