WALDO, Fla. – Four fired Waldo police officers plan to sue the city because they lost their jobs.
Waldo sits between Jacksonville and Gainesville and has long been a notorious speed trap. But in August, several officers came forward to complain about the illegal practice and corrupt leadership, prompting the city to shut down the department and hand it over to the sheriff.
Their complaints of corruption got national attention. The officers said they were supposed to be enforcing the law, but instead were told to break it.
Now they have an attorney on their side who says they are being punished for telling the truth.
The officers said they were ordered to write a certain number of speeding citations to drivers passing through the city of Waldo. Those officers called it a ticket quota, which is illegal. The first called out then-Police Chief Mike Szabo for a number of unethical practices, and then accused the then-Interim Chief Kenneth Smith of similar violations.
"I spoke to the clients, and the story they were telling me at first, I really couldn't believe that what they were saying was happening was happening," said Richard Celler, the officers' attorney.
Celler believes his clients have a strong case against the town. He represents former Waldo police Officers Brandon Roberts, Jeffery Pedrick, Roy Steadman and Brian Shoaf. They're now out of jobs because the Police Department is no more.
Records show 60 percent of the town's revenue came from the tickets, and after they came forward complaining of corruption, city leaders voted to close the department and hand law enforcement over to the Alachua County Sheriff's Office.
"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that these clients were punished as a result of bringing forward their complaints," Celler said. "If they simply just kept their mouth shut, which appears that's what was wanted, then everything would still be running as planned and people would still be getting illegal tickets in the city of Waldo."
A month ago, city spokesman Ron Sachs said managers were taking all the allegations very seriously.
"The town leadership asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to come in and investigate fully," Sachs said. "That investigation is underway."
Celler said Waldo leaders never offered the officers any other opportunities and never gave them a chance to keep their jobs and benefits.
"My clients weren't offered any opportunity at all," he said.
Celler said he plans to sue the city for wrongful termination on behalf of the four former officers he represents.
Waldo city leaders, including the city manager, have not returned calls for comment.