SANFORD, Fla.,None — For more than a year, the Sanford police department has been slammed with criticism and distracted by in-fighting. Now it seems even the police chief can't retire quietly.
WFTV's George Spencer uncovered the conversations Chief Brian Tooley had with employees that disrupted the department again, just months before he leaves.
Inside Sanford's Police Department, change is underway. Tooley, chief for the past 11 years, is leaving. And now a letter from the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) accuses him of "outrageous" comments to officers after his departure was announced.
In the letter, the FOP quotes Tooley as saying "he was bulletproof, and that he could get away with anything, short of shooting one of the officers who were in the room."
The police union sent the letter of concern to city leaders in September, but said the issue still has not been addressed.
The FOP also claims "Tooley told officers they behave like juvenile, teenage middle schoolers." The letter also says "that this agency is referred to as the mistake by the lake, and that we are described as a bunch of rednecks."
WFTV spoke to Tooley, off-camera, for half-an-hour Wednesday. He insisted the comments were made during a series of blunt conversations, about in-fighting and department problems, before a new leader steps in. Tooley said his broader focus was on mending fences, on how problems could be better dealt with internally, and on the department's successes. He also said his officers battle a crime rate comparable to Orlando's, but on a much more small-town budget.
Tooley will be paid more than $100,000 when he retires as chief in January. The city manager who looked into these concerns said he considers the matter closed.