Ray Martinez Reportedly Tapped To Be Miami Beach's New Top Cop
MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – After reviewing nearly 80 applications from across the country, it looks like a familiar face will be taking the reigns of the troubled Miami Beach Police Department.
After a five month search and some commissioners saying they wanted the new chief to be from outside the department, the final choice has reportedly come down to interim chief Raymond Martinez, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald.
Martinez, 52, served more than two decades with the Miami Police Department before he left and went to Miami Beach police where he served as assistant chief overseeing the administration bureau.
Martinez is expected to meet with city Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez Tuesday afternoon to seal the deal, according to the Miami Herald.
Martinez will replace Chief Carlos Noriega whose tenure was marred by several scandals including last July's incident in which an on-duty city officer who had allegedly been drinking at the Clevelander hotel took a woman on a ride on a police ATV and ran over two people on the beach.
Then there was the high-profile police involved shooting over the last Memorial Day weekend where officers fired more than 100 rounds at a man who was driving erratically. Several innocent bystanders were hit. The shooting is still under investigation by the state attorney's office.
Since being tapped as the interim chief last November, Martinez said he's started to bring about "changes in policing, accountability and ownership of our actions. Supervisors, including myself, have taken training in ethics and professionalism," according to the paper.
CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed to this report.
