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St. Petersburg police officer fired for insubordination, falsification

 
Published Feb. 24, 2017

A St. Petersburg police officer was fired Thursday for repeatedly not following his supervisor's orders and falsifying where he was while on the clock.

A command review board found cause to terminate Richard Miranda, 44, following a complaint made a year ago by his sergeant.

In March 2016, according to police, Miranda and his squad were told by his acting sergeant to check in at 8 p.m., but Miranda checked in at 7 p.m. because he had to take his cruiser for maintenance, he told his supervisor. It was later discovered that Miranda did not take his cruiser in for maintenance until a month later.

Police said Miranda was previously told by his supervisor to not adjust his hours unless he had prior permission from a supervisor and to text or call his sergeant in the event he needed to report he was sick.

Miranda's sergeant took her concerns to the police department's Office of Professional Standards where she was asked to make a formal complaint on May 5. Miranda went on worker's compensation leave on May 19 and came back to work on Nov. 8.

St. Petersburg Police spokeswoman Yolanda Fernandez said Miranda's termination was verbal and Miranda was not presented with a termination letter Thursday.

Miranda was hired in December 2006 and sworn in September 2007.