Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee Resigns

City's top cop steps away from mess he helped create

After two months of media pressure, protesting and rising tensions over his department's non-arrest of George Zimmerman, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee has announced that he plans to resign. This decision comes weeks after he decided to step down as the investigation into the shooting took place.

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Lee and his department came under great scrutiny after letting Zimmerman back out onto the streets after killing unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin as he walked back to his father's house in late-February. Zimmerman told police that he shot Martin out of self-defense after he attacked him. Because of Florida's Stand Your Ground law, police let Zimmerman go free the night of the shooting and never formally arrested him.

That move is what has led to the widely-reported tragedy that we've been hearing about over the last two months.

In recent weeks Zimmerman was finally arrested and "brought to justice" and is now being charged with 2nd Degree murder. He posted bail this past weekend and is free once again.

"They hope his freedom is temporary because the pain he has caused this family is permanent," said Martin family attorney Benjamin Crump, saying Trayvon's parents have a "heavy heart" after hearing that their son's killer is a free man again.

[Also Read: Zimmerman Is A Free Man, Again]