Groveland Police Chief Shawn Ramsey Fired Over Sergeant Discipline Dispute
Groveland police chief Shawn Ramsey was fired by interim city manager Timothy Maslow on August 12, amid an escalating dispute over disciplinary measures and whistleblower retaliation.
Disciplinary Dispute Triggers Tenured Termination
After leading the Groveland Police Department for a decade, Ramsey found his employment cut short while on vacation. He received his termination notice on August 25, which revealed that city leadership took issue with his punishment of Sgt. Alexander Jarrell. An internal investigation earlier that year showed Jarrell drove in excess of 100 miles per hour on three separate occasions with emergency lights activated while off-duty and commuting to work, as reported by WKMG ClickOrlando. Ramsey suspended Jarrell for three days, stripped him of his take-home vehicle for 30 days, and placed him on work probation for six months. City officials deemed this disciplinary action too lenient, claiming in the notice that Ramsey also misled the city manager and city attorney by initially stating Jarrell had only sped once.
Sabatini strongly contested the city’s narrative. According to statements given to local media, Sabatini asserted that the evidence will prove city management had never previously questioned Ramsey’s departmental discipline throughout his ten-year tenure.
Whistleblower Retaliation Claims and Legal Escalation
The termination arrives directly on the heels of a lawsuit filed on August 14. The legal complaint alleges that Groveland officials engaged in deliberate retaliation after Ramsey submitted signed, written whistleblower complaints. According to WESH 2 News, these disclosures highlighted suspected violations of law, misuse of public office, gross mismanagement, and abuse of governmental authority, explicitly implicating Mayor Keith Keogh regarding the initiation of an investigation into city employees.
Rather than protecting the chief, the lawsuit states that municipal officials exposed Ramsey as a whistleblower, undermined his operational authority, and manufactured disciplinary pretexts. Sabatini stated that the lawsuit seeks full reinstatement, back pay, financial damages, and attorney fees.
Interim Leadership and Operational Reviews
In response to the vacancy, the City of Groveland announced a temporary leadership structure. Chief Kevin Carroll stepped in as interim public safety director, while Deputy Chief Armando Loney assumed the role of acting police chief, according to city confirmation reported by WESH 2 News. Interim City Manager Timothy Maslow outlined plans to onboard a third-party interim police chief to evaluate departmental operations, policies, and finances over a 90-day window.
