Sanford police chief hands in his resignation over Trayvon Martin shooting case - but it's REJECTED by the city

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 19:52 EST, 23 April 2012 | Updated: 05:02 EST, 24 April 2012

Under pressure to step down over his handling of the Trayvon Martin shooting, Sanford top cop Bill Lee offered to quit his job - but just when he thought he was out, a committee pulled him back in.

The Sanford City Commission rejected by a 3-2 vote the resignation of Police Chief Bill Lee, who was widely criticized for not initially charging George Zimmerman after the shooting.

The police chief had been on paid leave. He temporarily stepped aside on March 22, as outrage grew over the fact that Zimmerman was not arrested for the February 26 shooting.

Fired: Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee, left, was fired by City Manager Norton Bonaparte, right, months after Lee came under fire for not arresting Zimmerman on the night of the shooting

Last month, the commissioners gave him a 'no confidence vote'.

But on Monday, Sanford City Manager Norton Bonaparte said an independent review of the shooting investigation would not be fast enough, and the commission opted to keep him around.

The majority of commissioners on Monday blamed the polarization over the Martin case and its handling by the police department on outside groups. 

City Commissioner Patty Mahany told the Miami Herald: 'I'm physically sick about what’s happening to Chief Lee. I’m physically sick about the attack on this community'.

Sprung: George Zimmerman leaves the Seminole County Jail early Monday morning after posting bail in Sanford, Florida

She added: 'I'm absolutely disgusted... This city was invaded by people who have their own personal agenda'.

The shooting also led to the local prosecutor recusing himself from the case, and the governor appointing Angela Corey, who eventually charged Zimmerman.

Meanwhile, Zimmerman slipped out of jail on $150,000 bail in Monday’s early morning darkness, and went back into hiding.

Even though authorities can pinpoint Zimmerman's location with a GPS ankle bracelet, that he must wear round the clock, the public may not see him again for some time.

Temporary leave: Sanford Police Department Chief Bill Lee announced he was stepping aside on March 22

Zimmerman has waived his appearance at his upcoming arraignment next month, so he can stay underground if he wants.

Zimmerman already has experience laying low: For more than a month before his arrest, he eluded the media and his whereabouts were not known. 

His attorney has suggested he had several options for where Zimmerman can stay this time, and a judge indicated he was willing to let Zimmerman leave the state.

Until the next time he must come before a judge, Zimmerman will have to skip such routine pleasures as eating in a restaurant or taking a long stroll outside, said Jose Baez, the former attorney for Casey Anthony.

Anthony, acquitted last summer of killing her 2-year-old daughter, went into hiding after her release from jail.

"He may be free, but he's not free," Baez said.

First, Zimmerman must limit who knows his whereabouts to avoid the risk someone will give the secret away, Baez said.

'Unfortunately, the people you think you trust, sometimes you find you just really can't,' Baez said.

As for Zimmerman, in order to throw off curious onlookers and the media, he could change his look. 

Anthony went from a long-haired brunette to a bobbed blonde while serving a year of probation on an unrelated charge at an undisclosed location in Florida.

Next, Zimmerman needs to go someplace where he knows few people and they don't know him, said Evan Ratliff, who wrote the book (or at least the magazine article) on how to vanish in the 21st century.

Ride: Zimmerman met a man in a white BMW and drove away from the jail to an unknown location. He is now back in hiding

In 2009, Wired magazine challenged its readers to try to find Ratcliff, who deliberately vanished with the help of disguises, prepaid phones, fake business cards and software that protected his Internet identity, at least for a while. 

Ratliff eventually was caught because readers were able to trace him through the IP address of a computer he had used.

'He needs to be where he is not around people who are known to be close to him," Ratliff said.

He added: 'Not a friend's house. Not a relative's house'.

Early indications are that will be tough for Zimmerman to resist. After a judge agreed to release him on bond, a statement placed on his website said, 'GZ hopes to be able to update the site in the next day or two, God willing. He sends his thanks for your thoughts and support'.

Killed: Trayvon Martin was shot dead on February 26. He was unarmed, and Zimmerman claims he shot the 17-year-old in self-defence

If he just can't resist getting messages out to his supporters, Zimmerman may be better off using Facebook and Twitter instead of his website because it probably has much weaker security than the social media sites, Ratliff said.

Someone could find out where he is by hacking his website or an email account, he said.

'Anytime you are on the Internet, you are potentially traceable,' Ratliff said. 'The best way to not be found by anyone is to not use any technology at all'.

Whatever means Zimmerman uses to hide, it could get expensive, and Zimmerman has limited resources.

Video showing Zimmerman being escorted into the Sanford police station on the night of the shooting appear to show him unhurt, but an enhanced version showed what looked like welts on the back of his head

He was working at a mortgage risk management firm but stopped working there after the confrontation with Martin because of the public attention.

His wife, Shellie, is in nursing school and doesn't work.

His attorney, Mark O'Mara, did not return phone calls Monday but has ruled out Zimmerman getting a job while he is out on bail. 

And O'Mara wrote in court papers that Zimmerman 'has no significant financial assets or savings'.

Trayvon was unarmed and was walking back to the home of his father's fiancée on that February night when the neighborhood watch captain saw him, called police and began following him.

Protesters hold signs during a march and rally for Trayvon Martin in Sanford where he was shot before demonstrating at the police station

Leading the charge: The Rev Al Sharpton, centre, pictured with Trayvon Martin's parents Tracy Martin, left, and Sybrina Fulton, right, was one of many figures calling for Zimmerman's arrest

A fight broke out – but investigators say it is unknown who started it.

Zimmerman says Martin, who was visiting from Miami, attacked him.

Zimmerman says he shot Martin in self-defence, citing Florida's stand your ground law, which gives broad legal protection to anyone who says they used deadly force because they feared death or great bodily harm.

Zimmerman was not charged for more than six weeks, sparking nationwide protests in communities from Sanford to Washington, D.C., and demands for his arrest from the NAACP and the Rev Al Sharpton.

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