Coral Gables Police Chief Dennis Weiner is expected to resign today, under pressure from commissioners who were ready to fire 
him at Thursday’s meeting anyway.
In fact, Ladra is told the votes were there to fire him at the last meeting.
Retired Maj. Scott Massington and Maj. Ed Hudak are both being considered as temporary replacements. Word is Massington is being pushed by former City Manager Pat Salerno, who resigned in April after he was caught lying to the commission but who many say is still pulling the strings behind Acting City Manager Carmen Olazabal.
Hopefully, the commission will insist on Hudak, a veteran of the department who should have gotten the job four years ago. Massington is seen as another lackey who is already gone anyway, having retired about 2 months ago. Hey, isn’t he the guy who got in trouble for charging a barbecue to the department’s credit card? Plus, as acting chief last year in Weiner’s absence, he assured everyone that there was no increase in crime, when the FDLE numbers showed a different picture.
Hudak is who people want to see in charge. He will give the residents, fearful of the recent spate of burglaries and robberies, the confidence that the city needs at the moment.
Hudak should get the job permanently.
Read related story: Gables Police Chief faces firing for fudging crime facts
All of this is being resolved right now, as Ladra types, in a series of meetings. We have a call in to the city attorney’s office to confirm. But four separate sources — including one at City Hall and one at the police department — have all painted this picture.
The chief’s resignation — in the wake of what many call a crime wave Weiner refused to admit existed — could be announced as early as tonight or it 
could be announced at the meeting Thursday.
Hudak is the best choice. He is a cop’s cop with the institutional knowledge and experience to turn things around in Coral Gables. The husband of Miami-Dade Deputy Mayor Alina Hudak, should have gotten the chief’s job four years ago when Salerno hired Weiner from Juno Beach, where he oversaw a department de cuatro gatos.
Before the Gables, Weiner oversaw tropps that numbered in the single or double digits. Gables Police has 191 budgeted positions and, many sources say, is simply beyond his capability.
And Weiner’s always had one foot out the door anyway: He has applied to four or five jobs outside the city since arriving, including the police chief jobs in Miami Beach and Doral. He also reportedly got a job in Texas, but didn’t take it because his family did not want to move.
Gables Police Chief to step down; Ed Hudak could be top cop added by Ladra on
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