A New Year, A New Police Chief in South Miami!

The hunt is on for a South Miami Police Chief.  Former Police Chief Orlando Martinez de Castro was ousted back in the summer (more City drama) and since then Rene Landa has been the Acting Police Chief.

Acting Police Chief Rene Landa, a former officer and South Miami Police spokesperson,  is one of two candidates who have been announced.  The other, Raymond “Ray” Martinez, is a 30-year police veteran and the current Miami Beach Police Chief.  I’ve been friends with Ray Martinez for many years.  He is a phenomenal husband and father, a “top cop”, and South Miami should be honored to have him as Police Chief if that comes to fruition.  Ray must be well seasoned in the “politics” of the government and police business, but I chuckle when I think of him sitting in on one of South Miami’s City Meetings – he has never seen anything like it!  I want to be a fly on that wall.

There should be a few more candidates named to the list soon.  City Manager Steven Alexander has indicated candidates from Coral Gables and Hialeah are being interviewed.  Under the South Miami City Charter the City Manager appoints the heads, subject to a majority approval from the City Commissioners.  There is a Chief of Police Search Committee involved in this process: Golden Beach Chief of Police Don de Luca, North Miami Assistant Police Chief Leonard Burgess, and Miami-Dade Deputy Police Director Juan Perez are diligently working to find just the right person.

2014 will be a year of “news” at the City of South Miami (aka The City of Pleasant Living).

To learn more about South Miami, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay, contact Val Byrne with EWM Realty International or www.MiamiRealEstateWorks.com at email at [email protected] or by phone at 305-323-6231. Val Byrne – Working For You!