Miami Commission To Discuss Hiring More Officers

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – City of Miami commissioners are meeting Thursday to discuss possibly hiring more police officers.

According to CBS4 News partner The Miami Herald, the city has budgeted for new police officers but hasn't hired anyone yet.

One administrator last week blamed the delay on waiting for the U.S. Department of Justice to sign off on the hires but the head of human resources said that wasn't the case.

Even Armando Aguilar, head of the Fraternal Order of Police union, couldn't explain the delays.

The issue was put on Thursday's City Commission meeting agenda to follow up.

Mayor Tomás Regalado blamed the delay on human resources technicalities. Employee Relations Director Beverly Pruitt said the city has recently hired 13 officers, with three more coming on board soon.

The police department has requested to hire 21 more cops and 10 recruits, she said.

As of July, the department had 143 empty positions — 110 for sworn officers and 33 for civilian personnel. Those vacancies amounted to nearly 10 percent of the department's authorized strength.

Despite a citywide hiring freeze in place since 2009, the city budgeted for 40 new positions last year. The new hires were intended to reduce overtime spending and bolster the police staff.

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