Community reacts to decision letting Lake Wales police chief keep job
LAKE WALES, Fla. (WFLA) — After the Lake Wales city manager reversed a decision to move on from the longtime police chief, the head of the Poor & Minority Justice Association said he is not surprised.
“It can be expected in the climate that we’re in and the county that we’re in,” said Pastor Clayton Cowart.
Last week, Cowart told News Channel 8 he wanted Chief Chris Velasquez fired as soon as possible after hearing from officers who felt they were not given a fair chance at a promotion.
“These gentlemen, they felt so bad that they had to be looked over now to have to go through, they thought they received justice and now it’s a slap in the face,” said Cowart.
In a March 11 memo, Lake Wales City Manager James Slaton wrote an “appearance of unfairness” was “evident” in how the chief promoted a sergeant to lieutenant in late 2023.
Slaton also listed two areas of public concern, an appearance of nepotism within the department and a perception of a lack of transparency.
The complaint filed by the Poor & Minority Justice Association alleged the promotion decisions were “impermissibly motivated by race.”
“The investigation determined that there was no supporting evidence establishing that promotional decisions were based on any candidate’s race,” Slaton’s memo read.
Still, due to other findings, Slaton wrote he was suspending Chief Velasquez for three days without pay and would advertise his job beginning in April.
On Tuesday evening, Slaton told city commissioners he was rescinding the entirety of that memo.
“Chief Velasquez was cooperative and eager to ensure any issues that may have caused concern in the past, will not be repeated in the future,” Slaton said.
Some community members expressed support for the decision.
“I want to thank [Slaton] for being a gentleman enough to understand when mistakes are made, it can be worked out and it will save the city,” said Al Goldstein, a former Lake Wales city commissioner. “I’m really ecstatic right now that this is able to work out.”
“This is one of the finest police chiefs I have ever dealt with. He has high integrity. He’s honest. He’s straight to the point. He doesn’t make up stuff. He is not a racist and by the way, he’s a minority,” said Fay Wood.
Other people still had concerns.
“I hope that even though the decision has changed, the matter will still be handled,” said Bruce Francis.
City Commissioner Daniel Williams expressed frustration about the city manager reversing course.
“To walk in here today to find out that decision had been changed and no one spoke to me…I was extremely disappointed,” said Williams, who said he supports the chief.
City and police leaders said they would not do interviews Wednesday about this matter.
Chief Velasquez addressed commissioners and members of the public at Tuesday’s meeting, saying he apologized for any challenges the city faced.
“For 31 years, I’ve put this uniform on every day and I’ve been proud to wear it. I’ll continue to do that. I’ll continue to serve and I’ll continue to do my job with honor and integrity,” he said.
In his March 11 memo, Slaton said he was considering reopening the lieutenant position given to Dale Hampton in late 2023 as a result of the investigation.
The president of the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association previously told News Channel 8 it objected to Hampton being demoted.
Although the memo is now rescinded, it is unclear what will happen with Hampton’s promotion.
Hampton has served with the Lake Wales Police Department for 20 years.
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