In a unanimous vote Feb. 10, city commissioners decided to send an investigative report regarding former Police Chief Steven Singletary to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Ethics Commission. City Attorney Ken Buchman prepared the letter of request this week. The forwarding would subject Commissioner Billy Keel to investigation.
It was Keel who requested the commission make the vote. In a letter to Horwedel last week, Keel acknowledged he needed to respond to allegations that he interfered with Singletary’s investigation by allegedly trying to prevent those involved from cooperating. Singletary was fired for breaching code of conduct items by having sex with teacher Melissa Hardwick on city property, among other violations.
“First, let me be very clear, I in no way used or attempted to use in any manner, my position as city commissioner of the city of Plant City to intervene in this or any other investigation, not now, and not ever,” Keel wrote.
According to sworn testimony Hardwick provided, Keel sent text messages to a mutual friend in an attempt to keep her quiet.
Hardwick made the statements to Assistant City Manager of Public Safety Bill McDaniel.
“Did you see the text?” McDaniel asked Hardwick in a recorded interview.
“Yes,” she replied.
“Can you tell us what it said?” he asked.
“That his (Singletary’s) job depends on whether or not, I think it said, I testified,” Hardwick said.
Furthermore, according to investigation documents, Singletary left his unmarked police car parked in the parking lot of Keel’s business, Matrix Medical, while he and Hardwick left for daylong trips to Lakeland. Singletary took vacation hours to cover time for three of those meetings. On two meetings, he took sick time. On four dates, he did not note any form of leave time.
“I believe that the citizens of this community deserve this answer, and I believe I deserve this answer as well,” Keel wrote. “I have spent my entire adult life working for the betterment of this community. I have always done so with honor, pride and integrity. I will not have that tarnished by these allegations, and I look forward to a day where my name is completely and unequivocally cleared. As always, I will continue to keep the lives of all the people involved in this matter in my thoughts and prayers.”
At the advice of Buchman, Keel did not participate in the vote to send the investigation to FDLE. Commissioner Mike Sparkman made the motion to forward the investigation materials. Commissioner Rick Lott seconded the motion.
Sparkman also requested that Mayor Mary Thomas Mathis sign. She agreed.
“I feel like it’d be more appropriate for you to sign the letter because it’s coming from this commission and not the city manager,” Sparkman said.
There was not much discussion between commissioners on the matter.
“This is a major step toward closure,” Horwedel said.
Horwedel said in the past he’s seen investigations with the FDLE take anywhere from three weeks to one year. He didn’t know when the investigation might be complete on Keel. Once it goes to the FDLE, the agency will determine if there is enough evidence to go to the state attorney. If it does merit, the State Attorney’s Office will determine if there will be a trial.
“It really just depends on the facts of the case,” Horwedel said.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
IN OTHER NEWS
• The city will be receiving a $200,000 refund from the Florida Department of Transportation for utility work done on Sam Allen Road. The city originally invested $500,000 in the construction. “It’s a pretty good value for the dollar,” City Manager Greg Horwedel said.
• Commissioner Mike Sparkman reported on the inaugural Railfest, which took place last weekend. Sparkman had worked with a committee to build a train platform and secure train memorabilia from Robert Willaford to go inside the depot’s museum and outside. The Union Station Depot was officially renamed the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum. “It was successful despite of the rain,” Sparkman said. “We’re looking forward to that being a real asset to the community.”
• Mayor Mary Thomas Mathis recognized the players, coach and parents of the Plant City Vipers Basketball Team, which was created in 2013. The players consist of middle and high school boys.