FIU places police chief on leave amid allegations of groping and other inappropriate behavior
Amid public concern about possible groping and other inappropriate behavior, Alexander Casas, the police chief at Florida International University, was placed on leave, said a university spokeswoman Friday.
“FIU does not comment on personnel matters; therefore, no further details are available at this time regarding Chief Casas,” Maydel Santana wrote in an email Friday morning in respone to a Miami Herald inquiry.
Another FIU spokeswoman, Dianne Fernandez, said she couldn’t say why Casas was put on leave or for how long the leave is expected to last due to “human resources rules.”
It’s unclear if the administration announced the news to the university community.
But in recent weeks, accusations have surfaced regarding his conduct.
On April 17. an Instagram account called @westchester.social posted two videos that show Casas appearing to touch two people in the buttocks while posing for photos.
The account also shared an anonymous letter that accuses Casas of “poor behavior,” including inappropriately groping employees as an effort to prank them “on multiple occasions.”
On April 18, WSVN-Fox 7 reported receiving complaints related to the videos, which the news channel reported were recorded during an awards ceremony this year.
Neither Santana nor Fernandez told the Herald if FIU officials are aware of the complaints on social media and the WSVN report regarding Casas.
Casas didn’t immediately respond to a request for comments from the Herald sent via email.
Casas makes $243,024, according to Fernandez. It’s unclear if he will get paid during his leave.
He has been at FIU since 2011, according to his LinkedIn page. Before that, he worked for the Miami-Dade Police Department from 1990 to 2011.
Santana didn’t say which university official put Alexander Casas on leave. But the chief reports to Javier I. Marques, the vice president for operations and safety and chief of staff at FIU.
Major James Mesidor has been appointed acting chief, Santana said.
Major Mesidor joined FIU on April 2021 after retiring from the North Miami Police Department, after more than 27 years there, Fernandez said.
Mesidor made $125,000. And that has been increased to $146,250 while he’s acting chief, Fernandez said.