LTC 084-2005 Domestic Violence Unit Initiatives
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. ORá-?OO<¡
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To:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Date: April 1, 2005
From: Jorge M. Gonzalez
City Manager
Subject: DOMESTIC VIO
The purpose of this LTC is to inform the City Commission and Mayor of the successful
sexual crime prevention initiatives of the Miami Beach Police Department's Domestic
Violence Unit (DVU). The DVU Unit is comprised of two civilian employees: Victims
Advocates Ms. Aifa Alvarez and Ms. Sarah Poux. In addition to sexual crime prevention,
they also provide counseling and referrals to victims of domestic violence and other crimes.
Ms. Alvarez and Ms. Poux proactively advocate sexual crime prevention measures to all
segments of the community, but mostly focus on young females visiting the entertainment
district. Because of its popularity, the Entertainment District is often a meeting place for
parties and significant alcohol consumption making for a vulnerable environment especially
for young women. This situation is especially true during the influx of people visiting the
area during Spring Break.
Since 2002, the DVU Unit has conducted sexual crime awareness and prevention
campaigns during the traditional Spring Break months. These campaigns had Ms. Poux
and Ms. Alvarez responding to the entertainment district and City at large in excess of 30
days, during the evening hours on Friday and Saturdays to distribute leaflets and
brochures advising of common sense tips to avoid being a victim of sexual battery.
As a result of the professional reputation of the DVU Unit, Ms. Aifa Alvarez was invited to
give a presentation at a Volunteer Awareness Day Event at the Calvary Chapel Miami
Beach on Saturday 29,2005. As a guest speaker at this event, she explained the purpose
and content of the Spring Break Sexual Crimes Prevention and Awareness Campaigns.
Because of Ms. Alavarez's informative and professional presentation members of this
Church became more involved in this campaign. Their response was amazing as twenty-
two volunteers donated 107 hours of their time to the community in this drive. In an effort
to further the message of the Campaign, Victims Advocate Sarah Poux contacted the
Department of Health and obtained 100 calling cards on key rings offering information
about sexual violence prevention and toll-free numbers for local rape crisis centers that
offer confidential victim services and education. Since these initiatives have been instituted
by the DVU Unit there has been a marked decrease in reported Sexual Battery crimes in
the City of Miami Beach.
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