In a letter dated March 14, 2018, City Manager Mark Kutney terminated Brooksville Police Chief, George B.Turner.
The letter which was marked for hand-delivery, cited Turner with illegally revealing “confidential criminal intelligence information or criminal investigative information that reveal personal identifying information of a witness of a murder to the press…”
The future of the Brooksville Police Department (BPD) has been uncertain for the past few months, as the City Council considers disbanding the department to resolve budget issues. Negotiations are expected to begin soon to have Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) assume law enforcement coverage of the city.
Brooksville City Council member Natalie Kahler told The Hernando Sun that Turner was given an option to resign. It is not known why Turner did not exercise that option and he was not available for comment.
Turner was recently in the running for the North Port Police Chief position, but the North Port City Manager decided to continue their search after hearing from the final four candidates which included Turner. The initial search began with 60 candidates.
Turner was appointed as the Brooksville Police Chief on September 25, 2007. He began his career in law enforcement in New York in 1976. Turner is also a graduate of the 193rd session of the F.B.I National Academy, Quantico Virginia.
The city has appointed Detective Tracey Schofield as Acting Chief of Brooksville Police. The city released the following statement in regards to the appointment of Schofield, “As President of the non-profit charity Police & Kids Foundation, he has been assisting children in need and the families of fallen law enforcement officers since 2011. Among the most notable of his causes were his actions in December 2017, when 25 needy children from Pinellas Park, 42 children from the Brooksville area, and an at-risk family of 12, including 4 very young children, were aided with food, toys, clothing, housing, and assistance.
Acting Chief Schofield will remain with the City of Brooksville through March 27, 2018. At that time, the City Manager will appoint an Interim Chief of Police.”