VENICE POLICE CHIEF PUT ON PAID LEAVE

VENICE CITY MANAGER ISSAC TURNER PUT POLICE CHIEF JULIE WILLIAMS ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE ON FRIDAY FOR INSUBORDINATION.  CITY OFFICIALS SAID THAT CAPTAIN DAVID DUNAWAY IS THE ACTING CHIEF IN HER ABSENCE.  WILLIAMS, WHO IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY TURNER AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, WAS PLACED ON THE INDEFINITE LEAVE AFTER TURNER RECEIVED WORD THAT SHE VIOLATED THE TERMS OF A LETTER SENT TO HER ON SEPTEMBER 17^TH.  IN THAT MEMO AND A SUBSEQUENT MEETING ON THE 20^TH, TURNER SPECIFICALLY TOLD WILLIAMS NOT TO HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH PEOPLE HE WAS INTERVIEWING IN HIS INVESTIGATION.  THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ALSO CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEPARTMENT AT THE REQUEST OF WILLIAMS, BUT OFFICIALS THERE DID NOT GIVE ANY TIME FRAME AS TO HOW LONG THAT WOULD TAKE.  IF TURNER WANTS TO TAKE ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTION, INCLUDING TERMINATION, HE MUST PRESENT IT TO THE VENICE CITY COUNCIL FOR A VOTE.