Miami Police Chief, Deputy face 'No Confidence' vote.

Miami police chief, deputy face 'no confidence' vote
Miami Police Chief John Timoney, on the defensive for his free use of a luxury SUV, faces a potential rebellion among the rank-and-file.
Posted on Thu, Aug. 23, 2007
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BY MICHAEL VASQUEZ
mrvasquez@MiamiHerald.com

Miami's police union, fed up with Police Chief John Timoney, took the rare step Wednesday of scheduling a vote on whether to declare a lack of confidence in his leadership.

The more than 900 officers who make up the union will decide Sept. 4 whether they want to formally request Timoney's ouster by declaring a vote of ''no confidence'' in the chief and his deputy, Frank Fernandez.

Armando Aguilar, president of Miami's Fraternal Order of Police, said in his 26 years with the force he has never seen such a vote.

Miami City Manager Pete Hernandez said he had not yet decided whether Timoney will be disciplined for his use of the Lexus. The chief reports to Hernandez.

Hernandez said Wednesday that he could not comment on the upcoming vote until he finds out more about the union's grievances.

Timoney could not be reached for comment late Wednesday. Miami's top cop has been roundly criticized this week for driving a Lexus hybrid sport-utility vehicle without paying for it. For months, the Lexus of Kendall auto dealership let Timoney drive the car for free.

The arrangement was first reported Monday by Miami Herald news partner WFOR-CBS4.

Through a spokesperson, Timoney at first told the TV station he was paying for the SUV but later admitted he wasn't. Tuesday, he released a written statement saying he decided to buy the truck because, ``The last thing that I want is for my actions to be perceived as anything other than beyond reproach.''

Aguilar, the union head, said rank-and-file officers have a long list of grievances when it comes to Timoney, who joined the department to much praise in January 2003.

''This issue with the Lexus is just the tip of the iceberg,'' Aguilar said, calling Timoney's administration ``oppressive.''

Among officers' other complaints, Aguilar said: a controversial policy that prohibits uniformed and civilian employees from ``associating with undesirable persons.''

Hernandez said Timoney was driving the SUV free for almost a year, before he opted to buy it for fair market value, about $54,000.

Timoney during the same time period had been leasing a Lexus sedan from Lexus of Kendall and alternated between driving the two vehicles, Hernandez said.

Though granted the use of two cars, Hernandez said Timoney had been allowed to run up the total mileage allowed under only a single lease.

Timoney's purchase of the truck helped resolve, but didn't erase, the problem of what Hernandez said in essence is ``still a mistake. Even if innocent, it has the perception -- the appearance is wrong.''

Miami Police Want Chief Ousted For Accepting Expensive Gifts

POSTED: 11:33 pm EDT August 22, 2007
UPDATED: 12:09 am EDT August 23, 2007

MIAMI -- Miami police officers were on the offensive Wednesday night when they battled their own high-profile chief.
Related Content: Video
A group of officers met to discuss the future of their boss, Chief John Timoney.

The Miami Police Department consists of over 1,000 members and is the third largest police department in South Florida behind the Miami-Dade Police Department and the Broward County Sheriff's Office.
Members the MPD questioned the integrity of Timoney when he initially accepted a very pricey gift.
The membership of the Miami Police Department is extremely upset, Armando Aguilar of the Fraternal Order of Police said. We are being treated like little kids. This is an oppressive administration.
During a closed, regularly-scheduled meeting Wednesday night, members of the Fraternal Order of Police, Miami Lodge No. 20 agreed to hold elections in a couple of weeks on a vote of no confidence in regards to their chief.
The discussion these days is not very good as it pertains to our chief, Officer Vernell Reynolds said.
He allegedly accepted a vehicle from a dealer at Lexus of Kendall free of charge.
The people in ranking file obviously can get away with having free gifts, things that a lot of our officers have been disciplined for in the past and even terminated, Aguilar said.
A spoof of the incident was anonymously placed on the Internet this week. It said Timoney was in violation of the department's orders.
According to the department's guidelines, employees cannot receive gifts, gratuities or solicitations.
Months after the initial incident, Timoney bought the vehicle, hoping to resolve the issue. However, many people said his integrity had already been compromised.
It isn't surprising that this happened, Miami City Commissioner Angel Gonzalez said.
He said it's up to the city manager to change the leadership of the department.
We, the commissioners, have to follow his directions, Gonzalez said. He's the one that makes that decision.
Aguilar said that the membership of the Fraternal Order of Police voted Wednesday to have a new chief of police and deputy of the chief.
Timoney became the chief of police in Miami in 2003. He said he may respond to Wednesday night's meeting later in the week.
The elections to decide Timoney's fate are scheduled for Sept. 4.

He said he may respond to Wednesday night's meeting later in the week.

what, takes that long to climb out of the bottle?

He said he may respond to Wednesday night's meeting later in the week.

what, takes that long to climb out of the bottle?

throw his a s s o u t. Miami officers would have been fired on the spot for just taking a discount on a pencil. and tell him to get some new TEETH too. :devil: :devil:

YOU GO FOP

out with frank also

Armando,dont just talk about tmoney and abuse of office. Tell them about the commanders,especially Alphonso,DEMANDING more 39's and more tixs,everyday..
The citizens are enduring a severe form of abuse just so they have STATS for COMPSTAT!!!
EXPOSE ALL,,,,,,,,,

Thats right boys,expose the deputy and the majors too for they are part of the abuse.
REMEMBER,THE LAST THOUGHT ON OUR BROTHERS BEN'S MIND WHEN HE LEFT ON VACATION WAS,HOW COULD MAJOR CACERES AND THE DEPUTY TREAT ME LIKE THIS??
BEN WAS GOING TO RETIRE CAUSE OF THE ABUSE BUT THE GOOD LORD TOOK HIM..
LETS NOT FORGET BEN!! VOTE TO OUST THESE DOGS ON THE 4TH!!!!!!!1

Remember this John,,, the majority had no faith and still dont have any faith in you or Frankies abilities to lead,,, do the right thing and leave like a gentleman,we can take care of Frank and the rest.

He's outta here.... Who's up next?