Fort Myers police chief refuses to answer questions about voided speeding ticket case

Fort Myers Police Chief Jason Fields refused to answer questions Monday about bodycam footage that appears to show him asking an officer to void a city employee’s school zone speeding ticket. Gulf Coast News tried asking him about the situation – which is now under investigation – ahead of Monday’s city council meeting. “I just got to get to the meeting — the meeting starts now," the chief said when questioned. “I don't appreciate the ambush tactic, though." Gulf Coast News had repeatedly asked for a scheduled sit-down interview with Fields prior to Monday’s meeting, but the requests were denied. “I gave you two statements,” the chief said, in which he previously admitted he should not have gotten involved in voiding the ticket. He did not have any message to the public on Monday about the situation. “Not right now,” he said before entering council chambers. The situation under investigation happened on Aug. 11 – the first day of school – in a school zone. Carloncia Lee, a legislative aide for city council and a former FMPD employee, was pulled over for driving 12 miles an hour over the speed limit. Body camera footage shows Lee calling Chief Fields and handing her phone to the officer. "Hi, Chief. How are you?" Officer Obstein, the responding officer, said during the call. While the chief’s response is inaudible, Obstein’s reply was clear. "Unfortunately not, sir. I have no exceptions today on the first day of school, going 12 miles an hour over in a school zone, sir," Obstein said. The officer reiterated his stance, saying, "I said, I don't have any discretion today, sir, when it comes to school zone violations, and she is going 12 miles an hour over the speed limit, sir." Obstein emphasized his zero-tolerance policy for school zone violations. "It's just zero tolerance. I have zero tolerance for it, sir," he said. After further discussion with the chief, the officer appeared to change course. "I could do that, sir," Obstein said. "All right, ma'am, I'm going to void the ticket that I originally wrote, OK? Because after speaking with the chief of police, I was asked to give you a professional courtesy," Obstein said. Lee would ultimately avoid a $300 ticket. At Monday’s city council meeting, a few people used the public comment period to criticize Fields over the situation. “I’m here to ask for you guys to either terminate or have Chief Fields resignation,” Joshua Krakow said to council. “I think that he has shown that he cannot have public trust.” Despite a few calls to resign Monday, Fields is still on the job, though city manager Marty Lawing confirmed the case is being looked into. “Just let me tell you that we’ll be doing an investigation,” Lawing previously told Gulf Coast News. “It will be handled professionally and equitably. That’s all I’ll say at this point.” Lawing said there will be multiple parties involved in the investigation, but didn’t specify who – what it would look like – or how long it would take. Gulf Coast News asked him for an update on the investigation Monday night, but he didn’t give one. Lee has declined to comment on the exchange, and the police union still hasn’t responded to Gulf Coast News. Fort Myers mayor Kevin Anderson admitted the situation should have been handled differently, but said he does “not believe it rises to the level of corruption or termination.” DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.