MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – The Miami Beach Police Department has confirmed that a sergeant under investigation for allegedly getting drunk while working an off-duty job is Mike Muley.
Muley was working at Mango's Tropical Cafe on Ocean Drive on Sunday night into Monday morning. The incident was reported to police early Monday morning by an anonymous caller.
Police said the midnight shift commander was called to the nightclub, and Muley was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center for medical treatment and alcohol testing.
He has since been relieved of duty.
Muley is a 15-year police veteran. He previously came under fire for his alleged poor response to a call for help the night former Miami Beach police Officer Derick Kuilan crashed his police-issued all-terrain vehicle during an on-duty joyride.
A viewer contacted Local 10 News, concerned about the "last chance agreement" contained in the city's current Fraternal Order of Police contract.
"Previously, there was zero tolerance and no last chance agreement," wrote the anonymous viewer. "Officers were scared to (lose) jobs. Now, we have an officer that would have driven home drunk after his off duty 'party time.' What is the worst that could happen to him? He get's rehab and a slap on the hand."
Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales told Local 10 in a written statement, "Based on the facts as I know them, I have no intention of giving this officer a last chance agreement."
In the meantime, new Miami Beach Police Chief Dan Oates didn't waste any time meeting with reporters to send a strong message to the community.
"We can't tolerate drinking while on duty," he said. "We have the internal affairs unit entirely engaged and gathering evidence and we are looking for witnesses."
He asked anyone who was at the South Beach nightclub with information about the incident to come forward.
The nightclub's owner, through an assistant, told Local 10 he would not be commenting on the allegation. Several Miami Beach detectives were waiting in the lobby of the owner's office Monday afternoon.
Local 10 has requested Miami Beach police surveillance video from the hours in question when someone anonymously tipped off police to claim Muley was intoxicated.
Oates comes to Miami Beach from Aurora, Colo., where he was commended for his department's quick response to the theater shooting two years ago.
His first day on the job as Miami Beach's top cop was June 9. He told Local 10 if the allegations against Muley prove to be true, he will take swift action.