Florida Police Chief Resigns Following Investigation Into Alleged Affair With Suspect’s Wife

Michael Giddens, who served as chief of police for Howie-in-the-Hills in Lake County, Florida, stepped down in June after being placed on administrative leave the previous month. The departure followed investigations by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office into allegations of an inappropriate relationship with the wife of a man under investigation for contractor fraud.

Giddens opened a case against a contractor fraud suspect in December 2024 while serving as a lieutenant. After the suspect ceased communication, Giddens allegedly contacted the man’s wife in March 2025 under the guise of reaching the suspect. The two met for lunch and subsequently exchanged text messages, according to investigation findings.

Investigators determined that Giddens and the woman met at local hotels on multiple occasions while he was on duty and engaged in sexual contact twice. The relationship ended by late 2025 when the woman became involved with someone else. Giddens received promotion to chief of police in October 2025, before the allegations surfaced publicly.

An ethics complaint was filed in November 2025, followed by an anonymous complaint to the town in May 2026 that triggered the formal investigation. While authorities found no criminal conduct, the probe concluded Giddens violated policies on improper conduct, moral character, and on-duty conduct. In his resignation letter, Giddens stated he would not allow personal matters to distract from the agency’s work.