05-07-2013, 06:47 PM
Published on Tuesday, April 30, 2013
BY THEO KARANTSALIS
SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI HERALD
Two fired Medley police officers have settled their wrongful-termination lawsuit against the town.
“Our names have been cleared,” said former Medley police Lt. Joe Olmedo, who was abruptly fired by the police chief last September along with Sgt. Jorge Perez and Officer Freddy Romero after being accused of a traffic-accident coverup.
Olmedo and Perez reached a settlement with the town on April?22. Romero had an arbitration hearing on April?24, and an opinion is forthcoming.
“The matter was settled amicably,” said Councilman Jack Morrow, referring to the town’s settlement with Olmedo and Perez. “They are leaving on good terms, and I wish them both a lot of luck.”
Michael Pizzi, Medley’s town attorney, did not return repeated calls or emails seeking comment.
Last October, The Miami Herald reported that the three officers filed a lawsuit against Medley because the police chief fired them “without any power to do so under the town charter,” records show.
The officers asserted that only the town council had the authority to fire them and pointed to their collective-bargaining agreement.
“This is a great result after the dog-and-pony show we went through,” said Jose Hererra, who was referring to the 10 hours of testimony he went through over two days at town hall last fall that resulted in a 5-0 vote by council to uphold Olmedo’s firing.
Hererra, who is the town attorney of neighboring Virginia Gardens, filed two lawsuits and mountains of motions on behalf of the officers.
Though he won’t be returning to work in Medley, Olmedo said he is brushing up his résumé to seek a position with another department.
Olmedo said he is “very happy” with the terms of the April?22 settlement, but he would not elaborate, citing a confidentiality clause.
“These fine officers now have great futures ahead of them,” Hererra said.
BY THEO KARANTSALIS
SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI HERALD
Two fired Medley police officers have settled their wrongful-termination lawsuit against the town.
“Our names have been cleared,” said former Medley police Lt. Joe Olmedo, who was abruptly fired by the police chief last September along with Sgt. Jorge Perez and Officer Freddy Romero after being accused of a traffic-accident coverup.
Olmedo and Perez reached a settlement with the town on April?22. Romero had an arbitration hearing on April?24, and an opinion is forthcoming.
“The matter was settled amicably,” said Councilman Jack Morrow, referring to the town’s settlement with Olmedo and Perez. “They are leaving on good terms, and I wish them both a lot of luck.”
Michael Pizzi, Medley’s town attorney, did not return repeated calls or emails seeking comment.
Last October, The Miami Herald reported that the three officers filed a lawsuit against Medley because the police chief fired them “without any power to do so under the town charter,” records show.
The officers asserted that only the town council had the authority to fire them and pointed to their collective-bargaining agreement.
“This is a great result after the dog-and-pony show we went through,” said Jose Hererra, who was referring to the 10 hours of testimony he went through over two days at town hall last fall that resulted in a 5-0 vote by council to uphold Olmedo’s firing.
Hererra, who is the town attorney of neighboring Virginia Gardens, filed two lawsuits and mountains of motions on behalf of the officers.
Though he won’t be returning to work in Medley, Olmedo said he is brushing up his résumé to seek a position with another department.
Olmedo said he is “very happy” with the terms of the April?22 settlement, but he would not elaborate, citing a confidentiality clause.
“These fine officers now have great futures ahead of them,” Hererra said.