TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Police Chief Michael DeLeo has released a statement regarding his relationship with an employee after the City Manager raised concerns over the relationship.
Anita Favors-Thompson voiced her concern over the relationship this week, saying that she is reviewing the situation to get all the facts.
City officials say there is no direct policy on relationships in the department.
The Chief's full statement can be found below:
As the Chief of Police, I want to acknowledge that my personal actions both at work and home are subject to public purview. While I would prefer not to be discussing my personal life in the media, I believe this community needs to hear directly from me about this matter. My wife and I have been estranged for nearly a year and separated for several months. As you can imagine, this has been a difficult time for my family. I made a mistake in judgement by dating someone before my divorce becomes final on September 9, 2015.
In addition, I understand the concern for dating an employee in my department. While there isn't a formal policy beyond supervising a relative, I understand there can be potential negative impacts to the organization. As such, I have decided to the place the needs of the community and my family first and continue to focus on the responsibilities as your Chief of Police. I apologize for creating a situation that distracts from all of the outstanding work being done by the men and woman at the Tallahassee Police Department.
My commitment for this community is unwavering and I remain dedicated to this organization and the citizens of Tallahassee.
