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CIP Investigator:Miami Chief Violated Police Rules

MIAMI (CBS4) ― The finding of the investigator for Miami's Civilian Investigative Panel is that Miami Police Chief John Timoney not only broke state and county laws, but violated many of his own department's policies when he accepted free use of a luxury SUV.

The group created by a vote of the people to probe alleged police misconduct determined this after an investigation into Chief Timoney's use of the SUV courtesy of the Lexus of Kendall Dealership. A CBS4 News investigation last year revealed that Miami's top cop drove the $54,000 dollar Lexus for free, for more than year, at no cost.

The CIP's investigator will tell the panel Friday that Timoney:

- Broke State and County Ethics Laws
- Violated police department policy against accepting gifts
- Failed to know his own department's policies
- Committed conduct unbecoming an officer
- Violated policy against misleading the media
- Violated the Police Officer's Code of Conduct
- AND broke a department rule that requires officers to be "truthful" at all times.

The CIP can make findings and submit recommendations to the City Manager, Mayor and Commission. Timoney has previously been fined and reprimanded for breaking state and county ethics laws. Timoney has battled the CIP's efforts to investigate him, telling the panel at one time that he could not believe they had "the chutzpah" to believe they had jurisdiction over him.

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