CITY MANAGER REVIEWING CHIEF WILLIAMS

VENICE CITY MANAGER ISSAC TURNER IS REVIEWING THE PERFORMANCE OF POLICE CHIEF JULIE WILLIAMS AFTER AUDIO RECORDINGS THAT WERE RELEASED TO THE MEDIA APPEAR TO SHOW A POSSIBLE ABUSE OF POWER.  A TURSLY WORDED MEMO WAS SENT TO WILLIAMS BACK ON SEPTEMBER 17^TH BY TURNER WHICH INSTRUCTED HER NOT TO TALK TO OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES WHO HE WILL TALK TO OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.  THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS ALSO LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION AT THE REQUEST OF WILLIAMS TO SEE IF THERE IS A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT AT THE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED BY CURRENT AND FORMER POLICE OFFICERS.  TURNER TOLD THE SUN THAT HIS DECISION COULD RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION WHICH MAY INCLUDE WILLIAMS’ TERMINATION, BUT ANY DECISION MUST GO BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL.