DEJA VU! SANFORD, FL POLICE CHIEF STEPS ASIDE IN WAKE OF TRAYVON MARTIN SHOOTING

The last police chief had to resign his position when his officers failed to arrest an Lt’s son when he attacked a homeless black man. And now Police Chief Bill Lee is stepping aside – although he says temporarily – because of all the heat he’s getting.

One People’s Project

SANFORD, FL–Police Chief Bill Lee, who received a vote of no confidence by city commissioners after the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watch captain, announced at a press conference that he will temporarily step down from the position he held for only ten months.

Chief Lee was brought to the position after Chief Brian Tooley resigned his position after a similar incident brought pressure to him. Last year Justin Collison attacked a homeless black man, but officers chose not to arrest him. Reportedly, the commanding officer in that scene, also commanded the scene where George Zimmerman shot and killed Martin while claiming self-defense. Zimmerman has not been charged.

When Lee took the position in May, he seemed to suggest that he would continue the practice that led to the Dec. 2010 incident. “My preference, unless there’s some imminent danger or a safety issue, is that we file a capias [forgo an immediate arrest and file paperwork, requesting that the State Attorney’s Office pursue charges],” he said in an interview.

Chief Lee announced his resignation during a brief press conference Thurday afternoon.