“Well, that’s just the way it is here!” — A deputy Miami police chief to the new incoming chief, Art Acevedo.
For police officers seeking to lead another city in another state, Art Acevedo’s experience might be something to remember and learn. I have always said that police reform is impossible within a system of city corruption. It is one thing to take a reins of leadership in an honest city — it’s another thing when a new chief has to face endemic corruption.
Listen to the following interview and some things Chief Acevedo learned in Miami. (He currently is chief of police in Aurora, Colorado.) I have talked with Acevedo on the phone a number of years ago when he was a police chief candidate in Madison, Wisconsin. I experience him to be an educated, dynamic, compassionate leader with a strong ethical base — what every city needs from their top cop.
Here’s some of his background: Before coming to Miami, he served as a police chief in Austin, Texas, and Houston. He has always been highly vocal discussing issues of police reform and public safety He has called for for national standards on the use of force by police and marched with protesters after George Floyd was killed by officers in Minneapolis.
Acevedo admits he should have done his homework before he accepted the job in Miami. He says that his familiarity and respect for his Hispanic roots and the opportunity to lead police in a Cuban-influenced city caused him to not do that homework.
Let me say this. And it is important. It is essential that a prospective police chief, going to another city, do his or her homework if they are expected to improve the organization they are considering to join. Be wary. Do your homework.
What to do in this situation? If you are considering moving to a city with a checkered-past it would be better delay accepting the position until strong reform efforts and successes were underway. Otherwise, the corruption will eat you up and spit you out! Period!
I was happy to see that Art landed in Aurora which, I believe, is not Miami.
Watch this online interview and read about his professional background and the litigation he has against the City of Miami. As is true in these matters, the local Fraternal Order of Police (police union), voted “no confidence” in the chief.
By the way, in my book, “Arrested Development: A Veteran Police Chief Sounds Off…,” corruption was one of the four obstacles to improving our nation’s police along with anti-intellectualism, violence and disrespect.
Here’s a recent report as to ethics and personal integrity matters in policing a free society. There are too many reports about “bad apples.” No, they are not even a high percentage in our ranks, but those who are do tend to “spoil the barrel!”
Improving Police: A Necessary Conversation 
David — Another good one! Thank you! I really hope you’re reaching an audience. Along with the four factors you mention, I’ve always imagined that a sort of nexus of fear, alienation, anger, and herd-mentality-lumping should be part of the mix of problems. Speaking purely as a naive outsider. Of course all of these feed into your factor of disrespect!
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Yes. Respect is such an important relational ingredient to a free and diverse society such as ours.
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It was indeed unfortunate that Acevedo arrived into such a hostile, reform-resistant environment that he encountered once he had accepted the job in Miami. That one Captain in his department in particular (Ortiz was his name, I believe) seemed to run everything behind the scenes, and didn’t make much secret of it, either. I saw interviews from other (prior) Miami Chiefs of Police, and even the Mayor of Miami, and what I took from all of those interviews was that every one of the persons interviewed was extremely wary of crossing paths with that Capt. Ortiz, as he wielded an extensive base of power throughout that city. Every one of those persons I mentioned who were interviewed made that clear in their interviews. I cannot imagine the city of Miami ever hiring another outsider as the Chief of Police there without the understanding that they would have to capitulate to that Captain Ortiz, or suffer the wrath of having the rank and file turn almost completely against them. I can’t think of any outside candidate who would want to come there in the Chief position under that kind of political parameter set in stone.
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You are so right! I came into a similar situation in Madison… a top commander fought against me… including the union. It took me a good 10-12 of my 21 years to finally change the subculture. My saving grace was the election of a progressive mayor shortly after I was appointed and a state statute that gave be tenure! Read all about it my my book, “Arrested Development” (https://www.amazon.com/Arrested-Development-Veteran-Corruption-Necessary/dp/B09NR9NZKY). Thanks for you insight.
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