Hundreds of Miami-Dade officer layoffs expected

MIAMI (WSVN) -- Miami-Dade commissioners voted against forcing officers in the county to spend more of their hard-earned money, which means that hundreds of officers may soon receive pink slips.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez has asked for $239 million in concessions from all of the unions, $75 million specifically from the Police Benevolent Association.

In November, the Police Benevolent Association and the County reached an agreement to cut $57 million, but the union rejected the portion of the contract that increased healthcare contributions.

On Thursday, the commission was forced to choose whether they would require Miami-Dade Police officers to contribute another five percent toward their healthcare benefits, or lay off law enforcement officers.

Hundreds of Miami-Dade Police officers packed the commission chambers, wearing T-shirts with the words "Enough is Enough." The officers, who are already giving five percent of their salaries for their benefits, declared they could not afford to give any more of their money.

Some commissioners felt uncomfortable casting their vote on the measure. "I'm going to be honest with you, Mr. Mayor," said District 3 Miami-Dade County commissioner Audrey Edmonson. "I do not like this decision at all. I think you have put this commission in a bad place."

Another commissioner said, "We're stuck on this, and it really sucks, because I have to look in your faces and your family's faces, and I have to deal with the regular constituents that are out there that are going to be blaming us."

However, District 8 Miami-Dade County Commissioner Lynda Bell was in favor of increasing the healthcare contribution to 10 percent. "I'm just not willing for officers to be laid off," she said.

During the commission meeting, loved ones of officers who lost their lives in the line of duty spoke against the proposed salary cuts, including Rosie Diaz, the former partner of Miami-Dade Police officer Amanda Haworth. Haworth, along with fellow officer Roger Castillo, was killed while serving a search warrant to a murder suspect. "It took 19 seconds for the lives of Amanda and Roger's families to spiral into a dark and bottomless abyss," Diaz said.

One man said, "Our police officers unselfishly sacrifice their lives for us every day."

Thursday night, the Miami-Dade Commission voted 7-6 against the measure, which means that about 145 Miami-Dade Corrections officers, 154 police officers and at least 100 supervisors could face layoffs. "I know what was at stake in there," said Miami-Dade Police Director James Loftus. "I know people were hurting and didn't want to do that 5 percent, and at the same time, I know that there's 154 people who are going to potentially lose their jobs. I know a lot of those people."

Mayor Gimenez was not pleased with the results of Thursday's vote. "This commission completely buckled under the pressure, and I understand now why people have such little faith in government," he said.

The layoffs could occur within the next few weeks.

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