Vote For Miami's Worst Cop of 2012

By Francisco Alvarado Wed., Dec. 26 2012 at 8:00 AM

Who will take John Timoney's title?

It's pretty hard to follow in the large boot steps of John Timoney, the one-time Miami police chief. In fact, ever since Miami New Times crowned Timoney "America's Worst Cop" in 2007, it's taken us five years to find suitable successors to the title.

But the quintet of contenders in Miami this year up have certainly done a heck of a job tarnishing the badge. There are so many bad police chiefs, we can't decide who deserves the top honor. So readers, please help us by voting for your pick for Miami's Worst Cop in 2012. Make your picks in the comments section or in the comments section on our Facebook page. We'll announce the winner before the New Year:

See also:
- John Timoney, America's Worst Cop

Thomas Hunker: Bal Harbour

Current status: suspended with pay

Why he is the worst: Under a money laundering operation Hunker started shortly after hired him three years ago, Bal Harbour police conducted 227 money pickups and laundered $56.2 million across the country, but made no arrests related to the criminal probes, according to a recent scathing U.S. Justice Department of Justice audit. Hunker claimed his task force was responsible for 84 arrests and $49.7 million in seized cash that were actually done by other law enforcement agencies. He could not provide the feds with a single example of his task force presenting a case for prosecution.

Meanwhile according to the Justice Department, Bal Harbour officers routinely inflated the hours worked on each operation, citing 2,000 hours in some cases and 4,000 hours on others. Hunker also went on stupendously ridiculous shopping sprees that included $3,200 for a Miami-Dade police chiefs golf outing at Miami Shores Country Club; $1,000 for two nights' stay at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and thousands more in sumptuous meals at Carpaccio Restaurant in the Bal Harbour Shoppes.

Not even Miami rapper Rick Ross gets flossy like Hunker.

Tags:

Cheryl Cason, Manuel Orosa, Orlando Martinez de Castro, Ricky Gomez, Thomas Hunker

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KOOLTOZE

1 Like

Hang them all from streetlights...and hang Katherine Fernandez Rundle, too !!!

stonecrab

Frank's reflogging of the excellent reporting by Crespo & TheStrawBuyer raises important questions:

(1) why do our local top cops have such trouble following the law?

(2) why do our city managers have such trouble keeping these jokers in check before they cross the line into criminal activity?

(3) why won't State Atty Fernandez Rundle beat the crap out of these bozos?

(4) why are the Herald and New Times no longer the FIRST places we read about these cops-turned-crooks?

yankee37

I have to agree with Al Crespo. You guys dropped the ball when you overlooked Javi Ortiz and his side kick Lugo.

Maryloucwzm15u

@Random_Pixels http://t.co/HrZWSOUB

Lakishaveqvv

@timelfrinkmia http://t.co/QiOntu8V

al004

2 Like

Hey Frank,

What happened to accuracy in reporting? Contrary to your claims that the Miami Herald broke the story about the dirty cops in Miami, I'm the one who really broke the story on December 7th. In fact, I wrote 2 stories - December 7th and 10th - before the Herald did a story.

And when it comes to dirty cops in Miami, no list an be complete without the inclusion of Edward Lugo and his pal Javier Ortiz. In fact not only did I write 5 stories this year about Lugo, and/or Lugo and Ortiz, by my first story in 2013 is going to be about this duo.

Where did all the love go for you Number 1 Political Blogger, Frank? I give you guys credit anytime I reference one of your stories, yet you all at New Times not only don't give the bloggers credit for the stories they break, but you all cherry pick stories and info from blogs around town without giving credit.

I think that New Times and the Miami Herald need to make a New Year's Resolution to change this bad behavior in 2013. How about you all having a staff meeting on January 2nd and agreeing to the following resolution: This year, New Times will show respect and integrity in our reporting by crediting the bloggers who wrote the original stories. We will not rip off their content, or pretend they don't exist when we think it's convenient to do so.

Happy New Year,

al crespo The Crespogram Report

floydianslipped

@al004 you're right on Al it's not even worth submitting story breaking tips. At least Crime-stoppers will pay for good tips these folks not only won't credit but STEAL IT TOO attributing themselves. FAIL NEW TIMES you used to be better than that