Dr. Feldman donated thirty turkey baskets to families of students from Goulds Elementary School, South Dade Middle School, and Campbell Drive K-8 Center.

“Thanksgiving is a time for families and friends to come together,” said Chief Kitchell. “Our school community is our extended family, and it gives us great pleasure to be able to assist Dr. Feldman in bringing a little bit of joy to families during this Holiday Season.”

On behalf of the entire Department, we congratulate Officer Hernandez and wish her the best of luck in the beginning of her new career.

For its effort, the MDSPD was the recipient of the prestigious International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Civil Rights Award. The award was presented to Acting Chief Gerald Kitchell and Commander Deanna Fox-Williams during the IACP Annual Conference, which was held in San Diego, California from September 29 – October 3, 2012.

The IACP Civil Rights Award recognizes outstanding law enforcement achievements in protecting civil and human rights. The Civil Rights Committee established this award to promote recognition of the many activities performed by the law enforcement profession across the United States and around the world that serve to promote and protect civil rights. The award provides an opportunity to recognize that law enforcement professionals are among the primary guarantors of civil, human, and constitutional rights in democratic societies.

As law enforcement officers, we are perhaps the most visible sentinel for civil and human rights. The effectiveness of the MDSPD, or any police agency, is reliant on developing trust and confidence within the service population – in our case, the school community. This collaboration between law enforcement and community works best when the people served recognize that their individual rights are valued and defended by the police. To achieve this, we balance the need to promote the safety and well-being of all, while protecting their civil rights as individuals. To that end, the MDSPD is truly a protector of civil rights, not merely an agent of social control.

This noteworthy accomplishment is an affirmation of our chosen path and strategies. A holistic approach enables School Police and District staff to take full advantage of the many resources available – data analysis, case management, and school site personnel, such as administrators, social workers and counselors – to truly invest in our future, and always act in the best interest of our youth.

This event increases the awareness of safe walking skills and utilizing safe routes to school for students and parents, as well as encouraging walking as an exercise that promotes good health and physical fitness. In addition, walking helps the environment by minimizing school-related traffic and pollution, and reinforces the importance of reducing traffic speed and obeying the school speed zone limits.

The Miami-Dade Schools Police Department supported the event by having personnel participate in the walk and providing traffic enforcement. Great job to all for a great cause.

The YCW program is structured to teach leadership skills to students who volunteer to learn about school safety. While they learn how to keep themselves safe, they also learn public speaking, critical thinking, leadership, and other skills that will serve them into their adult lives. This reinforces their self-esteem and promotes positive involvement, again curbing misbehavior, crime and violence in the school.

Congratulations to this year’s winners!

Guest speakers included School Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman, who spoke on the dangers of texting while driving; Miami-Dade County Public Schools Senior District Officials; and representatives from AT&T.

Each pledge made to never text while driving is a symbolic commitment to be part of a movement that helps everyone make safe choices with their wireless devices on the road. On average, teens send text messages five times more per day than a typical adult. That’s a lot of texting! Also, drivers that send text messages while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash. AT&T is partnering with teens to get the word out about the serious effect texting and driving could have on their friends, their loved ones and their future. No message is so urgent that it is worth diverting attention from the road and risking lives in the process. It Can Wait.

On September 17, 2012 the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department held its “Annual Award Ceremony in the auditorium of Miami Lakes Educational Center. The meeting provided an opportunity to highlight Department accomplishments and honor those officers who have distinguished themselves in the performance of their duties. The following officers were recognized:

Officer of the Year 2011-2012

Gregory Williams

Officer of the Month

Yewande Gibson – August 2011 Colleen LaBerrie – January 2011

Mario Rivera – September 2011 Gregory Williams – February 2012

Charlie Lopez – December 2011

Exceptional Service Award

Yewande Gibson – August 2011 Gregory Williams – February 2012

Charlie Lopez – December 2011

Employee Excellence Award

Mario Rivera – September 2011 Jose Echezabal – February 2012

Christopher Perez – January 2012 Jose Canaves – February 2012

Jose Rubiales – January 2012 Imtyaz Dad – February 2012

Cheryl Walker – February 2012

Life Saving Award

Colleen LaBerrie – January 2011

SAFETY FIRST
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more officers are killed in vehicle related incidents than violent confrontations involving firearms. In fact, it is the number one cause of line-of-duty deaths each year, and has been since 1997. The NHTSA study also revealed that at least 42% of police officers killed in vehicle crashes since 1980 were not wearing seat belts. These numbers cannot be attributed to young or rookie officers, as was the old assumption. The majority of these fatalities involve officers 30-39 years of age.
It may very well be true that many police officers do not fully grasp the importance of this issue; after all, they have been operating motor vehicles “just fine” for many years. Driving a personal vehicle is one thing, with the usual distractions, but operating a patrol car is another issue entirely. Police officers are trained to operate in “code yellow” at all times, with 360-degree peripheral awareness of environmental danger spots, and always aware of people or vehicles lurking in dark areas. When laptop computers, police radios, and emergency equipment are added to the mix – and actually put to use in emergency mode – one can appreciate the vast difference, and the need for extreme caution. It is, therefore, important for police personnel to be extra-vigilant and attentive in the driver’s seat, obeying all traffic control devices and posted speed limits. After all, safety is, and will always be, our number one priority. It would be unforgivable to maim or take the life of another driver, passenger, or a pedestrian, due to careless or irresponsible behavior behind the wheel. One can only imagine the emotional or psychological anguish that such an occurrence would inflict on the involved, their families, and an entire community.

PERCEPTION IS REALITY
Police vehicles, particularly marked ones, are the single-most visible and iconic representations of American law enforcement. It behooves us all to keep this in mind. Far too often, we read news stories, or watch eagerly-produced exposes on police officers driving at high speeds. One may even recall the highly publicized traffic stop that took place last year involving officers from two different agencies. The incident garnered significant media attention – none of it good – and prompted a backlash from the public sphere. If this embarrassing incident taught us anything, we must understand that public service employees (that’s us folks) are squarely in the national spotlight, and we must be very conscious of scrutiny.
Over the past few years, the M-DSPD has greatly improved the efficiency and effectiveness of all operations. Our service to the school community is truly unmatched and has yielded strong public support. We have worked diligently to build and maintain civic trust, but any perceived disregard for the laws we are sworn to uphold can place the Department in a difficult position. For that reason, we must redouble our efforts to maintain that level of confidence and lead by example.

MY WALLET HURTS
NHTSA statistics revealed that, between 2004 and 2008, 306 officers have been killed in traffic-related incidents, at a cost too great to count. According to Police Driving International (PDI), an organization dedicated to the safety of police officers and citizens, municipalities, counties and states “pay more money related to police involved collisions and pursuits than they will with deadly force encounters.” Thankfully, most police involved crashes are relatively minor in nature, but many have resulted in death or serious injury. Of those, there is a percentage in which the involved officer violated traffic laws.
With every crash, there is an increased risk of injury to the officers, other drivers and pedestrians. Property damage may also be a by-product. The funds to repair resulting damage to vehicles and property, and to cover worker’s compensation costs, are taken from dwindling budgets. Thus, a high rate of police involved accidents can indeed threaten any agency’s financial stability. The issue of police involved crashes is a foremost concern, particularly when most departments are struggling to reduce the number of lawsuits that ultimately cost the taxpayers millions of dollars in settlements each year.
For the M-DSPD – where no new police vehicles have been budgeted over the past four years and counting – preserving an aging fleet takes on added importance. Traffic collisions involving our personnel place unnecessary hardship on our finances and our ability to manage the fleet. It can also place the District in a very tenuous position with regards to civil litigation.

PROMOTING GOOD DRIVING HABITS
Driving any motor vehicle requires special care and attention. Obeying all traffic rules in a consistent manner will allow good habits to develop naturally. Remember, these habits are not the product of any scientific formula; they are developed over time, through experience, observations and application. Please review the following guidelines and let’s think safety first, for ourselves and those we serve.

• Being aware of surroundings, especially when operating a vehicle in reverse – do not rely solely on mirrors. There is nothing more trustworthy than your own two eyes.
• Maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front, particularly in hazardous conditions.
• Always wearing the seatbelt.
• Obeying traffic control devices, even when operating the vehicle in emergency mode; a quick response time is meaningless without a safe arrival.
• Conducting regular safety inspections on the vehicle, e.g., worn tires, brake system, etc., and adhering to the preventive maintenance schedule.
• Being alert when driving near parked vehicles.
• Understanding the vehicle’s anti-lock braking system.
• Utilizing turn signals.
• Anticipating the actions of other motorists.
• Getting a good night’s rest before reporting for duty.
• Having a clear understanding of Department policies and expectations.

Aside from reducing repair costs, protecting life is the ultimate goal. Greater accountability is a major component of this approach. It is expected that improved driver awareness will lead to better judgment, and as a result, less accidents.

The theme of this year’s conference was “Investing in Our Youth Through Partnerships.” School Police personnel, along with Mr. Mark Zaher from School Operations, and Ms. Sara Marken, Assistant School Board Attorney, facilitated workshops on topics such as the District Critical Incident Response Team (DCIRT) and the Random Metal Detection Program (RMDP). In addition to the group seminars, there were a number of special events attended by various District officials. School Board Vice-Chair Dr. Lawrence Feldman and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho attended the President’s Dinner, where they spoke in support of the NASSLEO organization. Mr. Eugene “Red” McAllister, who is a former Chief of the M-DSPD and one of the founders of NASSLEO, was in attendance to give a scholarship award to Minaz Jivraj, a former student at Miami Southwest High School.

The NASSLEO conference was a great opportunity for the District to highlight our many successes in the area of school policing. Special thanks to all the M-DSPD and MPD personnel who worked tirelessly to make this event possible and a great success.