Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee fired in wake of Trayvon Martin case

Sanford’s city manager ended Police Chief Bill Lee’s employment, citing the adverse impact the chief’s handling of the Trayvon Martin case has had on the city.

Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee speaks to the the media during a news conference Thursday, March 22, 2012 as city manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. listens at left, in Sanford Fla.

JULIE FLETCHER / FRE

BY MEREDITH RUTLAND

The Sanford police chief who failed to arrest George Zimmerman immediately after the fatal shooting of Miami-Dade teen Trayvon Martin four months ago — and brought national attention and derision to the Central Florida city — has been terminated.

The announcement was made late Wednesday night by Sanford City Manager Norton Bonaparte, who said in a news release that Police Chief Bill Lee “has been relieved of his duties” effective immediately. The chief had been on paid leave.

Bonaparte implied the firing stemmed from the impact of Lee’s handling of the Trayvon Martin on the city of Sanford.

“I have come to this decision in light of the escalating divisiveness that has taken hold of the city,” the manager said in the statement. The decision was made after a meeting earlier in the day.

The shooting of the 17-year-old that has sparked national outrage also has painted Sanford in an unfavorable light across the country.

“After much thoughtful discussion and deep consideration for the issues facing the city of Sanford, I have determined the police chief needs to have the trust and respect of the elected officials and the confidence of the entire community,” Bonaparte said in the statement. “We need to move forward with a police chief that all the citizens of Sanford can support.”

A nationwide search will begin for a replacement.

According to Lee’s employment agreement, he will receive a severance of three months and one week’s salary, in addition to any earned time off.

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Permalink Reply by karen arsenault on June 21, 2012 at 2:28pm

Please do not trust the media! I live in Sanford,Fl.and i can asure you that chief Bill Lee was well respected and liked Here in Sanford and most of the city councal did not want the chief to step down we realy didn't have a race problem until Jesse and al and his croonie's came to town most of the protesters were bussed in for a dog and pony show .

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Permalink Reply by Central Scrutinizer on June 21, 2012 at 2:39pm

but its gotta be truuuuuuuuuuue, its on da innernat thingamabob!!!!

lol

thanks for the truth update karen ;)

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Permalink Reply by karen arsenault on June 22, 2012 at 9:39am

please wacth this Sanford city council meeting on Chief Bill lee I tryed to copy and paste the video and couldn't get it up here this will let you know how we feel about the chief
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGn7UPAsqms&feature=share

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Permalink Reply by Central Scrutinizer on June 22, 2012 at 10:05am

here Karen, got the vid up for you

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Permalink Reply by karen arsenault on June 22, 2012 at 10:11am

Thank you Hollywood Did you watch this and read the comments:)

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Permalink Reply by Central Scrutinizer on June 22, 2012 at 10:32am

but of course ;)

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Permalink Reply by Central Scrutinizer on June 22, 2012 at 10:08am

on a youtube vid:

ya need the "Embed" code for it, and also it helps to check the box "Use old embed code"

Copy that code then click the video icon(3rd from left) the a post your making and paste code there

;)

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Permalink Reply by Chip on June 23, 2012 at 9:29am

The ATF promoted all supervisors involved in Fast and Furious. Sanford fires the police chief in this case. Hmm

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Permalink Reply by karen arsenault on June 23, 2012 at 10:32am

These BASTERDS held the city of Sanford as prisoners It should rase an eye brow That the Feds can come to town and tell the locals what to do this tells me who is running the sunshine state.

The picture is to make all folks act like the jews in germany and cower in the corners instead of turning the tables on the trouble makers. Here it is plain that the newspaper needs straightening and the cowardly city manager. That includes the others that are prosecuting.

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Permalink Reply by Paladin10 on June 23, 2012 at 11:27am

Karen: I had something like this happen to me some years back.....The citizens got together, packed the councel chambers in protest....in my case, someone (unknown, but I suspect a councel member friend) saw I was getting the screws, called the FBI...after a 4 month protest and FBI investigation (civil rights violations) the city attorney, mayor and several councel members resigned......I was fully reinstated. Get those good folk together and cram that councel chambers, they are answerable to the public...support this guy if he was a good Chief of Police.......organize a public protest......Semper Fi

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Permalink Reply by Chip on June 24, 2012 at 7:42pm

The whole story is crap from beginning to end. From white hispanic dumb azz Zimmerman to the slanted/corrupt/manipulative media to the wannabe thug Martin to Mr. Al “But resist, we much… we must… and we will much… about… that… be committed.” Sharpton, to that's my son obumbler to the witch hunting FBI and the crap canned police chief. The whole story never caught on from what was its Intended purpose. That purpose IMO was to incite the races into violence against one another. Now there was some black on white beatings, but it wasn't enough to spark a war. When they couldn't find enough white supremacist groups to bite on this, the FBI moved in on what were called militias groups one day to hate groups the next day. They made arrests and nothing came of this either. I'm wondering what will be the next move.
My first thought was that this could be the set up for martial law come election time. Any ideas out there?....???