The Miami-Dade Police Department is already short somewhere around 350 to 600 officers, depending on who you ask. And that number rising — as rookies flee to other departments and veterans retire. About 194 officers have retired or resigned within the last few months alone. On Monday, putting our neighborhoods at further risk, our police […]
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson called for a “State of Emergency” meeting last week about a spike in recent shootings in her District 3 — at least 18 people shot in 21 drive-bys, including a 14-year-old boy who was killed — and what can be done to stop the violence. About 200 people attended, including […]
The violence that erupted in Ferguson — as well as the police shooting that started it — has refueled the debate about body cameras on police officers, including in Miami-Dade, where the mayor and commission have set $1 million aside in this year’s tight budget to equip 500 county cops with video recorders worn on […]
Members of the PBA bargaining unit will meet again with Miami-Dade Human Resources Director Arlene Cuellar today to try to reach an agreement on the contract with the Miami-Dade Police employees, both sworn and civilian. But already it looks like things are going better than before — if only because they are talking and this […]
On any given day of the week, morning or afternoon, you can turn your radio dial and hear either Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Cry Wolf” Gimenez and county commissioners speaking to the masses. While it’s not equal time, now the county cops want to reach an audience, too. The Dade County Police Benevolent Association launched its […]
It’s not like she’s going to need Kevlar, but Miami-Dade County Human Resources Director Arlene Cuellar might want to bring some extra chutzpah and a sense of humor to work today: She’s going to meet this morning with the bargaining unit at the PBA, which has what can only be described as pretty hostile relations […]
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 […]
We all heard Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Cry Wolf” Gimenez say it repeatedly last month and in August: He had saved the day. There were not going to be any layoffs at the Miami-Dade Police Department. Well, either he lied or he flip flopped, because at least three police department employees received notices Wednesday that their […]
A planned recall of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Good to Go” Gimenez is not yet underway, but these very rustic signs are popping up already urging folks to “Layoff Mayor Gimenez.” It is one political sign that stands out from the rest in this election week, perhaps because of its minimalist style and rustic appearance. Capt. […]
There is a cost associated with the layoff of police officers — even though we are now hearing that may not happen at all — and according to union representatives, that cost is almost $3 million. A typical recruit class of 45 rookies goes through a 36-week period of academy training during which they are paid. […]