MIAMI – Miami residents packed a city commission meeting Thursday to ask that the city hires more police officers.
The budget discussion began at 5 p.m. Those who live in Coconut Grove and The Roads want more officers after an uptick in burglaries in those neighborhoods.
"This is the first step to go about handing it, making sure we have the adequate number of police officers on the streets," said Fernand Amandi.
The department introduced a new class of police recruits Tuesday, along with 10 news officers, of whom five were assigned to Coconut Grove and The Roads.
Some residents hoped for 40 new officers.
"We need more support and more money for our police," said Robert Loupo. "We need to support the police that we do have so that they will stay."