MIAMI – Husband and wife Ronald and Nerly Papier, both high-ranking City of Miami police officers, have been fired, Chief Art Acevedo told department staff Wednesday morning.

Both had been taken off active duty last month and were under an internal affairs investigation relating to a car crash and the handling of it.

Ronald Papier was a deputy chief and served as interim chief before Acevedo’s hiring in March. Nerly Papier was commander of the Neighborhood Enhancement Team in Little Havana.

Officer Kenia Fallat, a spokeswoman for the police department, sent Local 10 a statement that read: “Yesterday the Miami Police Internal Affairs Division served Deputy Chief Ronald Papier and Commander Nerly Papier with reprimand packages with a recommendation for termination related to their involvement in a non-injury vehicular crash and the administrative handling of the crash. Final disposition of this matter is pending, therefore, no further statement will be provided at this time.”

According to a police report, Nerly Papier was in her police SUV returning to headquarters on April 2 when she swerved to avoid a car and hit a curb.

An email later came to city and police leaders alleging that Papier was driving under the influence and that instead of following proper police procedures, she told her husband, who allegedly covered it all up by calling it a vandalism incident.

A photograph obtained by Local 10 News shows the vehicle appearing to have damaged tires and rims.