Former Ocoee police chief sues city

Two years after her termination, Saima Plasencia, the former Ocoee police chief, is suing the city over discrimination because of gender and retaliation against her for complaining of discrimination.

A state commission has determined there is enough evidence for Plasencia's lawsuit to proceed. 

The former police chief was terminated in November 2023. She began serving as police chief in May 2021.

The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orange County. 

According to the lawsuit, Plasencia is seeking $50,000 in damages for "common law claims of defamation and violations of the (Florida Civil Rights Act)." 

In the lawsuit, Plasencia alleges she was the only person put through an external competitive process for the police chief position during the application process. She was "made to compete against males who were not qualified for the position of police chief and lacked the experience required by the city of Ocoee."

She also alleges city leadership held meetings with employees without disclosing relevant and prudent information to her and also restructured the Ocoee Police Department to undermine her authority and reduce her responsibilities and give them to male subordinates. 

Plasencia contends Robert Frank, the city manager at the time, "did not want her to supervise the male deputy chiefs, which is standard policy and within law enforcement's best practices."

Frank retired from the position in 2024, after nearly two decades of service.

The city has filed a motion to dismiss part of the lawsuit.