Attorney for William Newhouse, former FMPD official, sheds light on retirement

Reporter: Sydney Persing
Published:
Former FMPD Inspector General Donald Oswald (left) and former FMPD Major William Newhouse (right)

Former Fort Myers police Maj. William Newhouse retired from the force last week, amid scrutiny.

For the first time, through an attorney, Newhouse is addressing the issue.

Newhouse’s attorney, Robert Burandt, said his client’s departure had nothing to do with the chaos, but instead with the ensuing stress it caused.

Newhouse retired on Nov. 4, almost a full week after former FMPD Inspector General Donald Oswald resigned and accused the department of not properly investigating an internal affairs investigation on Newhouse.

Oswald filed a complaint earlier this year after he said he witnessed Newhouse order a subordinate not to discuss with city council cost overruns for new police headquarters.

Oswald said the internal affairs investigation was mishandled because it was done by another Newhouse subordinate.

Since then, at least four members of the city council have said they would like to review the investigation, in addition to the mayor and a citizens review board.

Burandt said he believes Newhouse will cooperate with any independent investigation if the city decides to do one.

Burandt said Newhouse told a lieutenant not to spread rumors about the possible cost of changing the former News-Press site into a new home for the police department.

Burandt said Newhouse has nothing to hide.

“The inspector general says that Newhouse said, let them spend that $36 million before they find out it’s going to cost more,” Burandt said. “But think about that statement. Do you really think the city council and the mayor would spend $36 million without knowing what the end costs would be? I mean, that statement alone is a fabrication of what Newhouse said at that meeting.”

Burandt said he was hired by Newhouse to help deal with the stress of the situation.

“He’s just trying to eliminate put some barrier between himself in the stress. That’s all,” Burandt said.

WINK News asked Burandt if Newhouse was pushed out.

“No, no, absolutely not. In fact, I don’t think the chief wanted him to go,” Burandt said.

Burandt said Newhouse and Oswald butted heads about Newhouse’s style of management days before Oswald filed the complaint.

“Inspector General, as well, made a comment to Newhouse about his management style,” Burandt said. “And basically, Major Newhouse told him it’s really not your business. You’re not my boss. I’m not in your chain of command. I answered the deputy chief, not to you. I don’t know what else was said. But it was not apparently a pleasant conversation.”

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