North Miami residents, especially the Latino community, should be outraged at the treatment of the city’s first ever highest ranking Hispanic Assistant Police Chief.  Neal Cuevas, who has been a law enforcement officer with the North Miami Police Department for almost 44 years, was the agency’s first ever Hispanic Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Major.

Last week Cuevas was demoted three ranks by a newly appointed chief who had the audacity to complain to the EEOC that he was denied promotions for being white.  The only other officer he demoted also happens to be Hispanic.  He then went on to appoint three white officers to his command staff, one of which also filed a lawsuit against the city for “white discrimination.”

These demotions were motivated by pure racism by a white chief who has a problem with minorities, especially Hispanics.

According to an August 3, 2017 article by the Pew Research Center, Hispanics are the second largest racial or ethnic group in the country, the first being African Americans.  The article noted, “Overall, the U.S. population increased by more than 2.2 million people between 2016 and 2017, with Hispanics accounting for 1.1 million, or about half (51%), of this growth.”

While Hispanics make up approximately 17.8% of the U.S. population, the percentage in North Miami is much greater – nearly 28% – and growing.  The city’s police department should reflect the demographics of the city as a whole.

In fact, in a response to yet another white officer who claimed he was passed over for a promotion because of discrimination, City Attorney Jeff Cazeau responded with, “[T]he EEOC in conjunction with the DOJ have endorsed the philosophy of having a diverse law enforcement agency which reflects the community as reflected in the recent publication entitled ‘Diversity in Law Enforcement: A Literature Review.'”  He further explained that the demographics of the 60,000 residents of North Miami, the sixth largest municipality in Miami-Dade County, are comprised of “59% Black, 11% White, 28% Hispanic and 2% Asian.”

In addition, we at VotersOpinion have also previously referenced an article in Governing.com entitled, Where Police Don’t Mirror Communities and Why It Matters, which reported that “[a]lthough no national standards regarding levels of diversity exist, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies does require accredited agencies to adopt specific steps ensuring their workforce mirrors that of their communities.”

Considering that two of the top three positions in the North Miami Police Department happen to be filled by whites, this law enforcement agency obviously does not mirror a community in which well over half of its residents are black, nearly one third are Hispanic, and only one tenth are white.

Considering the national increase in charges of racism and abuse against police departments in recent years, not to mention the shooting of an unarmed black man by a white NMPD officer in 2016, the potential for a race related disaster in North Miami just increased exponentially.

Demographics aside, however, it should be noted that Assistant Chief Neal Cuevas is more qualified for the position than any other officer in the department.  Since he was first hired in 1974, he has earned over 100 certifications in various fields of law enforcement and 64 commendations for professionalism, outstanding service and leadership, including recognition by the U.S. Department of Justice, and a commendation from E. Wilson Purdy, Director of the Miami Dade County Public Safety Department, for preventing the planned murder of a Metro Dade County Police Officer.  In addition, since being appointed Assistant Chief over the Field Operations Division and Uniform Support, Cuevas has been responsible for managing over 70% of the police department.

Furthermore, Assistant Chief Cuevas had the distinct honor and privilege of being the first officer in the history of the city to receive the North Miami Police Department’s highest award, the Medal of Honor.

In addition to racism, this new chief had personal reasons for his vicious attack on Assistant Chief Neal Cuevas.  When they were both sergeants, this chief failed the same Lieutenant’s test on which Neal Cuevas scored the highest of all the officers.  Even though, after failing the exam, the white sergeant was promoted to major ahead of the Hispanic one, he was well aware he was far less deserving than Cuevas, who has legitimately been subjected to documented racism throughout his entire career, most recently at the hand of the chief who demoted him.

There is no logical rationale for the demotion of this esteemed and decorated veteran law enforcement officer.

By condoning this heinous decision, the city manager is, in effect, condoning the rampant, sinister racism that has continued to flourish in the North Miami Police Department since its inception.  More disturbing, however, is the fact that the city manager must have had the approval of a majority of the city council members in order to appoint this chief in the first place, as well as his staffing decisions.  We know of at least two council members who are outraged by the unwarranted actions by this chief.  Their colleagues on the dais, however, are apparently unfazed.

While the North Miami City Charter specifically prohibits elected officials from interfering in the appointments or removals of city employees (elected clerk Michael Etienne obviously did not get that memo), they do have the right – and the obligation – to let the city manager know that racism will not be tolerated in North Miami.

The Mayor and Council also have the express power to hire and fire the city manager – especially if they’re unhappy with his personnel decisions.

Hopefully, the North Miami Mayor and Council will do the right thing for the residents of their city, who deserve a police department that truly represents their community.

Stephanie

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