Miami officer had second thoughts about pulling over FHP tro

[NewsHound]

Miami officer had second thoughts about pulling over FHP trooper

From Sun-Sentinel.com

It could be described as Miami police officer Thomas Vokaty's "ooops" moment.

When Vokaty realized the state trooper he had just pulled over had family ties to Miami police — the trooper's brother was a sergeant with the department's internal affairs unit — Vokaty quickly asked the trooper, Cpl. Victor Luquis, not to report it, even offering to buy him dinner, according to a report the Florida Highway Patrol has released.

Vokaty, was given a formal warning from his department last week for the traffic stop, which was done well outside the city limits.

The stop happened Nov. 8 and had appeared to be one of the last retaliatory moves due to tension between the two law enforcement agencies that started last month, when FHP Trooper Donna Jane Watts drew her gun, handcuffed Miami Officer Fausto Lopez and charged him with reckless driving on Florida's Turnpike in Broward as he rushed to an off-duty job.

In her report, Watts wrote that Lopez was traveling at speeds in excess of 120 mph.

The incident, captured on video, sparked furor among citizens, many upset at Lopez's alleged speed. It also brought anger from law-enforcement officers who say Watts acted recklessly in drawing her weapon, yelling and handcuffing a fellow police officer.

In posts on an online law-enforcement blog, Watts has been ridiculed and threatened. Someone dumped feces on the patrol car of Trooper Joe Sanchez, a former Miami city commissioner. The car was parked in front of Sanchez's home in Miami.

Then Vokaty made the traffic stop on Florida's Turnpike north of Okeechobee Road.

According to the FHP briefing report, Luquis was on his way to an off-duty job at the turnpike and Bird Road. Vokaty told Luquis he had clocked him going 90 miles an hour in a 70 miles an hour zone. Vokaty, a 27-year veteran, said, "How does it feel to be stopped in a marked unit?" the report stated.

When Vokaty realized Luquis' brother was Sgt. Ronald Luquis, he then backtracked and said, according to the report, "Please, I have three kids. I'll buy you dinner."

Luquis called dispatch and called his brother.

In the recordings that FHP released, Luquis is heard reporting to supervisors that a Miami cop "tried to light me up here," referring to the sirens used in the traffic stop. As Miami superiors were en route, Luquis said on the radio that Vokaty "freaked out," returned to his car, and left the scene.,

According to the report, Vokaty took off in his patrol car. Miami Sgt. Javier Ortiz then ordered Vokaty to report to the station.

Ortiz said he made the decision based on the information relayed to him from the scene. He said the incident, which ended without guns drawn or citations written, was how he wished Watts had handled the stop of Lopez.

A few days later, interim chief Manuel Orosa issued Vokaty a formal warning. Orosa also tightened the department's policy for pulling over fellow law-enforcement officers, mandating no traffic stops without approval from a supervisor and only if the targeted officer is suspected of a felony.

The truth finally comes out. The Trooper was speeding to an Off-Duty job. Go figure... :cop: :devil:

The truth finally comes out. The Trooper was speeding to an Off-Duty job. Go figure... :cop: :devil:

And then rather than take his licks and go about his way, he felt the need to screw over a fellow LEO who made it quite obvious no enforcement action was being taken. Rather than take it in stride and go back to what he was doing, he insisted that a supervisor report to the scene, and then told the NEWS MEDIA that the officer freaked out and ran away.

Nice way to show your integrity, trooper. You broke the same law that you want to enforce (90 on the turnpike) and to redirect attention off yourself and your shameful driving practices ("Reckless Driving" as Trooper Watts would have called it, you tried to get the officer who stopped you into trouble.

Another trooper with ego problems that felt even though he was in the wrong, he had to win, even if it meant calling in family favors with a brother in IA. SHOCKER!

Kudos to MPD Sergeant Ortiz for stopping the madness. It's a shame that in the case of Watts, the same courtesy was not extended.

As a retired trooper I think the trooper in this incident should be disciplined starting with a suspension of working off duty for 30 days followed by a counseling letter for his speeding to an off duty job.

Further the trooper should be further disciplined for going outside of FHP to the other agency on his own and that should be an oral reprimand.

As a retired trooper I think the trooper in this incident should be disciplined starting with a suspension of working off duty for 30 days followed by a counseling letter for his speeding to an off duty job.

Further the trooper should be further disciplined for going outside of FHP to the other agency on his own and that should be an oral reprimand.

As for the first part of your comment I fully agree, based on the way some troopers strictly argue the fact that nobody is above the traffic laws. As for the second part however what makes you think that a trooper or any cop for that matter cannot file a complaint with a police agency the same as any private citagency. Furthermore what policy is there that you can't discuss something that happened to you at work with a family member who just happens to work for another agency?

Bottom Line:
Vokaty made an illegal traffic stop on Cpl. Luquis. He had NO AUTHORITY to stop anybody. He was not in the incorporated city limits of Miami which leaves him with ZERO police powers!

Cpl. Luquis could have really busted his cods by 39ing his ass! There were a multitude of charges that would apply. Of course, we all know that isn't practical, and the SAO would not file on something like that; but it would have made a huge statement.

After Vokaty realized he stepped on his ****, he starts groveling like a little ***** offering to "buy" his way out of the situation with dinner, saying "please, I have a family." Classic! And, instead of "Man'ing-Up and staying on the scene to take what he had coming, he fled the like the real coward that he is! What an asshole.

So, all you whiny, self-righteous hypocrite schmucks can go pound sand. Stop trying to minimize what he did. He showed his true colors. He is a coward hiding behind his badge and doesn't have a shred of integrity.

If the Administrations (of both agencies) wanted to do something significant and try to put a stop to this petty nonsense, they would draw a hard line---beginning with this incident. Instead, these "leaders" will ignore the problem (hey, the Officer got a strongly-worded letter from the Chief not to do that again, that will sure teach 'em!)

This is how it should have been handled:


FHP Corporal: If the charge of speeding to the off-duty job is sustained, Suspension of Car Privileges and Off-Duty Job Prohibition for a minimum of three months.

Miami Officer: If the charges of performing an unlawful traffic stop and then attempting to cover it up by offering something of value in exchange for the Corporal's silence are sustained: Termination.

This would send a message that acting unprofessional is not going to stand. But, again, taking a hard-line approach against misbehavior and unprofessionalism requires strong leadership---something sadly lacking in both Administrations.

I love how you troopers feel power because you have statewide jurisdiction. Does that make your pecker any bigger? Does it mean that you get paid more ( ha ha). Does it get you more respect? Point is nobody gives a crap. In south Florida we have something called a mutal aid agreement. The county has allowed the city officers to enforce outside their jurisdiction. In Broward, the sheriff has allowed any officer to make traffic stops anywhere within the county limits. It doesn't make me feel any more special, so I just don't get why you guys get a kick out of having the jurisdictional authority.

The truth finally comes out. The Trooper was speeding to an Off-Duty job. Go figure... :cop: :devil:

Ah, but here is a difference. 10 over versus what, 50 over? Let's say 90, 20 over and failing to stop. Denies knowing he was being stopped. Trooper stopped for the city unit. And the trooper admitted to his failures. What did the city officer do? Deny, deny, deny.