Memorandum of Understanding do/6 - S9y
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
This Memorandum of Understanding is entered into by and between the City of
Miami Beach, Florida, (City), by and through its police department, the City of Miami
Beach Police Department (MBPD) and the Office Of The State Attorney for the Eleventh
Judicial Circuit of Florida (SAO) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
(FDLE), in furtherance of their respective duties under law for the purpose of facilitating
investigations of incidents as described hereafter. The City, the SAO and FDLE agree
as follows:
1. The occurrence of any of the following predicate events will initiate investigative
and forensic involvement, assistance or coordination by FDLE:
a. The shooting of a person by a MBPD law enforcement officer acting in the
line of duty; or
b. The death of an arrestee while in the care, custody or control of a MBPD law
enforcement officer, the death of an arrestee shortly after being in the care,
custody or control of a MBPD law enforcement officer or the death of an
intended arrestee during an arrest attempt by a MBPD law enforcement
officer.
2. Upon the occurrence of any of the enumerated predicate events, the ranking
MBPD member on the scene will ensure that emergency medical services are provided
to injured persons and that a secure crime scene perimeter is established with restricted
access. Only emergency medical personnel, crime scene technicians, medical examiner
personnel, State Attorney personnel, investigating FDLE members and other law
enforcement investigators assisting FDLE will be permitted inside the crime scene
perimeter. The ranking MBPD representative will then ensure that the FDLE regional
operations center is promptly contacted and requested to dispatch the FDLE Critical
Incident Team to initiate an investigation, notify the SAO Police Shooting Team and to
coordinate crime laboratory services at the scene.
3. Pending arrival of the FDLE Critical Incident Team, the ranking MBPD member
will ensure that the scene remains secured, that physical evidence and documentation
is protected and preserved and that all law enforcement and citizen witnesses are
identified and separated pending initial interview. If feasible, the ranking MBPD member
will ensure that arrested persons at the scene are detained pending the arrival of the
FDLE Critical Incident Team. The MBPD will conduct the investigation related to any
underlying criminal activity that preceded or occurred at the same time as the predicate
events outlined in paragraph 1 above, when applicable. The ranking MBPD member will
also provide any assistance requested by FDLE during and after the on-scene
investigation has been concluded, such as additional collection of evidence from
suspects, vehicles, or involved law enforcement personnel, as well as the securing of
other evidence such as radio communications tapes. The ranking MBPD member will
also coordinate with local law enforcement in any necessary crowd control efforts.
4. Upon receipt of notification from the MBPD that any of the enumerated predicate
events have occurred, the appropriate FDLE Special Agent in Charge or designee will
immediately implement an investigation pursuant to FDLE Procedures governing FDLE
investigations of Non-FDLE Officer Involved Shootings and in-Custody Death Incidents,
which are incorporated herein by reference. FDLE, in conjunction with MBPD, will
promptly coordinate the dispatch of the Critical incident Team together with the
_ appropriate crime scene personnel, medical examiner personnel, State Attorney
personnel and any additional law enforcement personnel which are required. FDLE will
be the lead agency, in consultation with the State Attorney's Office, responsible for
conducting all interviews and sworn statements of witnesses and subject officers.
5. FDLE will assume operational direction of investigations and forensic assistance
or coordination initiated pursuant to this Memorandum of Understanding. FDLE may
request the assistance of MBPD personnel or personnel from other law enforcement
agencies.
6. The MBPD will retain overall direction and responsibility for any internal or
administrative investigations initiated in response to the occurrence of any of the
enumerated predicate events. However, the parties agree that the criminal investigative
efforts take precedence over any internal or administrative investigations conducted by
the MBPD. No documentation, whether internal report or statement authored or
obtained by MBPD personnel involved in the subject incident that has been provided to
the MBPD under order or policy, shall be provided, or its contents revealed, to the
criminal investigative team or the prosecutor until such time as the criminal investigative
team and the FDLE Office of General Counsel agree that the criminal investigation will
not be adversely impacted by any potential for immunity that may attach to any such
statement. The criminal investigative team and the FDLE Office of General Counsel
may consult with the prosecutor to determine whether such statement may adversely
impact any subsequent criminal prosecution. However, the criminal investigative team
and the FDLE Office of General Counsel will make the final determination regarding use
of such statements in FDLE's investigation. To help assure that the criminal
investigation is not impeded or negatively affected by internal or administrative
investigative efforts, the MBPD's internal or administrative investigation shall be initiated
only after the criminal investigative efforts have been concluded or when otherwise
specifically authorized by the FDLE's investigative team.
7. The parties agree that the MBPD may issue initial press statements
acknowledging an incident, reporting the status of the law enforcement officer(s)
involved in the incident, and referral to the investigative process. At the appropriate
stage(s) of an investigation initiated under this Memorandum of Understanding, FDLE
will forward copies of all investigative reports and investigative summaries to the State
Attorney having jurisdiction over the case and to the MBPD for review. Transmittal of
reports and summaries will be done so as to preserve any applicable exemptions from
public disclosure and to maintain any confidentiality of information that may apply. Any
press release related to investigative activities and responses to public records requests
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shall be coordinated jointly by the involved agencies to assure that disclosure, if any, is
appropriate and timely. The parties agree that best efforts will be made to coordinate
said releases jointly.
8. FDLE will submit all final reports to the State Attorney for review. FDLE will report
the material factual findings of the investigation but will offer no recommendations or
reach legal conclusions concerning whether the force used, if any, was justified.
9. This Memorandum of Understanding represents the entire agreement between
the parties on this subject matter. Any alteration or amendment of the provisions of this
agreement shall be in writing, duly signed by authorized personnel of each of the parties
and attached to the original of this agreement.
10. This agreement shall become effective on February 1, 2017 provided that all
parties have signed below. Any party may terminate this agreement by providing the
others with thirty (30) days advance notice in writing or by mutual agreement of the
parties.
11. This Memorandum of Understanding does not supersede or replace any existing
Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Miami Beach, by and through its
police department, MBPD, and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies or municipal police
departments as it relates to Police Use of Deadly Force Investigations.
For FDLE: For the Office of the State Attorney:
Richard L. Swearingen, Commissioner Katherine Fernandez Rundle
Florida Department of Law Enforcement State Attorney
Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida
Date: Date:
For the City:
_ f■A lumpleillIP
Danie yol= e s Ji y L. • orales
Chief o, olice Ci i■ Manager
Date: I `, Da e: i I ∎e (17
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Rafael E. Granado .)»:\ r` -`VL
Rafael
Clerk �\ �', APPROVED AS TO
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