Former Groveland Police Chief Shawn Ramsey has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Groveland and several city officials, alleging that he was retaliated against after raising concerns about what he believed were violations of law and improper conduct within city government.
The lawsuit, filed September 9 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, alleges violations of Ramsey’s First Amendment rights. The case is listed as Ramsey v. City of Groveland, Florida et al., with Ramsey seeking a jury trial.
The lawsuit follows a series of disputes between Ramsey and city officials that ultimately led to his termination as Groveland's police chief on August 25.
What Ramsey alleges
According to court filings and reporting on the case, Ramsey claims he made several written complaints regarding suspected violations of law, misuse of public resources, abuse of governmental authority and other concerns involving city government.
Ramsey previously alleged that after making those complaints, city officials subjected him to investigations and disciplinary actions that he believes were retaliatory.
His attorney, Anthony Sabatini, has characterized the actions against Ramsey as retaliation for his whistleblower complaints. Those allegations remain disputed and have not been proven in court.
Ramsey's termination
Ramsey's lawsuit comes after he was terminated by the City of Groveland in August.
City documents cited by local news outlets said the termination involved concerns about how Ramsey handled discipline involving a Groveland police sergeant who had reportedly driven a department vehicle at speeds exceeding 100 mph on multiple occasions while not responding to an emergency.
Ramsey had disciplined the sergeant with a three-day suspension, a 30-day loss of use of a city vehicle and a six-month promotion restriction. City officials later determined that the discipline was insufficient.
The city has not publicly connected Ramsey's termination to his lawsuit or whistleblower complaints. Groveland officials have generally declined to comment on the matter because of the pending litigation.
Changes at the police department
Following Ramsey's departure, the city announced that Fire Chief Kevin Carroll would serve as interim public safety director, while Deputy Chief Armando Loney would serve as acting police chief.
The city also said it planned to bring in a third-party interim police chief to review the Police Department's operations, policies and finances and provide recommendations within 90 days.
Ramsey had served as Groveland's police chief for more than nine years.
What's next
The federal lawsuit is now moving through the court system. Ramsey is seeking damages and other relief related to his employment and the alleged retaliation.
At this stage, the allegations contained in the lawsuit have not been proven in court, and the defendants have not yet filed their responses to the federal complaint.
The Clermont Current will continue to follow the case as additional court filings and information become available.
This story was published September 16, 2026. It will be updated as the case progresses.