KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The mayor of Kissimmee said he’s devastated by the police chief’s decision to resign, but the announcement, along with the resignation of the city’s fire chief, don’t indicate problems at city hall.
Police Chief Lee Massie advised staff on Thursday that he would resign effective Aug. 9 for personal reasons. The news comes roughly one week after fire chief David Kilbury resigned immediately following a meeting with the city manager.
“I was really pretty devastated by Chief Massie. He and I have become, I think, friends,” said Mayor Jim Swan.
Massie said in a telephone interview late Friday that he’s leaving to take a job with the police academy, which will allow him to spend more time with family. While several city officers have come under investigation in recent months, the chief said that is not why he’s moving on.
Both chiefs answer to the city manager; Swan said the resignations were not related.
When Channel 9’s Michael Lopardi asked if the announcements indicate there may be problems brewing at city hall, Swan said, “Every other Tuesday we brew coffee at our commission meeting, other than that, there's nothing brewing.”
In emails obtained by Eyewitness News, city manager Mike Steigerwald told employees that Kilbury resigned last Wednesday after “it became apparent to both of us that we were not on the same page with regard to management of the department.”
Kilbury served in the role for less than three years.
Last October, Eyewitness News reported on the fire department’s struggles with turnover; the union blamed low wages.
Massie, who started in October, 2012, told his staff in an email, “This was an extremely difficult decision but one that was made based on personal matters, primarily maintaining the focus of ‘family first.’”
Three officers were recently accused of lying about a drug bust. Another officer is accused of sexual misconduct while arresting a woman.
“The one thing I will point out is none of those folks were hired by him,” Swan said. “They were hired by prior chiefs.”
The mayor said Massie was trying to straighten up the department.
A deputy chief is expected to take the helm, at least in the interim, when Massie leaves.
Kilbury told his staffers in an email that he appreciated the opportunity to serve with them.
The city manager said a national search for a replacement would get under way but it could take months.