LAKE WALES, Fla. — The police chief of Lake Wales was suspended without pay on Monday by the city manager over accusations of nepotism and lack of transparency, according to a letter sent to Police Chief Chris Velasquez.
The letter from city manager James Slaton to Velasquez says he has repeatedly heard public concerns about nepotism and a lack of transparency. He then tells the chief he is suspended without pay for three days beginning next Monday, and that in April, he will advertise a search for a new chief.
Neither Slaton nor Chief Velasquez responded to our request for comment tonight.
The letter denies any race-based discrimination occurred at Lake Wales police, which is the allegation made by the Poor & Minority Justice Association, that originally prompted the city's internal investigation. The letter was shared by the PMJA with 10 Tampa Bay; We have not been able to verify its authenticity.
"We're grateful that it was dealt with in a fashion that says no, ‘this won't be tolerated,’” PMJA founder, Pastor Clayton Cowart, said. “And I wish more people would take actions like that over issues like this."
The letter concludes by telling the chief he can respond to the disciplinary action at the city commission meeting next Tuesday but that it would not be considered a formal appeal.
According to our previous reporting, the PMJA, which has a long history of making accusations against the department, points to a recent round of promotions where a letter was sent out in October soliciting sergeants within the department to apply for a promotion to lieutenant.
The PMJA questioned why – just one day after the original letter was issued – the department sent out an amended one.
This time, the memo extended the application deadline, and instead of candidates needing to possess an associate degree, it now would allow those who would meet that degree requirement by the end of the year to qualify.
The PMJA accused the department of tailoring the prerequisites to conform to a favored candidate.
The officer who ultimately received the promotion, who is white, had noted on his application that he had not yet achieved the prerequisite degree but intended to do so by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the group said, minority candidates who had already met the original qualifications also applied, but ultimately, we're not chosen for the promotion.
In the March 11 letter to Velasquez, Slaton says:
“I have been too involved in the administration of the Police department during my tenure as City Manager in an effort to find solutions to concerns raised by the community. Our environment demands proactive, adaptive, and creative leadership.”