City leaders grapple with unreleased parts of Freeh report
Posted: Apr 18, 2017 5:55 PM EDTUpdated: Apr 18, 2017 7:09 PM EDT
By Levi Ismail, Reporte
FORT MYERS, Fla. -
Fort Myers city leaders are at odds over how to handle parts of the scathing Freeh report that were kept hidden from the public.
"I have to insert myself into it because of the fact of what's going on. There are shootings at the back of my house," said Councilwoman Terolyn Watson.
Some council members are demanding to see portions of the report given only to the police chief.
"Maybe Ward 6, Ward 5, Ward 4, you may not have concerns of the police as deep as I do," Watson said. "Nobody is shooting the back of your house on a daily basis."
In what seemed to be an unending city council meeting that spilled into Tuesday morning, an impassioned Councilwoman Watson claimed the city has lost focus.
"If you don't live there, you can't say nothing about what's going on," she said.
City Manager Saeed Kazemi offered an update into Fort Myers police following the scathing Freeh report audit but had no answer for what's being done about the five officers currently on leave.
"We need something because we know nothing, we're just speculating," said Councilman Johnny Streets.
The frustration only grew over secret pages from the report that may implicate other officers as part of an investigation.
"If these officers are telling me they don't know why they are home, and there is another report over there that's hidden, I don't know," Streets said.
Only Chief Derrick Diggs has laid eyes on the full document. Council members say that's not enough for them or taxpayers.
"They are now starting to listen to everything we do down here," Watson said.
Still, others see progress being made.
"There is nothing easy about this and I've said this over and over again. It's a fluid and evolving situation. We're making progress," said Mayor Randy Henderson.
"Let's give the gentlemen the time. Let him do his job. If he doesn't do his job, I will be the only one to bring it up here," Kazemi said.
Posted: Apr 18, 2017 5:55 PM EDTUpdated: Apr 18, 2017 7:09 PM EDT
By Levi Ismail, Reporte
FORT MYERS, Fla. -
Fort Myers city leaders are at odds over how to handle parts of the scathing Freeh report that were kept hidden from the public.
"I have to insert myself into it because of the fact of what's going on. There are shootings at the back of my house," said Councilwoman Terolyn Watson.
Some council members are demanding to see portions of the report given only to the police chief.
"Maybe Ward 6, Ward 5, Ward 4, you may not have concerns of the police as deep as I do," Watson said. "Nobody is shooting the back of your house on a daily basis."
In what seemed to be an unending city council meeting that spilled into Tuesday morning, an impassioned Councilwoman Watson claimed the city has lost focus.
"If you don't live there, you can't say nothing about what's going on," she said.
City Manager Saeed Kazemi offered an update into Fort Myers police following the scathing Freeh report audit but had no answer for what's being done about the five officers currently on leave.
"We need something because we know nothing, we're just speculating," said Councilman Johnny Streets.
The frustration only grew over secret pages from the report that may implicate other officers as part of an investigation.
"If these officers are telling me they don't know why they are home, and there is another report over there that's hidden, I don't know," Streets said.
Only Chief Derrick Diggs has laid eyes on the full document. Council members say that's not enough for them or taxpayers.
"They are now starting to listen to everything we do down here," Watson said.
Still, others see progress being made.
"There is nothing easy about this and I've said this over and over again. It's a fluid and evolving situation. We're making progress," said Mayor Randy Henderson.
"Let's give the gentlemen the time. Let him do his job. If he doesn't do his job, I will be the only one to bring it up here," Kazemi said.
