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Executive Services Bureau
The Executive Services Bureau is directed by Major Shalida Smith and exists to support the department’s commitment to quality law enforcement as it relates to Personnel and Recruitment, Human Resources, Public Affairs, Grants, Accreditation, Emergency Management, Volunteers, and Code Compliance.
Major Shalida Smith
PERSONNEL AND RECRUITMENT
The Personnel and Recruitment Unit processed 46 applicants for the position of both certified and non-certified police officer over the 12-month period. Out of those 46 applicants, we welcomed four new police officers to our agency. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged our entire country, detectives within the unit continued to make any and all efforts to actively recruit new officers through various platforms, City of Miramar functions, attending the local criminal justice training & testing sessions, and continuing our close relationship with the local police academies. In addition to the increased number of law enforcement personnel that were added to the agency, there were many support personnel positions filled in 2020. The police department hired two communications officers, a code manager, and one crime scene technician. It should be noted that the police department also conducts the background investigations for Miramar Fire Rescue, and this year five additional firefighter paramedics were added as well. The Personnel & Recruitment Unit will continue to strive for excellence in recruiting the best candidates for all vacancies within the agency, while mirroring the diversity of our growing city. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have faced unprecedented challenges related to recruitment. Nonetheless, we will continue with the highest standards possible in search of the most qualified individuals to serve the citizens of Miramar.
DIGITAL EVIDENCE UNIT
In an effort to ensure that the Miramar Police Department stays ahead of industry standards, the Digital Evidence Unit (DEU) was created in 2019. The Digital Evidence Unit consists of one sergeant and two digital evidence technicians. The Digital Evidence Unit is responsible for officer training, fulfilling public record requests, equipment maintenance, and acting as a liaison between the Miramar Police Department and the Broward State Attorney’s Office Case Filing Unit. Since the inception of the Digital Evidence Unit, 158 officers have been equipped with Axon body cameras. The Miramar Police Department possesses approximately 77,000 pieces of body-worn camera evidence. In 2020, 184 Public Records redactions have been completed
PUBLIC AFFAIRS UNIT
The Public Affairs Unit is active in the community providing trainings and educational awareness for both citizens and local businesses, which include a wide variety of citizens’ police academies designed to meet the differing needs of the community. Residential Security Surveys – Residential security surveys are provided to the community, free of charge. The survey
identifies vulnerable areas in the home and suggestions are made to improve the home’s security.
Commercial Security Surveys – Commercial security surveys are provided to the business community, free of charge. The survey identifies vulnerable areas in the business and suggestions are made to improve the business’s security.
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) – CPTED is a multidisciplinary approach to deterring criminal behavior through environmental design. CPTED strategies rely upon the ability to influence offender decisions that precede criminal acts. The Public Affairs Unit taught a CPTED and Commercial Security class to the Crime Prevention Academy for Businesses.
GRANTS MANAGEMENT AND ACCREDITATION UNIT
The Grants Management and Accreditation Unit is responsible for a variety of areas including accreditation, policies and procedures, city commission agenda items, grant writing and management, the annual report and purchases related to all police department grants and Law Enforcement Trust Funds. The Department is committed to providing the most professional law enforcement services available and is therefore dedicated to both state and national accreditation. With only about 3% of the nation’s law enforcement agencies being nationally accredited, this honor is of the utmost importance and is integral to the department’s ability to be a progressive law enforcement agency. The Miramar Police Department has held its national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) for over 25 years. The Accreditation Unit is also responsible for all areas related to state accreditation through the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA), which the department has successfully maintained since 1998. In 2020, the Department was proud to have received hundreds of thousands of federal, state and local grant funds designed to offset the cost of law enforcement operations in the City of Miramar.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UNIT
The Emergency Management Unit works to further the department’s ability to mitigate and protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural, technological, and human-caused threats and hazards. The Department employes a Police Planner who works as a liaison with the Miramar Fire-Rescue department. Responsibilities of the unit include maintaining emergency plans and procedures and facilitating disaster preparedness and response training. The unit works in cooperation with the City of Miramar, Broward County and State of Florida Emergency Management Divisions on all disaster management and preparedness related activities.
CODE COMPLIANCE DIVISION
The Code Compliance Division is committed to preserving the aesthetics of our wonderful city making it an enjoyable place to live, work and play. We owe our success to our most valuable stakeholders – the Miramar residents and business owners. They take great pride in their respective communities and have been a force multiplier to achieve the ultimate goal of “voluntary compliance.” Code Compliance is truly appreciative for the partnership. Whilst our “normal” focus is on improving property values by administering fair and unbiased enforcement programs; we are equally driven on the health and safety of residents and businesses. The year 2020 began a “new normal.” The advent of the novel Coronavirus ushered in a series of executive orders issued by Broward County. The Code Compliance Division was committed to doing our part to stop the spread. The City of Miramar and Code Compliance collaborated to provide timely updates through email blasts. Also, Code Compliance partnered with the Miramar Police Department and Broward County Code Compliance to conduct weekly inspections of gyms, bars, night clubs and restaurants to ensure adherence to CDC guidelines and county emergency orders. The division also investigated potential violations received via the 311 Alert Program. We encourage citizens to dial 311 to report violations of the emergency orders. Through the combined efforts of the citizens we serve, police department, Broward County Code Compliance, and the City of Miramar the Division successfully adapted yielding positive results.
2020 IN REVIEW
Annual Code Cases
311 Q-Alert
Restaurant/Bar Inspections
Fitness Centers Inspections
