GROVELAND, Fla. — 9 Investigates has learned the small town of Groveland has spent big bucks to keep from following a state commission's order to rehire a fired police officer.
Cindy Homelius was fired for union activities, but the state attorney cleared her of charges the Groveland Police Department brought against her.
Groveland leaders have spent $339,000 on attorneys to fight the state commission’s order to rehire fired officer Cindy Homelius.
The police chief said Homelius was reinstated on paper last week, but because she hasn’t been called back to duty, terms of the move are still unclear.
Raw: Groveland police officer cleared of criminal charge speaks out
In the meantime, per the public employee relations commission order issued in March, the price tag climbs for the back-pay, interest, benefits and legal fees still owed Homelius.
“It comes to the point where you've got to say enough is enough,” said former mayor Mike Radzik.
Radzik said he supports the police department, but not in this case.
“It hurts because we're spending a lot of money on legal fees that we could be using for reclaimed water lines and hooking up the north end to the south end, and making the city a lot easier to grow,” he said.
The city would not comment on the money spent prevent the order.
Radzik said spending nearly 3 percent of Groveland's $13 million general fund can only take a toll.
“It's a lot of taxpayer money. This has been a divisive issue and I think it's time to put it behind us for the good of the city,” he said.
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