LTC 021-2007 Email Regarding Allegation of Ethnic Slurs in the Police Department
m
MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 021-2007
LETTER TO COMMISSigN...
- =
-1 =
-< .....
'-
("") :.
r :z:
...,.., N
A) .a
:=to
(j) :.
o :!
.." -
""T1 ..
TO:
Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission
FROM:
Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager ~_~
January 26, 2007 0
("")
~
DATE:
SUBJECT: Email Regarding Allegation of Ethnic Slurs in the Police Department
This Letter to the City Commission is to provide background information on the recent email
message that was sent to City Commissioners entitled, "Police Supervisors calls Officers
SPICS, JEWBOYS, and BEANERS".
This anonymous email is a result of a meeting that was held in the Criminal Investigations
Unit with Sergeant A.J. Prieto, Captain Brian Sliman, Lieutenant Robert Elmore and
Lieutenant Larry Bornstein on November 14, 2006. During this meeting Sgt. Prieto advised
that Lt. R. Elmore had used derogatory names when referring to members of Sgt. Prieto's
squad. Sgt. Prieto advised that he had requested that Lt. R. Elmore stop utilizing these
derogatory names on several occasions. Sgt. Prieto advised that he and Lt. R. Elmore have
been good friends for the last 13 years and that he adamantly did not want to pursue this
matter with any formal complaint documentation whatsoever. He stated that he simply
wanted the derogatory name calling to stop once and for all. Sgt. Prieto also advised that
the members of his squad were not aware of the meeting taking place nor had any of his
employees requested to make any complaints regarding this issue.
Captain Sliman met with Lt. R. Elmore to discuss the allegations. Lt. R. Elmore advised that
he, Sgt. Prieto, and members of Sgt. Prieto's squad have on several occasions taken part in
bantering back and forth. Lt.. R. Elmore went on to say that Sgt. Prieto and some of his
squad members have made wise cracks and comments to him and he has made comments
back to them. Lt. R. Elmore was advised that his conduct unacceptable. He was advised in
no uncertain terms that this behavior would not be tolerated and needed to cease
immediately. He was also reminded of the City and Police Department's Harassment policy
and the ramifications of violating this policy. To further his sensitivity to diversity issues, Lt.
R. Elmore was directed to attend a Leadership Diversity for Supervisors course, which he
completed on January 24-25,2007.
Captain Sliman advised Asst. Chief Martinez and Chief De Lucca of this matter on
November 14, 2006. It was determined that Sgt. Prieto's request to keep this matter at the
division level would be respected. The incident and actions taken were documented by
Captain Sliman. During several subsequent informal meetings with Captain Sliman and
Chief De Lucca, Sgt. Prieto stated that the comments by Lt. R. Elmore had ceased and there
were no further issues. As the result of the above mentioned email.Sgt.Prieto was
contacted by the Internal Affairs Unit and a sworn statement was taken on January 25,2007.
Sgt. Prieto stated again that the matter had been addressed and that there were no
subsequent incidents since the November 14, 2006 meeting.
JMG:DWD:tr
::0
m
(")
m
<
m
c:J
~
ClO