Miami-June 26, 2025 – Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and City of Miami Police Chief Manuel A. Morales announce the charging of Miami Police Officer Zamir Vargas Valerio as a result of an investigation into the issuance of a false traffic citation to a former girlfriend utilizing a colleague’s credentials. The victim of this incident was deployed overseas when the alleged citation was issued.

“Officer Valerio allegedly used criminal justice resources of a major police department in what may be seen as an attempt to reconnect with a former girlfriend. This is not only beyond normal comprehension, but it is also a violation of the law,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “Both the Miami Police Department and I believe that no one should ever have to worry about the possible abuse of power or the weaponization of private information. The filing of these criminal charges is proof of this belief.”

This matter was discovered when the victim’s mother reached out to her active-duty daughter regarding correspondence from traffic court. The victim believed it must have been a mistake since she was out of the country when the violation occurred. After sending an email to the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts, she learned that the citation was validly issued. After the victim contacted the City of Miami Police Department, the Internal Affairs Division learned that the officer listed as issuing the citation was on disability leave when the ticket was issued. Further investigation led police internal affairs investigators to believe that Officer Vargas Valerio allegedly utilized the computer access password of another police officer to issue the false traffic citation.

“The City of Miami Police Department can confirm the arrest of one of our members, Ofc. Zamir Vargas, following an internal investigation into serious criminal and ethical violations initiated by our department. This investigation was conducted in close collaboration with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, said City of Miami Police Chief Manuel A. Morales.”

“As Chief of Police, I want to make it unequivocally clear that we are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and accountability within our ranks. Our department initiated this investigation because we hold ourselves to the same standards we ask of our community—transparency, responsibility, and obedience to the rule of law.

The actions of one individual do not reflect the values and dedication of the vast majority of the men and women who serve this city honorably every day. Therefore, we must act decisively when any officer betrays the badge and the public’s trust. We remain steadfast in our commitment to maintaining the public’s confidence and ensuring that the Miami Police Department reflects the very best of public service.”