Miami civil service board finds former officer presented prima facie whistleblower claim; vote 3-2

The Miami Civil Service Board voted 3-2 on Sept. 16, 2025, that former Miami police officer Alfredo Matias presented enough evidence to meet the prima facie standard for a whistleblower claim under Florida Statute 112.3187, clearing the procedural step for the matter to move to a court review.

The board’s vote followed closing arguments from Matias’s attorney, Robert Harris, and Lanetta Geary, appearing for the City of Miami. Robert Harris argued that Matias’s affidavit in a related civil case was protected activity and that the suspension and later termination followed quickly enough to show causation. “We ask this panel to so conclude based on the evidence and more importantly, based on the law that is presented before you in this case,” Harris told the board. Lanetta Geary said the city’s position was the affidavit included false statements and that the timing and prior litigation broke any causal link. “The city’s position is that…