Miami police lieutenant relieved of duty in fallout from FBI corruption investigation

Feb 8, 2013 - 0 Comments

An FBI corruption investigation has taken its toll on the Miami Police Department. The latest touched by the scandal: a lieutenant relieved of duty, and an officer who resigned.

A Miami police lieutenant suspected of participating in an alleged protection racket for a sports-betting ring in Liberty City was relieved of duty Friday.

Bernard Johnson, 44, who joined the police force in 1998, was relieved with pay while the FBI and Miami police internal affairs detectives continue their joint investigation into the gambling operation, which operated out of a Liberty City barber shop.

Another veteran officer, Rashad Jabbar, 50, retired last month after he was implicated in the same protection scandal.

Both are among 11 Miami police officers relieved of duty in recent months who face potential criminal charges or the loss of their jobs in connection with the federal corruption investigation targeting extortion and other illegal activity.

On Wednesday, a Miami police officer who wore a wire for the FBI pleaded guilty to an extortion charge. Nathaniel Dauphin, 41, admitted he received between $4,000 and $5,000 from the owner of the sports-betting business from November 2010 until March of last year.

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