The Knuckleheads of the Day award

Today's award goes to the City of Miami Police and the same Fraternal Order of Police. They get the award for the following.

Miami police officers will step up their protests over stalled contract negotiations by picketing tonight's grand opening of the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts.

The department's Fraternal Order of Police maintains that pay is so low that many officers are taking jobs elsewhere, leaving too many vacancies and endangering public safety.

Officers also worry that a proposed move to the state pension system may mean less benefits for future retirees.

WEEK OF PROTESTS

The protest comes about a week after hundreds of officers and supporters marched on Miami City Hall. A few days before that, union supporters picketed outside a conference of elected officials sponsored by Miami Mayor Manny Diaz.

Union president Armando Aguilar said the protest is necessary because the city is unwilling to compromise. The performing arts center is a valid venue for the protest, he said, because more police manpower will be required to protect the additional people drawn to the area.

''It's not fair to the police department,'' Aguilar said.

Mayor Diaz blasted the union for its decision to picket the center's opening.

`INAPPROPRIATE'

''I think it's totally inappropriate. It's going to be a historic night in the history of South Florida,'' Diaz said. ``I just think it sends a wrong message.''

When it comes to negotiations, Diaz stressed, the union and the city ''are on much more common ground'' than many think.

Officers will protest between 5 and 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, the department itself will be responsible for making sure traffic flows around the Carnival Center.

The protest already has been incorporated into plans for security and traffic duty, a Miami police spokesman said.

The Police have a right to their protest, but I along with Rick at SOTP disagree with where their choice of location. Tonight's opening of the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts is a big event in Miami and shouldn't be marred by an unrelated protest. I don't think this will create sympathy for the police but instead cause resentment if those attending are inconvenienced.

For picking the wrong place for a protest, The City of Miami Police and the local FOP are today's knuckleheads of the day.

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