A third world police department?
The city police department for Iran, North Korea, or a remote part of Pakistan?
Nope.
Welcome to the City of Opa Locka police department.
The Random Pixels blog ("The second most popular daily blog in Miami") did a great job exposing the mess at the Opa Locka Police department. And nothing illustrates the total breakdown of order at the Opa Locka police department then this vignette from Random Pixels about Sergeant German Bosque:
German Bosque's personnel file looks more like a rap sheet than a résumé.How did Sergeant Bosque even get a badge? Excellent question:
In two decades, the Opa-Locka Police Department opened 40 internal affairs cases on Bosque. Sixteen of them were for battery or excessive force.
Fired five times and arrested three, he was charged with stealing a car, trying to board an airplane with a loaded gun and driving with a suspended license.
Internal Affairs investigations found that Bosque split a man's lip with a head butt. He opened another man's head with a leg sweep and takedown. He spit in the face of a drunken, stumbling arrestee. One time, he smacked a juvenile so hard the boy's face was red and swollen the next day.
Bosque has been caught defying direct orders, lying to supervisors and falsifying police reports. Off duty, he was accused by women of domestic violence and stalking. During inspections, the agency found a counterfeit $20 bill, cocaine and crack pipes in his patrol car.
Still, Bosque has kept his badge.
He was kicked out of two police academies, the first for sleeping in class and the second after he was arrested on charges he stole a car, had a gun and impersonated an officer. He was later acquitted.
From the Dec. 2011 Herald-Tribune piece:
To most Florida law enforcement agencies, Bosque would be toxic. In Opa-Locka, he has been promoted to sergeant.
Do yourself a favour and click over to Random Pixels and read the whole sordid mess. And don't ever take a plea on case involving these thugs. As a last resort email us, we'll help you get ready for trial.
THE WEST GROVE
And now a nice story about Miami:
Check out this great Herald Article from Sunday on the West Grove, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Miami, settled by black Bahamian natives in the 1880's.
So there you have it: The historic West Grove, the corrupt City of Opa Locka, and the criminals who wear badges. Just another day in paradise folks.
See you in court.
This is shocking and appalling.
ReplyDeleteThat Miami started out with so many incorporators of african descent is a great testament to the importance of community...sadly the institutional racism which existed in the form of limited educational opportunities, property rights and business development still scars the landscape today...look around and see how few black business get any support from the majority communities..even though reparations are due...we still hold on to hope and work hard!!
ReplyDeleteBill does great work on that blog.
ReplyDeleteA crying shame. Opa Locka reflects so poorly on the many profesional and hardworking police departments in south florida.
ReplyDeleteI often drive through the West Grove and see the historic landmarks and properties and think that this is such a treasured part of Miami's history that there should be a way to restore the area in a way that would economically beneficial.
ReplyDeleteVote for me for Grove Mayor. My platform:
ReplyDelete1. Raze everything along Grand Ave west of the post office, not counting the CVS.
2. Accept that some of Grand Ave will be allocated to wealth high-rise condos. Facilitate that.
3. Mix in some affordable housing that fronts Grand Ave. Attract a Publix.
4. Regain control of the Playhouse and rejuvenate it as an independent, arthouse movie theater.
5. Open the waterfront at Peacock Park. It's the only public access to the Bay for miles north and south, so install a small beach.
Hialeah Police Department said it best earlier in this comment thread.
ReplyDeleteSouth Florida law enforcement probably feels the same way about Opa-Locka as lawyers feel about the Scott Rothstein types.
hey Knucklehead! Here's a poke to the eyes like Moe did to Curly. That comment from the Hialeah Police Deapartment was facetious. Hialeah is just as bad as Opa Locka. Moron.
ReplyDelete@South Florida Lawyers: You just made my day! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHow dare you guys once again disrespect and torment these honorable outstanding officers who work so hard in our community. It never ceases to amaze me that so many of you think in black and white. Rumpole I'm appaulled at your encouraging and assisting in this behavoir.
ReplyDeleteRumpole sighting near the Dade County Courthouse this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteI am everywhere. And nowhere.
ReplyDeleteCan I call the Shumie? I know it seems a bit early but I just cannot concentrate.
ReplyDeleteSeen the black eye on Alex Michaels this week? I have to wonder what the OTHER guy looks like?
ReplyDeleteI have been out of touch for a while. I can't believe Lenny Glick is one of the Miami-Dade County Idols. He was an obnoxious judge who just insulted people.
ReplyDeleteI was a Criminal Justice major at FIU and at least 50% of the students there wanted to go into law enforcement. Why these police departments don't recruit college grads instead of the barely literate idiots who you can barely tell from the people they arrest. Heck, you can probably hire some recent law school grads to do that job. It's not like they're working anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteThat department needs to have its accreditation stripped and let the county take it over.
OLPD sux.
ReplyDelete