FORT MYERS, Fla. — A proposal to transfer some of the Ft. Myers Police Department’s internal investigations to another agency failed to receive a vote Monday night.
“The policeman’s bill of rights, that does not overshadow the constitution of the United States,” said Councilman Johnny Streets, who proposed the measure.
Streets says he’s concerned with how long it is taking the department to complete its investigation into two high ranking officers who are on leave.
“We got people sitting home now going on three years and they’re still getting paid.”
Councilwoman Terolyn Watson says she’s worried about a culture of mistrust in the department.
She mentioned last month’s release of a tape showing Ft. Myers Police Captain Jay Rodriguez allegedly having sex with a potential suspect in a prostitution sting.
“Think about that, we wouldn’t be at this point if that tape wasn’t leaked to somebody. So what else is in hiding that the chief don’t know about,?” asked Watson.
But City Attorney Grant Alley determined city council doesn’t have the power to order the city manager to bring in a third party investigator.
"We are talking about incidents that happened years ago, so we have to make sure all the things are looked at,” said City Manager Said Kazemi.
Chief Derrick Diggs was not at Monday’s meeting.
4 In Your Corner has repeatedly reached out to the chief for comment about issues in the department, but he has yet to get back to us.
