The Sanford Police Chief, Bill Lee Jr., Temporarily Steps Down From Treyvon Martin Case
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The Sanford Police Chief, Bill Lee Jr., Temporarily Steps Down From Treyvon Martin Case

Posted by on Mar 22, 2012 in Uncategorized

The Sanford Police Chief, Bill Lee Jr., Temporarily Steps Down From Treyvon Martin Case

 

 

Police Chief Bill Lee Jr., is temporarily stepping down from the Trayvon Martin Case.  In a press conference this afternoon, the chief announced that he felt he was more of a distraction to the case.  Sanford City Manager, Norton Bonaparte Jr.said he hoped this moved would bring calm back to the city of Sanford.  A rally is scheduled in the city at 7:00p.m., which is to be led by Revered Al. Sharpton.  There has been a national outcry over than handling of the case and the fact that George Zimmerman. Martin's killer, has yet to be arrested.

 

City commissioners voted no confidence in Lee yesterday. Bonaparte has received increased pressure to let Lee go.  African-American's in the community do not trust police in the Sanford Community.  Lee has been on the job almost a year and came in on the heels of a previous scandal.  The former chief was forced out of office when a lieutenant's son was caught on tape attacking an African-American homeless man.  The black man lay bleeding and officers drove the officer's son from the scene and his son was not arrested at the time.  When the video surfaced, his son, Justin Collision, turned himself in.

 

African-Americans relations with the Sanford Police have been strained in the Sanford community.  The NAACP and many other people have claimed that the Sanford police have on many occasions protected others in the department and repeatedly harassed and embarrassed African-Americans.  This story is still developing……..

 

 

 

As a former homicide investigator, a career law enforcement officer and a father, I am keenly aware of the emotions associated with this tragic death of a child. I'm also aware that my role as the leader of this agency has become a distraction to this investigation. While I stand by the Sanford Police Department, its personnel and the investigation that was conducted in regards to the Trayvon Martin case, it is apparent that my involvement in this matter is overshadowing the process. Therefore i have come to the decision that I must temporarily remove myself from the position of police chief of the city of Sanford.
I do this in the hopes of restoring some semblance of calm to the city, which has been in turmoil for several weeks. As the chief of police of the city of Sanford, I have made sure that the facts of this case have been presented to the office of the state attorney. It is my hope the investigation process will move forward swiftly and appropriately through the justice system and that a final determination in this case is reached.

 

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