U.S.

Miami Gets Hispanic Police Chief

May 2, 2000 / 12:09 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Raul Martinez, a Cuban immigrant who spent 24 years as a police officer, says it has been a lifelong dream to be Miami's chief of police. He's taking the job at a crucial moment.

Martinez was appointed chief by embattled city manager Donald Warshaw, who likely will be out of a job next week amid the political turmoil, resignations and accusations following the Elian Gonzalez raid.

Miami has never before had a Hispanic police chief. The appointment was made Monday, with the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for today.

"I pledge to all of you, to be the chief of police for the entire community," said Martinez, an assistant city manager who came to the United States from Havana when he was 12. "I ask that we put away our differences and look at all the common things that we have, and make this city a great city."

Martinez, 50, replaces William O'Brien, who resigned after Mayor Joe Carollo fired Warshaw amid public fallout over the handling of the April 22 federal raid on the home of Elian Gonzalez's relatives and the protests that followed.

Cops As Combat Troops

Controversial use of force to seize Elián is business as usual in the war on drugs.

Carollo, angered that O'Brien had not notified him when he found out federal agents were moving to reunite 6-year-old with his Cuban father, demanded Warshaw fire the chief. Warshaw refused.

Citing issues unrelated to the Gonzalez case, Carollo fired Warshaw last week. Warshaw could keep his job if four of the five city commissioners overrule Carollo. That vote was expected Thursday.

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 the mayor be consulted.

Carollo has said he was against Warshaw hiring a new chief of police, preferring to conduct a nationwide search for O'Brien's replacemet. Carollo did not return phone calls Monday seeking comment.

Martinez's appointment comes the same day that Carollo accused Warshaw of blackmailing him. Carollo also launched an investigation into allegations that Warshaw misused city funds.

"The city manager sent an extortion demand to me that if I fired him he would take me out as mayor," Carollo said. "No city manager should be allowed to extort a mayor in any city in America."

Warshaw denied that he misused funds and defended himself against the mayor's other accusation. "I'm not a blackmailer. I'm not an extortionist," Warshaw said. "I'm not really sure where the mayor was going with that."