TITUSVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2023) – The Titusville Police Chief was fired following an off-duty crash involving a city-owned vehicle and a refusal to submit to alcohol testing.
The incident occurred around 11:15 p.m. near River Oaks Drive and Barna Avenue. Officers at the scene discovered a partially consumed bottle of vodka inside the SUV, assigned to former Chief John Lau. According to authorities, Lau sustained minor injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
While recovering, a police commander requested an alcohol test, which Lau declined, violating city personnel policies. The following day, he was terminated by the city manager.
Interim Police Chief Tyler Wright commented on the incident, emphasizing that it does not reflect the department's values and that no other parties were injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is handling the investigation due to the crash occurring outside city limits. They determined no criminal charges against Lau after their review, although they have yet to clarify their decision-making process.
Lau had served as police chief since 2013.