By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY
christopher.tuffley@newssun.com
AVON PARK -- Former Police Michael Rowan contacted the News-Sun, through his attorney Robert H. Grizzard II, Friday afternoon.
There is concern that a portion of the article "Sparks Fly in APPD debate" in Friday's edition are misleading. At issue is a statement made by Julian Deleon, Avon Park city manager, that he could not find any citizen complaints against police officers dating from any administration prior to John King becoming public safety director for the city.
Specifically, in the fourth paragraph from the bottom of the story, on page 3A, Deleon is quoted as saying, "Citizen complaints prior to John King were not available." Deleon is paraphrased as adding that it is too soon to draw conclusions. Written records may exist somewhere; it might only be a matter of finding them.
Grizzard told the News-Sun that unfounded citizen complaints would not be a part of any police officer's personnel file.
Some citizen complaints existed, Grizzard said, but the last time Rowan saw them before being denied any further access to the building, they were in a drawer in (then Lt.) King's desk.
Sunday, July 22, 2012 - www.newssun.com/072212-ct-CLARIFICATION