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Sanford Police Chief Steps Aside- Temporarily


Police Chief Bill Lee says his role has become a distraction to the Trayvon Martin investigation.

Lee said he would temporarily step down. 

In a media conference Thursday afternoon, Lee said his role as the head of the Sanford Police Department has become a distraction to the investigation into the death of teenager Trayvon Martin.

Martin was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, three weeks ago. Police questioned Zimmerman but did not arrest him, saying they did not have enough evidence to dispute his claim that he fired in self defense.

Pressure has been building on Lee to step aside, with the NAACP calling for him to go at a rally in Sanford Tuesday. City commissioners passed a vote of no confidence in Lee by a 3 to 2 majority at a meeting Wednesday night.

Lee said while he stands by his department’s handling of the investigation, his involvement is "overshadowing the process," and he decided to temporarily remove himself from the role of police chief. 

"I do this in the hope of restoring some semblance of calm to the city, which has been in turmoil for several weeks," he said.

The investigation into Martin's death has been turned over to the Department of Justice and the State Attorney's office. 

Sanford city manager Norton Bonaparte said two other officers will take over Lee's duties while the city looks for an interim police chief.

"This is a very difficult time for this community, it's a difficult time for the nation," he said.

He said the city of Sanford wants justice for Trayvon Martin's family more than anything.

 

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