3rd officer suspended at Holly Hill Police Department as investigation continues
Jeff Miller resigned as Holly Hill Police Chief on March 15 as the Volusia Sheriff's Office conducts an internal affairs investigation at the department into "inappropriate incidents."
A third officer has been placed on paid suspension as part of an investigation into "inappropriate incidents" at the Holly Hill Police Department that led to the resignation of the police chief.
Sgt. Tom Bentley was suspended Wednesday morning “due to yet another alleged accusation of inappropriate conduct,” City Manager Joe Forte wrote in an email on Thursday.
Bentley suspension is paid in accordance with the police officer’s bill of rights, Forte wrote. Bentley started with the department in 2011.
The city had already placed Capt. Christopher Yates and Sgt. Shannon Fountain on paid suspension. They were suspended effectively immediately on the late afternoon of March 14, Forte wrote.
Holly Hill Police Chief Jeff Miller resigned in a letter dated March 15.
Forte wrote on Thursday that he was told that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was involved in the investigation, but he has not received any official documentation to provide.
Forte declined on Thursday to provide any details about the allegations.
“Until the information is investigated and the accusations provided to the accused, I am not at liberty to disclose any information. Furthermore, I was not provided any details of the accusations,” Forte wrote.
Forte wrote about the incident in March saying that “A few weeks ago, an allegation surfaced regarding inappropriate incidents involving a police sergeant."
Forte wrote he referred the matter to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office “for an impartial internal investigation."
As the investigation “unfolded,” Forte wrote that he was “informed that additional accusations emerged implicating the chief and captain, prompting a necessary expansion of the inquiry.”
Bentley earns $66,087.84 annually, Fountain earns $58,750 and Yates earns $87,880. Miller earned $112,965.
Forte wrote on Thursday that he has reassigned Sgt. DeniseMarquez from community redevelopment area to a patrol shift so that all shifts are fully covered.
New Holly Hill police chief sought
Forte wrote that the city began a search for a new police chief March 29. The city has contracted with the Florida Police Chiefs Association STARS program to conduct a search and the association has posted the job opening on its website. The salary range is $89,357 to $114,358.
The posting states the department has 26 sworn law enforcement positions, including the chief.