More Police Union Follies

by Radley Balko
The Agitator
Nov. 06, 2011

A Florida state trooper pulls over an off-duty Miami cop after a five-minute chase, during which the off-duty Miami cop, who was on his way to a second job, drove in excess of 120 mph and weaved in and out of traffic.

The head of the local police union is now criticizing the cop for the unprofessional behavior. But as you might guess, he isn’t criticizing the cop who was speeding.

The growing tension was heightened Sunday when Sgt. Javier Ortiz, vice president of Miami’s Fraternal Order of Police, which represents the city’s 1,000-plus officers, attacked Watts and defended Lopez in a letter to union members. He accused Watts of just wanting to ticket a Miami cop.

“Officer Lopez was extremely professional,” Ortiz wrote. “Many of us would have acted differently if a fellow cop pulled a gun on them. I would have thought she possibly was a Baker Act that stole an FHP car and a uniform,” he wrote, using a legal term for mentally unstable people who are considered dangerous.

He went on to tell officers: “Please do not get to her level and begin taking action against Troopers because of the poor decisions of one. "¦ Do not be running her information on DAVID, FCIC/NCIC, etc.,” referring to law enforcement databases that contain criminal records, addresses and dates of birth.

Such databases are to be used only for law enforcement purposes, not to gain personal information.

It’s telling that Ortiz would feel compelled to advise his members not to retaliate.