Dispute boils over mourning of detective

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and the Miami Fraternal Order of Police are at odds with each over how to properly mourn the death of a police officer.

Last week, the FOP sent a scathing letter to Diaz denouncing his absence at the Jan. 12 funeral of slain Miami Detective James Walker.

But Diaz told The Miami Herald on Saturday that he was at a loss over the criticism in the FOP's letter, saying he attended Walker's viewing the night before the funeral, grieving with the police officer's family, friends and fellow law enforcement colleagues. Walker, 30, was the fifth South Florida law enforcement officer shot dead since November 2006.

Services for the slain officer were held Saturday, Jan. 12 in Miami Gardens, where hundreds turned out for the emotional ceremony. In attendance: several top public officials, including Miami Police Chief John Timoney and Miami Gardens Police Chief Matthew Boyd.

Days later, the FOP's rank-and-file unanimously voted to send a letter expressing their outrage at Diaz for not attending Walker's funeral.

''Detective Walker made the ultimate sacrifice by dying in the line of duty while trying to protect others,'' said the letter. ``This act of total disrespect will never be forgiven.''

''I would like to say that this despicable act surprised me, but quite frankly it did not, since you became Mayor of the City of Miami, we have had to fight you at every front in order to protect our members,'' the letter concluded.

The letter was signed by Miami FOP President Armando Aguilar, Miami Community Police Benevolent Association President, Vernell Reynolds, and Hispanic Officers Association President Rolando Gutierrez.

Diaz dismissed the FOP's charges against him. ''I don't think it's up to [FOP's] judgment on how I should mourn. That's my way, it's a personal thing and, more importantly, a family thing,'' he said.

''Frankly, I don't understand it,'' Diaz said. ``This is about mourning a loss. To me, it's about family.''

When asked what he was doing on Saturday, Jan. 12, the day of the funeral, Diaz replied: ``I honestly do not recall.''

Diaz and the FOP have long had a strained relationship.

During contentious labor agreement negotiations, the FOP has made several public displays of its unhappiness with the Miami mayor.

In September 2006, Aguilar and the FOP held a rally at City Hall to decry their department's pension plan, which they claimed to be substandard.

In October 2006, three weeks after the City Hall protest, police picketed the gala opening of the then-Carnival Center, this time rallying for higher pay.

The rank-and-file's displeasure with the mayor came to a head in September 2007 when the union gave a vote of no confidence to Timoney, who was appointed police chief by Diaz and took office in January 2003.

Walker was off-duty and on his way to his wife's apartment when he was shot and killed on after midnight on Jan. 8 while inside his unmarked police car in North Miami Beach.

Detectives, who believe Walker fired back in self-defense, arrested and charged Andrew James Rolle, 20, with the murder.