LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — The police chief for the city of Clermont is responding to accusations that his department is corrupt.
Some former officers said they were fired for exposing problems in the department.
Part of the accusations center around an officer who may have had a relationship with an underage girl.
The internal affairs investigation was done more than a year ago into allegations Clermont Officer Joe Avery had a romantic relationship with a 17-year-old girl who was participating in the explorer program.
On Wednesday Chief Steve Graham explained why the officer was cleared.
He released a statement saying his department followed every lead to its end and could not prove or disprove allegations that Avery violated police policy.
The chief said the teenaged girl whom Avery is alleged to have had an improper relationship with has a history of lying, and that there was evidence "indicating that she fabricated the allegations."
On Tuesday night allegations of corruption against Graham were made by former Officer Kim Meintzschel, who was fired.
"There wasn't an investigation, a proper correct and true investigation done," said Meintzschel.
Clermont police said Meintzschel was fired for lying about fabricating an email of a citizens' complaint against the chief.
Two commissioners at Tuesday night's meeting called on the city manager to open an investigation into the allegations of corruption within the city police department.
WFTV tried to talk to City Manager Wayne Saunders on Wednesday about whether he's going to open an investigation.
He was not in the office and we were told he will put out a new release Thursday morning.
WFTV
