TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The Big Bend Chapter of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, Inc. has voted to retract their request that Chief DeLeo be investigated.
According to PBA officials, the Board of Directors voted Wednesday night at their monthly meeting to retract the press release given by President Steven B. Slade that Chief DeLeo be investigated.
However, Steven B. Slade, who also serves as the Florida PBA Vice President of Chapters, stands by the request to have the incident reviewed by City officials.
President Slade stated, “The rank and file of law enforcement agencies are investigated daily on allegations from citizens whether anonymous or in person throughout the State of Florida. Management regardless of rank should be held to the same scrutiny.”
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Another group is calling for the City of Tallahassee to conduct a "full investigation" into Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo.
The Big Bend Chapter of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, Inc. confirmed that the president, Steven Slade, reviewed a copy of the anonymous letter from Concerned Employees for Diversity at TPD.
Tuesday afternoon, Leon County commissioner Bill Proctor cited that same complaint that alleged discrimination against black employees at TPD and called into question "multiple poor leadership decisions" by Chief DeLeo.
According to Big Bend BPA, the president acknowledged that he himself has had a "tumultuous" relationship with Chief DeLeo and was reassigned to the Patrol Division along with many senior lieutenants in the police department.
"The Police Benevolent Association conducted a survey of its members and 86 percent of the returned surveys defined Chief DeLeo as an "ineffective leader," the group wrote in a press release.
The association says they had previously sent their survey results to the city commission and interim city manager Reese Goad.
Now, the president of the Big Bend BPA is calling on the city to conduct a "full investigation of Chief DeLeo's troubled tenure."
You can read the full Big Bend BPA press release here.
Proctor also called for the suspension of Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo. He says the city commission should put plans for a new TPD headquarters on hold until the complaint is investigated.
You can read Proctor's full press release here.
