I haven't had a chance to post here for a while as I and the other staff members of the Miami Gardens Police Department have been busy putting together our police department.
All of our unmarked vehicles have been received, and outfitted with covert lights and sirens. Our marked cars have started arriving and are being outfitted with lights, sirens, computer mounts, and other equipment. We have identified OSSI as our RMS, CAD, and Report Writing software. We have located a building to be remodeled for our headquarters. We have ordered our firearms (Glock 40 cal) and other exciting accomplishments. This a brief list of accomplishments necessary to make the department a go by December 1st, 2007.
It seems like quite a few people are interested in what’s going on with our department, as the MGPD post appears to have the highest number of views and posts on the Offier.com web site.
As far as the sergeants’ selection process goes, we have extended conditional job offers and expect to identify 11 additional sergeants to hire within the next two weeks. We are no longer accepting applications for the Sergeants’ position though some people have submitted applications and will be granted interviews.
On the subject of police officer interviews we have contacted candidates and have given them a two week deadline to confirm their participation. We will continue to gradually contact applicants to prevent an onslaught of calls into H.R. We are on schedule with the posted timeline on our web site as well as the information that was mailed to candidates who previously submitted applications.
It should be noted that not every applicant will receive an interview. Candidates who have a history of discipline or termination from their agencies, or have worked for several police agencies over a few years or have resigned from their department while under investigation; these individuals should not expect to be given an interview.
We are a highly desirable agency to work for and will always select only the best employees to be a part of our department.
I see quite a bit of information on this post that speaks about the quality of life in the City of Miami Gardens, as well as how dangerous it is. It sounds like some people are scared to work in a City which poses a policing challenge.
I can say that the quality of life in the City of Miami Gardens is on the rise everyday, this includes beautification of our city entryways and swales, planned updates to our parks and community centers, community redevelopment, and other accomplishments. We are a new city having been incorporated in 2003, and are proud of our progress. Our Police Department will be another part of that growth and improvement process.
I am of the frame of mind that law enforcement officers should welcome the opportunity to bring calm from chaos, though we are not a chaotic metropolis. If you want to go someplace where the work has been done, there are some great bedroom communities all over the country that would welcome you as an applicant. As for the Miami Gardens Police Department, we want officers who are committed to problem solving policing and good old fashioned police work.
To help give interested candidates an accurate picture of the crime and arrest trends in our city, please visit the updated “About Miami Gardens Section” of our web site.
We have recently updated the MGPD web site with crime and arrest statistics. Please access this link http://mgpolice.org/about.htm for more information.
Additionally I have posted some helpful information in the “Out of Town Applicants” section of our web site for people who wish to find additional information on South Florida. http://mgpolice.org/ootapplicants1.htm . You may use this link to find more information on cost of living, the visitors and conventions bureaus, Sun-Sentinel and Miami Herald web sites, airport, hotel, and rental car information
Candidates will be asked to travel to Miami Gardens for their initial interview, which will be used to establish a list of eligibility. If a candidate is given a conditional offer they will be asked to return a second time for their Polygraph, Psychological, Medical Exam and initial Background Investigation. EVERYONE will go through this process.
I agree with frostbiteCRA’s post and encourage you to do your homework before you make the move to South Florida. It is expensive to live here and there are unique challenges to live in South Florida like taxes, housing cost (though they’re on the decline), and insurance cost.
Five to seven days would be ample time to explore the area, and the cost associated with seeking employment is customarily tax deductible, even if you are not successful in the hiring process. Please consult your tax professional, or the IRS for specific information on this deduction.
The last thing the MGPD wants to do is hire an individual who commits to our agency, moves their family here and later finds out that they can’t afford to live here, or does not like the area. That would be a disruptive move for your family, and would be a costly expenditure for the Miami Gardens Police Department.
Regardless of the challenges to live here, my wife and I love living here, and are very comfortable raising our family here. There are great schools and universities in South Florida, exciting amenities, night life, and attractions for singles and families, as well as great weather and beautiful comminutes throughout South Florida to live in.
We are not trying to make anyone think the City of Miami Gardens is like Mayberry, because it isn’t. If that’s what you are looking for, you got the wrong place, but if you want to do police work, and there’ll be lots of it required in our City, than this is the City for you.
If you want to work for a City that believes its officers should have the best equipment, benefits and salary package, which allows them to care for their families working 40 hours per week, in comparison to other agencies where officers have to work 40 + 20 more off duty officers, than this is the place for you.
If you want to be a part of brand new department with unique challenges and rewards, this is the place for you.
If you want the support of your elected officials, professional City management, and police management, then this is the place for you.
If you understand the importance of customer service as a police officer; and this means writing tickets and locking offenders up, then this is the place for you.
If you have embraced the community service philosophy and it has been woven into your policing style, then this is the place for you.
If you are lazy and hope to come to our City for the money or to coast, this isn’t the place for you.
If you are a rude, unprofessional, ill tempered or abusive officer, then this isn’t the place for you.
If you have a problem with diversity, and there’s lots of it in our City and the surrounding communities, then this isn’t the place for you.
If you don’t understand that you are a public servant first, as a police officer, than this isn’t the place for you.
The temperature is often hot and hotter in South Florida and there is NO snow and the trees don’t lose their leaves. If you enjoy a change of seasons, this isn’t the place for you.
Again I appreciate everyone’s interest in our department and commend the individuals who have acted quickly to be a part of our team of professionals.
Be safe, and wish you well in the process,
Major Alfred Lewers Jr.
Support Services Bureau Commander
Thursday, May 3, 2007
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