Print
Mar 13, 2008 8:40 pm US/Eastern
Investigative Panel Reveals Timoney Questions
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
-
-
Chief Timoney responded to a vote of no confidence.
CBS News
CBS4's Gary Nelson found out that its details behind the free use of a luxury SUV that's at the center of the Civilian Investigative Panel Investigation on Miami Police Chief John Timoney.
This week, a judge has subpoenaed Timoney to testify before the panel.
At Miami's Three King's Parade, Police chief John Timoney rode in a convertible, courtesy of Lexus of Kendall. But that's not the free ride that got him in trouble. A Lexus SUV the chief drove for more than a year, compliments of the dealership, is being investigated--an arrangement exposed by a
CBS4 news investigation.
Judge Victoria Sigler has rejected Timoney's argument that because he's Chief of Police he doesn't have to answer to the panel. She's ordered Timoney, and Lexus officials to testify.
A Miami ethics commission reprimanded and fined the chief in January for accepting the car in violation of ethics laws. But the CIP's probe of "Lexus-gate" is broader and ongoing.
"Were any taxpayer dollars, for service, for gas, for any purpose, expended on him?" asked panel member Brenda Shapiro. "We don't know any of that."
And the CIP also wants to know why Lexus of Kendall would give the chief the SUV.
"We share a lot of things in common, including an Irish heritage," Timoney said in a previous press conference.
The chief has said the dealership's owner is a pal, a fellow Irishman who wanted him to take a test drive in the SUV.
"Dumb of me, I'll say it right now," said Timoney in a recent news conference regarding the matter.
Timoney has said it was dumb of him to accept a car—a boneheaded thing.
"Boneheaded is an interesting word," said Shapiro. "We're going to investigate and see if he went beyond boneheaded."
Timoney could appeal the order that he testify
And what does his boss say?
"I will meet with him and also plan to meet with the CIP chairman to hopefully resolve this and move forward," said City Manager Peter Hernandez.
The attorney for Lexus of Kendall did not return Gary Nelson's calls Thursday; neither did Chief Timoney or his attorney. But barring an appeal, they must appear and give sworn testimony next week before the CIP.
The CIP was created by a vote of the people in Miami, to guarantee civilian oversight of the police department.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
