Michael Giddens, the chief of police in the Town of Howey-in-the-Hills, resigned in June after being placed on administrative leave in May while officials reviewed complaints about his conduct.
What happened
Town records show Giddens was put on administrative leave in May and submitted his resignation in June. The personnel actions followed an ethics complaint and an anonymous tip to town officials that prompted a formal review of his conduct while serving as police chief.
The scrutiny traces to a contractor fraud inquiry Giddens opened in December 2024. Subsequent contacts and complaints, including one filed in November 2025 and an anonymous tip in May 2026, led to the administrative review and involvement from outside agencies.
Investigations into Michael Giddens
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and investigators from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office examined the complaints, interviewed witnesses and reviewed records. Both agencies concluded their reviews found no evidence supporting criminal charges.
However, the investigative summaries reported violations of Howey-in-the-Hills police and town policies related to improper conduct and moral character standards. Those findings were described as administrative policy breaches rather than criminal offenses.
Allegations and timeline of contacts
Investigators documented that Giddens first made contact connected to the contractor fraud inquiry. Reports note he reached out to a subject’s spouse in March 2025, met for lunch and later exchanged messages. Summaries state the relationship “became more personal” and include allegations that some meetings occurred while Giddens was on duty.
The reports specifically treated alleged encounters at local hotels and on-duty meetings as violations of department and town policies. The timeline in local reporting shows the personal contacts ended by late 2025. Giddens had been promoted to chief in October 2025 before the complaints were filed.
Response and resignation
After being placed on leave, Giddens submitted a resignation letter. In it he wrote: “While I have always maintained the highest standards of professional conduct, I refuse to allow my personal life to be used as a tool to distract from vital work of this agency.”
Town officials acknowledged receipt of the resignation and said they would complete the administrative review under established procedures. Officials have confirmed there are no pending criminal charges arising from the FDLE or Lake County reviews.
Why this matters for the Town of Howey-in-the-Hills
For a small municipality like the Town of Howey-in-the-Hills, a chief’s conduct and any administrative findings can affect public trust, department morale and oversight practices. Even without criminal charges, policy violations related to on-duty behavior raise questions about ethics, supervision and use of authority.
Administrative findings involving moral character or sexual conduct while on duty commonly lead towns to reassess training, supervisory review and complaint-handling procedures to protect community confidence in local law enforcement.
What comes next
Town leaders are expected to finish the administrative review and decide whether to adopt policy changes, pursue formal administrative discipline or update oversight measures. Likely steps include clarifying conduct standards, strengthening complaint intake and providing additional supervisor training.
The FDLE and Lake County Sheriff’s Office reports will remain part of the official record and may be used in any remaining internal proceedings or ordinance updates the town pursues.
Background
Key dates in the matter include the contractor fraud inquiry that began in December 2024, contacts documented in March 2025, Giddens’ promotion to chief in October 2025, a complaint filed in November 2025 and the anonymous tip that preceded his administrative leave in May 2026. He resigned in June 2026.
FAQ
Were any criminal charges filed against Michael Giddens? Investigators from the FDLE and Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported they did not find evidence supporting criminal charges; the documented issues were treated as administrative policy violations.
What did investigators find about his conduct? The investigative summaries concluded Giddens violated Howey-in-the-Hills and department policies concerning improper conduct and standards of moral character, including findings related to alleged sex while on duty. Those were administrative findings, not criminal determinations.
Will the town take further administrative action? Town officials said they will complete the administrative review and follow established procedures. Potential outcomes include policy changes, training updates and formal administrative discipline if warranted.
Source attribution: Reporting is based on summaries of FDLE and Lake County Sheriff’s Office findings as reported by local media. For agency information and to review official materials, see the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/) and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (https://www.lcso.org/). Original media summaries referenced: Fox News/Outkick coverage.
