Miami Gets New Police Chief Amid Furor

A Cuban immigrant was sworn in as Miami’s new police chief Tuesday after his predecessor quit in the political furor over the Elian Gonzalez case.

Raul Martinez, 50, spent 24 years as a police officer and most recently was assistant city manager. He becomes the first Latino to lead the 1,100-member department.

“I’m very thankful for this appointment, and I pledge to this community that I’m the chief of police for the entire community,” Martinez said.

Over the objections of Mayor Joe Carollo, he was selected by City Manager Donald Warshaw, who is on his way out after being fired by Carollo.

Martinez replaces William O’Brien, who resigned after the April 22 federal raid in which Elian was taken from his Miami relatives’ home.

Carollo was angry that O’Brien hadn’t told him that federal agents were about to seize the 6-year-old. Carollo demanded Warshaw fire the chief. Warshaw refused and Carollo fired Warshaw last week. O’Brien then quit, saying Carollo was divisive.

Carollo had said he was against Warshaw hiring a new police chief for the city.

“This is another one of the key examples of the immoral, unethical actions that this city manager has been making on his way out,” Carollo said. “Out of desperation, he’s grabbing at anything that he can to keep himself in power.”

Under the city charter, Warshaw’s firing does not take effect for 10 days, which will be Sunday. The charter also specifies that the city manager name the police chief, with no requirement that the mayor be consulted.

Warshaw could keep his job if four of the five city commissioners overrule Carollo. That vote is expected Thursday.

“He named a Cuban American solely to try to see if he could get any of the votes of the Cuban commissioners,” Carollo said of Warshaw’s choice of Martinez. Three of the commissioners are Cuban Americans.