HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-74-120810/24/74
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FLORIDA:
RESOLUTION NO.
74-1208
A RESOLUTION SETTING NOVEMBER 6, 1974
FOR A SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
TO BE HELD BETWEEN THE HOURS OF
9:30 A, M. AND 5:00 P. M. AND TO BE
CONTINUED IF NECESSARY AT ANOTHER
DATE TO BE SET BY THE COMMISSION, FOR
THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING AN INVESTI-
GATION INTO MATTERS RELATING TO THE
MORALE, EFFICIENCY AND PERFORMANCE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT
AS THEY AFFECT THE CITIZENRY OF MIAMI;
SAID INVESTIGATION TO BE CONDUCTED
PURSUANT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF SECTION 14 OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI CHARTER.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
Section 1. A Special City Commission Meeting will
be held on November 6, 1974 between the hours of 9:30 A. M.
and 5:00 P. M. and will be continued if necessary at another
date to be set by the commission, for the purpose of conducting
an investigation into matters relating to the morale, efficiency
and performance of the City of Miami Police Department as they
affect the citizenry of Miami.
Section 2. Said investigation shall be conducted
pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 14
of the City of Miami Charter.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 24 day of October
Cit Clerk
PREPARED AND APPROVED BY:
MICHEL E. ANDERSON, Asst. City Attorney
30
MAURICE A. FERRE
MAYOR
'COCUMENT INDEX
ITEM NO. ,t
CITY COMMISSION
MEETING OF
OCT3 4
RESOLUTION NO.75(.71zoQ
REMARKS: .
„1974.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS
JOHN S. LLOYD, City Att
d
ney
DOCUMENTS
��t"SUP,O�'rIV
LLOW"
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF DADE
FALL TERM A. D. 1973
FINAL REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY
4:a,. ooy5
"DOCUMENT INDEX
ITEM NO 2
FILED
MAY 21, 1974
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Dade County Grand Jury conducted an investig
In 1970 the art-
roblem
of morale and communication problems within the Miami Pollee bep d been a failure to open lines
ment. The Jury concluded that there ha
teen the top echelon of command and the men in
of communication bet
the field.
This Grand Jury has heard witnesses from the Miami Police Depart -
rank, including the Chief of Police and his
meet of virtually ever y
witnesses who were not part of the top echelon
top assistant. Those roblem
were unanimous
in their testimony that a substantial morale p
e department and that it has intensified since the
exists within the d P
Jury report of 1971. There continues to exist a communications gap
between
the command echelon and men in the lower ranks.
ize that in every organization there is bound to
e a
We recogn
small cadre of irreconcilable malcontents, and in listening to a
e de artment, we made effort to avoid being the
cross-section of th P
sounding board for the complaints of cliques.
erm 1970 Grand Jury stated that although there was a
The Fall T morale problems eak-
ing of
within the Miami Police Department, witnesses, p
were "almost
Chief Bernard Garmire, who had been hired in 1969,
e of (Garmire) as an excellent administrator.'
unanimous in their prais
Such praise was not heard this term.
believes that the administrative abilities of the
This Grand Jury and should be
Chief
of a Metropolitan Police Department are tested by
andlin of exactly those problems which exist today in
judged by his h g
the Miami Police Department.
Beyond his administrative d s fulfil
kind of leader who inspires his men to willingly
their assignments with dedication, and a man who
abilities, moreover, he
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should be the
follow or er ,
communicates to his
"SUPPORTIVE
DOCUMENTS
FOLLOW"
men the feeling that
he is interested in their total welfare. To
the installation of a new administrative Ito"
the men in the ranks, ful as, for example,
dure however brilliant, may not be as meaning
ce �
a visit by the Chief to
the family of a policeman killed in the line
estimony of a number of situations in which
of duty. We have heard t ortunities to
Chief has failed to take advantage of obvious opp
the show "a cop's cop."
w the men in the field that they were led by
It is evident from our investigation that the report of the
previous Grand Jury
has not been implemented. We believe that the
City Administration and the City Commission have also failed to take
he morale problem which has a direct bearing on
action to remedy t
police performance.
Repeatedly, the Gr
and Jury heard these complaints from Miami
policemen: previous administra-
Lines of communication were more open in p
tions.
There is a lack of pride in the Department.
2 • evidence and giving
3. There is inadequate training in gathering
testimony in court.
t feel they have the support of their superiors;
4. Patrolmen do no and officers
imands are given without adequate basis,
repr Section are often made
investigated by the Internal Security
to feel guilty until proven innocent.
d out of specialized divisions such as Homicide
5. Transfers in an eyed basis, too often
are made in groups rather than on a stagg
visions to investigate cases without exper-
requiring those di
ienced personnel.
6. Sergeants are not deployed in the field to achieve maximum
SUPPORTIVE
2 - DOCUMENTS
FOLLOW„
results of both supervision and support for men
Cliques within the department are increasing as
morale deterioration.
8. Promotions are made on the basis of a weight of 80% given to
a written test and 207 to seniority, with no consideration
given to performance. The top man on the register submitted
by the Civil Service Board must be promoted.
9. To the police officer whose career is involved, there often
seems to be no supervision of the Chief by those officials
to whom he is responsible.
in the field
a result of
THE GRAND JURY RECOMMENDS:
1. Since the same conditions exist now as did in 1970, the City
Manager and the City Commission should demand that Chief
Garmire use all the authority vested in him to correct the
conditions outlined. If he cannot improve morale and the
performance of the department, new leadership should be sought.
2. The sheer number of complaints of specific nature, ranging
from report procedures to the condition of motor pool vehicle
equipment, indicates that additional seminars should be held
to discuss morale, hear complaints, and give both administrators
and rank and file officers a chance to exchange views.
3. The Chief of Police should make more personal appearances at
roll call and be more visible to the men in the ranks.
4. Although the Grand Jury does not think this is a proper time
to recommend solutions for every inter -departmental problem,
it does strongly recommend a differential in pay for night
duty.
The Grand Jury recognizes that effective police work is the
3
PORTlV
��L°tip„
r
responsibility not only of the administration of the department, but
of individual officers. The high calling of police work demands that
an officer must consider himself a professional, even though certain
conditions may not be to his satisfaction, and his conduct and perform-
ance should reflect this professionalism. Good communication requires
a two-way flow and the Grand Jury strongly recommends that all members
of the department do their share to keep the avenues open.
In conclusion, the Grand Jury recommends that surveys of the Miami
Police Department now in progress by Booz-Allen Corporation and Stanford
Research Corporation be given thorough study and implementation by not
only the Chief, but by the City Manager and City Commission.
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