Thursday, November 12, 2009
Miami Police Chief resigns as new mayor is sworn in
MIAMI (WSVN) -- Miami Police Chief John Timoney announced his resignation on the inauguration day of the city's new mayor, who was famously critical of the chief.
After several years on the job, Timoney officially announced his decision to step down on the same day newly-elected Mayor Tomas Regalado was sworn in during an inauguration ceremony at City Hall.
Timoney has served the Miami Police force since 2002. On Tuesday, he ended that career when he hand-delivered a letter of resignation to the City of Miami Manager Pete Hernandez. In the letter, Timoney stated: "I truly feel that I have fulfilled my mission that I set out on nearly seven years ago. I leave with nothing but the highest regards for the men and women of this department... I am very proud to have served this great department, this city and its citizens."
Timoney felt the pressure from Regalado who made it no secret he wanted a new police chief. Regalado promised change, but no one imagined it arrive this swiftly. "I think chief Timoney did the right thing," Regalado said. "I think that he knows that the new mayor wasn't comfortable with the way that he has handled the department. It was very gracious of him to resign and avoid any more controversy."
Outgoing mayor Manny Diaz, a past rival of Regalado's, who had appointed Timoney did not like this new change. "Politics should have absolutely nothing to do with the police department," said Diaz.
Armando Aguilar, the President of the Fraternal Order of Police, on the other hand, was pleased with Timoney's decision. "Eighty percent of the department said he had no leadership ability, they had no confidence in him, and for that and many other reasons I'm extremely happy today," he said.
Timoney came to Miami from Philadelphia where he was also a police chief. He was also once the second in command in New York City. Timoney said his last day as Miami's Police chief will be Jan. 15.
Regalado said he will name the city's new police chief by next week, and he assured that person would come from within the department.
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