Trayvon Martin Case: Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee To Resign

Bill Lee, the Sanford, Fla., police chief who was criticized for his handling of the Trayvon Martin case, will resign from his post today.

Lee temporarily stepped down from March after the Sanford Police Department was slammed over its handling of the Martin case, particularly for not arresting Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman immediately following the Feb. 26 shooting that killed the 15-year-old Martin.

CNN first reported Lee was resigning, with the cable network citing an unnamed official.

Lee stepped down on a temporary basis last month when the Sanford City Commission held a vote of no confidence on the police chief.

Zimmerman is out of jail after posting $150,000 bond, although he must wear an electronic monitoring device and cannot leave Florida.

Daryl Parks, the lawyer representing Trayvon's parents, said the couple is devastated by (Zimmerman) being able to walk the streets.

It's with a very, very heavy heart that they've seen him walk freely late last night back into the public, Parks told CNN.

There were worries that Zimmerman would not be safe after leaving jail, but his attorney, Mark O'Mara, told CBS that there were no recent threats against his client.

During Zimmerman's bond hearing on Friday, he apologized to Trayvon's parents for their son's death.

Benjamin Crump, another attorney for Trayvon's parents, called the apology insincere.

The apology was somewhat of a surprise because we had told them this was not the appropriate time, but they just disregarded that, and he went and pandered to the court and the media and gave a very insincere apology, Crump said.

Trayvon was leaving a 7-Eleven in Sanford, where he got some Skittles, when Zimmerman noticed him and believed the teen, who was wearing a hoodie, was acting suspiciously.

Zimmerman phoned 911 to report Trayvon and a dispatcher said police would investigate.

Despite a dispatcher's advice to stand down, Zimmerman pursued Martin. A struggle ensued and the 15-year-old was shot. Zimmerman claims he shot Trayvon in self-defense.

The case has ignited debates on race and justice, particularly in the months before Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder in Trayvon's death.