MIAMI
--
Miami Police Chief John Timoney is under fire from the city's police union, which has scheduled a vote on whether to declare a lack of confidence in his leadership.
Miami police officers met at union hall Wednesday and decided to call for a full membership vote of no confidence in Timoney, who had been driving around for more than a year in a hybrid Lexus for free, union leaders claimed.
"The membership (Wednesday) voted that we should have a new chief of police," said Armando Aguilar, president of Miami's Fraternal Order of Police. "We want the chief of police and the deputy chief out of here."
The union leadership has had issues with the chief before, but nothing has rankled them to the point of voting for his ouster.
"I was appalled, because we have standards and I would think that the chief is held to that same standard that police officers are held to," said Vernell Reynolds with the Miami Police Benevolent Association.
During a sometimes contentious meeting with reporters Thursday, Timoney admitted to driving the car for free. Timoney said a friend who owns the Lexus of Kendall dealership gave the car to him as a demo model.
"It's clear to me now, in retrospect, that I kept that vehicle too long, because there's a perception that's been created that somehow I was getting something for nothing," Timoney said.
Timoney said he has since purchased the car in question at full price. The market value is $54,000.
Miami City Manager Pete Hernandez has asked Miami-Dade County's ethics committee to investigate whether Timoney violated state ethics laws.
Union officials said the fact that Timoney receives $8,000 a year to be used for a car but instead got a car as a gift goes beyond impropriety.
"I would think it would rise to the level of criminal, yes it would, because I think if it was any officer it would already be at that level," said Reynolds.
But Timoney implied that he isn't the only one who has received a car as a gift.
"Other people had gotten demo models, but other people aren't John Timoney," he said. "They're not the chief of police."
More than 900 officers who are members of the union will be asked to vote for or against Timoney next month.
"This person doesn't have the best interest of the police department or the citizens that we serve and I think it's time for him to go," said Aguilar.
The no-confidence vote is scheduled for Sept. 4. Even if the union votes that they have lost confidence in Timoney, he would not be bound to resign.
"Listen, I work for the manager and the mayor," Timoney said. "They will determine my future."
