OFFICERS DEMOTED AFTER DRUG BURN

Two Police Officers Were Demoted in the Department's Efforts to Clean
Up the Special Investigations Unit.

Two Coral Gables police officers have been demoted for their role in
an illegal narcotics burn in the Redland yard of another officer.

Lt. Alexander Roffe was demoted to the rank of police officer and
Sgt. Alan Matas received a 10-day suspension Tuesday when the city
manager's office upheld the recommendations of the police chief.

Roffe, who could not be reached for comment, will start as an
officer in uniform patrol on Monday, said Police Chief Michael Hammerschmidt.

Matas, who is on vacation and also could not be reached, will start
his 10-day suspension upon his return, the chief said.

Matas also will likely be reassigned to patrol after he trains
someone new to oversee the accounts in the special investigations unit.

There was no disciplinary action recommended for Officer William
Swikehardt, whose property in the Redland -- which already had a
burn barrel for yard debris -- was used to burn small amounts of
marijuana, cocaine and pills. Lt. Ed Hudak, who heads the city's
internal affairs division, said Swikehardt was not disciplined
because he thought the proper paperwork was in order.

Eugene Gibbons, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No.
7, could not be reached for comment.

Hammerschmidt said Roffe got a harsher punishment because he was the leader.

"He's the overall manager responsible for the operation of the unit
and I found serious misgivings in several different areas within the
unit," Hammerschmidt said Friday.

The demotions, the chief added, end an ugly chapter in the
department that began with allegations of theft against another
sergeant in the special investigations section, the city's vice squad.

Sgt. Spencer Green was found to have stolen a movie poster and other
memorabilia from a crime scene and was demoted to officer.

During the course of the investigation, other allegations surfaced
about an illegal April 1, 2005 narcotics burn and overtime abuse by
Roffe. The overtime abuse charges were not substantiated.

The cases uncovered holes in policies that led the department to
disband the special investigations unit last month, taking out half
of its personnel at least temporarily until new procedures can be
put in place. That process is ongoing.