In a surprise announcement, as CBS Miami (as originally posted in the Miami Herald) reported this afternoon, the North Miami Police Commander who was suspended without pay for his alleged role in the July 18, 2016 police involved shooting of Mr. Charles Kinsey, “the terms” of his suspension “have changed.”
After being suspended without pay for three weeks, Commander Emile Hollant is finally receiving a paycheck.
This sudden about-face occurred nine days after the State Attorney cleared him of all the criminal charges that he was falsely accused of by “police investigators and command staff members,” as noted in the SAO’s Close-Out Memo dated August 2, 2016.
As I’ve already reported, the State Attorney’s inquiry into allegations that Commander Hollant lied about his involvement was completely separate and apart from the FDLE investigation into the actual shooting. Tonight’s CBS Miami article also confirmed that the “State Attorney’s Office plans to conduct an investigation into the shooting once the Florida Department of Law Enforcement completes theirs.”
After several unsuccessful attempts to get city officials to restore the Commander’s pay, Hollant’s attorney, Michael Joseph, announced last Sunday that he would hold a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. By Monday afternoon, Mr. Joseph announced another press release postponing the press conference and citing “ongoing negotiations” between the City of North Miami and his client.
And now, two days after Mr. Joseph’s shelved press conference, Commander Hollant’s pay has been miraculously restored.
According to North Miami City Manager Larry Spring, Hollant’s “upgrade in status” from unpaid suspension to paid administrative leave, as he told CBS Miami, was due to “a combination of the state’s findings and contractual obligations that the city has with a police union.”
Hmmm. That’s interesting.
Considering that the Commander is not presently a member of any collective bargaining unit, it’s not entirely clear what Mr. Spring means by “contractual obligations.”
Just saying.
But, if that’s the best “explanation” that city officials could come up with in order to undo at least some of the damage they’ve already caused, it will have to do.
For now anyway.
There is still no word on when, or even if, Commander Emile Hollant will be able to go back to work. The FDLE’s and the subsequent State Attorney’s investigations into the shooting could take up to several months to finalize. It’s quite possible he would have to remain on leave until both investigations are completed.
In the meantime, it will be very interesting to see if the “police investigators and command staff members” who falsely accused the Commander of wrongdoing will be made to suffer any consequences for their irresponsible actions.
They certainly have a lot of explaining to do!
Stephanie
I think there are many of us who would just love to know who in the NMPD was so quick to make an inaccurate report. Somebody needs to pay for this incompetence! If there is no accuracy in a report such as this who the hell could trust this person or those people with the safety of the residents of North Miami? An unscrupulous police officer is a danger to all, especially to the other officers this cop works with and those who depend on such a person. How pathetic!
Fortunately for the residents of North Miami we are excited to have our new Chief of Police Gary Eugene. We are also delighted that he has brought Neal Cuevas and Robert Bage on as two fine Assistant Chiefs of Police. Maybe we will someday have complete confidence with those on the NM Police Force. It’s been too many years that the City of North Miami has had a void in competent and trustworthy administration at the NMPD.
It sure is interesting how all the manufactured drama surrounding Commander Hollant’s ALLEGED lies have shifted the focus off the REAL problem, which is the FACT that the NMPD SWAT team has become a freaking disaster.
Think of all the money and resources that are being wasted on two investigations (FDLE and SAO) over a shooting that should never have happened in the first place.
When Assistant Chief Neal Cuevas was the SWAT Team Leader from 1992 to 2012, he made sure that all members were consummate professionals, properly trained and at the top of their game.
Now? Not so much.
Whoever is in charge of the “new and unimproved” SWAT team should be fired. Therein lies the blame.
Those who wrongfully accused commander Hollant to use him as a scapegoat to exonerate and cover for their buddy should be fired and prosecuted. We know who you are and justice will be served. The tyrannical control by the illuminati will soon be coming to an end. God bless this country and the new north Miami administration.
Somehow I don’t think the story will ever change in North Miami. It’s only matter of time until the next scandel breaks in this city. The newer North Miamiams seem to forget their past so they are doomed to keep electing and getting incompetant politicians and senior city staff. You and do a quick “Pick 4” scratch-off and see who is the first one to go out the door, the city manager, the city attorney, the mayor, or the police chief.
“it will have to do.”