LTC 195-2019 RETIREMENT OF CHIEF DAN OATES MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC# 195-2019 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members o he City Ci mission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: April 5, 2019
SUBJECT: RETIREMENT OF CHIEF D N OATES
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to announce the retirement of Miami Beach Police
Chief Dan Oates, effective at the expiration of his contract on June 10, 2019. Chief Oates has
decided to bring his illustrious 38-year career in municipal law enforcement to a close, a career
which included Chief of Intelligence and General Counsel to the New York City Police Department,
Chief of the Ann Arbor, MI police department and Chief of the Aurora, CO Police Department
(where he distinguished himself in response to the tragic mass shootings at the movie theater).
Attached please find a copy of the letter he delivered to me today.
As you know, I hired Chief Oates five years ago to address serious issues involving the lack of
professionalism, discipline, ethics and integrity in the MBPD. At the time, I felt that, while there
were many good officers in the department, a crisis of leadership had permeated that department
for years. The reputation of the department had been seriously damaged and public trust of the
department had suffered. Bringing a police chief from outside an organization to change the
culture of that organization is never an easy task and is certainly no way to win popularity contests
for the individual in question. The only other chief who had been brought in from outside the
department in the past lasted less than two years. But I felt then that Chief Oates was up to the
task, and I am proud to say that he has done exactly what he was tasked to do.
When Chief Oates moves on to spend time with family (including a grandchild) and undoubtedly
pursue other ventures, he will leave a police department that has become a local, regional and
even national leader in many respects. He has implemented effective discipline across the
organization, including a proactive Internal Affairs unit. As one example of the impact of these
changes, I recently shared with you a report of the City's Risk Management division which showed
how, since Chief Oates took over the department, claims against the City related to Police
misconduct have gone from as much as over$1,000,000 a year to not having a claim filed against
the city since November 2017. He has focused on training and education of officers, which has
clearly resulted in increased professionalism. For example, he increased minimum annual in-
service training for every officer from 10 hours a year to 40 hours. He also increased the
recruitment standards for new officers, and as a result, today most of our recruits either have a
four-year college degree or military service.
Chief Oates has also modernized the department through implementation of technology and best
practice policing strategies. He fully implemented a Body Worn Camera program; and obtained
a DOJ grant to study MBPD's program and the impact of BWCs on policing. He created the
nationally recognized Homeless Resources Unit and supported its award-winning use of the
Marchman Act to save lives of homeless persons in danger of dying on the streets because of
extreme substance abuse. The Chief developed and vastly expanded the License Plate Reader
and Surveillance Camera programs. He partnered with the State Attorney's Office on Human
Trafficking investigations, providing a sergeant and two detectives to lead the SAO's Task Force
and direct additional regional resources to address prostitution-related crime in Miami Beach. He
assigned a detective to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, beginning a first-time full partnership
with the FBI on all counter-terrorism issues that might impact Miami Beach. At no cost to the
City, he acquired two surplus military vehicles that not only provide armored protection for SWAT
officers, but also can be used as rescue vehicles in natural emergencies. He also used the
military surplus program to acquire, re-purpose and re-outfit a used Coast Guard boat for our
Marine Patrol. Finally, under his leadership (including recruiting a veteran former Chief of
Detectives from NYPD), he has built a detective and investigative unit that continually solves
crimes with often scant evidence. There is no better deterrent than catching the bad guys and
putting them away. No surprise that from 2013 to 2018, there was a 26.73% reduction in the
Part 1 major crime index.
While trying to improve the quality and caliber of the department, he has also cared about the
quality of the lives of the men and women who daily put themselves in harms' way. He has
implemented programs focusing on physical and mental health, including creating the first-ever
confidential Peer Support Program in the region, wherein highly-trained police officers serve as
peer counselors to colleagues undergoing stress in their personal lives. He has brought in
speakers and programs to help officers deal with stress. He has fought to obtain funding for the
latest equipment and gear for our officers, including a state-of-the-art public safety radio system.
Finally, he has emphasized diversity in the department, both in hiring and promotions. By the
way, he has equally shown caring and sensitivity to all communities in our city, just one reason
why he was the recipient of SAVE's 2018 "Champions of Equality" award.
For these and many other reasons, Dan Oates has certainly earned the right to retire, and I know
his skills, experience and can-do attitude will be missed. I appreciate that he has made the
announcement with the required 60 days' notice under his contract, thereby affording me the time
to engage in a selection process to identify the best candidate to replace him prior to the expiration
of his contract. My goal is to bring a candidate for your approval by the City Commission meeting
in June.
In conclusion, I want to reiterate my thanks to Chief Oates for his outstanding work on behalf of
the City and his friendship, and I wish him much happiness and good health in the next chapter of
his life. We look forward to celebrating his career and giving him a proper Miami Beach farewell
in June.
MIAMIBEACH
Miami Beach Police Department, 1100 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
Tel: 305.673.7925, E-mail: danieloates@miamibeachfl.gov
April 5, 2019
Jimmy L. Morales
City Manager
City of Miami Beach
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach FL 33139
Dear Jimmy,
I am nearing completion of my five-year contractual commitment to the City of
Miami Beach. It's been a great experience working for you and with your
leadership team, but it finally feels right to end my 38-year career in law
enforcement. I write today to ask that you begin to prepare for my retirement and
departure when my contract ends in June.
As you know, it was always my plan to end my career here with the Miami Beach
Police Department. It has been an absolute honor to serve with the extraordinary
men and women of MBPD. They give so much every day to keep this city safe.
They are super heroes.
As we discussed, I am willing to stay on while you select and make
arrangements for a successor. I will provide my every assistance to the new
Chief in the transition. I wish him or her the very best.
I know that under your leadership, the good fortune and success of the City of
Miami Beach will continue. Meanwhile, I look forward to retirement and to new
opportunities outside law enforcement.
I will always cherish my time in Miami Beach. Thank you for the wonderful
opportunity you have given me these past five years.
Sincerely,
aniel J. Oa
Chief of Police
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic
community.