Public Safety

Fort Walton Beach Police Department welcomes two new officers

The Fort Walton Beach Police Department welcomed two new police officers to the police force this week. David Bowell comes to the city following a 26-year law enforcement career with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Bowell is a native of Fort Walton Beach and is looking forward to serving the city he grew up in. Austin Howard served […]

Jared Williams

The Fort Walton Beach Police Department welcomed two new police officers to the police force this week.

David Bowell and Austin Howard were sworn in during a ceremony Tuesday that was attended by fellow officers, family, City Manager Jeff Peters and City Council members Gloria DeBerry and David Schmidt.

David Bowell comes to the city following a 26-year law enforcement career with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Bowell is a native of Fort Walton Beach and is looking forward to serving the city he grew up in.

Austin Howard served as a police officer in Fremont, California for about three years before deciding to move to Florida. He served a short time with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Fort Walton Beach Police Department.

Both officers will start this week in the department’s patrol division.

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