Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee Fired

The latest news in the Trayvon Martin case:

The Sanford police chief who failed to arrest George Zimmerman immediately after the fatal shooting of Miami-Dade teen Trayvon Martin four months ago -- and brought national attention and derision to the Central Florida city -- has been terminated. 

The announcement was made late Wednesday night by Sanford City Manager Norton Bonaparte, who said in a news release that Police Chief Bill Lee "has been relieved of his duties" effective immediately. The chief had been on paid leave. 

Bonaparte implied the firing stemmed from the impact of Lee's handling of the Trayvon Martin on the city of Sanford. "I have come to this decision in light of the escalating divisiveness that has taken hold of the city," the manager said in the statement. The decision was made after a meeting earlier in the day.

It's worth reading through the catalouge of missteps Lee's department made while investigating the case, missteps which will haunt this case even with Bill Lee gone and will significantly complicate the efforts to prosecute George Zimmerman.