Miami Mayor vs. Police Chief Feud is Sad: Commish

Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo said "the image of the city of Miami is taking a hit"

A city of Miami commissioner on Friday called the fight between Mayor Tomas Regalado and Police Chief Miguel Exposito “sad” and said it was affecting the city’s image.

“It is sad and embarrassing because once again the image of the city of Miami is taking a hit,” Commissioner Frank Carollo told NBC Miami.
 
Carollo made the comment after a commander and an assistant chief of the City of Miami Police department submitted whistleblower claims to City Manager Johnny Martinez. Exposito is proposing to demote them and another commander.
 
But Martinez said in a statement Friday that: “There have been no demotions and/or firings at this time. No further comment.”
 
Though Regalado handpicked Exposito for the job, the mayor and the city's top cop have been at odds for over a year now over various issues.
 
“Chief Exposito has one reason on why he wants to demote me. I will not play politics for him when my main focus is to serve as a Police Commander for the residents of the City of Miami,” Cmdr. Jose Perez wrote in the five-page inter-office memorandum obtained by NBC Miami.
 
Carollo said the fight is damaging the city’s image.
 
 “I wish for the betterment of this city, of this community that the mayor, police chief, all involved will just sort things out and move forward,” Carollo said.
 
Regalado has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to launch an investigation into the seven police-involved shootings of black men which happened under Exposito's watch.
 
Regalado's request comes several months after similar requests from groups like the ACLU and NAACP, as well as individuals like U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson and Reverend Al Sharpton.
 
When asked why he was demanding an investigation, Regalado said he's following Wilson's lead.
 
"I think it’s necessary. I think four eyes are better than two eyes," he told The Miami Herald. "The federal government has the resources, expertise and independence to assist the city of Miami in improving the MPD."
 
Previously, the police department was told to limit comments to the media to just public safety incidents involving the police or emergency services. That came after Exposito confirmed he had been offered money to leave his post.
 
The Miami Police Department couldn’t comment on the whistleblower letters because of the order to limit comments to the media.
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