MOUNT DORA, Fla. -- A seasoned Orange County law enforcement expert was named as Mount Dora’s acting police chief Tuesday and charged with conducting a top-to-bottom review of the troubled police agency in Lake County.

Brett Meade is replacing Mount Dora Police Chief Robert Bell, who ran the department for a year.

“Acting Chief Meade will begin work immediately on an entire review of the Police Department,” Mount Dora City Manager Robin Hayes said in a statement.

“Over the past month, issues of concern, including questions about both personnel and policies, have been raised by members of the Mount Dora Police Department,” Hayes added, providing no additional details.

Meade review is crucial, Hayes said, because unspecified allegations and rumors as well as “documented policy violations”  could distract the agency’s mission of working with the community to preserve Mount Dora’s safety. 

“The review will begin this week and the outcomes from this process will be shared with all members of the department, the city council, and the community, as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to transparency and community trust,” Hayes added.

Hayes hailed Meade as leading expert nationally in law-enforcement operations, policy development and implementation.

His law-enforcement career spans more than 38 years, including 25 years with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. He also served as deputy police chief at the University of Central Florida's police department from September 2014 to April 2020.

After that, he was a senior law enforcement program manager for the Arlington, Virginia-based National Police Foundation for 18 months. More recently, he worked in consulting roles related to law enforcement.

“Acting Chief Meade is recognized across the country as a senior program manager with the National Police Foundation, and as a leader in operational and policy development and implementation,” Meade said. “He has a doctorate in education in Organizational Leadership, a master’s degree in Public Administration, and a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration.”

Bell notified Hayes on July 1 of his retirement plans. His official last day of work is August 7.

His career spans 27 years, serving as police officer, sergeant, lieutenant, deputy chief, and, for the last year, as chief of police.

Bell took over after the city fired Police Chief and Public Safety Director John O'Grady in July 2019.

A city investigation alleged “overwhelming evidence of a department fraught with distrust and a lack of respect for O’Grady’s leadership." 

The investigation also concluded that O'Grady engaged in "behavior unbecoming of a city of Mount Dora employee."

Hayes thanked Bell for his “decades of service and his genuine love for our city and its residents.”

“As he noted in his resignation letter,” Hayes continued, “he has worked to ensure Mount Dora is a safe and prosperous place to live, and also worked closely this last year with our historic northeast community and the downtown business district to build strong community relationships. We wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.”