2 Marion County Sheriff's Office majors suspended following sheriff's removal

MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Marion County's interim Sheriff Emery Gainey suspended more personnel, Channel 9 found out Monday.

Reporter Myrt Price looked through official documents but could not find a reason for the suspensions.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has not yet responded to Channel 9’s questions.

“Just because you’re in a position of power doesn’t mean you don’t make mistakes," said resident Richard East.

Residents said they’re stunned that former Sheriff Chris Blair was arrested on perjury charges.

Gov. Rick Scott removed Blair from office and appointed Gainey as interim sheriff.

Less than 24 hours after taking over, Gainey suspended Maj. Don Maines and Maj. Tommy Bibb.

During a news conference Monday, Gainey said he is assessing each deputy, every unit, and every member of the command staff.

He did not specifically comment on the suspensions of Maines and Bibb.

“In my assessment of the command staff, I simply made a decision that I felt was best as we move forward,” he said. “I made a determination not to include those two majors at this time.”

Maines has been with the sheriff’s office since 2013 after retiring from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Bibb was in special investigations and had been with the sheriff’s office from 1985 to 2011.

Bibb retired and came back in 2013.

Both men had retired and were double dipping-- getting retirement benefits and collecting a pay check with the sheriff’s office.

"Something needs to change, and something’s going to change, and that’s what they are doing now. They’re weeding these people out,” said resident Ben Villanueva.

The majors had received a lot of praise over the years, and Channel 9 did not find significant issues in their past.

Cox Media Group