POLICE CHIEF FIRED

Troubled Florida Chief Fired
June 18th, 2008

OCOEE, Fla. --

Ocoee Police Chief Ronald L. Reffett was fired on Tuesday shortly after his two-year anniversary.

City officials said Reffett appeared at a human-resources meeting on Tuesday morning, and he was asked to return at 4 p.m., but he failed to appear and was fired.

The firing came after accusations surfaced that he took prescription drugs from a police department employee. He was also forced to take two days off without pay last year after Ocoee officials said he pointed a Taser gun at a coworker.

Reffett's wife said the allegations were unfounded, and she said that her husband was given an ultimatum either to resign or be fired.

"He's never been fired. He's never had anything like this ... to come to a little town like this and be asked to do a job, but then when he goes to do the job, they don't want him to do the job, no. He in no way deserves this," Reffett's wife said.

Reffett became chief on June 5, 2006. He previously served as chief of the Deerfield Beach district of the Broward County Sheriff's Office.

A Broward County resident for more than 40 years, Reffett has served in law enforcement since 1980. He is also an Army veteran.

Deputy Chief Steven Goclon will serve as the interim police chief as a search begins for Reffett's replacement.

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