Jun 5, 2008 10:10 pm US/Eastern
Sworn Statements/Records May Contradict Timoney
Miami Police Chief May Have Had Lexus SUV Longer Than He Said
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
City of Miami Police Chief John Timoney gave sworn statements he drove an SUV free of charge "for about a year." But records obtained by
CBS4 Reporter Gary Nelson appear to contradict the police chief's story, and a Miami city commissioner is now calling for a probe to see if Timoney lied under oath.
After
CBS4 exposed Timoney's free ride, the media asked him how long he drove the car? "Like, over a year, a year, a few months, or so...," Timoney said.
Just one month ago, in a recorded interview, he told investigators for Miami's Civilian Investigative Panel - charged with looking into official police misconduct - that he got the key to the free SUV about June of 2006. But the actual dates of Timoney's acquisition of the car may be months earlier than he claimed.
In a sworn, recorded statement to investigators, Lexus of Kendall General Manager Chris Roberts indicated it was months before June of 2006. This exchange took place between the investigator and Roberts:
Investigator: So we're talking November of 2005 or November of 2006?
Roberts: It would be November of 2005.
Investigator: Okay and you're basing that on the mileage and maintenance records and so on and so forth?
Roberts: Correct
Records from the car dealership show it took delivery on the car in July of 2005, and in June of 2006, when Timoney says he got the car, records show it went in for its 5,000-mile service check.
A Lexus executive says all the promotional hybrids it doled out to Timoney and other high-profile figures were new and didn't have 5,000 miles on them.
City Commissioner Tomas Regaldo wants a criminal investigation into the issue. "I think the authorities – and we're talking the State Attorney – now should investigate. Because if any common citizen lies under oath, he or she will be prosecuted," Regaldo said.
Regaldo pointed out he doesn't know if Chief Timoney committed perjury, but he says someone needs to find out.
Timoney didn't respond to a
CBS4 request for comment on the story. So far, he has been fined and reprimanded by the county ethics commission for failing to report the free Lexus. He faces censure from the state ethics commission on Friday, and remains under investigation by Miami's Civilian Investigative Panel.
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