Sanford Police Department

[8] In February 2010, press reports indicated one officer was fired, and another, Ned Golden Jr., was suspended for two weeks[9] after sending sexist and racist text messages on a department computer.

Built to withstand 150 mph hurricane winds, the two-story complex also houses Sanford's emergency operations center.

[15] In January, 2011, the same Officer Golden mentioned earlier was assigned to retraining after approaching a car of people at a gas station with a drawn gun.

[10] In that same month, the chief of the department, Brian Tooley, took an early retirement as a result of an incident involving one of his officer's sons.

[19][20][21] In April 2011, Officer DeAnthony Shamar was fired when it was discovered he had used a boy scout as a proxy buyer in a drug investigation.

That evening, a civilian neighborhood watch captain named George Zimmerman called the Sanford police to report a suspicious person.

[23] The incident led to protests against the Sanford Police Department, national and international attention in the news media, and investigations by state and federal government.

[26] On 22 March 2012, Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed a special prosecutor, Angela Corey, to take over the investigation.

[27] On the same day, Bill Lee, chief of the Sanford Police at the time of the shooting, announced that he had temporarily stepped down from his position, stating "my involvement in this matter is overshadowing the process.

"[4] Lee had received criticism for his handling of the investigation, and on March 21, the City Commission, including the mayor, passed a motion of no confidence in the police chief.

[30] In December 2012, Officer Stephan Santiago was charged with leaving the scene of an accident after a chase that culminated with him driving his car the wrong way on the street, bumping off the curbs several times.

[32] In late December 2013, Officer Joseph Jermaine Wiggins pleaded no contest to taking a bribe from a man in exchange for his not being cited for a traffic offense in October 2011.