139-1999 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
C.ITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
hltp:\ \ci. miami-beach. fl. us
L.T.C. No.139-1999
LETTER TO COMMISSION
June 18, 1999
TO: Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City C mission
FROM: Sergio Rodriguez
City Manager
SUBJECT: SOUTH BEACH POLICE ENFORCEMENT UPDATE
This Letter to the Commission is to update the Mayor and Commissioners on the Police
Department's enforcement efforts in the South Beach area.
The Police Department has continued its response to a variety of complaints regarding South Beach
and its nightlife activities. This information is being provided to the Mayor and Commission in
response to complaints received regarding these specific issues. The Police Department has
prioritized the enforcement of these violations and has disseminated that directive to all assigned
police officers.
The initiatives and statistical information are presented below:
The Washineton Avenue Juvenile Gang Task Force
The Washington Avenue Juvenile Gang Task Force operates from midnight to 5:00AM on
Friday and Saturday nights. In addition, the Task Force operates those same hours on
Holiday nights.
For the period from October 3,1998 through May 31, 1999, the Task Force has compiled the
following enforcement statistics:
Arrests
Traffic Citations
Curfew Violations
- 390
- 3,466
- 660
The 3,466 traffic citations specifically targeted the violations that negatively impact the
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quality oflife for the South Beach community, i.e., loud radios/music, excessive use of horn,
careless driving, etc. The Police Department utilizes aggressive traffic enforcement as a
deterrent to these issues, but the number of visitors and vehicles is at times overwhelming.
(See the attached memorandum and attachments to the Police Citizen Relations Committee,
dated June 3, 1999 and titled Washington Avenue Staffing for deployment details. Included
is the statistical information for Fiscal Year 97/98).
Ocean Drive (8th Street Area)
This detail operated from 3PM to 9PM on Sunday afternoons. For the period of May 2, 1999
through May 31, 1999, this detail compiled the following enforcement statistics:
Traffic Citations - 143
Parking Citations - 154
This was a five-week detail targeting loud exhaust systems and illegal parking by a growing
number of motorcycles.
5th Street and Ocean Drive
This is a Traffic Control Assignment that operates on Friday, Saturday and Sundays. The
Police Department assigns a Public Safety Specialist to this intersection to assist vehicle
movement and deter excessive noise.
s+s
F:\POLl\TECHSERV\POLlCIES\COM_MEMO\south beach police enforcment update. Itc.wpd
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CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
TO:
Police Citizen Relations Committee
FROM:
Richard Barreto
Chief of Police
DATE:
June 3, 1999
SUBJECT: WASHINGTON AVENUE STAFFING
Per request, I am providing the Committee with the following details outlining the
police staffing on Washington Avenue:
1. Washington Avenue is located in the South District. The South District has a
minimum staffing level of eight (8) Zone Units, or District Officers, and a Sergeant
on each of the three shifts:
7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (days)
3:00 p.m. - 1 :00 a.m. (afternoons)
11 :00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. (midnights)
A) Washington Avenue is specifically staffed with one (1) Sergeant and eight
(8) Bicycle Beat Officers. They are deployed as follows:
7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
2 Officers
1 Officer
1 Sgt.
3 Officers
2 Officers
W-Th-F-S
S-M- T-W
W-Th-F-S
W-Th-F-S
F/S
3:00 p.m. - 1 :00 a.m.
11 :00 p.m. - 1 :00 a.m.
2. In addition to this staffing, the Department deploys a Juvenile Gang Task Force
(JGTF) on Friday, Saturday, and Holiday nights. The duty hours of the JGTF are
midnight - 5:00a.m. (On duty, and overtime officers if necessary.)
JGTF Officers, and Officers assigned to Washington Avenue, are deployed as
follows:
Page -2.
Washington Ave. Staffing
5th Street Traffic Detail 2 Officers
7th Street - 11 th Street 3 Officers
11 th Street - 13th Street 2 Officers
13th Street - Espanola Way 2 Officers
Espanola Way -17th Street 4 Officers
(Two Sergeants and a Lieutenant supervise the nightly operations.)
The Miami Beach Gang Unit assigns two Detectives nightly and the Department
staffs a prisoner transport van (1 Officer).
3. Also supplementing the on-duty and overtime officers assigned to Washington
Avenue are off-duty officers. There is a "Washington Avenue Detail" with the
following assignments (included in JGTF):
Mon: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 1 Officer
5:00 p.m. - 1 :00 a.m. 1 Officer
1 :00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. 1 Officer
Tues: 11 :00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 1 Officer
5:00 p.m. - 1 :00 a.m. 1 Officer
1 :00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. 1 Officer
Wed: 7:00 p.m. - 1 :00 a.m. 1 Officer
1 :00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. 1 Officer
Th: 11 :00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 1 Officer
5:00 p.m. - 1 :00 a.m. 1 Officer
1 :00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. 1 Officer
Fri: 11 :00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 1 Officer
5:00 p.m. - 1 :00 a.m. 1 Officer
10:00 p.m. - 5:00 a.m. 3 Officers
Sat: 11 :00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 1 Officer
5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 1 Officer
10:00 p.m. - 5:00 a.m. 3 Officers
Page -3-
Washington Ave. Staffing
Sun: 11 :00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. - 1 :00 a.m.
3:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.
1 Officer
1 Officer
1 Officer
In addition to these officers, there are ten (10) establishments that employ fifteen
(15) officers on Friday and Saturday nights. The hours are varied, but are basically
midnight - 5 :00 a.m.:
600 Block of Washington Avenue: 4 Officers
700 Block of Washington Avenue: 2 Officers
800 Block of Washington Avenue: 2 Officers
1000 Block of Washington Avenue: 1 Officer
1200 Block of Washington Avenue: 2 Officers
1300 Block of Washington Avenue: 1 Officer
1400 Block of Washington Avenue: 4-6 Officers
500 Block of Washington Avenue: 2 Officers
In synopsis, the actual number of officers deployed on any given Friday/Saturday/
Holiday night varies based on availability. But the Department ensures that
approximately 25-30 police personnel are strategically deployed and that they
provide aggressive enforcement and a substantial presence. The numbers are also
increased for specific weekends, i.e. White Party, Memorial Day Weekend, etc. I
have attached a copy of FY 97/98 statistics for the JGTF that includes the cost in
overtime dollars only. I have also attached a copy of an LTC that highlights the
increased service hours for City Departments during this past Memorial Day
weekend.
RB/JS/gw
Attachment
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