Mount Dora Police Chief Brett Meade resigns

MOUNT DORA — Residents woke up in Mount Dora Thursday morning with a new police chief overseeing the officers patrolling their streets.

Police Chief Brett Meade resigned Wednesday afternoon, according to a city press release. He was not fired, said city spokesman Vershurn Ford. He also indicated that he was not asked to resign.

“Chief Meade resigned on his own volition,” Ford said.

Meade has not returned the Daily Commercial's call for comment.

In a letter of resignation to City Manager Patrick Comiskey, Meade wrote: “It is apparent that you and I have different viewpoints, which require a change in leadership.”

An email he sent to City Council members was more direct.

After saying it had been an honor to work with “men and women so dedicated to serving our community,” he wrote: “However, there are differences in leadership philosophies where my knowledge, experience, and leadership are discounted (so) that makes my tenure as Chief of Police untenable.”

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Mayor Crissy Stiles said the problem was “news to City Council members, and to me.”

As city manager, Comiskey is responsible for taking care of city operations. He could not be reached for comment. Calls were directed to Ford.

Deputy Chief Mike Gibson has been named interim chief.

Meade became chief just before a brutal killing

Meade became interim chief at a difficult time for the city. Mount Dora had fired Chief John O’Grady in 2019 for allegedly making insensitive remarks to an officer from Puerto Rico. The deputy chief was also fired. Chief Robert Bell retired after a year on the job. Employees, in a department review, described the environment as “toxic.” Meade took over as interim chief in July of 2020.

On Nov. 30, 2020, a gunman killed T & N shopkeepers Khiem “Ken” Ba Trinh, 56, and Mihn “Tina” Nguyen, 46, in a robbery at the store on Grandview Street, sending shockwaves through the community.

Meade, who had been hired in July to run day-to-day operations, suddenly found himself in front of news cameras asking for the public’s help in identifying the masked killer.

“This is not the time to worry about being a snitch. These lives deserve justice. We must catch who did this senseless act,” he told the grief-stricken customers at a candlelight vigil in the store’s parking lot.

He remained upbeat in press conferences, saying a team of investigators, including some from other agencies, were working hard and talking to possible suspects. The department offered a $10,000 reward.

“This case will be solved,” he said 3 ½ months after the murders.

Not everyone was convinced. One resident who wrote a letter to the Daily Commercial signed it, “Scared to be living in Mount Dora.”

A year after the slayings, Meade was still sounding upbeat, but sources told the Daily Commercial investigators had run into a dead end.

“Your sources are wrong,” Meade said.

The killings are still unsolved.

Meade has decades of law enforcement behind him

Meade spent 25 years with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and was named deputy chief of police for the University of Central Florida. He was also a senior manager for the National Police Foundation and has done consulting work.

He formed new policies, which he posted on the city’s website, and held meetings with residents vowing to improve relations with communities.

Recently, an officer’s body cam video showed the officer slamming a suspect’s head into a police car during a traffic stop. Meade told a WFTV reporter that “for whatever reason,” a review of the incident never reached his desk.

Ford told the Daily Commercial that the city had been advised by attorneys not to comment on the incident.

“Serving the citizens of Mount Dora has been an honor and highlight of my 40-year professional career. The Mount Dora Police Department is on a stable course, and I am honored to serve with men and women so dedicated to serving our community,” Meade said.

“We would like to thank Brett for his service in law enforcement and wish him well on his future endeavors,” Ford said in the release.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Mount Dora Police Chief Brett Meade resigned, interim chief named