Ex-Cop In Hialeah Coerced Women To Have Sex While On Duty: DOJ

Miami FL

08 March, 2022

10:35 AM

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MIAMI, FL — A former Hialeah police sergeant pleaded guilty to three counts of depriving women of their civil rights under color of the law by sexually abusing them, according to a Department of Justice news release. As part of his plea, Jesus Manuel Menocal Jr., 34, of Miami admitted that he kissed a woman and caused her to touch his exposed genitals. He also had a second woman, who was in a psychiatric crisis, perform oral sex on him, and coerced a third woman, who was walking alone at night, into having sex with him, the DOJ said. He was on duty and in uniform during all of these acts. "Menocal sexually exploited the very people he swore to protect," said U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez of the Southern District of Florida. "He betrayed his oath as a police officer and cast a dark shadow over the outstanding work done by the fine law enforcement professionals who serve our communities. Such egregious civil rights violations will not be tolerated." FBI Miami's assistant special agent in charge, John J. Bernardo, called the former police sergeant "a predator who disgraced the badge." "His actions are depraved and serve only to diminish the hard work and professionalism of the vast majority of South Florida law enforcement officers who follow their oath of office and whose conduct is above reproach," Bernardo said. Menocal faces three years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on May 12.