Howey-In-The-Hills has placed their police chief on paid administrative leave. It comes after the town manager said he and other town staff received anonymous allegations via email on Monday. “We take every accusation of that nature very seriously. So even though it’s anonymous, we take it all seriously, so we don’t let anything just go by the wayside,” Town Manager Sean O’Keefe said. O’Keefe said the email was sent to him and a few other town staff members. He brought the allegations to the town’s legal counsel and to Police Chief Michael Giddens on the same day. “We determined it was appropriate to put him on administrative leave while we could look into and determine the validity of the accusations,” O’Keefe said. By the end of business Monday, Giddens was placed on paid leave. “I talked to FDLE that same day and then met with them later in the week, so there was no knowledge of this on the town side before that tip came in on Monday,” O’Keefe said. According to the town’s website, Giddens began his law enforcement career in 1994 with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. He joined FDLE in 2002 and remained there until 2024. That same year, he joined the Howey-In-The-Hills Police Department as a lieutenant and was sworn in as chief in October.Howey-In-The-Hills is a small town of about 2,000 people. Many who WESH 2 spoke with didn’t know the chief had been placed on leave. “I was very surprised,” said a resident named Paul, who has lived in the town for decades. He said he was at Giddens’ swearing-in. “Sheriffs from everywhere came and gave him a huge endorsement. So we’ll see what happens,” he said. O’Keefe said Lieutenant John Batchelor has been named acting chief in the interim. “He will be leading the internal investigation, and he will be working with FDLE,” O’Keefe said.O’Keefe said the chief being placed on leave doesn’t mean the allegations being made are valid. They felt the move was appropriate under the circumstances.

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. —

Howey-In-The-Hills has placed their police chief on paid administrative leave.

It comes after the town manager said he and other town staff received anonymous allegations via email on Monday.

“We take every accusation of that nature very seriously. So even though it’s anonymous, we take it all seriously, so we don’t let anything just go by the wayside,” Town Manager Sean O’Keefe said.

O’Keefe said the email was sent to him and a few other town staff members. He brought the allegations to the town’s legal counsel and to Police Chief Michael Giddens on the same day.

“We determined it was appropriate to put him on administrative leave while we could look into and determine the validity of the accusations,” O’Keefe said.

By the end of business Monday, Giddens was placed on paid leave.

“I talked to FDLE that same day and then met with them later in the week, so there was no knowledge of this on the town side before that tip came in on Monday,” O’Keefe said.

According to the town’s website, Giddens began his law enforcement career in 1994 with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. He joined FDLE in 2002 and remained there until 2024. That same year, he joined the Howey-In-The-Hills Police Department as a lieutenant and was sworn in as chief in October.

Howey-In-The-Hills is a small town of about 2,000 people. Many who WESH 2 spoke with didn’t know the chief had been placed on leave.

“I was very surprised,” said a resident named Paul, who has lived in the town for decades. He said he was at Giddens’ swearing-in.

“Sheriffs from everywhere came and gave him a huge endorsement. So we’ll see what happens,” he said.

O’Keefe said Lieutenant John Batchelor has been named acting chief in the interim.

“He will be leading the internal investigation, and he will be working with FDLE,” O’Keefe said.

O’Keefe said the chief being placed on leave doesn’t mean the allegations being made are valid. They felt the move was appropriate under the circumstances.