Fort Myers Police Chief Derrick Diggs announced he is temporarily stepping aside and appointing a new acting chief due to personal matters.
In a statement, Chief Diggs said:
“To quell any recent rumors, I will confirm that Tam handling some important personal matters at this time. During my brief absence from the department, I have assigned Deputy Chief Randall Pepitone as Acting Chief of Police. He temporarily steps in with decades of law enforcement experience and continues the vision and direction we have maintained for the last 6 years.
“I look forward to returning soon to continue as your Chief of Police.” – Chief Derrick Diggs
Before coming to FMPD, Pepitone retired from the Toledo Police Department in Ohio after 31 years – the same department Chief Diggs came from.
Pepitone received the Toledo Police Department’s Blue Star Medal Award in 2013 after he was accidentally shot in the side of the head by a 92-year-old woman who mistook him for a burglary suspect.