Even though there are no police layoffs, Miami-Dade Police are short more than 250 officers. That may be why three dozen lieutenants, sergeants and 
detectives are being moved from specialized units to street patrol.
Most are from the narcotics and economic crimes units.
But there is a trickle down cost to the change: There will be fewer cases followed up on in the specialized units that lose detectives. That means fewer mortgage fraud cases, identity theft investigations and undercover drug stings. That could mean more gang activity.
Ladra hears that requests for warrants are down because of this domino effect.
In an anonymous email sent to all the Miami-Dade Commissioners Thursday, someone who is obviously an insider at the county police department, asks some tough questions about what the transfers say about this administration’s priorities. The writer also raises concerns about the way the transfers were made and the people who were, he or she says, targeted.
The email comes a day after PBA President John Rivera sent a letter to Commission Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa accusing Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Cry Wolf” Gimenez of lying and being retaliatory with the layoff notices sent to three civilian police staffers who happen to be members of the bargaining unit.
This email is unsigned and the writer probably prefers the cloak of anonymity because of fear of retaliation. It is obvious that it was written by someone in the know within the department, so without further ado, Ladra presents his or her email in its original entirety:
Dear Commissioners,
I don’t know if you have been made aware of this but the Miami Dade Police Department just cut their narcotics unit in half. Miami Dade is one of the busiest areas in the country when it comes to drugs and drug related crimes. We lead the nation in indoor grown marijuana and we are one of the top three entry points for drugs into this country. We are the third largest department in the country, the largest in Florida and a major hub for drugs coming into this country. And they want to reduce the unit? Why are we getting rid of half of the unit when we should be adding to it? Layoffs have been cancelled and we have new officers.
Three middle school kids were recently arrested for bringing guns to school. As anyone wondered why they brought guns to school? Or what would have happened if they started shooting? How many innocent little kids would have been killed? You can be sure that those
kids were involved in gangs and drugs. Can you imagine the outrage your constituents would feel if those kids began shooting inside a middle school and they found out that the drug unit was cut in half? Are you prepared to read about things like that more often and are you comfortable explaining to the public how an elected official supported cutting the drug unit in one of the busiest areas in the country? Do you think they will understand that their child was murdered because the only way to save money was cutting the drug unit in half? A majority of the cries committed ere can be traced back to drugs. Whether it’s the crack addict breaking into a house, gangs fighting for drug turf or drive-by shootings, they all have drugs in common.
Miami Dade County is the busiest area for indoor grown marijuana in the country. They handle around 300 grow houses each year in addition to their investigations. The houses are located in populated areas, contain dangerous chemicals, kids and have been known to explode. They have even been found underneath houses. Cutting the unit half will cause the number of these houses to explode.
If you are going to cut a unit in half, do you think it is wise to transfer your most senior and experienced people? Do you know what criteria were used?
It looks like whoever made these decisions use the friends and family plan. If you were a male and Hispanic or a young Hispanic female, you had a good chance to stay in the unit.
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Email to Miami-Dade Commission questions police transfers added by Ladra on
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