HOUSTON'S GAIN WAS MIAMI'S LOSS

Miami Police Chief's Future Up in the Air Amid Firing Rumors 

 

By Steve Litz

 

NBC 6 South Florida

October 7, 2021

 

 

Members of the the Miami Police Department are watching closely as their boss navigates his way forward amid an ongoing conflict with some city commissioners.

Chief Art Acevedo is in reset mode less than six months into the job.

The Miami Herald reported Wednesday that a plan is in the works to try and fire the chief, but at least one city commissioner, Ken Russell, said he has not heard that.

"The sooner we get through this the better,” Russell said Thursday afternoon. "I am speaking with police union, the police chief and the city manager, and they seem to be the driving forces in this."

Acevedo signed on to be chief in March with a $315,000 annual salary.
His benefits move the total compensation package to over $400,000.

If a departure deal is in the works, the agreement says that if he’s terminated by what's called "for cause," which could include a finding of misconduct, neglect of duty or malfeasance, then he would not get any severance pay. The same goes if he resigns.

If he is terminated "without cause," per his contract, he would get money equal to five months salary and benefits.

This week, Acevedo turned in his action plan for moving the department forward, a document required by City Manager Art Noriega, who is the only person who has the authority to fire the Chief.

Russell said Acevedo has three options.

"He stays, he fixes the situation; he goes peacefully; or he goes and it’s not so peaceful," Russell said. "So hopefully it is one of the first two, because one way or the other we’ve got to get through this soon."

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CHIEF ACEVEDO MAY BE IN TROUBLE IN MIAMI

by Bob Walsh

About six months ago Howie's close personal friend Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo left Texas for a gig as chief of the Miami Florida P.D.  That may end up being not a good move.

At the end of two lengthy and somewhat raucous hearings the city commissioners voted unanimously to form a panel to investigate allegations made against Acevedo and also to look at the mechanism for hiring him in the first place.

For his part Acevedo has accused three of the commissioners of "interfering" with his attempts to reform the department and diddling with a confidential internal investigation.  

Acevedo was hired from an original panel of 50 applicants whittled down to eight finalist, including five internal candidates.

Among other things Acevedo said publicly that "The Cuban mafia runs the Miami police department."  The city commissioners were not amused by this.  

Under the city charter the commission is strictly a legislative body.  They can not hire, fire or give direction to the police chief.  The commission can, however, fire the city manager.  The city manager is the chief's boss.  

By the way, as far as I know Howie has never met Art Acevedo and does not particularly like the man. based on Acevedo's actions both in Miami and Houston.