Former police chief files Timoney complaint
Posted on Wed, Aug. 29,

Document | Read the ethics complaint
A former Miami police chief filed a complaint this week with the state Commission on Ethics against current Chief John Timoney.

Kenneth Harms, who served as chief from 1978 to 1984, had the complaint notarized and mailed to the commission on Monday. In it, he alleges that Timoney violated several aspects of state law by driving a sport utility vehicle for more than a year provided to him for free from a Kendall dealership.

Miami Herald news partner WFOR-CBS4 first reported on Timoney's free Lexus hybrid SUV last week. It prompted the chief to buy the vehicle from Lexus of Kendall.

Timoney has defended the legality of his actions but acknowledged that accepting the dealership's offer for the extended test drive was ''boneheaded'' and ``stupid.''

Harms said he filed the complaint after reaching out to Miami's city manager and commissioners but not getting a firm response from them.

''Very few things in life get me as charged up as things like this,'' Harms said Tuesday night. ``The community is entitled to a police chief whose integrity is not in question.''

The state ethics commission will review the complaint and determine whether there is probable cause to investigate Timoney.