Miami police officer reprimanded for wearing uniform and pro-Donald Trump mask at voting site

Daniel Ubeda
Miami Police confirmed the officer would be disciplined.

Miami Police Officer Daniel Ubeda will be disciplined after he was photographed at a polling site in full uniform while wearing a mask supporting President Donald Trump.

Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chairman Steve Simeonidis spotted Ubeda at a polling place in Government Center, located in downtown Miami. State law bars police officers, activists and others who are not actively voting from coming within 150 feet of a voting station.

“This is city funded voter intimidation,” Simeonidis alleged on social media. “Ubeda should be suspended immediately.”

It’s unclear whether Ubeda was on his way to vote at the time. Regardless, his department plans to discipline the officer, though no official type of discipline has yet been announced.

“We are aware of the photograph being circulated of a Miami Police officer wearing a political mask in uniform,” read a post from Miami PD on Twitter. “This behavior is unacceptable, a violation of departmental policy, and is being addressed immediately.”

Aside from appearing in uniform sporting pro-Trump paraphernalia, the mask also featured an obscenity. Under “Trump 2020,” the mask read “No more bull—-.”

Democratic Rep. Michael Grieco also called out Ubeda’s actions on social media.

“This is not ok,” Grieco wrote. “Right in the middle of my district too. If you witness any voter intimidation please call 833-VOTE-FLA.”

Miami officials have announced plain-clothes officers would be deployed to voting sites in response to voters who feared intimidation during an especially tense election cycle.

Ubeda’s appearance was not in accordance with that policy, however. Simeonidis said he just happened to be in the same area at the time and was able to snap a photo of the officer. In comments to the Miami Herald, Simeonidis stood by his assertion that Ubeda’s actions could spook voters, intentional or not.

“He may have been going to vote,” Simeonidis said. “But he was in full uniform with the mask and a gun. That’s voter intimidation.”

Ryan Nicol

Ryan Nicol covers news out of South Florida for Florida Politics. Ryan is a native Floridian who attended undergrad at Nova Southeastern University before moving on to law school at Florida State. After graduating with a law degree he moved into the news industry, working in TV News as a writer and producer, along with some freelance writing work. If you'd like to contact him, send an email to [email protected].


7 comments

  • S.B. ANTHONY

    October 20, 2020 at 2:22 pm

    Outrageous! We await the announcement of the City of Miami’s disciplinary action.

    Voters will not be bullied or intimidated by cowards who hide behind macho swagger, guns, and badges.

    This person should be fired.

  • gary

    October 20, 2020 at 3:55 pm

    Good for him! If it were a Harris/Biden mask… no problem!

  • Joe Fatala

    October 20, 2020 at 6:10 pm

    Disciplined????? What, take away his donuts??? How about just firing him. He broke the law!!! Lock him up!!! Otherwise all the other boys in blue will figure out that they can do anything they want and get away with it ( if they don’t already ).

  • Sonja Fitch

    October 21, 2020 at 9:21 am

    Wtf if this cop doesn’t know “better” Fing fire him!

  • Daniel Ubeda

    October 21, 2020 at 2:39 pm

    Send him back to freaking Mexico….we don’t need this type of racist immigrant Trump voter here, we have enough problems already!!!!

  • Madalina

    October 21, 2020 at 4:29 pm

    we need many more cops just like him. if it said biden/harris would this be news? NO!

  • Patty Pointer

    October 24, 2020 at 1:49 pm

    He gives cops a bad name. Can’t wait until November 3rd. Police Reform starts!

Comments are closed.


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