Sanford commission rejects police chief's resignation

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-- the city of Sanford Florida and its police force under serious scrutiny since the shooting death of trade on Martin.

But now what city commissioner is gaining national attention after a passionate defense of her hometown.

And it's police chief bill -- -- He faced heavy criticism.

For after his department did not arrest George Zimmermann on the night of the fatal shooting.

Here -- commissioner -- -- Haiti at a hearing this week.

-- -- -- -- In the world.

Do you can take -- may end of chief police impeccable.

Character and experience.

This is and I -- man who spent his life.

-- law enforcement.

278.

Years with the sheriff's department he has absolutely no complaints in his personnel file he has.

85 letters of appreciation -- commendation.

With all due respect to you and to mr.

Bonaparte.

This is a man who is a medal of valor winner this some man who -- through live gunfire.

To try and get a deputy sheriff had been shot.

Some safety.

Now he.

This is also the chief it would take a bullet for anyone in this rim and I don't think we have people sitting up here with that -- character.

And I am I am just devastated by this I wouldn't want to see this happen to anybody in this room.

Joining us now live commissioner patty -- -- patty tell us how you really feel.

Well.

I think I feel exactly the same way I felt on Monday night Megan.

-- you know we watched that yesterday and really got our attention because you clearly are very passion about it we've seen a lot of passions in this case.

But mostly the passions have been against the police department in Sanford Florida and chief -- has been made.

You know a scapegoat rightly or wrongly using wrongly you -- one of the ones saying now we reject his permanent resignation we want him in this job.

Do you feel he's ban unfairly maligned.

Yes ma'am I do I do feel he's been unfairly maligned and and it if you don't mind I'd like to tell you why.

You know I said together night at the commission meeting -- was guilty of a bad press conference.

Beyond that.

He's also guilty.

Of making the unpopular but legally corrected -- opinion.

-- if you look at our Florida State -- -- in particular 776 point 032.

Out if if an individual has a qualified.

Defense of of self defense and that investigate first thought that he did that night.

It under Florida law they may not arrest him that not think they actually cannot arrest him.

But yet the popular opinion was -- and I think almost all of a shared it but this doesn't seem right.

-- he needs to be arrested.

The chief and our officers had to follow the letter of the law the Florida statutes and not the popular opinion and down.

I think all Americans should be glad that they did that because.

That the same the same legal rights that had to be afforded to George Zimmermann.

Are applied to all of our citizens but -- -- governor step and the attorney general -- -- and said that this this isn't right.

And we need to take this prosecution given to a special prosecutor have a fresh look.

Taken at this case and of course they came up with a very different conclusion.

I'll know the governor and the special the end and am prosecutor Norman looking at did not say this is not right.

At all.

Did it with.

Two weeks into the investigation.

With a lot of public and political pressure.

I wanted to -- to make sure that you understand.

Debt on our investigators presented to minister -- -- the facts and circumstances that the case and asked him.

At that team.

To a press charges against mr.

Zimmerman has -- -- computer.

The sergeant first prosecutor at that time he said that that first prosecutor said.

No not at this time the governor didn't brought in -- special prosecutor taped it to take it out of the the local areas hands and prosecutor Angela Corey.

Also did not say this isn't right what she said is investigations of this nature take generally six to eight weeks.

DC -- for police department's investigation.

Was was was highly abbreviated.

And she is still continuing to build her case on work the entire investigators.

Did.

But under the Florida prevailing law she also understood why he was not arrested so yeah.

-- -- don't we only have a little -- have left.

But but because you rejected that -- permanent resignation of chief -- and it yes Sony pushed back from your constituents here's one SoundBite.

You got to listen to do -- because that India in this city who say they won't he'll go.

And and I'm just here to say -- -- it's easier there's not going to be in a piece in this city.

-- it wasn't real.

Your thoughts on that and my son that are that once this independent investigation comes back if he made a mistake he will be gone.

However if he didn't the city is Sanford the city manager in the city commission need to stand by what's right and what they -- And down and you know I don't care what job you.

Not everybody likes me -- I think you're ever gonna find the community where a 100% of the people.

Love the police chief but but my thoughts are sure if there was something egregious it happened absolutely he'll be gone.

Until that time and I don't think -- you're gonna see that.

I don't think he's going to be -- -- -- thank you -- Thank you all the best you.

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Sanford commission rejects police chief's resignation

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