OFFICE OF THE STATE ATTORNEY, TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT State Attorney Jerry Hill La/edand Oflice 930 East Parker Street, Suite 2318 Lakeland. Florida 33301 (863) 302.6240 Polk. Highlands. and Hardcc Counties Main Ofiice 255 North Broadway Avenue, 2nd Floor Drawer SA, P.O. Box 9000 Barrow, Florida 33331-9000 (363) 534-4800 1 {}.com W/inter Haven Bram"/J Ofice 3425 Lake Alfred Road 9. Gill Jones Plaza Winter Haven. Florida 33881 (863) 401-2477 November 21, 2013 via hand delivery City Manager Doug Thomas City of Lakeland Dear Mr. Thomas: I was disappointed to learn Tuesday that you cancelled our scheduled meeting because members of the media were going to be present. You informed me that you were concerned about following the specific direction of the City Commission. You told me that you would seek further guidance from the City Commission regarding the presence of the media at our meeting. As you decide how to proceed, I ask that you consider the following arrangement: While I am not opposed to private meetings, when appropriate, the issues facing Lakeland have been widely discussed in the public forum. More specifically, the matter concerning Sergeant Bryan McNabb was publicly discussed by Detective Nick Marolda, members of the City Commission, and you at the City Commission Meeting on November 4. I think it is appropriate for the City Commissioners, the media and the public to be permitted to observe my perspective on the matter. Therefore, I propose that you and I meet publicly at the Polk County Courthouse and invite any interested member of the public, including City Commissioners and the media, to observe our meeting. The commissioners who are interested could attend as citizens. There would be no discussion among the commissioners or questions from the media at the meeting. I think it would be helpful for those who are interested to be able to be present at a public meeting. The issues that my Office has experienced with the Lakeland Police Department this year have been unlike any issue I have encountered with any law enforcement agency during my time as State Attorney. Unfortunately, the problems at the Lakeland Police Department still continue. It is clear that you do not have the right person serving as the chief of your Police Department. To the extent the City is interested, I look forward to working with the City to help to restore its Police Department to the proud organization it once was. Through all the problems, Lakeland still has many fine and dedicated officers who deserve to work in a department with a culture of strong leadership, excellence, professionalism and accountability. If the City Commission is agreeable to the format as outlined above, I welcome the opportunity to meet with you as soon as possible. cc: Mayor Gow Fields Mayor-Elect Howard Wiggs Commissioner Keith Merritt Commissioner Don Selvage Commissioner Justin Troller Commissioner Phillip Walker Commissioner Edie Yates