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

One of Miami’s highest-ranking Black female officers has filed suit against the city and a notorious, now-fired police captain, arguing that she was unfairly demoted more than two years ago while being targeted in a racist, sexist campaign to humiliate her.

On Monday, Maj. Keandra Simmons — whose rank as major and salary were restored more than a year ago — filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court 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, contending that Simmons was defamed and subjected to a hostile work environment because of her race and gender. Her demotion, the suit claims, was a concerted effort between Ortiz and former Police Chief Art Acevedo, whom the city also fired in October 2021.

“Keandra was put through the mill. The damage is done,” said Simmons’ attorney Michael Pizzi. “She needs to be made whole and they need to be held accountable.”

Miami City Attorney Victoria Mendez wouldn’t address specifics of the lawsuit. But she said “the city will diligently defend the case.” The city did repay Simmons, who now heads up the agency’s communications department, for lost salary after her demotion was rescinded a year ago.

The Miami Herald had not received responses from calls, texts and direct messages to Acevedo or Ortiz’s attorney Rick Diaz, by Tuesday evening.

Though Acevedo is not named individually as a defendant in the civil suit, he plays a leading role in the allegations. The former chief’s chaotic six months at the helm ended in a circus of public hearings.

Simmons’ lawsuit alleges that Acevedo blew off repeated meetings with her and that the chief purposely hired “Caucasians” because he said he wasn’t comfortable with Black and Hispanic women. It also claims, through a third source, that Acevedo was “gunning for Ms. Simmons...”

Another claim in the lawsuit: Simmons was demoted to the property evidence room in July 2020 after a Black male lieutenant claimed 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 questioning by city staff who questioned her about personal relationships.

THE ‘CRASH’ THAT STARTED IT

At that point, Simmons had reached the apex of a 16-year career, commanding staff in Model City as a major and the resulting investigation into a potential “hostile work environment” under her command had an impact. The lawsuit claims that former Police Chief Jorge Colina transferred her to the property and evidence room at downtown headquarters in July of 2020 after the complaint, but retained her rank.

Then in April 2021, just as Acevedo had been sworn in as the new chief, Coconut Grove Police Cmdr. Nerly Papier drove her city-issued SUV into a curb on her way to work in the morning, blew out some rims and continued on to headquarters. By then, Ortiz, had returned from a suspension and was placed in the property room under Simmons.

The lawsuit claims that Ortiz immediately began to undermine her authority, questioning her decisions and filing complaints. It also accused Ortiz of writing an email under an assumed name that said Simmons signed off on a cover-up report of Papier’s incident and that a crash report should have been created.

By August, the lawsuit claims, Ortiz’s attacks had persuaded Acevedo to demote Simmons to a lieutenant patrolling downtown streets. Several others, including the former head of Internal Affairs were also demoted during that time period. Nerly Papier and her husband Ron Papier, a deputy chief who had run internal affairs for a decade, were fired.

The moves by Acevedo didn’t sit well with commissioners and the city manager’s office and by October Acevedo was ousted by the city manager at the urging of commissioners. Then Acevedo filed a federal lawsuit claiming he was a whistleblower and was fired in retaliation.

In December, new Chief Manny Morales returned the ranks of all the demoted officers and rehired Nerly and Ron Papier. Not everyone went back to their former jobs, but they were paid retroactively and were returned to their ranks.

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

“He got rid of one of the highest-ranking Black female officers and got Caucasians to replace them. There was no reason to do that,” Pizzi said. “He [Acevedo] humiliated Simmons. He made it seem like she was part of some corrupt cover-up. He damaged her reputation.”