Six days before Christmas 1998, a prostitute named Tamika found herself in the back of a Miami police squad car in west Little Havana. At the wheel was an all-too-familiar cop. A month earlier, Tamika had watched as 29-year-old Officer Omar Paez had detained another prostitute and, instead of arresting her, had fondled her breasts and vaginal area.
Soon, Paez took Tamika to what he would later admit was his favorite spot for sex: a secluded part of the Ransom Everglades Middle School campus in Coconut Grove. There, he told her to take off her clothes, turn around, and "spread her buttocks open," according to an internal affairs investigation. He tried to sodomize her but was unsuccessful. Instead, he made her give him oral sex. He then wiped his penis with some Wendy's napkins and threw them to the ground.
Tamika went straight to the nearest police station. Investigators found the napkins, and the semen matched Paez's DNA. The officer was fired in 1999, but because of the "credibility issues" surrounding a criminal case where the main witness was a prostitute, prosecutors didn't press charges.
During nine years on the Miami force, Paez had racked up six citizen complaints of abuse — allegedly smashing a female suspect's head against a patrol car in 1994 and grabbing the back of a male suspect's head and slamming it against the ground in 1997. Each time, it was his word against the complainants', and internal affairs had cleared him or found the evidence "inconclusive."
Then, in 2008, Paez — who didn't respond to two phone messages seeking comment — snagged another policing job in the tiny, wealthy hamlet of Golden Beach. Three years later, he found trouble again when state authorities nailed him for defrauding taxpayers in an alleged scheme involving off-duty work.
Stunningly, Golden Beach — whose homeowners or regular vacationers have included Ricky Martin, Bill Gates, and Paul Newman — hasn't suspended Paez. The town has allowed him to keep his badge, gun, and $46,787 annual salary while awaiting trial. Though he's confined to desk duty, he still receives an unmarked police car to take home. The same goes for one of Paez's codefendants, Yovany Diaz. Another Golden Beach officer, Roberto Barrio, was also allowed to remain on duty while he awaited trial for felony battery and false imprisonment charges. He was finally fired only after being convicted in 2010.
Paez and his fellow officers' penchant for professional rebirth is emblematic of a huge problem in Florida. Trouble cops who shouldn't have badges invariably find employment in small departments where the pay is more modest and hiring procedures are lax.
Golden Beach Mayor Glenn Singer blames former police chief James Skinner, who resigned last May, for bringing on Paez and other bad officers. "Our hiring policies have changed dramatically," the mayor says. "They probably would not have been hired today."
As for why Paez and Diaz are allowed to remain on duty despite the felony charges: "The total value [of defrauded public money] is less than a thousand dollars," Singer says. "The state has not given sufficient evidence to terminate these officers with cause. Believe me, if money was taken from Golden Beach, they will be suspended without pay or terminated."
The mayor's figures are off: According to the State Attorney's Office, the three officers' thefts cost taxpayers closer to $4,800 in bogus wages.
It's ironic that such accused or convicted criminals patrol a cloistered town — population at last count: 921 — obsessed with safety. In 1981, seven years after Eric Clapton named an album 461 Ocean Boulevard after his favorite getaway there, Golden Beach sealed all entrances except one. They manned the front gate with a guard. The Associated Press explained that "the idea is to keep out criminals, curious tourists from nearby hotels, and any Haitian refugees who might land at this Northeastern Dade beach in their flight from poverty."
If you've ever taken the scenic route to Broward County, you've likely passed through Golden Beach. About 25,000 cars per day traverse its 1.3 miles of Collins Avenue. Shiny police SUVs line the only public street, giving the place a totalitarian motif. One officer, Robert Ruggiero, recently made news when he threatened a resident for filming him. "I promise you, I will arrest you for a felony," he told an amateur videographer last September. But it's not illegal to videotape cops in Florida, and with a tarnished on-duty record, Ruggiero probably shouldn't have a badge anyway. In 2001, as an officer for Miami Dade County Public Schools Police, he admitted to punching a handcuffed high-schooler in the mouth, drawing blood. He resigned from the schools police force but kept his state certification. The officer, by the way, has also worked for the Pahokee, Center Hill, and North Miami departments.
Until he resigned last May after the three arrests of his officers, Golden Beach PD's Chief Skinner was best known for accidentally discharging his weapon — twice — as chief of the Coral Gables force. He first shot a locker in a Kendall L.A. Fitness. Then he capped a toilet in a police station bathroom. He resigned from Coral Gables in 2003 in the wake of the second shooting.
Your princess Tammy Valdes is a real pieace of $hi.... she was arrested along with her husband cop Ralph Valdes of Hialeah PD, and an ex cop from Miami Beach last week; http://www.miami-criminal-defense-lawyers.com/2012/07/jose-a-quintana-former-miami-b.html Sellings guns to anyone without paperwork, and how the new times did not report that! Nice Job NT! She has a really bad past suing every Police Department she has been in (Several)
Real Criminal is TAMMY VALDES also known as T.V. in the arrest ATF made! see link: http://www.miami-criminal-defense-lawyers.com/2012/07/jose-a-quintana-former-miami-b.html
Omar Paez tried to apply in Miccosukee PD back in 1999 and he was not hired. Thank God he was a real scumbag. Robert Ruggerio was another scumbag, both him and his brother. When I put in for School Board police, his brother hid my file after I had passed everything and promised a start date, I didn't get hired. After 2 years later, they found my file and tried to process me, but I cordialy declined. If I have to work with people like that, I'd rather be unemployed. Robert on the other hand strung me along and bullshitted me about a reserve job in Pahokee. Always telling me that he spoke to the Chief when he didn't. I'm glad I didn't get the reserve job either cause I'm doing well with the Sheriff's Office. Those scumbags are like freaking snakes, they get fired but hired in other jobs. Yet, I know good officers who have been screwed over for small shit, and they can't even get hired at freaking Allied barton Security. So Tammy, I know how you feel.
Yep. Whole department is snakes. Not just the police officers. How do you trust Adm. Assistants that lied on their employment applications to get hired? No college degree. Not even an associate degree. No law enforcement background whatsoever. No administrative background whatsoever. Very little verifiable work history throughout a lifetime. They worked alright. GB police department has lots of snakes. I hope poor Tammy wins the suit.
my roomate's mother brought in $18546 the prior month. she is working on the computer and moved in a $580900 home. All she did was get lucky and put to use the tips given on this web site ...MakeCash10.com
my buddy's step-sister brought in $20738 last month. she is making income on the laptop and moved in a $428100 home. All she did was get lucky and try the tips reported on this website MakeCash10.comONLY
Hope Ms.Valdes takes these everyone of these despicable scumbag cops and their departments for millions. Its police officers like these that warrant no respect for the "wall of blue", their tin badges, and guns. And when they fall the public is happy to piss all over them. They don't deserve any respect. Fire them all and hire some real honest police officers - like Tammy Valdes.
We just prosicuted a San Diego cop for the same reason and he is on his way to prison for 15 years. He would pull women over as they came out of downtown clubs and trade a DUI for sex. I believe 4 women came forward after the first went to the FBI. We've had a serious problem with bad cops also.
What type of a society do we live in when those we entrust to protect us and enforce the laws of our communities have back grounds such as those of the city manager and these police officers. Ultimately the elected officials of this town are responsible for the corruption that plagues that city!
This is an embarrassment to law enforcement. I personally know the officers mentioned here and they sure are some characters. Fucking back stabbers. They don't deserve to be called Sir. It makes me sick.
I don't care if he stole one dollar. The point is that he has shamed and disrespected himself and is unfit to hold a law enforcement position. Certainly a black eye on the Golden Beach Police Department until they decide what to do with this scum bag.
Redirect and attack, this is the oldest trick in the book. Attacking Tammy Valdes instead of addressing the real issues of corruption is tireless and ignorant.Clearly the individuals who are posting the meaningless comments and personal attacks are shamful. Those so called Officers stole money and those allegations were supported by the arrests of the corrupt Officers. The SAO, FDLE, and public corruption found these claims to be factual and supported by documentation. The end result THEY WERE ARRESTED three other former Officers relinquished their Police Certifications and paid the Police Department the money the stole. They all have given their tetimonies which may be obtained in public records request to the Miami Dade State Attorneys Office.You will read their own admissions in their statements..
I agree with Tammy 100%. There are police officers in this town that are totally inadequate for the job. We all know that there are many corrupt officers and have complained about it on various occasions. It's about time some PROPER justice.
As a tax payer I'm really disgusted at all the corruption going on within the law enforcement, political field and nothing ever gets done to fix the problem. In this case we have Mayor Glenn Singer, Town Manager Alexander Diaz, and Police Chief Jim Skinner turning a blind eye to the corruption going on within their town, and only chose to do something about it after the facts were exposed to the public. The Mayor decided to use Chief Skinner as a escape goat for the solution to the problem when in actuality the problem is Mayor Glenn Singer himself, and Town Manager Alexanderr Diaz. Mayor Glenn Singer and Town Manager Alexander Diaz along with all the council members from Golden Beach should be held liable and criminally charged for failing to act as public officials or at the very least be removed from office.
Then we have Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle who only becomes active prosecuting public officials in election year so she can get reelected. She is a bigger hypocrite than the corrupt public officials, and another waste of tax payer dollars down the drain.How can we fix the problem If the problem starts from the top ?
LOL!!!!!!! Looks like frienly got egg on his face. I would love to see frienly's employment history.
"Frienly" you are misinformed or perhaps just ignorant. Mrs. Valdes employment history can be viewed in the below link. Simply cut and paste it into the address bar of your browser. Fired by every employer huh? Nope, wrong again. I will gladly post some links on here in the near future so that all of the public can truly read about the backgrounds of the corrupt Mayor, Manager, and officers of Golden Beach. Stick to the facts..........if there are no facts don't just try to make them up.
Tammy L ValdesSex: FemaleRace: HispanicBirth Date: 06/1967
Employment History
Golden Beach Police DepartmentClass: Law EnforcementType: Full-TimeStart Date: 1/24/2009Location: Miami-Dade County (»Download the Miami-Dade County reports) Separation: (Separated on 11/30/2009) Administrative Termination (Not involving misconduct)
Golden Beach Police DepartmentClass: Law EnforcementType: Part-TimeStart Date: 9/16/2008Location: Miami-Dade County (»Download the Miami-Dade County reports) Separation: (Separated on 1/23/2009) Transfer Within Agency (No break in service)
West Miami Police DepartmentClass: Law EnforcementType: Full-TimeStart Date: 10/22/2006Location: Miami-Dade County (»Download the Miami-Dade County reports) Separation: (Separated on 4/18/2008) Voluntary Separation (Not involving misconduct)
West Miami Police DepartmentClass: Law EnforcementType: Part-TimeStart Date: 7/2/2004Location: Miami-Dade County (»Download the Miami-Dade County reports) Separation: (Separated on 3/31/2005) Voluntary Separation (Not involving misconduct)
Opa Locka Police DepartmentClass: Law EnforcementType: Full-TimeStart Date: 10/17/1994Location: Miami-Dade County (»Download the Miami-Dade County reports) Separation: (Separated on 9/20/2002) Voluntary Separation (Not involving misconduct)
North Miami Police DepartmentClass: Law EnforcementType: Full-TimeStart Date: 2/6/1994Location: Miami-Dade County (»Download the Miami-Dade County reports) Separation: (Separated on 9/10/1994) Administrative - Unfavorable (Historical Use Only)
Opa Locka Police DepartmentClass: Law EnforcementType: Full-TimeStart Date: 10/16/1989Location: Miami-Dade County (»Download the Miami-Dade County reports) Separation: (Separated on 1/31/1994) Voluntary Separation (Not involving misconduct)
ComplaintsSource: Internal InvestigationCategory: DisStatus: No Case OpenedOpened Date: No Discipline ImposedCertificatesLaw EnforcementStatus: Inactive - Mandatory RetrainingValid From: 3/2/1990 to 6/30/2010
Disclaimer: The names in this database include every past and present officer to work in Florida, even those who never faced discipline from the CJSTC. Only the officers with information under 'Complaints' have had one or more cases sent to the CJSTC as of Nov. 2011.
All of these allegations by the most questionable former cop of all. We should all wonder, why didn't she come clean years ago? Why has she not been able to keep a job anywhere, not only in police departments, but she has been fired from Miami-Dade college as well. The accuser is the most unscrupulous person of all. One should wonder, how does she get fired from all four police departments? Why has she sued three police departments and Miami-Dade college?Mr. Writer, I think you've been taken for a ride by this woman. Even with that caked on make-up and cheap 90s suit, you should be able to see through all the lies.All the officers she attacks have been disciplined according to the rules
Nice try "Frienly" but please stuck to the facts. Fired from every department she has worked for? I think you are misinformed, or perhaps maybe the Florida Department of Law Enforcement records are incorrect. You can deflect all you want, but that does not change the fact that you are all criminals. Please refer to the the below link. You may simply cut and paste it into your browser so that you may read the truth about Mrs. Valdes employment history.
Corrupt Criminal Cops deserve TWICE the Prison sentence that an ordinary citizen would receive for the same crimes!
Make it so!
I was wondering if Mayor Glenn Singer could explain to us taxpayers how the hiring policies have changed dramatically ? If so, how does the mayor explain hiring Herbello, Delucca for administrative positions and several other officers with questionable backgrounds ? It's my understanding Herbello was investigated for obstruction during an investigation on corruption, and Chief Delucca has a horrible background as well. From the looks of it the Mayor's new hiring policies are working just fine. Or is it a hiring requirement to be a wife beater, drug addict, or at least have a felony background to work in Golden Beach.
You are right again. Employment apps were either not checked out or simply placed under the carpet for long existing top office staff members who continue to get passed on to police chief after police chief. Nothing could possibly be their wrong doing. People are either totally blind, or need to pass out the DUNCE hats. Just see to it they get another award. That will cover up things for certain.
More bad cops. Just like the bad priests - they just keep shuffling them around our communities. I guess they are above the law..."their honorable word against ours."
my co-worker's mother earned $13642 last week. she been working on the computer and bought a $363400 home. All she did was get fortunate and put into work the tips exposed on this site....MakeCash10.com
Golden Beach obviously has serious corruption issues. This does not negate the fact that Tammy Valdes is a very troubled woman. Her employment with Golden Beach goes hand in hand with their poor hiring practices. The corrupt officers are one side of the coin Ms. Valdes' hiring is on the other. The journalist failed to mention Ms. Valdes refusing to return a police k-9 (dog) to it's rightful owner, being found less than truthful during official proceedings and a slew of other transgressions that have been cause for her dismissal from numerous local police agencies. As an instructor at the police academy she quickly developed a reputation for having sex with the police trainees. Her police career is better known for her domestic issues than her stellar performance. She has successfully parlayed her poor work performance into a money making scheme by following up with frivolous lawsuits. She has learned that some agencies find it cheaper to pay out a small settlement than litigate and Ms. Valdes has used this to her advantage. Despite any abilities she may possess as a police officer, they are consistently overshadowed by her lack of professionalism, immaturity and just plain whoring around.
Post some hard facts please. Anyone can make allegations. Seems as if the writer did his homework and I am sure he held back some on his reporting as well. Let's go over some things that are hard facts;
Fact is Alexander Diaz was not only arrested for DUI, he was also arrested in Miami Beach, Fl in 2000 for receiving oral sex from another man in public. If a criminal record is expunged does that mean it never happened and that you should not disclose it as a public official?
Fact is Omar Paez was being investigated by Miami PD when a known prostitute named Tamika came in and filed a complaint against him after he tried to sodomize her and when he was unsuccessful he forced her to perform oral sex on him. When investigators responded to the scene where it occurred a napkin was recovered with DNA in it from Paez's semen. When Paez was called in to be relieved of duty, he resigned. The investigation continued and the allegations were sustained by the investigators.
Fact is Paez's certification should have been revoked by FDLE, but because of the ridiculous system Florida has in place for imposing discipline on law enforcement officers this predator was allowed to continue terrorizing tax payers.
Fact is had Paez's certification been revoked he would not be sitting on a desk today collecting more money from the same taxpayers he was arrested for stealing from.
Fact is Glenn Singer was made aware of the criminal activity that was taking place in Golden Beach and chose to take no action as an elected official. Mayor Simger is allegedly a strong Mayor who is supposed to make all final decisions on those employees hired or fired by Golden Beach. Had Singer done his job other than pawn it off on a corrupt private investigator, Pat Franklin to report what he wanted to see in the background reports of these criminals they would have never been hired.
Fact is Robert Barrio was hired after he resigned while under investigation from the South Miami Police Department and lied on his employment application as was exposed in a CBS 4 I-Team investigative report. Barrio had an extremely checkered past an had worked for almost 8 departments when hired by Golden Beach as a contract employee. In May of 2009 Barrio was arrested and charged for battering, kidnapping and false imprisonment of his wife in Alachua County, Fl. At the time of his arrest Barrio was driving his undercover police car while taxpayers of Golden Beach were paying for his fuel to drive up to Gainsville and commit these violent crimes. Barrio was allowed to continue working after his arrest despite the fact that his contract could have been terminated by Golden Beach at anytime. Instead when his contract expired Golden Beach rewarded Barrio by hiring him as a full time police lieutenant while he was awaiting his trial which ultimately resulted in his conviction and the revocation of his police certification.
Fact is James Skinner has a checkered past not only with Golden Beach but he was also run out of Omaha, Nebraska and Coral Gables, Fl. Complaints of sexual harassment, negligent discharges of his firearm and praying on female co-workers. While at Golden Beach Skinner prayed on two female employees who complained to Human Resources against him and yet they took no disciplinary action against him. Skinner was used as a scape goat by Mayor Singer and Manager Diaz in May of 2011 when he was terminated as Chief of police.
Fact is Joseph Barasoain worked for numerous police departments in the state of Florida and falsified his application at Golden Beach when he applied for the position of a police Captain. While employed by the North Miami Beach Police Department Barasoain was the subject of atleast 6 internal affairs investigations. That information was intentionally omitted from the background investigation that was done by Patrick Franklin. Barasoain was listed as a subject in the criminal investigation that lead to the arrest of Peters, Diaz and Paez yet he was not criminally charged, even though he even went as far as writing a letter to Progressive insurance to assist Peters in defrauding the insurance company outof additional money.
Fact is Barasoain was hired by the City of Alexandria Virginia Department of Emergency Communications as the Asst. Director of Emergency Comminications while he was under criminal investigation in the State of Florida and was given a glowing employment reference by his long time friend, City Manager Alexander Diaz.
Fact is Lynn Dean Peters was defrauding taxpayers out of thousands of dollars by working off duty jobs while on duty and by collecting money from false claims filed against Progressive Insurance. When Peters was arrested in exchange for keeping him quiet and from exposing Manager Diaz and Barasoain's involvement in the criminal conspiracy, the Town of Golden Beach hired Peters son and wife to work for the town.
Fact is Jon Anterio is a drug addict with a prescription drug addiction. He was allowed to retire in lieu of termination when he was involved in a on duty accident while under the influence of narcotics when employed by the Miramar Police Department. While working for Golden Beach Anterio reported to work stoned on oxycodone and was transported to a rehab facility by Barasoain. No disciplinary action was taken against Anterio. Anterio was identified as a subject in the State Attorneys Office investigation and he resigned and surrendered his police certification in lieu of prosecution.
Fact is Tammy Valdes was a canine handler with the OpaLocka police department and she purchased her former canine partner from the City of Opalocka for the sum of $1.00. Mrs. Valdes was involved in litigation with the City of OpaLocka and prevailed in her claim against the city. She was an instructor for numerous years in the police academy and a law enforcement officer that was respected in the police community for over 20 years. Fact is no matter how hard you look into her back ground you will never find that she has been arrested or criminally charged anything she has done in her career so since you can't find any of this type of information on her then logically the next best thin to do is attack her as a woman by calling her a "whore" who sleeps with police recruits. Again I ask you to produce the hard facts that will support your claim.
Fact is Mrs. Valdes was railroad by the administration of Golden Beach when she reported the criminal conspiracy taking place there and instead of taking action to correct the activity they chose to terminate her instead. Then to add insult to injury after they terminated her they tried anyway possible to investigate Mrs. Valdes in an effort to try to make false allegations against her. Allegations which were all dismissed by the State Attorneys Office.
Recently some controversy has surfaced involving another questionable police officer who should of had his police certification revoked when he was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and kidnapping while he was employed as a police officer by the City of Opalocka. Instead he worked out a deal with the State Attorneys Office and testified against his partner who was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Then instead of his certification being revoked by FDLE he was given a second chance when he recruited a good friend of his to speak on his behalf in the decertification hearing. Today he is referred to as Captain Manuel Arrebola who is employed by the Miami Dade County Schools Police Department. The same individual who also works in a local police academy and preys on young impressionable female students. Make sure to follow the Sarasota Herald Tribune series Unfit for Duty as they will be doing a feature story on Captain Arrebola in the very near future.
Some people learn by doing and others learn by seeing. I learn by seeing, so please educate me! Put your money where your mouth is.
Like the writer of this article, you either didn't do your homework or are okay with complete and utter lies. Or, as I suspect, this is just Tammy trying to take everyone else down because her bullshit lawsuits and screwing anyone who has a badge has completely undermined her pathetic career as an officer. Give it up Tammy. You screwed up and have ruined your chances of being hired by any other department, and that was before you identified yourself in this article. Lets face it, anyone who switches departments as often as you taken the morning after pill clearly is a problem employee.
It is understandable that crooked cops and those who have committed crimes and turned on their partners in order to avoid prison sentences would have a problem with Mrs. Valdes exposing these criminals for what they are. It is very unfortunate that because the elected officials chose to not pay attention to her and investigate her complaints the tax payers were defrauded of thousands of dollars. It is because all of the insurance fraud in south Florida such as the fraud that Officer Peters committed against Progressive Insurance with the assistance of a letter written by Captain Barasoain the second in command of the police department that we are paying the insurance rates we pay in south Florida. Convict all these corrupt cops and any monetary award Mrs. Valdes receives should come from the assets and salaries of the elected officials of Golden Beach.
Her sexual prowess is probably something you wish you could've experienced and got negated. You sound like another "obstacle" towards justice and honesty. Sit down and be quiet. At least SHE had the GUTS and HONOR to stand up and speak up. THe FDLE and State Attorney's seem to find her claims to be credible. Who she has fun with (as long as she isn't breaking any laws) is irrelevant.
Wow, sounds like you too are one if those that got caught with your hand in the cookie jsr.
You are correct in saying Golden Beach has corruption issues Alex, but the continued attacks on Tammy Valdes are a pathetic attempt to divert from the truth.The City of Opa Locka stands by her today and always. KIKI,her Canine partner was given to her in agreement when she RESIGINED from there.Tammy Valdes has always been and will be a cops cop who has trained thousands of Police trainees all over Dade and Broward Counties. Attacking Tammy making false accusations about her having sex with trainees is just plain pathetic. The public can read about her litigation and all the FACTS contained within them. Mrs. Valdes is one of the most professional and courageous Officers I have known,anyone who truly knows her and has worked with her also knows she will Always do the right thing. It is obvious by your wicked attempts to attack her who you really are.Calling her a whore...really.Your comments will never change the TRUTH about the corruption you and your cronies support and engage in. THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE
pff! like i always say...where there spics involved, there'll always be corruption! fucking spics shoulda never been allowed in my country!
You stupid redneck, read the article. Lynn Dean Peters sound like a spic name to you? How silly of me, you probably never learned how to read when you were home schooled in your trailer. Ignorance is bliss!
I've known Tammy Vslded for over 12 years now. I can say without any hesitation she is honest as the day is long. Tammy Valdes followed protocol. She told her superiors of the inconsistencies that she found. Each time they blew it off. Had she not reported these inconsistencies she would have been just as guilty as those officers that did the crime. Officer Valdes is what every law abiding citizen expects an officer to be.
I am shocked about FL POLICE. I am so ready to move out of this state. If you can not trust police who do you trust?
Really Mayor ? You've got to be kidding me right ? Please explain to us taxpayers how the hiring policies have changed dramatically ? If that is so, how do you explain hiring Herbello, Delucca and several other officers with questionable backgrounds ? From the looks of it your new hiring policies are working just fine. Or is it a hiring requirement to be a wife beater, drug addict, or at least have a felony background to work in Golden Beach.http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com... ... ice_ch.php
Golden Beach Interim Police Chief Rudy Herbello Accused Of Obstruction
By Francisco AlvaradoFri., May 27 2011 at 8:00 AM
Categories: Banana Republican, News, Politicks
Rudy Herbello is lording over the mess known as the Golden Beach Police Department.
The Town of Golden Beach Police Department is in turmoil. In April, two officers were criminally charged with defrauding the small enclave by double dipping. Yovany Diaz, 33, and Omar Paez, 41, are accused of working off-duty overtime details while on their regular duty assignments; altering reimbursement invoices; and failing to pay the town for administrative costs connected to their overtime.
Now Interim Police Chief Rudy Herbello wants to put the kibosh on the ongoing criminal investigation, according to current and former Golden Beach police officers. We are not revealing their identities to protect the one who is still employed by the town. Last week, during an orientation at roll call, Herbello allegedly informed his subordinates in attendance that he "was going to have a meeting with the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office to drop the criminal charges against the accused officers and let him to do an in-house administrative investigation," says the cop who was present. Herbello also "threatened to fire anyone who talked to people outside the department about what he said," the cop added.
The former Golden Beach police officer heard the same story from other rank-and-file members of the police force. "It doesn't look good for the interim chief," the source says. "They replaced Frik with Frak." Herbello took over from Jim Skinner, who resigned shortly after the arrests of Diaz and Paez. The pair remain on duty in administrative positions and are being allowed to drive unmarked cars. Heck, Herbello even promoted Paez to acting lieutenant.
A call to Herbello -- who unsuccessfully ran against county Commissioner Joe Martinez in 2008 -- was routed to a Golden Beach spokesman, who provided us with a prepared statement from town Mayor Glenn Singer that somewhat denies the allegations against the chief:
Two days after Herbello was named, he held an orientation meeting (one for day shift and one for night shift) with his staff to talk about his goals and expectations for the department...During the orientation meetings, the Chief mentioned that since he was new to the job, he was going to try to reach the State Attorney's office to introduce himself, get up to speed on their investigation and see if there was anything more the Town could do to provide additional assistance. Also at the meeting, Chief Herbello reminded the group, that as sworn officers, they had an obligation to uphold the Town Charter and take no actions that would be considered adverse to the department's will, and if they did, would face possible disciplinary action.
Singer adds that Golden Beach's police union contract requires the town to provide cars to Diaz and Baez, even though both officers are on desk duty. "Since the two are not engaged in active law enforcement work, they have been assigned unmarked cars in lieu of marked police cars," Singer says.
Prosecutors have not met or spoken with Herbello, says Miami-Dade State Attorney spokeswoman Terry Chavez. "We are proceeding with our prosecution of the officers who have been charged and the investigation continues," Chavez affirms. "We have facts and evidence against these officers."
Since 2009, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Miami-Dade Police Public Corruption unit, and the state attorney have been investigating criminal allegations into the Golden Beach Police Department. Diaz is accused of stealing $2,032 and Paez of taking $1,450.
Six months before Diaz and Paez were busted, Sgt. Lynn Dean Peters, 45, was charged with one count of organized scheme to defraud, one count of grand theft, one count of insurance fraud, and 11 counts of official misconduct. Unlike Diaz and Paez, Peters is suspended with pay pending his trial.
In an unrelated case last year, Lt. Roberto Barrio was found guilty by a Gainesville jury of kidnapping and battery of his wife. Barrio was allowed to continue working for Golden Beach right up until his verdict. Before Barrio was convicted, town Mayor Glenn Singer told New Times that Golden Beach "affords all its employees the right to due process."
1312313 are you kidding!!!....This woman deserves a gold medal for having the courage to say somthing, How many cops look the other way????TO FCKING MANY!!! Tax payers you say how much more of your tax money do you think these band of the theives took that we dont know about??? The money from her law suit is pay she is owed.She was wronged by them.I would sue the FCK out of anyone who tryed me that way. PAEZ is a scumbag and the docs were exposed by MNT with a witness and statement and he was found GUILTY by Mia PD. HoW THE FCK can you compare!!!! She was fired for exposing their dirty a*ses period.Tammy deserves an award!!!! Mabey you just want her and others to look the other way too or we could stand by and wait fro it to be to late to act look at the Sanford PD now communities are calling for investigations of the corruption inside the PD after a innocent black young man was killed....NOW? No one reported anything but when someone does you dont want to reward them for being courageous.BTW why is it that this agency has NO black Officers.
Its trully amazing the POLICE in this state....you can get fired from one dept for FRAUD and CORRUPTION only to be hired as chief of police at another station!! WTF where can you get a JOB again at the SAME CO after you have been fired???!!IONLY IN SOUTH FLORIDA!!!I myself have lived in Golden beach and the corruption was and IS beyond belief. I now reside in Biscayne Park and talk about a POLICE DEPT gone WILD with CORRUPTION!! Miami New Times PLEASE DO AN INVESTIGATION OF CORRUPT BEHAVIOR AND and PAYOFFS to the BISCAYNE PARK police dept. WITH OUT A DOUBT THIS WOULD BE A STORY YOU WILL NEVER FORGET!I should mention too, that EVERY SINGLE OFFICER on the BISCAYNE PARK POLICE DEPT HAS BEEN FIRED FROM ANOTHER DEPT.
We don't need officers like Ofc. Valdes and Ofc. Paez. Both sound like real winners. What's true about both, like postive words said, "its not what you know its who you know."HWL you are and will support Ofc. Valdes when your tax dollar pays out on her lawsuitThe only real victims are the residents of Golden Beach
Hey 1312313, You are correct. Golden Beach residents are the true victims. So many LEO's jumped on the paddy wagon thst everyones vision became clouded thinking that the rules dont apply to them. Rather than they should be setting the example. "Practice what you preach". NOT "Do as I say, not as I do.
Sounds to me this pedophile cop needs to register as a sex offender but, NOT with his local police dept. but with the FEDS instead!
this seems to be another case of,its not what you know but who you know,many people get jobs because of who they know working at the place,its scary when law enforcement agencies hire buddies who have bad work history,then tax payers have to pay for their foul ups,hey you know people will sue when they been mistreated by the pollice and got evidence to prove it,am i wrong.
Looks like someone is desperatly trying to flip the script.Its not going to work keep attacking this innocent woman. I dont care if she worked for 100 Police Departments and was fired from all of them.It DOES NOT change the fact of the corruption lingering in that department and the criminal acts that were committed.The fact remains they stole from the tax payers and the PD,not to mention the fraud that was committed.Slam her all you want she took the right action in this case and was railroaded,We have done all of our research on Mrs.Valdes and there is nothing we dont already know about her.She is very supported in this community and she will continue to have our support no matter what you try to throw out there to see what will stick. "wow wow wow"NOW.
WOW, WOW, WOW !!!!!!!!I don't know about Golden Beach's internal problems, but for this EX-officer Valdes.Is that not the kettle calling the coffee black !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!EX-North Miami Officer ValdesEX-Miami Officer ValdesEx-Opa-locka Officer ValdesEx-West Miami Officer ValdesEx-Golden Beach Officer ValdesAnd who knows what other agencies.Check it, it's ALL public records.This is not the only agency she sued.The writer of the New Times Gus Garcia-Roberts should have done his homework, better yet !write an acticle about Ms. Valdes and her past.
I know for a fact that residents of Golden Beach pay their police officers to arrest young black drivers
It really is sad but true. I see them from my balcony all the time pulling over young black males at gunpoint, handcuff them, search their cars only to release them and hour or so later. Its disgusting.
Yes is true, and so what ? The residents of Golden Beach pay high taxes for a reason. The residents dont want blacks walking around their town unless they are cutting their lawn or washing the cars....other than that black people have no business in Golden Beach specially during the late evening hours. I will not hesitate to stop a black person and see what they are up to....it's what I get paid for. The residents of Golden Beach are the first ones to call the police department complaining of a black person walking in their neighborhood. If you dont believe me come and see what happens ?Travon Martin would still be alive today if he wouldnt be walking around were he didnt belong.
Coppo808...if you witness this injustice, why don't you document it and do something about it. Stand up for what is right, even if you stand alone!
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