Lead detective in George Zimmerman case asks to be reassigned

Source: BayNews9

SANFORD --
The lead detective in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin has asked to be reassigned, according to a spokesman for the Sanford Police Department.

Christopher Serino, the detective that filed the original report in the investigation of the shooting involving George Zimmerman, asked to be reassigned to the patrol division.

Officials said Serino’s new assignment will begin July 7.

A statement from Sanford police Tuesday said Serino made the decision for the request “of his own volition.”


Read more: http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/6/26/lead_detective_in_ge.html

---

Sanford detective wanted manslaughter charge for George Zimmerman


Sanford Police Detective Chris Serino recommended a manslaughter charge for George Zimmerman, who killed Trayvon Martin. The detective has been reassigned as uniformed patrolman on the graveyard shift.
By Frances Robles, McClatchy Newspapers / June 27, 2012

Days after several recorded interviews between Serino and Zimmerman were made public, the detective got a new job: On July 7, he starts in his new assignment as a uniformed patrolman on the graveyard shift, at the same pay.

“It’s not a demotion,” Sanford Police spokesman Sgt. David Morgenstern said of Serino, 45, who has been with the department for 15 years.

“There isn’t any more prestige in being a detective. We have officers who love uniform patrol. This was of his own free will.”

The new assignment was announced less than a week after former Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee was fired over the public outcry that resulted from the department’s handling of the case. And it was revealed hours after State Attorney Angela Corey released another batch of evidence in Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial, raising speculation that Serino’s move to patrol was directly related to the controversial case.

Serino “got demoted because he told the truth,” said Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Martin’s family.

more: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0627/Sanford-detective-wanted-manslaughter-charge-for-George-Zimmerman