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Crime

Miami-Dade Police Officers Fired After Vid Shows Them Flagrantly Ignoring Emergency Calls

Feb. 5, 2013 11:30am Erica Ritz

Miami Dade Police Officers Fired After Filmed Ignoring Emergency Dispatch Calls, Sitting at a Cafe

(Photo via NBC 6)

The Miami-Dade Police Department fired a sergeant and two officers in the Kendall District after an Internal Affairs investigation revealed them to be regularly lying about their activities on the job. When they should have been responding to emergency calls, police video obtained by NBC 6 shows them shopping, visiting family and romantic partners, even relaxing at a cafe when at least one was supposed to be en route to a crime scene.

The Miami Herald has more information:

One of the fired officers, Dario Socarras, reportedly ignored armed robbery and residential burglary calls so he could meet his girlfriend in the parking lot of the Dadeland Mall on two different occasions…

And Socarras allegedly misled a crime victim into believing he was going to fill out a report about items that were stolen from her, but instead told dispatchers no crime had occurred. Investigators noted he even gave the victim a phony case number.

[...]

The most egregious incident involved an emergency call in which a five month old child was unconscious and in need of medical attention. Both Socarras and paramedics are dispatched, with each being told to proceed with lights and sirens.

Socarras tells the dispatcher he’s “en route.” In reality, he was sitting at an outdoor table at Casa Larios in South Miami drinking coffee with his supervisor, [Sgt. Jennifer Gonzalez] and [Officer Jose Huerta]. Paramedics would reach and care for the child. And even though he didn’t go, Socarras wrote on his daily report that he went to the scene. [Emphasis added]

(Photo via NBC 6)

Sgt. Gonzalez and Officer Huerta were the other two relieved of their posts. Gonzalez was caught visiting her parents in an area that was, according to CBS 4, “well outside her district.” She also tended to go shopping while she should have been on patrol.

Officer Huerta was similarly cited for failing to respond to emergency dispatch calls, most notably one where a five-year-old child was locked inside a vehicle. He allegedly made a habit of claiming he was tied up with traffic violations so he didn’t have to report.

According to CBS4 the group totaled 134 violations of departmental rules and procedures.

But the dereliction of duty was not limited to the three who were fired. Police officials say Gonzalez’s poor leadership affected the whole squad.

The Miami Herald notes that three others were suspended as a result of the investigation:

When someone called 911 from a Winn Dixie and abruptly hung up, Officers Jeffrey Price and Fabian Owens, riding in a two man car, were assigned the call. Internal Affairs watched as they cruised through the parking lot – never getting out of their car or for that matter even stopping.

On another occasion, Price and Owens also rolled by a Chevron gas station where there is a reported problem. On at least one occasion they never even bothered driving to the scene of the call, IA charged.

Likewise investigators documented how Officer Ivan Tomas, hung out at La Careta and Pollo Tropical rather than taking a series of emergency calls that were backing up. [Emphasis added]

Gonzalez, Huerta, and Socarras chose not to comment because they are trying to get their jobs back.

But former Miami Police Chief Ken Harms concluded: “We’re talking about falsification of records, we’re talking about stealing time that doesn’t belong to you, because they are supposed to be available for service or duty and they’re not.”

NBC 6 has more on the story, below:

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Comments (93)

spfoam1
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 3:27pm
The one thing they are not, is lazy.

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BannedByHuffpo
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 3:18pm
MIAMI-DADE??

Are Horatio and his crack team of CSIs aware of this?

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Verceofreason
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 3:16pm
Actually those in need were lucky – their family pet didn’t get shot.

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TotallyNotATroll
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 3:09pm
Another example of ‘Dial 911 and die’

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WTF
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 3:06pm
This is the reason you need to use .357 and not 911!

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P4cooler
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 2:57pm
Proof Positive: Sheriff Clark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was right. You cannot depend on 911 in a timely fashion. Residents should be more proactive, take a gun course, and protect themselves with a firearm.

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El Pistoffo
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 2:48pm
Gonzo is right, these Latin workers do work harder than most of the white dudes. I know folks that have hired them both for construction work and that’s the word.

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FightingBear
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 2:46pm
….and we are supposed to give up our guns because the police are there to protect us?

I don’t see that happening without blood in the streets…a lot of blood!

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Dismayed Veteran
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 2:43pm
Where are Crockett and Tubbs or Tango and Cash when you need them?

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gabrielarchangel
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 2:12pm
Watch your racist comments! If you where smart enough you would know that this is a predominantly Latino community. These things happen with white and black officers also. I am Latino Emergency Physician. I work extended hours in multiple locations including holidays and weekends plus I am a Army National Guard officer. Yes these officers are a disgrace to the police and their communities.

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mikegray24
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 2:01pm
This story makes me think of two things.

First, it should be no surprise that people routinely are harassed while recording the actions of police officers in public. Would they want things like this ending up on YouTube?

Second, ultimately, we are each responsible for our own safety. When your life is in danger, are you willing to wager it against the fact that maybe not everyone in the chain of events starting with the 911 call cares about it as much as you do?

Sure, this is obviously a small percentage of officers and many are very dedicated and heroic and blah blah blah blah blah. Courts have ruled that officers have no obligation to protect you and to many of them, it’s just a job, no more important than coffee or shopping.

All the while, politicians and gun banners tell us that there’s no good reason to be armed because we have police and soldiers to keep us safe. Well, next time you have a gun pointed in your face or are being raped, consider the fact that the person coming to help you might be shopping instead.

Get a gun, get licensed, get trained, and put your safety back into your own hands. And if you live in a place where that is not legally permitted, you need to ask yourself how much you value your own life.

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coyote1hell
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 1:53pm
Jus like Buh’rack..here for the paycheck, and the perks….that’s all, just look at Mootch Buh’rack…

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GoodStuff
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 1:46pm
Multiculturalism is a complete failure.

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Uechi
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 1:31pm
And these cops are going to come to your aid and rescue you? Of course they will, so you don’t need a gun. Fortunately these clowns are the exception to the rule at least in other places then Dade county. Even where the police respond immediately they are minutes aways when seconds count.

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battles
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 1:23pm
This reminds me of a hostile black fellow in a company I used to work for who was vehemently against concealed carry in my state. His argument was quote: ‘You have the police to protect you.’

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runwithscissors
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 1:15pm
These are the types of police who do well in a police state. They would have no problem rounding up non-threatening citizens as long as they can loaf and not have to deal with dangerous people.

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JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 1:14pm
There is only one person you can count on 100% percent of the time and if you don’t know who that is then RIP stupid!

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American_Made
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:59pm
Bad cops should be fired. How many reports have they falsified and now people are sitting in jail? Every case they were on should be re-opened and reviewed. They are now known liars.

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jacktaye
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:51pm
To quote Horatio Caine, a more dedicated, albeit fictional, member of Miami-Dade PD: “And that’s why I’m a detective, and you’re just a glorified garbage man.”

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joeslick
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:47pm
I hope their firing sticks. There’s nothing that makes good cops look bad that bad cops. Unfortunately, they all get grouped together. Unlike most professions.

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demsrtraitors
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:44pm
even in obama’s ChiCongo the PD has reduced public service and response. I guess its more important to save money for illegal aliens and programs for them than it is to hire and train competent officers.

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liberty_for_all
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:41pm
“still in the disciplinary process”? These guys are still on the job?

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skippy6
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:40pm
Just another reason for the second amendment…

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Tickdog
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:33pm
not surprised..

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Gonzo
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:33pm
I don’t know if you’ve done any hiring lately, but good old red blooded Americans 18-30 are a hell of a lot lazier than Hispanic immigrants. Sad but true. People don’t hire Mexicans because they are cheaper than Americans. They hire them because they show up every day and work while they are there.

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