WINDERMERE, Fla. --
Windermere's embattled police chief is officially off the job.
Town council members fired Police Chief Daniel Saylor, accused of covering up a child sex crime, within minutes of a special meeting Wednesday night.
Town council members first wanted to know whether they could remove Saylor even though he has not been convicted on charges of covering up the child sexual battery case.
“It’s not about his allegations. It’s about what he should have done as an employee by notifying the mayor, the town and the staff,” said Mayor Gary Bruhn.
The council members voted based on Saylor’s recent and past conduct. Some residents, like Ernie Meyers, said they are wondering how he got the job.
“I have been let down as a member of this town,” said Meyers.
Residents said they are upset because their leaders never knew Saylor was suspended by the Florida Police Chiefs Association two years ago.
“It is absurd this information was not followed up on,” said another resident.
Newly released documents, totaling more than 100 pages, showed that Saylor had anything but a clean record. The record included allegations that the police chief was caught looking for a prostitute as well as memorandums that showed Saylor took more than 96 hours of sick time in less than a year and was unwilling to conform to department policy.
Windermere town officials, however, said that Saylor had "resolved his issues and was best suited for the job."
Capt. Ralph Groover, of the Orange County Sheriff's Office, has taken over Saylor's job.
He was sworn in as interim police chief minutes after town council members voted to fire Saylor.
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