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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Sanford city commission rejected the resignation of the police chief harshly criticized for his handling of the Trayvon Martin case.

RELATED: NewsOne’s Trayvon Martin Coverage

The commissioners voted 3-2 Monday to reject the resignation of Bill Lee. The majority blamed the uproar surrounding Martin’s death on outsiders.

Police did not initially charge 28-year-old George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who says he shot the 17-year-old Martin in self-defense.

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Florida law gives people broad leeway to use lethal force if they believe their lives are in grave danger. The Feb. 26 shooting sparked protests nationwide, as well as debates about the laws and race. Martin was black; Zimmerman is the son of a white father and Hispanic mother.

Lee temporarily stepped down as police chief on March 22, saying he wanted to let tensions cool.

 

[Editor’s Note: “The commissioners debated Lee’s status for more than an hour, with Commissioners Patty Mahany and Randy Jones repeatedly making the case that Lee did not deserve to lose his job. They were joined by Mayor Jeff Triplett in the vote,” reports NBCMiami.com]

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Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee ‘Temporarily’ Steps Down

“I Support Chief Billy Lee” Wristbands Emerge In Sanford

Sanford City Commission Rejects Chief Billy Lee’s Resignation  was originally published on newsone.com