The city of Sanford will officially announce on Thursday that embattled police chief Bill Lee has been fired, FOX 35 is reporting.
Lee, who in April had his resignation rejected by the Sanford City Commission, had stepped aside from his duties as chief on March 22 after the majority of the Sanford City Council expressed “no confidence" over his handling of the Feb. 26 shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, 28.
Zimmerman has claimed self-defense and the shooting has set off a national debate about Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. Gov. Rick Scott has established a Citizens Safety and Protection Task Force to review the law.
FOX 35 reports that Lee met with Sanford City Manager Norton Bonaparte Wednesday afternoon.
When commissioners, in a 3-2 vote, rejected his resignation, the majority wanted to await the outcome of an internal investigation to first be completed.
The city has brought in Richard Myers, a former police chief from Colorado Springs, Co., to serve as the interim.
