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You Call, We Haul

Police officers in Miami-Dade, Fla., are allowed to use their patrol cars for personal errands when off duty, which helps increase police presence in the community, and allows officers to hop to it if they spot a crime in progress. But “It is obvious we are not allowed to transport mattresses on the top of our marked police units,” grumbles Police Commander Nancy Perez. Yet that’s allegedly what Officer Sandra Lyles did. The 32-year veteran officer, witnesses say, loaded a bed on top of her marked patrol car to haul it home; several citizens complained to the department, and to local media. Lyles, who has been disciplined 19 times during her tenure, is “days” from retirement, and she has been relieved of duty — her patrol car, badge, and gun have been confiscated. “On behalf of the Miami-Dade Police Department,” Perez said, “we apologize to the community for what our officer did, and I can assure them that it will be properly handled and it will never happen again.” (RC/WPLG Miami) ...Well no: she’s about to retire.