<i>Marty Washington, 57, of Gainesville, Florida walks by the City of Waldo Police Department on Wednesday, September 3. Waldo is under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement after being accused of issuing illegal ticket quotas for officers. </i>
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office has named acting Captain Steve Maynard as Waldo's new interim police chief since 12:15 p.m. Wednesday.
He will report to Maj. Latrell Simmons for day-to-day patrol and criminal investigative operations.
Art Forgey, public information officer, said Alachua County Sheriff’s Office was looking for a candidate with experience in a leadership position.
Waldo’s previous police chief, Mike Szabo, and Cpl. Kenneth Smith were accused of establishing illegal ticket quotas, among other violations. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is still investigating the matter.
Under Maynard, the uniform traffic citation quota will no longer exist. However, traffic violations will still be enforced. The Waldo department currently has four active officers.
Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell said basic patrol duties will continue under Maynard. These include responding to dispatched calls, patrolling neighborhoods and business checks.
To lessen confusion, the Waldo Police Department is working with the Department of Transportation to establish one speed limit for both U.S. Route 301 and State Road 24. It has not yet been determined what that speed limit will be.
<i>Waldo Police Department remains quiet after accusations against the former Police Chief led to an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. </i>
<i>A monitor designed to alert motorists of their exact speed is turned off in Waldo, Florida on September 3. Waldo Police Department is under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement after the former Police Chief was accused of establishing illegal ticket quotas for officers. </i>