Miami police officer arrested, another fired

MIAMI (WSVN) -- The Miami Police Department arrested one of their own on the same day they fired another officer for an unrelated incident, Wednesday.

Officer Luis Hernandez, 27, sits behind bars without bond. He faces one count of armed kidnapping and one count of sexual battery.

"Obviously, this is something that is sad for us to report, but definitely it is something we investigated thoroughly," said Miami Police Officer Kenia Reyes. Police arrested Hernandez at the department's Internal Affairs Section Office.

Officials said they cannot release what allegedly occurred, or where and when it happened, but they did confirm Hernandez was on the clock as part of the police force when the alleged incident took place. They would not specify whether he was in uniform, but they confirmed he had a firearm on him.

Reyes indicated that, at the time Hernandez was being read his charges, "he was acting like a lawful police officer," Reyes said. Both of Hernandez's charges are felonies. He had served on the force seven years.

In a separate case, authorities also fired Reynaldo Goyos for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Travis McNeil. On Feb. 11, 2011, Goyos pulled over McNeil and his cousin, Kareem Williams, on Northwest 79th Street.

According to testimony, Goyos shot McNeil after he felt the driver might have been reaching for a weapon. Neither McNeil nor his passenger were armed. McNeil later died from his gunshot wound.

Police are now considering the shooting to be unjustifiable, and a violation of the department's "deadly force policy."

"It was a long time coming," said Sheila McNeil, the victim's mother. "Nothing's going to bring my son back, but at least the City of Miami won't be paying [this officer's] salary. My son should never have been killed that night," she continued.

The State Attorney's office has ruled the shooting justifiable, and the Miami Fraternal Order of Police is backing its officer. In a statement issued by the organization, President Javier Ortiz said that "Officer Goyos is not being fired for breaking the law or breaking the rules. He is being fired strictly because of politics within the City of Miami." Ortiz added that "there is no doubt Officer Goyos will get his job back."

For the department, both cases bring an unwanted spotlight. "We continue and we strive to serve the citizens of the City of Miami, and this is one of the many reasons why we continue doing our job, day-in and day-out," Reyes said.

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