Sanford police chief steps down 'temporarily' in wake of Trayvon Martin's shooting death

[Little Star]

Source: Chicago Tribune

SANFORD – Embattled Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee Jr. has stepped down from his post "temporarily" this afternoon, brought down by a firestorm of criticism over the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old.

"My role as the leader of this agency has become a distraction from the investigation," Lee said in a brief statement. "It is apparent that my involvement in this matter is overshadowing the process.

"Therefore, I have come to the decision that I must temporarily relieve myself from the position as police chief for the city of Sanford," Lee said.

"I do this in the hopes of restoring some semblance of calm to a city which has been in turmoil for several weeks."




Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/os-trayvon-martin-sanford-chief-20120322,0,2419134.story

[aquart]

1. Took him long enough.

When is he going to figure out he did something WRONG?

[Little Star]

4. That's a good question...

He says his role as the leader of this agency has become a distraction from the investigation? Yeah right! His role played a huge part in why there was no actual investigation.

[Enrique]

8. that "distraction from the investigation" part left my head spinning

[Lost-in-FL]

2. What? Is he going on vacation or sumpin? nt

[arcane1]

3. "I'm going to take a vacation so I won't have to deal with this" n/t

[WI_DEM]

5. right, 'temporarily' I think he's gone for good.

[KG]

6. I'd rather the guy 'step up' and do the right thing.

[mercymechap]

7. His role has been to

obstruct the truth in order to keep from arresting Zimmerman. He needs to go for good - not just leave with pay, as he probably is enjoying.

[slackmaster]

9. The Astute Observer will note that the absence of the Chief leaves the City Manager in charge...

[Little Star]

13. Did you see him on Lawrence O Donnell last night?...

I kinda felt bad for him. But think he will do the right thing. At least I hope so.

[slackmaster]

15. I generally don't watch that kind of TV, but I just may tonight

Thanks.

[montanacowboy]

22. I watched that last night and this guy looked

like a deer in the headlights; in fact he kind of creeped me out. Rev Al seemed extremely flummoxed at his answers which seemed very robotic and controlled.

[CAPHAVOC]

26. O'Donnel was a jerk.

Just a Jerk. Disgusting.

[Iliyah]

10. All I want to know

is WHY wasn't there a proper investigation? No written, taped, or video statement from Zimmerman. They held Trayvon's body for several days without trying to find out who he was, they had his cell phone. Refused to speak or interview the witnesses. The police department refused to do a complete investigation and brushed it under the rug, WHY?

Zimmerman claims that that was him screaming for help, ok if so, let an speech and audio expert verify that. Its just so many unanswered questions.

[Little Star]

11. +1000

[X_Digger]

12. Umm. Do we know any of those things?

From the Sanford PD's report, a statement was taken from Zimmerman. http://www.sanfordfl.gov/investigation/docs/Twin%20Lakes%20Shooting%20Initial%20Report.pdf

They also canvassed the neighborhood.
http://www.sanfordfl.gov/investigation/docs/TwinLakesTownhomesShootingUpDate2.pdf

And we've heard from witnesses who were interviewed by the PD.

They're not likely to release witness statements until the grand jury, that's pretty standard procedure.

[Little Star]

14. Why did they not use the cell phone to identify Trayvon? And..

why not use redial to call the last person Trayvon was talking to?

There were 2 women witnesses who say they were basically blown off when they tried to report what they heard and saw. They never asked those women to come to the station and give interviews even though the women were willing to do so.

They did no drug/alcohol testing on Zimmerman nor ballistics testing on his gun.

The police department only interviewed and investigated for what they wanted to hear & see, imho. And that's not a valid way to interview or investigate.

Something stinks in the Sanford police department.

[X_Digger]

17. Oh no doubt, but I was trying to wrangle the rhetoric back to reality..

The PD report says that Zimmerman made a statement, versus "No written, taped, or video statement from Zimmerman."

The '3 days' line that we heard early on appears to now be <5 hours (Martin's father reported him missing the next morning and police notified him shortly thereafter.)

The fact that we have the two witnesses that say PD tried to 'correct' them-- shows that yes, people were interviewed, in spite of the claim in post #10 ("Refused to speak or interview the witnesses&quot

It does us no good to go so hyperbolic as to move away from reality.

This racist PD is being exposed, but if we go off half-cocked, it doesn't help.

[frylock]

23. we've heard from witnesses who were coerced by the PD to recount their story

[X_Digger]

25. Right.. but they *were* interviewed.

Just trying to deflate the wharrrrgarble.

[patrice]

18. All of which raises questions about how well PD knew Z & what, given past behaviors, he might do.

[patrice]

19. e.g. They would have had to know that he had a gun + he was hyper-active, right?

[Blue_Tires]

24. Because whatever bullshit story Zimmerman told the police was accepted truth

I can't wait to read the full statement he gave to police (which hasn't been released yet)...It's almost certainly 100 percent fiction...

[april]

16. this is just to hard to believe that this is still going on / Racism

[CAPHAVOC]

27. It always will.

We just have to keep keeping on. It is the worst in the justice system. I hope to make a difference some day. But I think this is getting too cockeyed. It is turning off the very people we need to enlist. Wrong way to go about it...just my opinion.

[Ruby the Liberal]

20. A little late, but a good first step. nt

[frylock]

21. i knew he would be out by friday and i promise this will become permanent..

and good riddance. they need to purge this dept from the top down.

[savalez]

28. I'm gonna hold you to it!

Good news. Gotta just keep chipping away now.

Do you think the shooter will still be around if charges are filed?

[chu082011]

29. Spam deleted by Skinner (MIR Team)