Eatonville fires police chief after a month

Eatonville’s newest police chief was fired on Tuesday after just a month on the job, but the chief isn’t going down without a fight.

Police Chief Eric McIntyre was given a notice of termination by Chief Administrative Officer Roger Dixon this week after serving as an officer for almost 16 years. McIntyre was appointed as police chief last month after serving as the interim police chief since late March, following the resignation of former Chief Eugenio Bernal.

The notice claims that McIntyre failed to execute a community-oriented policing strategy, displayed an “inability to properly administrate disciplinary action within the department,” and is allegedly guilty of “targeting” Deputy Chief Joseph Jenkins. McIntyre had allegedly called for Jenkins’ termination based on the need to reorganize the police force – a rationale deemed “unjustified” and “extreme” in the notice.

“A recent review of your performance during your probationary period has yielded an alarming and unsatisfactory result,” the notice reads. “It has been determined that based on your inability to perform your administrative duties effectively and efficiently, termination is the only option.”

Orlando attorney W. Marvin Hardy III came before the Eatonville Town Council at its Tuesday night meeting representing McIntyre, requesting that he be allowed to defend himself before the Council.

“The office of chief of police is important and I think it would be good if the Town Council would confer together about this,” Hardy said. “…Talk about this important position and whether a faithful servant who served 16 years should be terminated.”

Councilman Eddie Cole agreed that the firing wasn’t handled properly and that it should be up to the Town Council instead.

“Council hires and terminates appointed positions,” Cole said.

“I have a concern of how this is going.”

Town Attorney Joseph Morrell said the town charter doesn’t require positons to be terminated by the Town Council, but noted that McIntyre will be given a chance to defend himself before the Council at a future meeting date.

Today the Eatonville Police Department is under the watch of Deputy Chief Jenkins. The shift in police leadership comes at a time when burglaries are on the rise. McIntyre said the town has seen 10 break-ins within the past month and a half.

“It’s very bad timing,” said McIntyre, adding that his termination was both “unjust” and “unwarranted” and that it’s “in God’s hands now.”

Hardy said he will be filing an appeal of the notice of termination immediately.