Pembroke Pines assistant police chief retires, captain promoted to fill role
The Pembroke Pines Police Department is welcoming its newest assistant chief days after bidding a longtime member of the department farewell, according to the agency.
Capt. Sean Wollard — formerly managing the administrative services division — was promoted to the position by Chief Jose Vargas in a Thursday, March 19, ceremony at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, according to PPPD’s Instagram post. Two others were promoted as well.
“We are proud to have you serving within our agency and protecting the residents of Pembroke Pines. Congratulations,” wrote the agency.
The police department shared the news March 16 that Assistant Chief Carlos Bermudez, who has worn the rank since 2019 and oversaw the Administration Bureau, was retiring from his post after a nearly 30-year career at the department.
Bermudez had served at the department since 1998, working as a patrol, administrative and internal affairs sergeant.
He was dubbed a captain in 2011, a major in 2015 and deputy chief of police in 2018 before assuming the title he leaves behind.
In his decades-long career, he assisted the agency as a SWAT operator and team leader, public information officer and investigations captain, among holding other roles, according to PPPD.
Following retirement, he’ll stay on at the department as a reserve police officer.
“We congratulate Assistant Chief Bermudez on his retirement, and thank him for his many years of professionalism and commitment to our residents and community,” PPPD wrote in its March 16 Instagram post.
Newly-minted Assistant Chief Wollard has served at the agency since 1999, starting as a patrol officer and field training officer before being appointed a detective in 2005.
While an investigator, he served in the general crimes, auto theft, special operations and crime suppression units, eventually being promoted to a seargeant in 2013, serving in the Internal Afffairs unit.
He became a captain in 2019, according to the department’s website, and his 27-year career has seen him decorated with the Chief’s Achievement Award and recognition from the FBI.
He’ll be filling Bermudez’s role overseeing the administration bureau.
