Maj. Keandra Simmons was demoted Sunday by Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo.
Maj. Keandra Simmons, a 16-year-old Miami City Police Department veteran, has been demoted – and she is seeking whistleblower protection.
Simmons ‘attorney Michael Pizzi notified Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo, the mayor, city attorney and city manager of Simmons’ intent late Sunday by filing complaints related to her inexplicable downgrade.
Pizzi also reported on his plan to file a lawsuit on behalf of Simmons “based on violations caused by defamation, racial and gender discrimination, harassment, deprivation of the First Amendment and due process”.
Simmons was Miami’s second highest-ranking black police officer; once commanded Liberty City; and was one of the city’s first black female public information officers. More recently, she oversaw the City of Miami Police Evidence Room and its fleet.
She and three others were demoted from Acevedo late last week. Simmon’s salary was cut and her rank was reset to a lieutenant in field operations.
A memo sent to senior officers last Friday said Acevedo decided to make the changes after speaking with all staff officers and members of the community.
Simmons believes she was targeted for the resignation of the most senior couple in town, former deputy boss Ron Papier and his wife Cmdr. Nerly paper.
Pizzi said Simmons believed she was demoted over testimony she gave as a witness when interviewed about the paper’s firing in June and refused to endorse the boss’s findings.
Nerly Paper blew up two tires and hit a curb with her city car. Her husband was acting as interim boss at the time and the accident occurred three days before Acevedo was sworn in.
In a letter to the city, Pizzi said Simmons was seeking immediate reinstatement to her previous rank as major and compensation.
In addition to informing the city of a future lawsuit, filing for whistleblower status gives the city an opportunity to correct an alleged injustice and is intended to protect Simmons from retaliation.
Her downgrade took effect on Sunday.
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