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Police chief should update his resume, Groveland mayor says in wake of credit card scandal

GROVELAND, Fla. — The city of Groveland is hiring an outside firm to perform a forensic analysis of alleged credit card misuse and an ensuing cover-up that Mayor Tim Loucks has likened to the Watergate scandal.

Right now, Groveland police Chief Melvin Tenneyson, who lives in St. Augustine, is on vacation, and Loucks said Thursday that he might want to brush off and update his resume.

“I would, if I was in that position,” Loucks said.

Tenneyson is accused of using his city-issued credit card to book hotel rooms 12 times for a total of $1,100.

Worse than what might have been done, is the fact that it was covered up afterward, Loucks said.

Once Tenneyson’s credit card use came to light, city manager Redmond Jones sent a letter saying the money had been repaid to the city, a claim Loucks said was not true.

It was after Jones’ letter that Tenneyson wrote two checks to the city, the mayor said.

He was alerted to the situation when Jones allegedly tried to get other city employees to keep quiet about Tenneyson’s credit card use.

“I was approached by two employees and (they) told me that the city manager had asked them to make this go away, and that put up a huge red flag for me,” Loucks said. “I view it as a cover up, a complete cover-up.”

Auditors will be coming into the city to examine city cellphones, flash drives and computers that may have been used in the alleged cover-up.

The cost to Groveland tax payers could be up to $13,000.

While Tenneyson claims he booked the hotel rooms because he was too tired to make the one-hour drive home after City Council meetings, Loucks said it doesn’t matter.

“You do not use (the credit card) for personal use, otherwise it results in termination,” he said, noting Tenneyson had signed off on the city policy on two separate occasions.

Jones was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

No decision on Tenneyson’s employment status with the city, as only the interim city manager, not the council, has the ability to fire him.