Capt John Blanchard
LCPD Capt John Blanchard Resigns: Did City Manager Johnson make him a deal?
Posted February 3, 2011 09:23 am | Updated: 01:30 pm
LAKE CITY, FL – At 1:37 pm yesterday afternoon, Lake City Police Captain John Blanchard's letter of resignation was in a computer terminal somewhere in Lake City. At 1:38pm the LCPD prepared a press release announcing to the world that Captain Blanchard resigned. At 1:43 pm Public Information Officer, Steve Shaw, sent out a press release and announced to the world: Chief Argatha Gilmore received a letter of resignation from Capt. John Blanchard who had been placed on Administrative Leave with pay pending an internal affairs investigation.
Capt. Blanchard, a 24 year veteran of the Lake City Police Department, ended his career in controversy.
As reported on January 26, 2011, the Observer learned that Capt. John Blanchard was put on administrative leave by City Manager Wendell Johnson after he refused to resign.
City Manager Wendell Johnson called Capt. Blanchard into his office and asked for his resignation. Captain Blanchard refused and was put on administrative leave by the City Manager.
The Observer has learned that the City may have offered Capt. Blanchard severance pay in return for his resignation.
The Observer is waiting for an official response from Lake City regarding any severance that may have been offered to Capt. Blanchard.
Update: February 3, 2011, 01:30 pm
An e mail was received from the City Clerk's Office at 1:14 pm, which stated the following:
In response to your request for
“all documents relating to any payout or severance to be
paid to John Blanchard as a result of his resignation,”
per Mr. Johnson, John Blanchard will only receive a
payout for his normally accrued leave pursuant to the
City’s personnel manual.
Michele Green
Deputy City Clerk
City of Lake City
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