Longtime Titusville police chief John Lau was fired Wednesday, June 24, after being involved in a single-vehicle crash while operating a city vehicle, city officials confirmed to FLORIDA TODAY.
Lau, who was driving an unmarked Titusville Police-issued Chevrolet Tahoe, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash and was taken to Parrish Medical Center for further treatment.
The crash happened at Barna Avenue and River Oaks Drive in Titusville at around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, Florida Highway Patrol officers reported. Lau’s vehicle veered off the roadway and flipped over several times, FHP said.
The termination notice was issued early Wednesday amid heavy speculation across the city about the status of Lau’s employment at the agency, which has 94 sworn officers.
“The Florida Highway Patrol responded to an incident involving Chief Lau in Brevard County last night, where he was involved in a vehicle crash while operating a City vehicle,” City Manager Tom Abbate said in a news release.
“Deputy Chief Tyler Wright has been appointed Interim Chief of Police and will oversee department operations during this transition. Additional information will be provided when available.”
The highway patrol, which typically addresses issues such as whether seatbelts were worn or if there was a possible vehicle malfunction or impairment, did not release any further information on the crash. No charges were filed.
“As I mentioned the crash remains under investigation,” said Trooper Migdalisis Garcia, a spokesperson for the highway patrol.
Former chief had faced intense public scrutiny
Lau has had a lengthy and at times, controversial, tenure at the department.
Lau began his career with the Titusville Police Department in 1992, rising through the ranks, working with several community organizations as he took on the role of chief following the retirement of then-chief Tony Bollinger in 2012. He worked with community organizations, meeting with children and residents, as required by his contract. He also held strong beliefs about the lack of fathers being a root cause of crime when asked about the proliferation of firearms involved in violent incidents throughout the city of 50,000 residents.
“John and I didn’t always agree on everything, but we had a good relationship,” said Bill Gary, president of the North branch of the NAACP, upon word of the firing.
The most recent round of criticism came from residents who protested at city hall meetings in the wake of the Feb. 7, 2025, shooting of Tri-Marea Charles.
Charles’ mother was among several who were strongly vocal about Lau being removed from his position as chief after he refused — despite public records law allowing the agency to provide video of the incident — to release multiple bodycam videos that detailed the shooting.
Lau, whose city contract was signed less than a week after the shooting, also refused to name the officers involved in the shooting in the weeks that followed, despite being allowed under Florida’s broad public records law to do so.
Lau, whose salary was $188,858 a year, attended a community meeting about the Charles shooting, a gathering which drew nearly 100 citizens, but organizers did not allow questions.
Charles was shot 10 times, including several as he ran from one officer toward another following an armed, “violent confrontation,” Lau said.
After the state attorney cleared the officer involved, Lau released a curated list of bodycam videos, stirring more calls for transparency from Charles’ mother.
J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641or jgallop@floridatoday.com. X: @JDGallop.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Titusville police chief John Lau fired, city manager confirms
Reporting by J.D. Gallop, Florida Today / Florida Today
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By J.D. Gallop, Florida Today | USA TODAY Network
