North Miami Mayor Has "Staff" Badges Destroyed

NORTH MIAMI (CBS4) - More than forty police style badges ordered by North Miami's Mayor for his staff and special 'city volunteers' have met a fiery end at the city's Motor Pool.

The drama began last year when Mayor Andre Pierre asked the city's Police Chief Stephen Johnson to order them. When questioned about them, Pierre wouldn't say why his staff of three needed the badges and couldn't remember how many he asked the chief to order, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald.

The badges arrived at police headquarters in two shipments; the first 20 badges in cases in August and then an additional 24 badges arrived in November. Total tab for the two shipments came to $4,151 of taxpayer dollars.

Last month when news of the badges got out, along with their cost, Pierre apologized at a city council meeting but again refused to say why he ordered them or who received them. Pierre admitted that they could be misused so he would get them back.

On Tuesday, the mayor turned in forty of the badges to City Manager Russell Benford. They were then taken to the Motor Pool where they were destroyed.

Pierre also gave Benford a check for $4,151 to reimburse the city.  As for the remaining badges, Pierre said he is expecting to receive them in the mail. When they arrive, he'll turn them over to Benford as well.

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