PPD Chief Winstrom Covers Palafox Shooting Update, Juvenile Curfew, National Night Out and More

Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Pensacola Police Chief Eric Winstrom joined Pensacola's Morning News Wednesday with a wide-ranging update — covering a significant development in the Palafox shooting case, the shape of the proposed juvenile curfew, and an upcoming community event that he says is not to be missed.

Palafox Shooting — Charges Dropped Against 16-Year-Old

Charges against 16-year-old Kanye Walker — who had been alleged to have supplied the gun used in the July 5th Palafox shooting that killed Philip Shepard Junior — have been dropped by the state attorney's office. Winstrom says the decision came after ongoing communication between PPD and prosecutors and that all parties are on the same page. He described it as part of the normal court process — as more evidence and testimony emerge circumstances change and charging decisions get revisited. He confirmed the case against Walker is closed and is not likely to be reopened absent something dramatic.

Winstrom also addressed the broader context of the shooting in a candid conversation — confirming that both groups involved were armed and were not downtown simply to watch fireworks. He says when people understand that both sides came prepared for a confrontation the fear that downtown Pensacola is randomly dangerous starts to look very different. He says if your kids are not living what he calls a high risk lifestyle their danger of being struck by a bullet is exponentially lower. He also pushed back on the idea that it is solely a police problem — saying he wants to know what everyone else is going to do to make sure young people are not walking around illegally armed and willing to shoot each other over arguments nobody can even articulate.

Proposed Juvenile Curfew

Winstrom is fully on board with the proposed juvenile curfew Mayor Reeves is developing — and says the draft closely follows a template already suggested in state law for municipalities that want to put one in place. He says the goal is not putting kids in handcuffs but giving officers a tool to remove young people from dangerous situations before something bad happens. He recalled looking around downtown at one in the morning on July 5th with 50 officers and hundreds of unsupervised kids and feeling like it was the biggest babysitting operation in Pensacola history.

The parent accountability component is structured to build pressure gradually — a warning, a second warning, and then a civil citation rather than an arrest. Winstrom says it is ultimately a parent's job to hold their kids accountable and says the civil citation piece gives teeth to an expectation that too often goes unmet. He says the ordinance is not going to be controversial and expects it to move forward without significant pushback.

National Night Out — Tuesday August 4th

National Night Out is Tuesday August 4th starting at 5 p.m. at Booker T. Washington High School at 6000 College Parkway. Winstrom says the event will feature police, fire, public works vehicles in a touch-a-truck format, a K-9 demonstration, and participation from federal law enforcement partners and other community organizations. He says the K-9 demonstration is always a big hit and expects it to go around 5:30 or 6 p.m. for those who want to plan accordingly. Winstrom says he will be there personally.

Man Rescued Near Wahoos After Falling Into Water

A man who fell into the water while fishing near Blue Wahoos Stadium was rescued by Pensacola Fire Department crews who dropped a ladder down the seawall — the only way back up from that height. Winstrom says the man was clinging to a chain dangling in the water when help arrived. He says a lot of people called right away and the response was fast. It had a happy ending.

License Plate Readers

Winstrom defended the city's Flock camera license plate reader system against ongoing political opposition — saying the protections are in place, the tool is exceptional, and the criticism is largely insincere. He described his own mindset as libertarian and said he takes privacy concerns seriously — but says the balance has to account for the families of crime victims and missing persons who deserve every available tool working on their behalf. He noted that when license plate reader abuse makes the news it is typically because a police officer was caught and held accountable — which he says is the system working as designed.