ORANGE PARK – The town council voted 3-0 to appoint Assistant Chief Randy Case as its next chief of Orange Park Police Department on Tuesday, May 7, after he served briefly as interim following the retirement of  Gary Goble on March 28. 

Case received glowing accolades and near unanimous recommendation from Orange Park residents during the town council's previous meeting on April 16. 

"It was reassuring for me that at every point along the way, Assistant Chief Case's name rose to the top, and so I am very pleased to recommend Randy Case be the next chief of police," Town Manager Sarah Campbell said. 

Case was sworn in, and a new badge was pinned on his uniform. He turned and embraced the community sitting and watching. 

"I am extremely proud to be the new police chief of Orange Park," Case said. 

"I'm thankful for all those to be here to witness this moment in my life. I'm so happy and grateful for you all."

The council also approved 3-0 aligning the position of police chief to the same salary pay grade as the town manager. This follows the recent pay raises won by the OPPD's police union on Feb. 6 after being represented by the Fraternal Order of Police during months of collective bargaining.

The offer extended to Case includes a $124,000 annual salary. 

Case, his family, friends and supporters stepped outside the council chambers following the ceremony. John P. Villanueva, Finance Director of Orange Park, called out to him. 

"Don't forget to bring the doughnuts tomorrow morning," he said.

Not because of the famous association between police officers and doughnuts but because it is an Orange Park tradition that whoever is promoted or receives a pay raise is honored to bring in a dozen the following day. 

The celebratory tradition includes sweet assortments from Dunkin' Donuts, Urban Bean or Daily Donuts, Campbell said. 

The Orange Park Town Council meets monthly on the first and third Tuesdays. The next meeting will be May 21 at 7 p.m.