Black police major sues Miami, arguing her demotion was a racist and sexist decision

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One of Miami’s highest-ranking black female officers has sued the city and a notorious, now fired police captain, arguing that she was wrongfully demoted more than two years ago when she was targeted in a racist and sexist campaign to humiliate him.

Major Keandra Simmons, whose major rank and salary was restored more than a year ago, filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court on Monday naming the city and Javier Ortiz, a former police captain and union president who was fired in September.

The 16-page lawsuit filed in the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, seeks millions of dollars in damages, claiming that Simmons was defamed and subjected to a hostile work environment because of her race and sex. His demotion, the suit says, was a concerted effort between Ortiz and former police chief Art Acevedo, whom the city also fired in October 2021.

Keandra was tested. The damage is done, Simmons’ attorney Michael Pizzi said. She needs to be healed and they need to be held accountable.

Miami Police Maj. Keandra Simmons filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court against the City of Miami and fired Capt. Javier Ortiz this week, claiming she was discriminated against because of of their sex and gender.

Miami City Attorney Victoria Mendez would not discuss details of the lawsuit. But she said the city will defend the case diligently. The city reimbursed Simmons, who now heads the agency’s communications department, for lost pay after his demotion was reversed a year ago.

The Miami Herald had not received responses to calls, texts and direct messages to Acevedo or Ortiz attorney Rick Diaz as of Tuesday evening.

Although Acevedo is not individually named as a defendant in the civil lawsuit, he plays a prominent role in the allegations. The chaotic six months of the former chefs at the helm ended in a circus of public hearings.

Simmons’ lawsuit alleges that Acevedo canceled repeated meetings with her and that the chief deliberately hired Caucasians because he said he was not comfortable with black and Hispanic women. He also claims, via a third source, that Acevedo was targeting Ms. Simmons…

Another claim in the lawsuit: Simmons was demoted to the property evidence room in July 2020 after a black lieutenant claimed that Simmons hated black men and that she only received promotions because she had romantic relationships with white men. The lawsuit claims the Major was humiliated during an interrogation by city staff who questioned her about her personal relationships.

THE CRASH THAT STARTED IT

By this point, Simmons had reached the pinnacle of a 16-year career, commanding the staff of Model City as a major and the resulting investigation into a potentially hostile work environment under his command took an impact. The lawsuit claims former police chief Jorge Colina moved her to the property and evidence room at downtown headquarters in July 2020 after the complaint, but retained her rank.

Then in April 2021, just when Acevedo was sworn in as the new chief, the police commander of Coconut Grove. Nerly Paper drove her city-issued SUV into a sidewalk on her way to work in the morning, blew off some rims and continued on to the seat. By then, Ortiz had returned from a suspension and was placed in the ownership room under Simmons.

The lawsuit claims that Ortiz immediately began to undermine his authority, questioning his decisions and filing complaints. He also accused Ortiz of writing an email under an assumed name stating that Simmons had signed a cover-up report of the Papers incident and that an accident report should have been created.

In August, according to the lawsuit, Ortiz’s attacks had persuaded Acevedo to demote Simmons to a lieutenant patrolling the streets of downtown. Several others, including the former head of internal affairs, were also demoted during this period. Nerly Papier and her husband Ron Papier, an assistant chief who had run internal affairs for a decade, were fired.

Acevedo’s moves did not go over well with the commissioners and the city managers’ office and in October Acevedo was ousted by the city manager at the behest of the commissioners. Then Acevedo filed a federal lawsuit claiming he was a whistleblower and was fired in retaliation.

In December, new chief Manny Morales dismissed the ranks of all demoted officers and rehired Nerly and Ron Papier. Not all of them returned to their old jobs, but they were paid retroactively and were reinstated in their ranks.

Still, Pizzi said, Simmons believes the moves were unwarranted and unfair, derailing his career and marring his record.

He got rid of one of the most senior black female officers and asked Caucasians to replace them. There was no reason to do that, Pizzi said. He [Acevedo] Simmons humiliated. He gave the impression that she was part of a corrupt cover-up. He damaged his reputation.

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