Sec. 602.623. - Confidentiality/Whistleblowing.

(a) It is the policy of the City that employees, ethics officers, administrators, complainants, whistleblowers and innocent parties shall be protected to the maximum extent of the law. (b) All records of complaints and investigations shall remain confidential to the extent authorized by F.S. 112.3188 (2) and any other State law so applicable. (c) In furtherance of the City policy set forth herein, the Director and such authorized personnel in the Office of Ethics, Compliance and Oversight are deemed "safe havens" and whistleblower report-to authorities for the receipt of information and complaints related to ethics, waste, fraud, and corruption. A complainant or ethics officer shall not be penalized or retaliated against in any way for disclosing information to the Office of Ethics, Compliance and Oversight. The Director shall take all such action as is appropriate under the circumstances to address the allegations disclosed to them. (Ord. 2011-197-E, § 1)