Davie’s police chief, on leave, has announced his retirement — after he came under investigation over remarks that officers say he made about the COVID-19 death of an openly gay sheriff’s deputy.
Dale Engle sent a letter to the town of Davie last week informing town officials that he will retire on Sept 3. Three months ago, Engle was placed on paid administrative leave shortly after the state’s Fraternal Order of Police filed a complaint against him. He will continue to collect a paycheck, though won’t be working until his retirement date.
Engle was accused of saying a South Florida law enforcement officer died because of his lifestyle. Engle told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Monday night that he made no such remark. “I maintain my innocence,” he said.
Engle said he is leaving on his own with no pressure from the city. His decision to retire, he said, was fueled by what he said was a toxic backlash his teenage children received on social media after the allegations surfaced.
Engle spent more than two decades with the department. When he was put on administrative leave, the town tapped retired Davie chief Patrick Lynn to come back and lead the department. It is unclear if Lynn will remain in the top spot while the search for a new chief gets underway.
In April, the Sun Sentinel reported how several police officers felt they were retaliated against when they questioned if the department had enough personal protective gear to keep them safe from the new coronavirus. They said they were berated because they raised concerns after Broward Sheriff’s Office school resource officer Shannon Bennett died from COVID-19.
Bennett, a resource officer for Deerfield Beach Elementary, was the first law enforcement officer in Florida to die from the disease. He had been in Chicago celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with friends and his fiance just days before falling ill. Bennett died April 3.
Engle, according to the complaint filed by the union, allegedly told Davie police officers that they needed to hear the back story of Bennett’s death. The officers claim Engle said Bennett contracted and died from the new coronavirus because he was a homosexual who attended homosexual events.
Phillip Holste, the assistant town administrator, said a complaint has been filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity and that outside legal counsel had been retained to investigate.
Details of that investigation are expected soon, Engle said. Engle’s retirement benefits don’t appear to be in jeopardy.
In his letter announcing his retirement, Engle thanked the town: “To say that I have been privileged to proudly serve this town is an understatement. I will cherish the past two plus decades of life and work experiences that have helped define my character, life purpose and ultimately developed me into who I am today.
“I have been fortunate to have been a member of one of the noblest of professions and have nothing but respect for the pride and professionalism that everyone within the Town of Davie demonstrates every day. To those I leave behind, I personally want to wish you all the very best that life has to offer and look forward to maintaining the many valued relationships that I have gained over the years.”
Eileen Kelley can be reached at 772-925-9193 or ekelley@sunsentinel.com. Follow on Twitter @reporterkell
