Lakeland Police Department Police Chief Lisa Womack is on paid administrative leave following a new report from the State Attorney’s Office that the chief gave her nephew special treatment for a job.



The job was as a public service aide, a paid position.



According to the report, Womack’s nephew failed the initial test. Failure means a candidate isn’t going to make it any further in the process.



Lakeland Mayor Howard Wiggs, who had been outspoken about his disapproval of Womack remaining in her position, talked about the situation on Friday.

"My original proposal of course when she first resigned I talked to (City Manager) Doug Thomas and I thought that we should not have her there for 90 days," Wiggs said. "But that’s happened now. I think I probably agree with the State’s Attorney’s Office that there’s no point in spending more tax payer money on an issue that’s going to resolve itself in just a few days."



Officials have mixed feelings when it comes to what to do next. Some say she needs to be out of the department for good before her May resignation departure. Others say she should be allowed due process.

Wiggs said there’s a strong possibility Lakeland Police Chief Lisa Womack won’t be returning back to the job in an administrative position.

What he won't say, is, 'I told you so.'

“I’ve been encouraged to say that," Wiggs said. "People use words like validation and so forth.”

The state attorney’s report said Womack could be charged criminally for the incident.



“When you allude to possible criminal violations, clearly that’s a serious issue," Wiggs said. "But also the violation of internal city of Lakeland policies is disconcerning.”

Lakeland Police Captain Victor White expressed his concerns to investigators about the chief’s actions.

“She stood in my office. She raised a finger, pointed it at me used the term fix it. And she walked out,” said Cpt. White.

Captain White said the chief wanted her nephew to be able handle all of his tests at once, so he wouldn’t have to travel back and forth from his home state of Texas.

It’s something the captain said was probably illegal and very expensive.

Womack resigned from her position as police chief last week, effective May 1.



According to the report, Womack and her staff allegedly deemed the test unreliable and allowed candidates to continue the hiring process even though they didn’t pass. That group, included Chief Womack’s nephew.



Womack’s nephew wound up eventually being removed from the selection process but the state attorney’s office report said the reason why is unclear.



One theory in the report was that there was one police captain who complained about the chief’s intervention so much that the nephew had to be pulled.



Her nephew was not hired but the report concludes Womack "disregarded all governing authority and abused her given power."

The report also states:

"In recent days, rumors from inside the Lakeland Police Department suggest that Chief Womack intends to exact retribution against opposing LPD members in her remaining three months as the Lakeland Chief of Police."

It goes on to call those rumors "troubling" and says the situation "merits close monitoring."

After reviewing the report, Lakeland’s City Manager Doug Thomas issued a statement saying he had placed her on administrative leave.

"This report raises serious allegations against Police Chief Lisa Womack regarding potential violations of Florida statutes involving officer misconduct in addition to alleged deviations from Lakeland civil service and personnel policies and procedures,” said Thomas.

Thomas has named assistant chief Larry Giddens as Acting Chief of Police.

Acting Chief of Police Larry Giddens released the following statement:



"Early today I was notified by City Manager Doug Thomas that I would assume command as Acting Chief of the Lakeland Police Department.

"I want to assure the citizens of Lakeland that the men and women of the Lakeland Police Department will continue to deliver professional police services as we move through this transitional period."



The chief’s husband was also named in this investigation. Both are accused of trying to get their nephew hired by bending the rules.



Still the city manager says the chief will get her due process and they plan on reviewing all of the information from the state attorney to decide what they should do next.



In a statement, City Manager Doug Thomas wrote:

Late this afternoon I was provided a copy of the Investigative Summary from the State Attorney’s Office regarding their review of the hiring practices used for a 2012 Lakeland Police Department Public Safety Aide position. The report raises serious allegations against Police Chief Lisa Womack regarding potential violations of Florida Statutes involving Official Misconduct, in addition to alleged deviations from Lakeland Civil Service and Personnel Policies and Procedures. It is my understanding from a review of the Investigative Summary, that the State Attorney’s Office has closed its review of the matter and is not pursuing any further actions. In response to the State Attorney’s report, and consistent with City of Lakeland Personnel Policies, I have placed Chief Womack on Paid Administrative Leave, pending further review of the report, including appropriate background documentation and statements which may have been used in reaching their findings. In the interim, I have appointed Assistant Chief Larry Giddens as Acting Chief of Police pending the outcome of the City’s review on the matter. Given that many of the allegations in the report concern administrative City of Lakeland Policies and Procedures, it is appropriate that the City review the matter further to determine if any violations of policies have occurred. Any subsequent actions if indicated will be taken following the results of that review.