Resolution 2020-31204 RESOLUTION NO. 2020-31204
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, ON BEHALF OF THE MIAMI BEACH POLICE
DEPARTMENT, TO ACCEPT A DONATION OF $25,000 FROM
THE GREATER MIAMI / MIAMI BEACH POLICE FOUNDATION,
INC., A FLORIDA NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION, TO BE
USED BY THE MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT TO FUND
CERTAIN COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE UTILIZATION OF THE
ANDE 6C RAPID DNA ANALYSIS SYSTEM, WHICH AIDS THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT IN EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY
INVESTIGATING AND SOLVING CRIMES.
WHEREAS, the Greater Miami / Miami Beach Police Foundation, Inc. (the "Foundation") is
a Florida not-for-profit corporation whose mission is primarily dedicated to the welfare of police
officers and first responders in times of distress, and helping support law enforcement efforts in
solving crimes by providing reward funds for witnesses to come forward with significant
information leading to an arrest and/or conviction; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the testimony of witnesses, law enforcement agencies nationwide
rely on physical evidence, including deoxyribonucleic acid ("DNA") biological evidence, gathered
during a criminal investigation to solve crimes; and
WHEREAS, DNA evidence is most commonly used to solve crimes either by comparing a
known suspect's DNA to biological evidence collected from a crime scene, or by analyzing
biological evidence recovered from a crime scene and then comparing the results of such analysis
to those offender profiles contained within DNA databases to help identify the perpetrator; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement agencies must depend on a laboratory scientist to test a DNA
sample in order to ascertain a DNA profile; however, DNA laboratory testing is so time consuming
(often taking several months due to backlogs) and so costly, that police departments across the
country request such analysis only on a small percentage of cases; and
WHEREAS, the DNA analyses for the Miami Beach Police Department are performed by
the Miami-Dade Police Department's Forensic Services Bureau ("MDPD Crime Lab"), which must
perform DNA analyses for thirty-five (35) police agencies in a county with approximately 2.7 million
residents and significant criminal activity; and
WHEREAS, as a direct result of the MDPD Crime Lab's backlog in analyzing submitted
DNA samples, the Miami Beach Police Department (along with the other law enforcement agencies
in the county) must prioritize such requests; and
WHEREAS, technological advances now provide law enforcement personnel (with certain
prior training) the ability to utilize specialized equipment (known as Rapid DNA instruments) to
steer investigations in real time by processing DNA samples at the station or in the field --- and, in
only a matter of hours, obtain critical DNA profile information which can immediately impact an
investigation; and
WHEREAS, since April of 2017, the Miami Beach Police Department has been field-testing
(at no cost to the Police Department or the City) one of the leading Rapid DNA instruments on the
market, the ANDE 6C Rapid DNA Analysis System ("ANDE Rapid DNA instrument"); and
WHEREAS, the continued use of the ANDE Rapid DNA instrument by Miami Beach Police
Department technicians will now have an associated cost, which the Foundation is graciously
offering to help fund, for those consumables (chips, swabs, etc.) necessary for the operation of the
ANDE Rapid DNA instrument; and
WHEREAS, the Miami Beach Police Department has already successfully utilized the
ANDE Rapid DNA instrument in multiple cases to identify (and eliminate) criminal suspects, which
has aided the crime-reduction and public safety efforts of the Police Department and the City; and
WHEREAS, the proposed donation will help to provide the Miami Beach Police Department
the enhanced capability to continue utilizing the ANDE Rapid DNA instrument in an effort to make
the City of Miami Beach a safer place to live, work and play.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission
hereby authorize the City of Miami Beach, on behalf of the Miami Beach Police Department, to
accept a donation of $25,000 from the Greater Miami / Miami Beach Police Foundation, Inc., a
Florida not-for-profit corporation, to be used by the Miami Beach Police Department to fund certain
costs associated with the utilization of the ANDE 6C Rapid DNA Analysis System, which aids the
Police Department in effectively and efficiently investigating and solving crimes.
PASSED and ADOPTED this fs day of Mack , 2020.
ATTEST:
Dan Gelber, Mayor
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Rafael E. ranado Cit Clerk
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MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: March 18, 2020
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA,AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
ON BEHALF OF THE MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, TO ACCEPT
A DONATION OF $25,000 FROM THE GREATER MIAMI/MIAMI BEACH
POLICE FOUNDATION, INC., A FLORIDA NOT-FOR-PROFIT
CORPORATION, TO BE USED BY THE MIAMI BEACH POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO FUND CERTAIN COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
UTILIZATION OF THE ANDE 6C RAPID DNA ANALYSIS SYSTEM, WHICH
AIDS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY
I NVEST I GAT I NG AND SOLVING CRIMES.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
In November 2017, Miami Beach residents Al Eskanazy and Barry Skolnick established the
Greater Miami/Miami Beach Police Foundation, Inc. (the Foundation) as a non-profitable
corporation in the state of Florida. As stated in the Foundation's Articles of Incorporation, "this
organization is primarily dedicated to the welfare of police officers and first responders in times
of distress or fraternity as well as to support efforts of law enforcement in providing reward
funds for witnesses to come forward with significant information leading to an arrest and/or
conviction. The organization will also assist in community outreach to build awareness and
support of law enforcement and to strengthen community relations through participation, events,
and scholarship programs."
During the December 13, 2017 Commission Meeting, a resolution was adopted by acclamation,
"acknowledging and supporting the efforts of Mr.Al Eskanazy and Mr. Barry Skolnick in forming
the Police Foundation of Greater Miami and Miami Beach, a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3)
organization, for the purpose of establishing a police reward fund to provide assistance to the
crime fighting efforts of the Miami Beach Police Department(Resolution 2017-30115)."
ANALYSIS
American law enforcement must still rely today on a laboratory scientists test of a DNA sample.
DNA laboratory testing is so time consuming — often taking months due to backlogs — and so
costly that police departments across the country request such analysis on only a small
percentage of cases. The MBPD's DNA analysis is performed by the Miami-Dade Police
Departments Forensic Services Bureau. This Crime Lab must perform the DNA analysis for 35
Page 498 of 1097
police agencies in a county with 2.7 million residents and significant crime. As such, our
Department and every other law enforcement agency in the county must limit and prioritize such
requests.
Since April 2017, the MBPD has been field testing one of the leading Rapid DNA instruments
on the market, the ANDE 6C Rapid DNA Analysis System. The Miami Beach Police
Department is the only police agency in the country being permitted to fully field test this
particular instrument in this manner. The continued use of this Rapid DNA instrument for crime
scene field work by police technicians as contemplated by MBPD has an associated cost which
the Greater Miami/Miami Beach Police Foundation, Inc. is offering to help fund.
The MBPD expects that as its use of the Rapid DNA instrument becomes known among
colleague police departments in Miami-Dade County, there will be requests by some agencies
to have select DNA evidence analyzed as well. Provided these agencies agree to follow
MBPD's and Miami-Dade's protocols for evidence collection and analysis, our Department
expects to have the capacity to honor these requests and to include the results in the Initiative's
findings.
Based on the early use of the Rapid DNA instrument, the Department is confident the
instrument will aid in our crime-reduction efforts. Detective supervisors have already used the
technology in multiple cases to eliminate suspects and to avoid wasting investigative resources
on false leads. This kind of efficiency in use of resources is an additional attractive benefit of
this technology.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Donation of$25,000.00
Applicable Area
Citywide
Is this a "Residents Right Does this item utilize G.O.
to Know" item. pursuant to Bond Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
Yes No
Strategic Connection
Neighborhoods-Prevent and solve crime for residents and visitors.
Legislative Tracking
Police
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
o Resolution- Rapid DNA Donation
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