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December 20, 2002
MIAMI -- A former Philadelphia police commissioner will take over Miami's troubled Police Department from outgoing Chief Raul Martinez next month, city officials said Thursday.
John Timoney will become chief on Jan. 2, City Manager Carlos Gimenez said.
Timoney and Gimenez were to give additional details at a news conference today. Martinez announced last month he would resign amid the fallout from a series of questionable shootings of civilians involving the Miami Police Department.
Timoney was appointed Philadelphia's police commissioner in March 1998. He was widely credited with bringing increased respect and high public approval ratings to the department.
The department faced scandal during his tenure, but Timoney kept his reputation intact.
Timoney resigned in January to head a New York company that provides investigative and security services to corporate clients.
He began his career in the New York Police Department in 1969, rising to second in command during the tenure of Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
He was a runnerup for the Los Angeles chief's job in October.