Chief Derek Brewer was raised in Merrimack, New Hampshire and moved to Pasco County in 1993. He worked in the private sector until 2000 when he attended the police academy at Hillsborough Community College in Ybor City. His law enforcement career started in 2002 as a patrol officer with the Zephyrhills Police Department, and he has advanced through the ranks serving as a field training officer, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. He was named Chief of Police in September of 2017 following a four-month tenure as the department's Interim Chief of Police.
Chief Brewer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from Saint Leo University and is a graduate of the Saint Leo University Command Officer Management Program. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in criminal justice administration from the University of South Florida. He has attended the Florida Police Chiefs Association STARS program.