On Friday, a rookie Miami police was booked into jail, accused of stealing from drivers he pulled over, shaking them down, and stealing from.
Miami Herald reports that that Jose R. Acosta, 21, was on the Miami police force for just under a year when he was charged with armed burglary and armed grand theft. Sources for the Miami Police Department said that Acosta reportedly pulled people over, shook them down, and stole their money.
It is disheartening when one of our own betrays the oath they took. Along with FDLE we have arrested one of our officers. Statement at 6PM pic.twitter.com/PX6HZv29Os
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) March 11, 2017
According to Miami Deputy Police Chief Luis Cabrera there was a joint venture in catching the rookie officer. The Miami police, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the State Attorney’s Office worked together in an undercover sting operation and reportedly caught Acosta in the act. Although Cabrera didn’t answer questions during a brief press on Saturday, he emphasized that the Miami Police Department doesn’t tolerate that kind of criminal behavior from any officer on the force.
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“The City of Miami Police Department will not tolerate actions that betray the oath of our office as public servants and contradict our duty to serve and protect our communities.”
An additional press conference is scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m.
The arrest comes after three other rookie Miami police officers were fired after they allegedly joked about using Miami’s black neighborhoods for “target practice.” Former rookie officers Kevin Bergnes, Miguel Valdes and Bruce Alcin said that they were only joking, but apparently, Miami PD didn’t see nor tolerate that kind of humor.
The story is still developing, Check back with Crime Online for additional details as they become available.
