High Springs Police Chief Sheppard reinstated after overpayment investigation

HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. (WCJB) - High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard was reinstated Tuesday after an internal affairs investigation found he was improperly assigned extra work details and overpaid.

In late June, High Springs City Manager Jeremy Marshall informed Sheppard he was being placed on paid administrative leave as the city investigated complaints against him.

The alleged complaints were not made public until after the investigation was complete.

In a letter, Marshall says Sheppard improperly assigned himself to extra duty shifts in violation of city policy, misreported the extra duty compensation he was owed, and allowed officers to receive extra duty pay for non-eligible activities such as getting car washes, attending a city commission meeting, and attending a tree lighting ceremony.

In Sheppard’s response to the city, he said many of the allegations were false or the result of unintentional oversights that can be easily corrected. He expressed frustration with the city’s rush to suspend him without giving him time to respond to the allegations and defend himself.

The city manager reinstated Sheppard with a warning that similar actions could result in more severe discipline. An audit will be conducted to determine the amount Sheppard was allegedly overpaid, and he will be required to repay that amount to the city.

Many in High Springs have rallied around Sheppard since he was suspended. Sheppard provided the following statement to TV20.

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