Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno defended the use of taxpayer money to send him and other agency members to the Jan. 7 retirement celebration of Florida Highway Patrol Chief Derek Barrs in Tallahassee and added he would do it again in a Facebook post-Thursday night.
Lehigh Acres Gazette articles …. Sheriff Marceno lies about training and goes to a 2-hour retirement party for FHP Chief Derek D. Barrs in Tallahassee and Has Sheriff Marceno broken law again?
From Facebook: Dated May 14
A Message from Sheriff Carmine Marceno
In January of this year, I, and several members of my Command Staff traveled to Tallahassee to participate in Florida Highway Patrol’s retirement ceremony honoring a TRUE LEGEND, F.H.P. Chief Derek Barrs.
During his three decades in public service, Chief Barrs became a highly regarded law enforcement professional, earning the respect and admiration of sheriffs, troopers, deputies and police officers throughout the state.
Because of this great respect, law enforcement leaders and state and local elected officials also traveled to Tallahassee to attend his retirement ceremony.
Chief Barrs has been a great ally to sheriff offices throughout the state, including Lee County, and has helped develop and maintain the positive and productive relationship we enjoy with the Florida Highway Patrol.
I personally have tremendous respect for Chief Barrs and I am honored by his friendship.
I’m proud that members of my Command Staff devoted their time to honor Chief Barrs, and for the opportunity to exchange ideas and insights with their F.H.P. peers.
If his retirement ceremony was held tomorrow, I would once again travel to Tallahassee to demonstrate our respect and appreciation for Chief Barrs.
I flew to Tallahassee for the retirement ceremony to limit my time away from our county, and as is standard practice, this travel was coordinated through our Training Division, and reviewed and documented through our Finance Department.
The benefit Lee County receives from the very positive and cooperative relationship with the Florida Highway Patrol far outweighs the cost of participating in the retirement ceremony for this tremendous leader.
Rest assured – regardless of unwarranted political attacks – I will continue to do what’s right!! Honoring F.H.P. Chief Barrs was the right thing to do!!
Editorial note:
PLEASE NOTE the above comment from the Sherriff placed on Facebook was NOT written by the Sheriff. The Sheriff’s office has refused to answer any more questions dealing with this matter. “Our statement on Facebook speaks for itself,” Lt. Anita Iriarte wrote in an email. “There will be no further comment on this matter.”
The cost to attend the event is estimated at more than $5,000 when factoring in wages, transportation costs, per diems, seven hotel rooms and the two SUV rentals. The cost for the plane and fuel for the plane and the LCSO SUV is unknow.
Where is the transparency that is required by law, Mr. Sheriff? Why lie about this party and the meetings you need in Tallahassee?
I wish this character would go back where he came from….he doesn’t belong here.