Gainesville Police Chief Lonnie Scott Sr. submitted his resignation Monday after City Manager Cynthia Curry said Friday that she planned to fire him.
In a Monday letter, Scott said he accepts Curry’s offer to submit a letter of resignation instead of facing termination.
“After considering the alternatives, I have elected to submit my resignation,” Scott wrote. “Nevertheless, I remain unclear as to why you believe this is necessary. I recognize, however, that as an at-will employee that the decision is yours.”
Curry informed the mayor and City Commission about the decision in another Monday letter where she thanked Scott for his time at the department. Scott began working for the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) in 1985 and stepped into the chief role in January 2022.
“As I discussed in a meeting with Chief Scott on Friday, Feb. 23, I have decided it is time to move the Gainesville Police Department in a different direction,” Curry wrote to commissioners.
In a separate press release to local media, Curry said she had deliberated on the decision for months. The decision to remove Scott comes after a year marked by challenges in internal and external communication, employee morale and staffing shortages, Curry said.
“I do not hold Chief Scott solely responsible,” Curry in the release. “These challenges are not unique to GPD. However, my level of confidence in his ability at this point in time is not sufficient to allow him to continue in this role.”
Curry also positively noted Scott’s work to embrace community policing and forge partnerships.
In a message to Mainstreet, Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward said Scott has been a valuable member of the city staff. Ward said he had thoroughly enjoyed working with Scott but stood by Curry’s decision.
“The Chief position works for the city manager, and Manager Curry has indicated that it’s time for a new direction,” Ward said in the message. “I support her and her decision and look forward to new direction and vision at GPD.”
Scott requested six weeks of severance pay and a final work date of March 29. Curry accepted his March 29 end date but did not address the request for severance in a response letter released to local media.
In the coming weeks, Scott will transition his duties to Assistant Chief Nelson Moya, who started with the department in July 2023.
Curry said she will then start a national search for a permanent replacement. She said she has confidence in GPD’s officers and staff to continue its mission to serve and protect.
In Scott’s letter, he highlighted several changes that he believes will improve the department.
Concerning gun violence, Scott pointed to new biweekly accountability sessions, expanded cooperation with the sheriff’s office and the Department of Justice and an initiative focusing on gangs and young adults engaged in violence.
He also said the attrition rate at the department appears to be slowing, with personnel staying longer. Scott said the department expects to hire at least 30 new officers this year.
GPD and other law enforcement agencies have faced staffing shortages.
In the past year, GPD has also faced issues with its K-9 team that recently returned to full-time duty, plus growing calls to address gun violence. Curry also decided to close the department’s Reichert House Youth Academy program in May 2023 after auditing concerns.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include information from City Manager Cynthia Curry that was sent in a release to local media. Mayor Harvey Ward’s comments were also added to update this story.
Hope she knows what she’s doing.
would be the 1st city manager in a long time if so. I doubt it.
It’s kind of strange that a manager would keep their expectations under wraps and then fire an employee for not living up to the hidden expectations. Or, maybe there are a lot of things that aren’t covered by Florida’s Sunshine Laws that are kept from the public – for our ‘own good’.
I’ve never had any experience with Chief Scott but have always found his actions to be very understandable and agreeable. Without a better explanation, this seems like something that will lead to trouble for the city.
Curry is as corrupt as Scott and many others within GPD. The city commission has played deaf, dumb and blind to avoid an impartial review of my Internal Audit when I was attacked by a transient “neighbor” with a long violent history from Missouri. The police were incompetent in their investigation but all stood by them rather than face more scrutiny which should be plain to see if viewed with no bias and a desire for the truth to be known. I had to proceed Pro Se because Alachua County only has “accident attorneys”. Here is my case number 2023-CA-3274 available on line at the clerk of the courts for your unbiased review. I dare anyone to prove me wrong with what I said happened and I have in my possession all the documentation and police body worn camera video that the city refuses to acknowledge. My advice to everyone not politically connected is to avoid GPD. See something, say some nearly cost me 10 years with no possibility of probation had the State’s Attorney not dropped all charges. Next stop, the appellate courts. See you soon I hope, Ms Curry.
“… I have decided it is time to move the Gainesville Police Department in a different direction,” says Curry, (who none of us voted for.) Well, what direction might that be, if you don’t mind my asking, Ms. Curry?
If you poke holes in a ship, then don’t blame the captain when it’s sinking