High Springs lieutenant faces termination

According to an e-mail sent by High Springs Police Chief James Troiano to the police department and city staff, police Lt. Gordon Fulwood was fired from the High Springs Police Department Dec. 28.

Troiano sent a follow up e-mail Dec. 29 clarifying that he “should have stated that I have recommended his termination for a violation of HSPD Directives.” On Wednesday, City Manager Jim Drumm said Fulwood has not yet been officially fired. While Troiano has the authority to recommend termination of an employee, it is the city manager that would make the final determination.
Drumm said a predetermination hearing must take place, which comes before any disciplinary action would be in effect, to have all parties state their cases. The predetermination hearing would determine if the officer deserves disciplinary action or if there were false accusations being made.

However, Fulwood did confirm that on Dec. 28, officers arrived at his home to confiscate his uniform, badge, identification card and gun, and the officers delivered a letter stating he had been terminated from the police department.

Fulwood is reportedly facing termination as a result of three internal investigations Troiano initiated against him last year. The investigations date to late July, Dec. 8 and Oct. 29, but Troiano declined to comment on the circumstances because the cases are still open and not yet public record.

Fulwood said he had been on paid administrative leave from Oct. 29 until he was notified he was facing termination. He said on Wednesday that he has been in contact with legal representation separate from his Police Benevolent Association representation and that he is considering the possibility of legal action against the city of High Springs.

“I’m just really, really tired,” Fulwood said Wednesday. “I’m worn out with all of this. This is not what I got into law enforcement for, and I’m ready for all of this to be over. I’m in the process now of trying to start a business, because I’ve got to have a way to support my family.”

Fulwood was hired as a patrol officer for the High Springs Police Department in June 1995 under the leadership of former police chief Tom Wolfe. When Ray Kaminskas became police chief in 2003, Fulwood was promoted to sergeant and given the official title of detective. When Kaminskas died in August 2007, Fulwood stepped in as command lieutenant and was interim police chief until Troiano joined the department and became permanent police chief in March 2008.

Editor’s note: More details and information for this story will be available in the Jan. 14 edition of Alachua County Today.