The Associated Press
By BRENT KALLESTAD
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The inspector general of the state Lottery Department was chosen Tuesday to serve as the interim commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Jerry Bailey, who has more than 30 years of law enforcement and investigative experience, replaces Guy Tunnell as the state’s top law enforcement official.
Tunnell resigned last month after criticism of his personal involvement into the investigation of a teenager’s death.
Martin Lee Anderson, 14, had been roughed up by guards in a videotaped scuffle at a Panama City juvenile boot camp founded by Tunnell when he was Bay County sheriff.
Tunnell sent e-mails to the current Bay County sheriff criticizing those who questioned the effectiveness of military-style boot camps. He also compared the Rev. Jesse Jackson to outlaw Jesse James and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to terrorist Osama bin Laden at an agency meeting preparing for protests over Anderson’s death.
FDLE was removed from the state investigation into the boy’s death, which is still under way.
A medical examiner found the death was caused by complications from sickle cell trait, a usually benign blood disorder. But the boy’s family and others disputed that, and the body was exhumed for a second autopsy. The results have not been released.