May 8, 2008 7:59 pm US/Eastern
Miami Police Report Sponsored By Lexus of Kendall
Miami Chief John Timoney Received Free Lexus Use For One Year From Same Dealer
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Any advertisement in the Miami Police Department's annual report may alone raise ethical questions. But, the advertisement is for Lexus of Kendall, the infamous dealer who made Miami Police Chief John Timoney an offer no one could refuse.
The dealership allowed Timoney to drive a Lexus SUV for free for over a year, before being exposed by a CBS4 investigation. Chief Timoney was fined and reprimanded by the county ethics commission for failure to report the gift. He remains under investigation by the Florida Ethics Commission and by Miami's Civilian Investigative Panel.
"It puts the department, again, under a cloud of – what's the relationship between – that controversy that we thought was behind, and now by advertising this agency, it really looks bad," said Miami City Commissioner Tomas Regaldo.
Dr. Anita Cava who directs the ethics program at the University of Miami's School of Business echoes the criticism of Timoney.
"There's certainly the appearance of favoritism that way," she said. "If I'm working for the company that bought this ad, I might like to have this book in my car, facing up, so in case a policeman stops me, I can point to it and say, 'I support the police,'" Cava said.
Timoney also appeared in another Lexus of Kendall promotion when he rode in a Lexus convertible in the Three Kings Parade. He made the appearance just weeks before he was fined and reprimanded by the Ethics Commission.
Chief Timoney did not respond to any requests for comment, but a department spokesman said the department had produced these annual reports for years with business sponsors and that it's common practice among police departments.
Lexus of Kendall was one of four businesses that paid $10,000 to sponsor the police department report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Super Bowl Ad: Snickers & Betty White
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments