Former Houston Chief Acevedo Under Scrutiny In Miami: Report

HOUSTON, TX — Former Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo is already facing scrutiny just five months after taking the job as Miami chief of police.

Miami commissioners called for a special meeting Sept. 27 to question Acevedo about a series of controversies and gaffes that have occurred since he was hired and possibly decide on his future, according to a report from the Miami Herald.

Acevedo drew ire from commissioners last week when he joked that the Miami Police Department was run by the "Cuban Mafia," which is a term the late Fidel Castro used to describe Miami exiles for opposing his dictatorship. Acevedo later apologized, saying he didn't know Castro used the phrase to paint Miami exiles as criminals.

“He must be the only individual with a Cuban background in the world that didn’t know the Cuban dictatorship called us the Cuban Mafia,” Miami Commisioner Joe Carollo told the Herald. “They named him to be a professional police chief, not a comedian.”

Commissioners do not have the power to fire Acevedo, but a vote of no confidence could influence City Manager Art Noriega.

Since Acevedo was sworn in on April 5, he made waves with a series of firings and demotions in the department, including the firing of Deputy Chief Ron Papier and his wife, Commander Nerly Papier. He also posed for a selfie with a known member of the Proud Boys white nationalist group, though Acevedo said he didn't know of the person's affiliation with the group.