Florida Police Chief Michael Giddens Resigns After 2 On-Duty Hotel Encounters Breached Policy
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Florida Police Chief Michael Giddens Resigns After 2 On-Duty Hotel Encounters Breached Policy
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Summary
Michael Giddens resigned in June after Florida and Lake County investigations found no crime but concluded he violated town and police policies tied to an alleged affair with a suspect’s wife.
The findings, released last Thursday, said Giddens breached rules on improper conduct, moral character and sex while on duty during a contractor-fraud case he opened in December 2024.
Investigators said Giddens contacted the suspect’s wife in March 2025, their exchanges turned personal, and the two met at area hotels twice while he was on duty.
A November 2025 ethics complaint and an anonymous complaint in May 2026 triggered the inquiry; Giddens had been promoted to police chief in October 2025 before the allegations surfaced.
In his resignation letter, Giddens said he upheld high professional standards and would not let his personal life distract from the agency’s work.