ONLY AFTER THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT CREDIT CARD SCANDAL
HIT THE PRESS LAST MARCH, DID
PAL OFFICIALS BLOW THE
WHISTLE
CHARNETTE VALDEZ: “THEY
TOLD ME IT WAS OKAY TO USE
THE CARD FOR PERSONAL
PURCHASES—AS LONG AS I
PAID THE MONEY BACK”
by Dennis Reeves Cooper
We reported to you last
month that Charnette Valdez,
a civilian employee with the
Key West Police Department
(KWPD) and a member of the
Police Athletic League’s (PAL)
board of directors, had been
caught making personal purchases
on her PAL credit card.
And we were able to
build on the story last week by
reporting to you that Valdez
had abruptly resigned, right in
the middle of a predetermination
hearing being conducted
by City Manager Jim Scholl
to decide if she should be
fired. Police Chief Donie Lee
had recommended to Scholl
that Valdez’ employment be
terminated.
The hearing and Valdez’
subsequent resignation came
after a month-long internal investigation
requested by Chief
Lee and conducted by Inspector
Randy Smith, the KWPD’s
Internal Affairs investigator.
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