[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6493364,"mediaKeyId","5599872-46a60b6d9d51e56552c4ab227b7addf9","parentId",5599872,"title","Civil Service Board approves multiple probation extensions, military leave and reemployment requests","audioSeconds",857,"startMs",334000,"endMs",1191000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5599872-46a60b6d9d51e56552c4ab227b7addf9&start=334&end=1191","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5599872-46a60b6d9d51e56552c4ab227b7addf9/thumbnail_334000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6493364/Miami/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/Civil-Service-Board-approves-multiple-probation-extensions-military-leave-and-reemployment-requests","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6493364-2cc1e19abb1c088b677504cf1aa28ceb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770080198&Signature=KeWxmgGTyaekVMiHbwHiq29EAe0hheGbof~edNtVVL6qR5ZCjyPogwnAvHQpmj8NeOpUcZteZRZvp7tduYuEOryXdI5fh1roBxkOtG8fxuYlItp~e63RE9f2pRAJFd1bHfCn32SlEM0KLgBhqGBTcLPvV4xjCGNnI6WSJIzILDzrb2xhrkCjwGmArTOFwmpKzuaJETQilUEedVoAXZ0StUp0mjPBDiDIlBj6itG-T-nAIT~qiSxj9MeA0Meoo13YH8pB~n6t6HlqsLlDdoAykNgzPHMQ2k6cos-xXkVIrW-HePst4KnF2~KOK493iJT4ARulcgMf6u8Pw-MGr3kFhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Miami, FL","date","2025-08-19T09:42:00Z","article","The City of Miami Civil Service Board on Aug. 19 approved a series of personnel actions including probationary period extensions for multiple employees, a military leave of absence, and the reemployment of a fire lieutenant returning from military service.

Board members moved and seconded each item; votes were recorded as voice approvals. The board approved probation-extension requests submitted by the Fire Rescue and Police departments that ranged from three to 12 additional months, in each case to allow the departments to complete required training or to account for medical leave or academy recycling.

Specific extensions approved on Aug. 19 included:

- B1: Extension of the probationary period for John Ramsey, firefighter, for 6 months beyond Sept. 30, 2025. Motion by Board Member Jimenez; second by Board Member Soliman; approved by voice vote.

- B2: Extension for Police Officer Eric Zamora Castillo for 3 months beyond Aug. 2, 2025. Motion by Board Member Lanier; second by Board Member Jimenez; approved by voice vote.

- B3: Extension for Thomas (record specialist) for 4 months beyond July 27, 2025 to allow proficiency in new classification under the Aspen contract. Motion by Board Member Soledemann; second by Board Member Lanier; approved by voice vote.

- B4: Extension for Uriel (Bridal/Uriel) Ramos, police officer, for 6 months beyond Oct. 25, 2025 to complete training required by the collective bargaining agreement after academy recycling. Motion by Board Member Diner; second by Board Member Soliman; approved by voice vote.

- B5: Extension for Darren Jones, police officer, for 3 months beyond Jan. 11, 2026 to complete FOP-required training. Motion by Board Member Soliman; second by Board Member Lanier; approved by voice vote.

- B6: Extension for Chelsea LeVitt, police officer, for 12 months beyond Dec. 12, 2025. The department explained LeVitt missed training time due to medical leave and light duty, and the extension is intended to cover the remaining training time within the 24-month maximum probationary window. Motion by Board Member Soliman; second by Board Member Jimenez; approved by voice vote.

- B7: Extension for Trayvon (Traven/Trayvon) Henry, police officer, for 6 months beyond Oct. 25, 2025 following academy recycling. Motion by Board Member Lanier; second by Board Member Soliman; approved by voice vote.

Other personnel actions recorded and approved:

- C1: Military leave without pay for Police Officer Catherine Triana Vasquez beginning July 7, 2025, for an indefinite period. Motion by Board Member Jimenez; second by Board Member Soledemann; approved.

- C2: Reemployment of Roberto Luna as Fire Lieutenant following return from military service; memorandum from the Air Force indicating honorable discharge was provided. Motion by Board Member Jimenez; second by Board Member Soledemann; approved.

- V8: Extension of probationary period for Janeth Iglesias, administrative aide 1, for 6 months beyond Sept. 18, 2025; Ms. Iglesias was ill and had signed a concurrence memo. Motion by Board Member Soledemann; second by Board Member Cabrera; approved.

The board also took \"note\" of several items including a settlement agreement between the city and Police Sergeant Gary Sampson relating to a 10-hour suspension, and a status update on an appealed termination for a former equipment operator, which staff said remains pending settlement negotiations. For the grievance hearings listed under item H, the board recorded that H1 was settled and H2 withdrawn; H1 was continued by joint motion to the Sept. 16 meeting as part of the Matias whistleblower schedule.

Board members and department representatives explained reasons for the extensions: most were the first probationary extensions for the employees and were requested either because employees were recycled to a later academy class, required additional on-the-job training for a new classification, or missed training time due to medical leave. Departments cited compliance with collective bargaining agreements (identified as FOP in the record) and specific contract terms (Aspen) when explaining the administrative requests.

All motions listed above were approved by the board in voice votes during the Aug. 19 session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Miami, FL - Civil Service Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its Aug. 19 meeting the City of Miami Civil Service Board approved a slate of probationary extensions for firefighters and police employees, a military leave and a reemployment request, and accepted several routine items for the record.","taxTitle","Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida","taxId",2890,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6493369,"Civil Service Board opens whistleblower matter in Alfredo Matias case, recesses to Sept. 16 for review",3153,1829000,4982000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5599872-46a60b6d9d51e56552c4ab227b7addf9&start=1829&end=4982","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5599872-46a60b6d9d51e56552c4ab227b7addf9/thumbnail_1829000.jpg","/articles/6493369/Miami/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/Civil-Service-Board-opens-whistleblower-matter-in-Alfredo-Matias-case-recesses-to-Sept-16-for-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6493369-86db365657cdf4cfc5608c1f2e92fd5c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770080198&Signature=aUTbrr~ALwYgJcS6xsyCxvM8jA3ZRwS2P2h0utrodG89T7ad-1QkOIDV9YrCJU8Bs442pNXjoVgsMM3QbbZ6ZeS3~FnmzMPO20UVwVhBymCK5pKM8-Wh7Ydy1aT6TMIvc244Trz6XXfwVLK0CXhO~j6pp2L3LOnCsUM3Ca5il6tqhwFxFLDxcMpYAtDWAQy~U21OYpG8uuVNpn6xTg7SXdteUlHmJpNPo7jIYEHrvdcabbBkqhD20kY7jTpL5AxrLkkbx-d8GhSpel9wfmdQGJ35CPJ6AB6gz8NIKYtNln6CLOCwYt8u3opeCngPFljq231eXp7GCtwB2-apMkT-9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Miami Civil Service Board on Aug. 19 heard opening argument in a whistleblower complaint filed by former Miami Police Officer Alfredo Matias and recessed the proceeding until the board's next regular meeting on Sept. 16 to allow members to review the record.

Matias's attorney, Robert Harris, urged the board to adopt evidence from earlier termination hearings and related court filings. \"We are here because Mr. Matias filed a claim asserting that the same facts before you constitute a whistleblower complaint, retaliation, and violation of Florida statute 112.3187 for engaging in legally protected activity by providing the affidavit,\" Harris said, asking the board to adopt the prior transcripts, exhibits and the board's earlier findings of fact and conclusions of law.

Lanetta Geary, representing the city, said the city disputes Matias's whistleblower claim and asked the board to review the full record, including appellate filings. \"The internal affairs investigation sustained Mr. Matias for untruthfulness based on the facts and evidence that they reviewed and relied on,\" Geary said, and told the board that the Eleventh Circuit denied Matias's petition for writ of certiorari, which the city views as supporting the manager's decision to uphold termination.

The board's counsel explained that the whistleblower standard is legally distinct from the earlier termination proceedings and that the current panel must apply the whistleblower statute's three-prong test: protected activity, an adverse personnel action, and a connection between the two. The board attorney also confirmed the whistleblower element had not been decided previously and is properly before the board now.

Board members asked questions about the timing and evidence. Counsel and the parties identified key dates in the record: Matias's original affidavit was filed in September 2020 (record cites 09/23/2020), an amended affidavit was filed in June 2021 (06/09/2021), he was suspended shortly after the affidavit in October 2020 (cited as 10/01/2020), and he was later terminated in January 2022. The board was told the prior civil service hearing included multi-day testimony and exhibits, which will be provided to the current board members for review.

Board members and counsel agreed the board will rely on the transcripts and exhibits from the prior termination hearings and on the court exhibit packet submitted by both sides; both counsel said they would submit closing arguments at the Sept. 16 meeting after board members have had time to review the materials. The board also asked staff to provide recordings of the prior hearings where available and to assemble all exhibits introduced at the earlier civil service hearing.

During the discussion, Robert Harris summarized the history: Matias and another officer, Luis Valdez, cooperated with a federal investigation into former officer Raul Iglesias; Matias later provided an affidavit in Valdez's court proceedings. Harris said the board previously found Matias's termination to be unsupported by the evidence and argued that a finding the affidavit was not false would support a whistleblower claim of retaliatory termination.

Geary told the board the city contends internal affairs' finding of untruthfulness is supported by the record and that the appellate mandate leaves the city manager within his authority to uphold the termination. Both sides agreed to the process outlined by counsel: openings on Aug. 19, board review of the record, and closing arguments at the Sept. 16 board meeting.

The board recessed the case and the rest of the meeting until Sept. 16, 2025. The chair reminded members they must not discuss the case among themselves during the recess and that any questions about needed additional witness testimony should be routed through staff so witnesses can be arranged if the board requests them at the next session.

Matias's whistleblower complaint will return to the board's agenda on Sept. 16, when the parties will present closing arguments and the board will begin deliberations.","The City of Miami Civil Service Board heard opening statements in a whistleblower complaint filed by former police officer Alfredo Matias and recessed to its Sept. 16 meeting to allow members to review prior hearing transcripts, court filings and exhibits before closing arguments.","actionData","errors"]

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Civil Service Board approves multiple probation extensions, military leave and reemployment requests

Civil Service Board opens whistleblower matter in Alfredo Matias case, recesses to Sept. 16 for review