LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — 9 Investigates got its hands on a new report that details potential problems inside the Groveland Police Department.
The issues range from claims that sexual harassment complaints were never investigated, to allegations of illegal drug use by officers.
Tim Loukes, Groveland's mayor told Channel 9's Angela Jacobs he plans to ask the state to investigate following the report.
Lake County told Eyewitness News it’s important to emphasize a great deal of this review is based on opinions expressed during interviews with employees
“This is about as close to the truth as we can get,” Loukes said to Jacobs. “If things aren't being investigated correctly, then we need to correct them. We've got to find out what the root of the problem is first.”
Eyewitness News read through the 25-page report and found from the interviews with 27 employees over seven weeks, there were allegations of flawed handling of internal affairs investigations. That reviewers called, "disorganized" and under-documented.
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There were as many as six sexual harassment complaints against one sergeant that were possibly ignored, the report found.
“What bothered me the most was the length of time. Some of these were files (from) last December,” Loukes said.
Reviewers also found compelling allegations of the use of illegal, performance enhancing drugs without a subscription by high-ranking officials in the department.
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Reviewers recommend the city ask the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate.
The Groveland police chief told Eyewitness News in an email that he agrees with some issues with the internal affairs process. He does not agree with the findings regarding sexual harassment complaints.
He told us he plans to meet with the sheriff about what he considers untrue statements.
Meanwhile, the mayor said he’s moving forward.
“To get this whole police department corrected, is top priority for me, it's gone on way too long,” Loukes said.