South Miami police chief accused of violating ethics laws
ANDREA TORRES
The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust announced Tuesday that investigators found evidence that Police Chief Orlando Martinez de Castro violated South Miami’s “prohibition on transacting business with the city,” as well the County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance’s “prohibition on exploitation of official position.”
“The chief has been in law enforcement over 40 years with an unblemished record,” said Martinez de Castro’s Coral Gables attorney Simon Steckel. “We are looking forward to going to a full evidentiary hearing where we believe he will be completely vindicated.”
The accusations are related to two of his wife’s businesses -- Airways Auto Tag Agency and Beck & Lo’s Insurance Agency.
The South Miami Police Department contracted Airways three times during 2011 for tags and titles for forfeiture vehicles. Steckel said Martinez de Castro did not approve the transactions and was not in the direct chain of command. Major Ana Baixauli was.
The police chief is also being accused of using his city e-mail in April to solicit business for Beck & Lo.
“It was not a solicitation of business,” Steckel said. “The person to whom he is accused of soliciting business to has never been interviewed.”
The case will proceed to a public hearing.
That's all well and good, it's nice to hear that Chief Martinez de Castro's attorney will be vigorously defending the chief during this public hearing. There's one thing that really bothered me though (other than the Herald not mentioning us) and that is this statement from the Chief's attorney, Simon Steckel...
“The chief has been in law enforcement over 40 years with an unblemished record,”
Are you sure about that Mr. Steckel? Unblemished? I can think of several blemishes that exist over the Chief's 40 year career in law enforcement but for the sake of today's argument, let's step into the Straw Buyer's time machine and go back to 1971 and see what we can find...
As always, click on the image to enlarge...
Well, well, well...
So according to the article, Officer Martinez de Castro goes over to a friends apartment and bumps into another friend Miguel Vives, they start horsing around, Mr. Vives calls Mr. Martinez de Castro "fatman" and next thing he knows he's DEAD from a bullet fired from Officer Martinez's gun! DAMN!
So what do you say Mr. Steckel? I'd be willing to say that the bullet hole in Mr. Vives is a "blemish", wouldn't you? The circumstances surrounding this "accidental" shooting are rather suspicious to say the least, I'm going to do a little more digging to see what I can come up with, unfortunately, Mr. Vives won't be of much help.
So what's the takeaway from today's post? NEVER CALL ORLANDO MARTINEZ DE CASTRO "FATMAN"!!!!!!
Steckel, Commissioner Newman and her pet rat, Sharon McCain should also Google the definition of “law enforcement” for clarification, when they characterize Martinez de Castro’s 40 year career in law enforcement. The U.S. Department of Justice defines “Law Enforcement” as the generic name for the activities of the agencies responsible for maintaining public order and enforcing the law, particularly the activities of prevention, detection, and investigation of crime and the apprehension of criminals. Absolutely no where in the U.S. Department of Justice’s definition do you find job descriptions such as assistant city manager, director of public works, or sales manager. To set the record straight, Martinez de Castro has, at best, a very sketchy 16 year, on and off career as a law enforcement officer. The remaining 62% of Martinez de Castro’s career has been spent outside of law enforcement – dodging the public criticism he generated as an incompetent law enforcement officer.
ReplyDeleteWell if I have Orlando Martinez De Castro I will call him fat I don't care if he shoot me he is a huge fat rat.
ReplyDeleteWELL I WANT ALL OF YOU TO GO TO THE SMOG HOG OF CAPITAN PLANET AND TELL ME IF HE DOES NOT LOOK JUST LIKE CHIEF OF SOUTH MIAMI LOL LOL
ReplyDeleteLike Verminous Skumm, Greedly has animal-like tendencies and appearance, largely resembling a pig. Greedly makes reference to this himself upon occasion, comparing himself to bacon or pork, usually prompted by Captain Planet: "He can still fry our chops."
THE TIME FOR GOD TO MAKE JUSTICE IS PERFECT....
ReplyDelete