Chris Serino, one of the lead detectives for the Sanford police department investigating the Trayvon Martin shooting, has transferred from desk duty to a simple street cop, the department confirmed.
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Serino had asked for the change himself, according to the department. He will become a uniform patrol officer and work the night shift, said police spokesman Sgt. David Morgenstern.
As reported by the Orlando Sentinel:
Serino is not being demoted, Morgenstern said, and his rate of pay is unaffected.
Interim Police Chief Richard Myers was not available for comment.
Serino, a 15-year department veteran, is the detective who led the investigation into the Feb. 26 shooting that killed the unarmed black 17-year-old from Miami Gardens.
The gunman, George Zimmerman, 28, told police he acted in self-defense. Serino headed the much-criticized investigation that, once it was concluded, left police department managers convinced they did not have enough evidence to arrest Zimmerman.
They had no credible evidence to counter Zimmerman’s version of what happened, Serino said in March.
Serino and the department ultimately filed paperwork with prosecutors, recommending that Zimmerman be charged with manslaughter. A short time later, Gov. Rick Scott appointed a special prosecutor, who charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder.
Zimmerman is currently in the Seminole County Jail, awaiting trial. Serino is expected to be a witness at his trial.
SOURCE: Orlando Sentinel
