Aug 23, 2007 7:54 am US/Eastern
Miami Police Union Members Ask For Chief's Removal
City Manager Calls For Ethics Investigation Of Chief Timoney's Actions
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MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Want to sound off? Click to share your opinionSeveral members of Miami's Police Union are asking that Miami Police Chief John Timoney be removed after CBS4 revealed he did not pay to use a loaned car from a local Lexus dealership.
Some Miami Commissioners are also complaining and The Florida Department of Revenue has opened an "inquiry" into Timoney's free use of a luxury SUV following a CBS4 News investigation into a no-fee deal between the chief and the Lexus of Kendall dealership.
"Is it enough for the chief to be fired?" Rolando Gutierrez asked.
"I would be fired. I would be fired definitely. I wouldn't be here right now. I would be suspended at home."
Gutierrez is president of the Hispanic Officers Association. He echoes the sentiments officers we spoke to at the Fraternal Order of Police building, who say they would've been easily reprimanded by their department for a lot less.
The inquiry was prompted after state agents saw
CBS4's Gary Nelson's reports detailing how the chief, who already gets $8000 annually from the city as a car allowance, had been driving a hybrid Lexus SUV provided at no cost by Lexus of Kendall.
Neither Timoney nor a representative of the dealership has spoken about the arrangement, though a spokesman for Timoney termed the arrangement a 'test drive' provided by the dealer because the Chief was 'considering purchasing' the vehicle.
Through a spokesman, Timoney said he didn't believe his use of the SUV violated state ethics laws or his own department's policies, however, Miami city manager Pete Hernandez ordered him Tuesday to return the car, and Tuesday night, Timoney announced that he had purchased the SUV from the dealer.
In a written statement, Timoney said, "The last thing that I want is for my actions to be perceived as anything other than beyond reproach. Therefore, this afternoon I purchased the vehicle in question."
That may not be enough to quell the controversy.
An investigator with the Department of Revenue said Wednesday, "If they give a car to someone to use at no charge, use taxes, equivalent to sales taxes, still must be paid on the car. We want to know if those taxes have been paid."
Since Timoney's spokesperson admitted he had not been paying for the car, which bears dealer plates making it illegal for the dealership to collect lease or rent payments for its use, it's possible no taxes were collected by the dealership.
The executive board of the Fraternal Order of Police, the Union representing Miami officers, has called for a September 4th vote of no confidence to be executed.
"Timoney owes an explanation to the uniformed men and women of his department, and to the citizens of Miami, as to why he believes he is above the law," said Miami commissioner Marc Sarnoff.
"It looks really bad that our top cop, who has strict rules for Miami's finest, is doing what other cops cannot do," added commissioner Tomas Regalado.
The city declined a CBS4 request for documentation on the sale of the vehicle.
Timoney and his assistant, Angel Calzadilla, did not immediately respond to a request for comment by CBS4.
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