Officers use emergency lights for breakfast trip to bakery

5 officers from 3 different police agencies caught on camera misusing emergency lights

MIAMI – Several police officers are under investigation after cellphone video caught them heading to a bakery on Coral Way with their emergency overhead lights flashing.

The incident happened last week.

Five police cars from three different agencies were first spotted southbound on Interstate 95 approaching the Rickenbacker Causeway with their emergency lights flashing.

However, Local 10 News has learned there was no pursuit or emergency.

Shortly before 8 a.m., the officers got off I-95 and headed toward busy Coral Way.

At the intersection of Southwest 25th Road and Southwest Third Avenue, one of the officers blocked oncoming traffic so all the officers could proceed together with their emergency lights flashing.

The two Miccosukee police officers, two Miami-Dade police offices and one Miami police officer ended up at Karlo Bakery, where they all had breakfast.

"It was poor judgment on their behalf," Miami-Dade police Maj. Nancy Perez told Local 10 News. "They understand and their supervisors will be taking action."

Perez is only speaking on behalf of the Miami-Dade officers involved.

Miami police spokesman Freddie Cruz said internal affairs is looking into the incident and wouldn't comment further.

The Miccosukee Police Department had no comment.

 There are strict rules about the use of overhead emergency lights, and going to breakfast isn't one of them.

Emergency flashing lights on a police car are usually a signal of urgency to get out of the way or pull over.

Perez claims the five officers were on their way to laser enforcement training in the city of Miami and were trying to stay together. She said the bakery was in close proximity to the training.

"It still doesn't excuse putting the lights on," Perez added.

Dr. Raimundo Socorro is a former Miami police commander and is now director of the Miami Dade College School of Justice, which includes a police academy.

"The public views it as, if they can break the law, why can't we get away with doing little things like that," Socorro said. "You don't use your lights -- you don't use your position -- to gain an advantage."

Perez said the officers involved admitted they made a mistake.

"They weren't speeding. They weren't using sirens. They didn't pass in the emergency lane," Perez said. "They only had their overhead lights on, which should only be utilized for emergency purposes."

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