Message from the Chief

MESSAGE

FROM THE CHIEF

Chief of Police Dexter M. Williams

A MESSAGE TO MY RESIDENTS:

2020 was quite a year! And that’s an understatement. From a global pandemic, to national unrest and political strife, this past year was a challenging time for our agency and the community we serve. In the midst of all this change, we continued to provide the highest level of law enforcement services. I would like to take a moment to recap the department’s accomplishments, service to our community and vision for the new year:

Our Hoops for Hope basketball tournament awarded five $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors in Miramar. The pre-COVID tournament also encouraged positive competition between teams consisting of employees and residents from across the county.

Under my leadership, as president of the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association (BCCPA), we created a fivepoint plan for police departments in Broward to: eradicate bad police officers; re-examine use-of-force policies; train and track officers’ behavior; educate officers on systemic racism, bias, and cultural differences; and increase the community’s trust in law enforcement through transparency and accountability.

Working with Broward Crime Stoppers Miramar PD spearheaded a new initiative, with a $20,000 donation, named Mendell’s Rule. Birthed from the senseless killing of a Miramar High Criminal Justice Program student, Mendell Butler-Lebel, the new tip initiative, increases the reward money for information leading to the arrest of those who murder juveniles, helping keep violent criminals off the streets.

Our commitment to safety and community service is a priority. We provided free bike helmets and gunlocks to residents and supported weekly food distributions to those financially impacted by the pandemic. Our officers were happy to participate in parades celebrating birthdays, graduations and other milestones, helping bring joy to

those who couldn’t celebrate with their family and friends. We also partnered with philanthropic organizations to donate snacks and school supplies for students, Thanksgiving turkeys and desserts to at-risk families were distributed and we continued with our annual Shop with a Cop program and toy drives to brighten the holidays for children in need.

Our Code Compliance Unit, along with our road patrol officers made thousands of visits to businesses to educate and ensure community compliance with mandates created to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Education campaigns on topics to include traffic related issues and crime prevention were also a priority. As we embark on 2021, the Miramar Police Department will continue to foster technology for the new age of policing and maintain transparency to support the legitimacy of public safety. We will be providing our residents in our historic area with a state of the art police substation, due to open in March. This year, our focus will be on recruitment - hiring qualified candidates that are committed to community-oriented policing and providing the best service to our residents and businesses.

I began my career with the Miramar Police Department 28 years ago. I have watched this city grow and transform into a thriving community. Although my retirement is on the horizon and my tenure as chief of this amazing department is coming to a close, I will continue to reside in Miramar, confident that I leave this agency in great hands. Miramar remains the best place for me to live and enjoy the next chapter in my life. I have renewed hope that with this new year, a brighter future is on the horizon. Thank you for the support you have given me and this department. Here’s to a great 2021!

An Honor to Serve,

Dexter M. Williams

Chief of Police