Sanford, Florida Police Chief Bill Lee has temporarily removed himself from his post amid investigation into the shooting of Trayvon Martin.
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He announced he was stepping aside at a press conference conducted by Sanford city manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. at Sanford City Hall.
Lee has faced heavy criticism over his department’s handling of the Trayvon Martin killing.
Lee told reporters-
“I must temporarily remove myself from the position as police chief for the city of Sanford. I do this in the hopes of restoring some semblance of calm to a city which has been in turmoil for several weeks.
It is my hope that the investigation will move forward swiftly and appropriately through the justice system and that a final determination in this case is reached.”
The police chief has said authorities were prohibited from making an arrest based on the facts and circumstances they had at the time of the shooting. He said he continued to stand behind his agency’s investigation.
“As a former homicide investigator, a career law enforcement officer and a father, I am keenly aware of the emotions associated with this tragic death of a child. I’m also aware that my role as a leader of this agency has become a distraction from the investigation,”
When Trayvon was killed on the night of Feb 26, Sanford police arrested shooter George Zimmerman but later set him free after he claimed he shot Martin in self-defense.
Zimmerman has not been arrested or charged in the shooting, prompting an outcry from Trayvon’s family, the community of Sanford and civic leaders.
Zimmerman says Martin attacked him and claims the shooting was in self-defense. Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law allows someone to “meet force with force.”
Tonight at least 20,000 people are expected to attend a 7 p.m. rally led by the Rev. Al Sharpton at Fort Mellon Park.
