“I will not allow baseless accusations to overshow the progress we made and disrupt services we provide to the citizens of Miami Gardens,” said Chief Delma Noel Pratt. PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTUBE.COM

By David L. Snelling

Miami Gardens, Fla. – For the first time since five Hispanic officers filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the city of Miami Gardens, Police Chief Delma Noel Pratt pushed back on the allegations.

Pratt held a press conference on July 17 to publicly deny the allegations, calling them without merit.

Rallying to the police chief’s defense were Miramar Police Chief Delrish Moss, North Miami Police Chief Cherise Giorandni Gause and other local top brass in law enforcement as well as Miami Gardens police officers.

At the center of the lawsuit, the five officers pointed to their Hispanic ethnicity as the reason for being demoted, reassigned or transferred which they claimed was the latest mistreatment under Pratt’s direction.

Filing the lawsuit in a Miami federal court were Sgt. Pedro Valdez, and officers Franscisco Mejido, who was reassigned from the K-9 unit, Rudy Hernandez, Christian Vega and Juan Gonzalez.

“I’m fully aware of the recent allegations made by five of my officers, all of whom have attained legal counsel and are accusing me of discriminatory and targeted action based on their race and ethnicity,” Pratt said during the news conference. “These claims include unjust transfers, demotions and other personnel decisions. I want to make it absolutely clear that these allegations are without merit.”

The officers’ attorney, Michael Pizzi, told the South Florida Times the officers were retaliated against for filing complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (ECCO) about their alleged mistreatment.

He said Valdez has been a police officer for 17 years, Mejido 13 years, Hernandez and Gonzalez 12 years each and Vega has been on the force for three years.

“It’s never okay for anybody to be treated differently because of their race or ethnicity,” Pizzi said. “It’s not acceptable to target people based upon their ethnicity, race and sex. We are taking the case to federal court and let justice prevail.”

Pizzi said the officers are seeking back pay they lost for being demoted and reassigned, their positions restored and calling for the resignation of Pratt, who’s been the police chief since 2017.

Pratt said the officers were not demoted but reassigned.

She said some of the officers were temporarily assigned to “federal attachment” duties to assist the FBI, U.S. Marshall Office and DEA in investigations and serving warrants.

“It is a temporary privilege but not a guaranteed position,” Pratt said. “Therefore, it is well in my discretion to make such adjustments in the best interest of this department and our city as a whole. This was not a demotion, it was a reassignment.”

The police chief said non-Hispanic officers were also transferred under her command and that her decisions are solely based on their supervisors’ performance evaluation and assessments.

“I receive ongoing information, recommendations and performance assessments from their supervisors and command staff that help guide those decisions,” she said. “My job as police chief is to hold every employee accountable in this profession regardless of if they are Black, Hispanic white, Asian or any other ethnic background.”

Mejido complained that his K-9 was seized from his home without warning after he was reassigned.

“My dog was taken from me, I had to break that news to my two young kids, to my wife,” Mejido told reporters two weeks ago.

Pizzi said officers, including those reassigned from the K-9 unit, are allowed to keep them at home once the dogs are retired from active duty.

“They K-9 became part of his family,” he said. “And the city took away his dog. His family was heartbroken.”

Defending the K-9 seizure, Pratt said it was consistent with the department’s policy.

“A police officer said a K-9 was taken away from him and his family,” she said. “I want to clarify this publicly: The K-9 in question was city property. The assignment of a K-9 is a privilege based on performance, department needs and operational strategy, and not the entitlement to any officer.”

Pizzi said the officers should not have been demoted or reassigned for filing their discriminatory complaints against the city.

“Officers should not be punished for filing complaints,” he said “The department has to respect the process and not punish people because of their complaints.”

Pratt said she will not resign her position despite calls for her to step down.

She counts Miami Gardens City Manager Cameron Benson among her supporters to stay on the job.

“Though I acknowledge officers have the right to voice their concerns, my tenure doesn’t rest with individual employees,” she said. “The city manager reaffirms support of my leadership and he and I are focused on moving this department forward.”

Pratt said the lawsuit will not impede the public safety service for Miami Gardens.

“I will not allow baseless accusations to overshow the progress we made and disrupt services we provide to the citizens of Miami Gardens,” she said.