>> THE DRAMA THE POLITICAL THEATER THIS WEEK AT THE MIAMI COMMISSION HAD FINGERS POINTING
IN LOTS OF DIRECTIONS.
>> DID THEY EVER.
COMMISSIONER LED THE INQUISITION
LIKE MEETING BUILDING A CASE
AGAINST THE NEW POLICE CHIEF BUT
THE CHIEF STRUCK BACK.
HE STRUCK FIRST WITH A MEMO
ALLEGING CORRUPTION.
>> IN THIS REAL LIFE
TELLENOVELLA, THERE ARE SUBPLOTS
THERE IS CONTEXT AND ONE PERSON
WHO MIGHT SHED SOME AUTHENTIC
LIGHT ON ALL OF IT IS MIAMI’S
RECENTLY RETIRED POLICE CHIEF
WITH US RIGHT THERE LIFE.
SO GREAT TO HAVE YOU, CAN WE
JUST CALL YOU GEORGE NOW?
>> YES, YOU CAN.
AND IT’S NICE TO BE ON, THANK
YOU.
>> GEORGE, IT’S GREAT TO SEE
YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY WE ARE NOT
MAKING LIGHT OF ANYTHING, THIS
IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION BUT
FOR MIAMI WATCHERS, THERE WERE A
LOT OF EYES ROLLING.
THERE WERE A LOT OF SIGHS, THERE
WERE A LOT OF EYEBROWS RAISING.
KIND OF PUT THERE INTO CONTEXT
FOR US, WHAT WE’VE SEEN WHICH
WAS AN INQUISITION LIKE A COUPLE
OF MEETING THIS WEEK WITH ONE
COMMISSIONER IN PARTICULAR, SORT
OF LAYING OUT A CASE AGAINST THE
POLICE CHIEF WITH NO RESPONSE I
THINK YOU KNOW IT IS A SAD
COMMENTARY THAT WE HAVE KIND OF
SEEN THIS IN THE PAST, RIGHT,
THIS LEVEL OF DISCORD.
YOU NEVER WANT TO SEE THIS AT
THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ANY
GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP BUT WHEN
IT’S YOUR HOME, CERTAINLY MORE
SO.
AND IT DOES LEAVE PEOPLE QUITE
UNEASY CUZ HONESTLY YOU’LL WANT
EVERYBODY TO FOCUS ON THEIR JOB
AND DOING THE BEST THEY CAN FOR
THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY SERVE,
NOT SPENDING TIME ON HOW ARE YOU
GOING TO FIGHT EACH OTHER.
>> GEORGE, IT WAS ONLY AT THE
END OF JANUARY THAT YOU RETIRED
AFTER THREE YEARSES ACHIEVE, 30
YEARS WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
SO YOU KNOW THE DEPARTMENT
INSIDE AND OUT AND YOU HAVE
WATCHED CHIEF ACEVEDO ON THE SIX
MONTHS HE’S BEEN ON THE JOB.
HE MADE SOME MISTAKES, SOME
GAFFES BUT HAS HE DONE ANYTHING
IN YOUR OPINION THAT WOULD
WARRANT HAVING HIM FIRED?
>> YOU KNOW, I DON’T KNOW IS THE
TRUTH.
FROM THE OUTSIDE IT DOESN’T
APPEAR LIKE IT.
BUT WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE TRUTH
IS, RIGHT.
I’M NOT IN THE DEPARTMENT ANY
MORE.
I DON’T LIVE IN THE CITY OF
MIAMI ANY MORE.
SO CERTAINLY THERE HAVE BEEN
SOME MISTAKES IN TERMS OF HOW
YOU WOULD COMMUNE KIT ESPECIALLY
TRAGICALLY.
IT’S ONE OF THE DISADVANTAGES,
MICHAEL, WHEN YOU BRING SOMEONE
FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND I’M NOT
QUESTIONING THE DECISION.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT SOMETIMES LEAD TO PROBLEMS,
NOT UNDERSTANDING A COMMUNITY,
NOT UNDERSTANDING THE POLITICS,
HOW TO MANEUVER AROUND SOME OF
THESE LANDMINES THAT WE KNOW
EXIST HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
I CAN’T SPEAK TO OTHER CITIES.
I DON’T KNOW HOW IT WAS FOR THEM
IN HOUSTON.
BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT HAPPENED.
THERE WAS A PROCESS THAT WAS PUT
IN PLACE, THAT WASN’T FOLLOWED.
SO HOW MUCH IS REALITY AND HOW
MUCH IS PERHAPS AN EXAGGERATION
OF WHAT ST OR BEING A BIT
HYPERBOLIC.
THAT IS THE PART THAT REALLY
EVERYONE IS TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT.
>> SO THERE ARE, THIS IS, WE’RE
TALKING ABOUT MIAMI.
BUT THERE ARE CITIES ALL OVER
SOUTH FLORIDA WHO MAKE HIRING
AND FIRING DECISIONS IN MIAMI.
IT IS IS THE CITY MANAGER, THE
CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR, SORT
OF WENT TO HOUSTON, CALLED HIM
THE MICHAEL JORDAN OF POLICE
CHIEF.
THE COMMISSION HAD NOT ONLY NO
PART IN THE HIRING BUT WERE VERY
SURED-- SURPRISED EVEN THOUGH
THERE WAS THIS WHERE LOCAL
PEOPLE WERE CAN DADS FOR THIS
JOB AND YOU GET THE SENSE
LISTENING TO THE MEETING THAT
THIS WAS KIND OF SPOKING THE
BEAR, NO DOUBT.
BUT THE MEMO THAT THE CHIEF
LAUNCHED IN A PREEMIVE STRIKE
REALLY MAKES SOME ALLEGATIONS
AGAINST THE COMMISSIONERS THAT
THEY INTERFERED WITH
INVESTIGATIONS IN THE
DEPARTMENT, THAT THEY WERE MED
ELING IN HIS DECISIONS TO HIRE
AND FIRE.
DID YOU WHEN YOU WERE POLICE
CHIEF HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE WITH
THE COMMISSIONER?
AND SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS I
MIGHT SAY WERE DIFFERENT THEN
BUT DID YOU EVER EXPERIENCE
THAT?
>> NOT REALLY.
AND I WILL PUT IT THIS WAY.
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME FROM THE
VERY BEGINNING.
ANY TIME I HAD ANY CONVERSATION
WITH ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS,
AND BY THE WAY, TO INCLUDE THE
MAYOR AND THE MANAGER, IT WAS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME TO MAKE
SURE THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS
ACCEPTABLE TO ME AND WHAT
WASN’T.
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT
THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT I’M THE
CHIEF OF POLICE.
I’M GOING TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.
WE CAN SPEAK OFF CAMERA, IF YOU
WILL, ABOUT IT, CERTAINLY NOT AT
COMMISSION, I WAS SEVERE
COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
AND HAVE A DISCUSSION IF SOMEONE
IS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE
DECISION I BAS MAKING BUT I
CERTAINLY WANTED HIM TO KNOW I’M
MAKING THE DECISIONS HERE.
AND IF I EVEN GOT THE IDEA THAT
SOMEONE WAS SUGGESTING SOMETHING
THAT MADE THEM UNCOMFORTABLE I
WOULD LET THEM KNOW ABOUT IT.
I WOULD LET THEM KNOW.
>> CAN I JUST FOLLOW UP WITH
THAT, BECAUSE WE HAVE EVIDENCE
THAT YOU DID EXACTLY THAT.
THERE IS ONE OF THE ALLEGATIONS
AGAINST COMMISSIONERS WERE THAT
THEY WERE ASKING THE POLICE
CHIEF TO DO SELECTIVE
ENFORCEMENT AGAINST A CODE
VIOLATION.
SEND IN THE CITY DEPARTMENTS TO
BUST POLITICAL ENEMIES.
THERE IS AN ENTITY ON-- BALL AND
CHAIN AND THE OWNERS, THAT
ESTABLISHMENT AND OTHERS FILED
SUIT THIS WEEK.
AND IN THAT LAWSUIT IS YOUR MEMO
FROM TWO YEARS AGO WHEN YOU WERE
POLICE CHIEF.
IT SEEMS TO BE ANSWERING TO THE
MAYOR AND MANAGER THAT YOU HAD
BEEN ASKED TO DO SELECTIVE
ENFORCEMENT.
AND YOU WERE ASKING THEM TO SORT
OF GUT CHECK AND HAVE THAT
INTERVENE, SO IT DIDN’T HAPPEN,
TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.
THAT EXPERIENCE.
>> THIS WAS A COMMISSION MEETING
WHERE IF I RECALL THEY HAD
ESSENTIALLY THROUGH RESOLUTION
DIRECTED THE CITY ATTORNEY TO
ESSENTIALLY BE THE POINT PERSON
IN THESE BUSINESS CHECKS.
WHICH YOU KNOW, I’M SURE THEY
FELL LIKE IT WAS THEIR RIGHT AS
LEGISLATORS TO PUT FORTH SUCH A
RESOLUTION.
THE CITY ATTORNEY FOLLOWED
THOSES DIRECTIONS AND FORWARDED
LOCATIONS FOR US TO CHECK AS A
TASK FORCE.
THAT ALREADY FOR ME WAS
UNCOMFORTABLE.
AND AGAIN, I’M SURE THEY FELT
LIKE THEY WERE WITHIN THEIR
RIGHT.
IN MY OPINION, THAT IS NOT HOW
THE CHARTER READS.
MY BOSS IS THE CITY MANAGER.
AND THAT IS THE PERSON WHO CAN
DIRECT ME ON WHAT MY DUTIES ARE.
BUT HE QUITE FRANKLY EVEN THE
CITY MANAGER, YOU KNOW, I’M THE
LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONAL.
I’M THE ONE THAT HAS GOT TO BE
ABLE TO SAY THAT IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE OR I’M NOT GOING TO
PARTICIPATE BECAUSE PERCEPTION
IS WHAT ST ALL ABOUT.
I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO THINK
THAT ANYONE CAN USE THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, THE MAYOR, THE
MANAGER, ANY OF THE
COMMISSIONERS TO THINK THAT WE
CAN GO OUT AND DO THEIR BIDDING.
I DON’T WANT ANYONE TO THINK
THAT.
AND SO IT ST IMPORTANT TO MAKE
THESE ESTIMATES, TO IT BE REALLY
BLUNLT ABOUT THEM, TO BE HONEST,
SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS, BECAUSE
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF
TIMES THEY DON’T REALIZE WHAT
THEY MAY BE ASKING AND IT IS
INCUMBENT UPON THE LEADERSHIP,
WHETHER ST THE CHIEF OR THE
MANAGER OR WHOEVER TO SAY HOLD
ON, LET’S MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYONE STAYS IN THEIR LANE.
LET’S MAKE SURE EVERYONE
UNDERSTANDS THE SEPARATION OF
POWERS.
BECAUSE WHEN THEY ARE COMINGLED
IT BECOMES UNCOMFORTABLE AND
WITH THE PUBLIC THINKS REALLY
MATTERS.
>> YEAH.
>> AND SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH
THE COMMISSIONER SAYING I’VE
GOTTEN TIPS THAT THIS BUSINESS
IS FUNCTIONING ILLEGALLY.
THAT’S OKAY.
BUT I’M NOT GOING TO GO ECONOMIC
THAT ONE BUSINESS.
I’M GOING TO CHECK THE ONE NEXT
DOOR, THE ONE ACROSS THE STREET
AND THE ONE DOWN THE BLOCK.
AGAIN I DON’T WANT ANYONE TO
FEEL WE’RE BEING USED OR
MANIPULATED IN ANY KIND OF WAY.
>> JUST TO UNDERSCORE YOUR
POINT.
THE MIAMI CITY CHARTER SAYS THAT
YOU REPORT TO THE CITY MANAGER.
AND THE COMMISSIONERS EXPRESS
OPINIONS BUT THEY CANNOT GIVE
YOU OR POLICE OFFICERS A DIRECT
ORDER.
THAT JUST VIOLATES THE CHARTER,
THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
>> YES, THAT IS WHAT I AM
SAYING.
AND LISTEN, USING COMMON SENSE,
RIGHT.
I’M COMPLETELY OKAY WITH THE
COMMISSIONER CALLING AND SAYING
I JUST GOT A TIP FROM A
CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY ARE
SELLING DRUGS OUT OF THIS HOME
OR THIS BUSINESS.
THAT TO ME IS LIKE ANY CITIZEN
REACHING OUT, ST OKAY.
BUT WHEN YOU GET THE IDEA THAT
THEY ARE TRYING TO DIRECT YOU ON
HOW TO DO YOUR JOB OR
ESSENTIALLY GIVING YOU
INSTRUCTIONS OR ORDERS, THAT CAN
BECOME UNCOMFORTABLE.
>> YEAH, THAT IS NOT KOSHER.
OKAY, JORGE COLINA, WE HAVE MORE
QUESTIONS FOR YOU, SO PLEASE
STAY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE AND
WE’LL BE BACK WITH MORE
QUESTIONS FOR THE FORMER POLICE
CHIEF IN A MINUTE.
WITHIN WE ARE BACK WITH FORMER MIAMI POLICE CHIEF RETIRED MIAMI PLITION CHIEF JORGE KOLINA
TRYING TO PUT SOME CONTEXT OF
WHAT WE ARE SAW IN THE CITY THIS
WEEK IN THE CITY COMMISSION, NOT
RECENTLY BUT WHEN CHIEF ACEVEDO
STARTED ABOUT A MONTH INTO HIS
TENURE WE WERE HAVING A
CONVERSATION, I SAID HOW ASK IT
GOING, HOW DO YOU LIKE BEING THE
CHIEF IN MIAMI.
AND HE SAID YOU KNOW, IT’S LIKE
BEING IN THE GAME OF THRONES.
I THINK AT THAT POINT HE DIDN’T
REALLY QUITE GET HOW MUCH HE
WOULD THINK THAT IN MONTHS TO AM
KOL.
BUT WHY ISN’T HE ANSWERK NOW
WITH SUCH A PUBLIC THRASHING?
WHY STAY UPSTAIRS AT THE
COMMISSION.
WHY NOT COME DOWN AND ANSWER TO
THEM?
>> I MI-- I THINK IT IS I GREAT
QUESTION, I REALLY DO I DON’T
KNOW WHY.
IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO
NOT RESPOND, RIGHT, AND TO BE
FAIR TO THE COMMISSIONERS,
RIGHT, I MEAN THAT’S THEIR FORUM
AND THEY GET TO ASK WHATEVER
QUESTIONS THEY WANT TO ASK.
I THINK COMMISSIONER ARROYO
BASICALLY EXPLAINED IT.
HEY, THIS IS MY OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THESE
ALLEGATIONS MADE AGAINST ME.
AND SO HE USED HIS PLATFORM OF
QUITE FRANKLY TO BE ABLE TO DO
THAT AND ADDRESS SOME OF THE
ALLEGATIONS MADE AGAINST HIM.
I FEEL THAT IT STHUD BE BOTH
WAYS, RIGHT.
I FEEL LIKE CERTAINLY THE CHIEF
SHOULD COME DOWN, PERHAPS HE WAS
TOLD, I DON’T WANT TO ADD FUEL
TO THIS FIRE.
IT’S NOT GOING TO HELP.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM THE
CHIEF, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE
CONCERNS AND ALLEGATIONS THAT
WERE LODGED AGAINST HIM, THAT
WERE ALSO VERY SERIOUS, I WOULD
HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HEARD FROM
HIM AS WELL.
AND I THINK THAT YOU CAN FIND A
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CIVILITY TO
DISCUSS THIS IN A CIVIL WAY,
EVEN IF THERE IS DISAGREEMENT.
AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR
THE PUBLIC TO HEAR EVERY SIDE OF
THESE ARGUMENTS.
>> WE SHOULD POINT OUT FOR THE
RECORD THAT WE INVITED CHIEF
ACEVEDO TO BE ON THIS SHOW
TODAY.
AND THE ANSWER WE GOT LATE IN
THE WEEK TO OUR EXECUTIVE
PRODUCER TOMMY FLETCHER WAS I AM
PROHIBITED FROM APPEARING,
MAKING ANY APPEARANCES.
SO WE JUST WANT TO GET THAT ON
THE RECORD.
GEORGE, ON FRIDAY THE COMMISSION
PASSED THE STRANGEST RESOLUTION
I CAN THINK OF.
THEY HIRED, THEY’RE GOING TO
HIRE MAYBE A FORMER FRK BI MAN
OR OTHER DETECTIVES TO COME IN
AND DO AN INVESTIGATION, NOT
JUST OF CHIEF ACEVEDO BUT OF
THEMSELVES AND THIS INVESTIGATOR
OR INVESTIGATORS WOULD REPORT TO
THEM.
I MEAN HOW IN THE WORLD CAN THAT
HAPPEN?
>> WELL, I UNDERSTAND THE
THOUGHT, RIGHT, THAT SO MUCH IS
BEING PUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND
IT’S GOING TO RAISE A CONCERN.
AND SO YOU WANT TRANSPARENCY AND
YOU WANT THE TRUTH TO COME OUT.
I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT TO YOUR POINT ULTIMATELY I
THINK THE BEST WAY TO GO IS TO
HAVE A LEGITIMATE THIRD PARTY BE
AT THE FBI OR-- OR WHOEVER IT IS
TO COME OUT AND CONDUCT THEIR
OWN INVESTIGATION WHERE THEY’RE
NOT REPORTING BACK TO THE CITY,
ANYTHING OTHER THAN THEIR
FINDINGS.
I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
IDEAL.
PERHAPS THAT MIGHT STILL HAPPEN.
AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS ALSO
AN AUDITOR GENERAL AND SOME OF
THESE THINGS THAT ARE FRAPS
FIGURES OR FACTS OR DATES THAT
ARE IN CONNECTION, PERHAPS THIS
PERSON CAN HELP T IS THEIR JOB
TO DO THAT INDEPENDENTLY, THAT
IS A POSSIBILITY AS WELL.
>> GEORGE COLINA,
REHIRE-- RETIRED MIAMI CHIEF, WE
VALUE YOUR TIME AND I IMES WE’LL
ALL BE WATCHING THIS TOGETHER.
COME BACK SOON.