Kitzerow, who has been police chief in Jupiter since 2005, did not respond to a request for comment.

He supervises a department of about 116 sworn officers and is paid about $147,000 annually. The annual Jupiter police budget is about $20 million.

Kitzerow acknowledged he is behind on the assessments when asked about the lawsuit last May. He said he was working with homeowner’s association officials. The monthly assessment is about $516 a month.

“I’m confident we can reach an agreement on how I will make the payments,” Kitzerow told The Palm Beach Post.

Kitzerow said heavy rains in January 2016 caused extensive water damage to roof, kitchen, floor and ceiling of his house. Mold remediation also had to be done on the inside of the house, he added.

When homeowners do not pay HOA fees, Florida law allows for associations — just like banks when owners fault on mortgages — to place liens on the property that lead to foreclosure.

The association’s right to foreclose has nothing to do with whether the homeowner is current on mortgage payments. Florida homeowners up to date on their mortgage could still be foreclosed on if they are late with homeowner’s association fees, according to Florida law.