Todd Fort to resign from School Board, retire from Sheriff's Department
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Todd Fort intends to retire as a sheriff's deputy and resign from the Harrisburg School Board.
A facsimile message was sent to the Saline County Sheriff's Department Tuesday afternoon indicating Fort's decision to retire from the force. Fort plans to resign from the School Board in time for the next regular meeting on Sept. 22, Bryan Drew, his attorney, said.
Fort, 43, is accused of five counts of criminal sexual assault and five counts of official misconduct involving a 17-year-old girl who was an intern at the Saline County Sheriff's Department. He has been released on bond since Friday.
Since he has been with the Sheriff's Department 21 years, Fort is eligible for a pension, Drew said.
Drew said Fort doesn't think he would be treated fairly if he returns to the force, even after an acquittal.
"(Sheriff Keith Brown) is really making it difficult in regards to his employment, putting up a lot of roadblocks in relation to Todd working in his career," Drew said.
Brown did not comment on Drew's statement. He did say there would have been an administrative hearing on Fort's status on Wednesday, essentially to determine what to do now that he is out on bond. Fort was not suspended, but his pay was being withheld because he was not coming to work. He was relieved of his duties as chief deputy but remained on the roster as a deputy until his retirement became official.
In the fax message sent to the Sheriff's Department, Fort said his retirement is effective Aug. 24.
"It has been my greatest honor and pleasure to serve the people of Saline County during my time as a Saline County Sheriff's Deputy," Fort said in the message.
Drew said Fort's continued employment with the Sheriff's Department and service on the school board are becoming a distraction.
"He wants to be able to focus all his energies on this case," Drew said.
"Even when there is a jury trial and he is found not guilty it's tough to remain in a community after these kind of charges."
Drew said Fort enjoyed his time on the School Board.
"Unfortunately these charges are becoming a distraction," Drew said.
For the good of everyone, particularly the school system, Fort will officially resign from the board and as president, Drew said.