WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — 9 Investigates uncovered four additional Winter Springs police officers have resigned after the agency lost 16 other employees in just the last five months.
That makes 16 sworn officer terminations or resignations since March.
Among the latest batch of resignation letters, one officer wrote: “I find myself dreading coming in to work. I find that I hope there is not another call that is going to come out.”
Another officer alluded to being overworked, writing: “I have been overwhelmed with the enormous responsibility.”
“When I see a department the size of Winter Springs losing that many people, the first thing that comes to mind is they're going to have a difficult time trying to staff,” law enforcement expert Chuck Drago said.
The Winter Springs Police Department is budgeted for 65 sworn personnel, meaning that the agency has lost one-quarter of its officers since March. Only four were fired; the rest resigned. The agency has hired four officers since then.
The reasons listed in resignation letters varied from seeking higher pay at other law enforcement agencies to joining the private sector.
However, three of the officer resignation letters pointed to leadership issues, and one of the latest to leave did so as well.
That officer said: “We have lost so many officers with an incredible amount of experience, training and knowledge that it will take years to recover to where we once were.”
“It’s very unusual for a small agency to lose that many people in a short period of time,” Drago said.
Chief Kevin Brunelle offered to provide a statement to 9 Investigates, but has not yet sent one to reporter Karla Ray.
Cox Media Group