The Village of Miami-Dade places the police chief on administrative leave

BISCAYNE PARK, Fla. — Leaders of Biscayne Park, a village of about 3,000 people in Miami-Dade County, recently placed the police chief on administrative leave.

Mark Steele, the deputy police chief, then quietly took Luis Cabrera’s place as chief.

According to an April email, Chris Truitt, the village manager, instructed Cabrera “not to communicate with village staff.”

The Miami-Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police received a letter of resignation from Cabrera, who had served as a board member.

In 2018, Cabrera resigned from the Miami Police Department to join the village’s department following the arrest of Chief Raimundo Atesiano.

About six years ago, Atesiano was sentenced to three years in prison for civil rights violations after framing cases on innocent people.

The motive for Cabrera’s resignation from the district association and his administrative leave of absence from the village is unclear.

Local 10 News sources familiar with the change said Cabrera is the subject of an ongoing investigation.