Sanford Police Chief Fired

[Content Note: Violence; racism.]

Sanford, Florida Police Chief Bill Lee, whose resignation after failing to charge George Zimmerman for the murder of Trayvon Martin was rejected by city commissioners in April, has now been fired, with "a three-month severance and a week's salary in addition to any earned time off," on top of the paid leave he's had since March 22. Pretty nifty deal for having completely failed at your job!

"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," City Manager Norton Bonaparte said in a news release.

"We need to move forward with a police chief that all the citizens of Sanford can support. I have come to this decision in light of the escalating divisiveness that has taken hold of the city."

...Late Wednesday night, representatives of the Martin family said they "respected" the city manager's decision.

"It's important that we really believe that, as all of this has unfolded, we've continued to move closer to justice," said family attorney Daryl Parks.

...Lee had said Zimmerman was not charged in the shooting because there were no grounds to disprove his account of the events -- that Martin had attacked him. Since then, Zimmerman has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

What I will never understand is why a police officer would ever support an interpretation of the law that essentially amounts to: "Well, the other guy's dead, so I guess the killer's version of events will have to suffice, and he says it was justified. Case closed!" It doesn't seem like encouraging vigilantism and anarchy is in a police officer's best interest, never mind everyone else's.

Anyway. I hope his replacement, for which a nationwide search is being conducted, proves more suited to law enforcement and justice.