SANFORD, Fla. – The Sanford City Commission has voted to deny the resignation on Monday of Police Chief Bill Lee Jr., who temporarily stepped down from his position in connection to the Trayvon Martin shooting.
Sanford Mayor Jeff Triplett called the special hour-long meeting with city commissioners Monday afternoon. Commissioners voted 3-2 against the resolution, with Triplett and Commissioners Patty Mahany and Randy Jones voting against it. The resolution would have allowed City Manager Norton Bonaparte to execute the separation agreement for Lee. Under the agreement, Lee would have resigned from his post, effective at midnight.
“In light of the vote, Chief Lee will remain on paid administrative leave while an investigation continues into the handling of the Trayvon Martin case by the Sanford Police Department,” Bonaparte said. Captain Darren Scott will remain as Acting Police Chief. (more)
ORLANDO, Fla. — The police chief in the city where Trayvon Martin was shot will permanently step down from his post under an agreement that still must be approved Monday by city officials.

Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee had temporarily stepped aside as chief March 22 after enduring strong criticism over his department’s handling of the Martin case. Police did not initially charge 28-year-old George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who claimed he shot the 17-year-old Martin in self-defense. Prosecutors later charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder.
Lee had temporarily stepped down to help restore calm to the community. Capt. Darren Scott has been acting as police chief since then. City commissioners — who had previously given Lee a “no confidence” vote — were to take a vote on Lee’s resignation Monday afternoon.
“The city has experienced great turmoil in the past two months and we are hoping to stabilize the department and continue with this time of healing,” said City Manager Norton Bonaparte.

Florida law gives people broad leeway to use lethal force if they believe their lives are in grave danger. The Feb. 26 shooting sparked protests nationwide, as well as debates about the laws and race. Martin was black; Zimmerman is the son of a white father and Hispanic mother.
Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder earlier this month, 44 days after the fatal shooting. He was released from the Seminole County Jail in the middle of the night on $150,000 bail.
The neighborhood watch volunteer was wearing a brown jacket and blue jeans and carrying a paper bag as he walked out of the Seminole County jail around midnight Sunday. He was following another man and didn’t look at photographers gathered outside. The two then got into a white BMW and drove away.
Zimmerman did not speak as he left the suburban Orlando jail.
His ultimate destination is being kept secret for his safety. He could leave Florida.
Martin’s parents have a “heavy heart” now that Zimmerman has been released from jail, said Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the 17-year-old’s parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton.

“They hope his freedom is temporary because the pain he has caused this family is permanent,” Crump said Monday. (read more)