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File ID: #7865
Resolution
Sponsored by: Mayor Francis Suarez
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS
OF THE CIVILIAN INVESTIGATIVE PANEL AND THE CITY OF MIAMI'S POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO STRENGTHEN THE MUTUAL TRUST AND RESPECT BETWEEN
POLICE OFFICERS AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE BY DEVELOPING A
MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE POLICY AGREEMENT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
A COMMUNITY -POLICE MEDIATION PROGRAM TO FACILITATE DIALOGUE AND
ASSIST STAKEHOLDERS IN UNDERSTANDING THE UNDERLYING ISSUES AND
PERSPECTIVES STEMMING FROM POLICE ENCOUNTERS.
City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution
Enactment Number: R-20-0299
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 7865 Final Action Date:9/24/2020
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS
OF THE CIVILIAN INVESTIGATIVE PANEL AND THE CITY OF MIAMI'S POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO STRENGTHEN THE MUTUAL TRUST AND RESPECT BETWEEN
POLICE OFFICERS AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE BY DEVELOPING A
MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE POLICY AGREEMENT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
A COMMUNITY -POLICE MEDIATION PROGRAM TO FACILITATE DIALOGUE AND
ASSIST STAKEHOLDERS IN UNDERSTANDING THE UNDERLYING ISSUES AND
PERSPECTIVES STEMMING FROM POLICE ENCOUNTERS.
WHEREAS, in a referendum vote in 2001, seventy-three percent (73%) of the electorate
of the City of Miami ("City") approved the creation of the Civilian Investigative Panel ("CIP"); and
WHEREAS, the City Commission adopted Ordinance No. 12188 on February 14, 2002
establishing the CIP with the objective of providing independent investigations into complaints
filed by residents and visitors of the City against law enforcement officers of the Miami Police
Department ("MPD") alleging misconduct and to provide impartial oversight of MPD's policies
and practices; and
WHEREAS, police departments across the country are currently facing the challenge of
building community trust in an environment of controversial incidents and political polarization;
and
WHEREAS, some community members generally believe that police officers are biased
in exercising their law enforcement powers; however, biased policing complaints are very
difficult to investigate and resolve because doing so requires an understanding of the principal
officer's notions during an encounter and his/her motivation for the enforcement or investigative
actions; and
WHEREAS, the CIP and MPD have collaborated to establish a policy agreement for the
creation and implementation of a Community -Police Mediation Program ("Program"); and
WHEREAS, the Program will enable a non -adversarial meeting where complainants and
principal MPD officers can meet as equals in a comfortable, quiet, and private space to discuss
the circumstances of their encounters and conduct that formed the basis of the complaints; and
WHEREAS, the Program aims to create a process for resolving civilians' complaints filed
against MPD officers through a face-to-face meeting during which a professional mediator
serves as a neutral facilitator to provide the parties with the opportunity to discuss an incident in
a safe confidential setting and to share their individual perspectives; and
WHEREAS, the Program will be utilized by the CIP for complaints received against MPD
officers involving discourtesy or perceived bias and only in instances where both the MPD
officer and the complainant voluntarily agree to participate in the Program as an alternative to
the formal CIP investigation process; and
WHEREAS, immediate objectives of the Program are to increase satisfaction among
complainants, improve officer conduct, and contribute to MPD's community policing goals
through better community -police relations; and
WHEREAS, the long-term goals of the Program are to provide opportunities for
community members to learn about police procedures and perspectives, sensitize MPD officers
to community perspectives and concerns, and provide feedback to MPD officers regarding how
their conduct appears to members of the community;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution
are adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The Miami City Commission supports the efforts of the CIP and the
MPD to strengthen the mutual trust and respect between MPD officers and the
communities they serve by developing a mutually acceptable policy agreement for the
implementation of the Program to facilitate dialogue and assist stakeholders in
understanding the underlying issues and perspectives stemming from police
encounters.
Section 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ndez, City ttor ey 9/10/2020