Sheriff to Move New Captain to North District Station, Consolidate PAL Program

A new captain takes command at North District Station this January.

Glenn Luben is being promoted from the Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.), a division of the Patrol Operations Bureau, to oversee patrol operations at North District Station in Dunedin, according to Marianne Pasha, director of communications at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Luben will also oversee the Sheriff's additional contract cities of Safety Harbor and Oldsmar. 

Capt. W. Hagans will be moving from his role at North District Station to a new position in the Investigative Operations Bureau.

The moves are just two of a number of transfers and promotions Sheriff Bob Gualtieri is putting in place by Jan. 1, Pasha says.

Dunedin's City Manager Rob DiSpirito shared the news with residents and city officials at a Dec. 6 commission meeting. He said Hagans has been at North District Station for a number of years.

PAL to Discontinue in Dunedin

The Sheriff's PAL program is also undergoing some changes.

Programs at Dunedin Highland Middle School, Highpoint and Rainbow Village in Largo are moving to the program's centrally-located Lealman complex, Pasha says.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast will take over youth programming in Dunedin and Rainbow Village. Highpoint Family Services Group will take over in unicorporated Clearwater.

The PAL program, or Police Athletic League, is a volunteer-driven after-school mentoring, sports and tutoring program.

DiSpirito indicated on Dec. 6 that funding for the PAL program was a factor in the Sheriff's decision.

Pasha indicated that the Sheriff plans to issue an official announcement about the staffing adjustments and other changes sometime this week.

To contribute or learn more about to PAL, visit www.pinellascountypal.com.