Plant City Police Chief Steven Singletary has been placed on administrative leave with pay, city officials confirmed Jan. 20.
Mayor Mary Thomas Mathis and Plant City commissioners learned of the suspension on the afternoon of Jan. 17. Officials have declined to release information regarding why the suspension was issued.
City Manager Greg Horwedel said staff is conducting an investigation into allegations but would not divulge the nature of the allegations.
“We’re doing an investigation into allegations that were made,” Horwedel said. “We’re going through the process to see if the allegations have merit. We have to be fair. We have to do a thorough and fair investigation.”
Horwedel expects the investigation to be completed by next week. Currently, no other city employee or official is under investigation.
“Right now, we’re just investigating Singletary’s actions and whether or not they violated city policy,” he said.
At this stage, Horwedel doesn’t expect to involve any outside agencies in the investigation.
“If there’s anything revealed, then, of course, we’ll bring in the appropriate agencies,” he said. “I emphasize: There is nothing criminal at this stage. If there would be anything criminal, then we would turn it over to the FDLE. But, first, we have to do a fair and thorough investigation.”
Capt. Jerry Stwan has been selected as interim chief.
The suspension comes less than a year after Singletary was sworn into the post in April 2013. He replaced Bill McDaniel, who took a position as assistant city manager of public safety.
Singletary joined the department in 1996, as a patrol officer. Since then, he had held a myriad of positions, including field training officer, a post in the Street Crimes Unit, the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, the Criminal Investigations Unit and more. Singletary was serving as captain before he took over as interim chief in December 2012.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
