Miami-Dade County mayor's proposed budget includes police cuts

Some police officers fear financial savings may end up in loss of life

MIAMI – Miami-Dade employees were reacting Wednesday to the proposed $6.2 billion budget that Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez carved out.

To deal with a $64 million gap, Gimenez was proposing job cuts in the police department's specialized units. The cuts affect the economic crimes, narcotics, special victims, forensic services, robbery and organized crime bureaus.

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Some in the police department warned that the "cuts were going to cost lives" and that they were going to give "gangs a big advantage." A special victims unit police officer said he force's ability to "investigate domestic violence cases is already overwhelmed," as are the units that work with fraud.

The number of layoffs remains negotiable until September. "Any concessions successfully negotiated with our labor organizations ... will allow for the buyback of direct service cuts," Gimenez said in a letter about the budget.

Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association president John Rivera said residents were going to have to be proactive about protecting their homes.

Among the most controversial cuts were internal investigators with the Professional Compliance Bureau, who look into complaints against employees. Gimenez was also criticized for reductions that leave the tactical narcotics team without three lieutenants, 10 sergeants and 22 officers.

"These reductions will impact the department's ability to address drug trafficking and gang related crimes, which tend to influence other types of violent crimes," Gimenez proposed budget said.

Also controversial were plans to cut three officers with the Marine Patrol Unit, and a captain in the Homeland Security Bureau. Dozens of crime analysis specialists and crime scene technicians feared that they will too be getting pink slips.

To save about $4.3 million, the proposal cuts 50 officers with the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, an education program for recruits that is designed to prepare and train future police officers.

Gimenez also wants to close the police's Midwest district station, 9101 NW 25 St., in Doral.  This means Major Jesus Ramirez, a captain, a lieutenant, a sergeant, seven officers and five civilian staff may lose their jobs. Special Patrol Bureau Major Thomas "Pat" Hanlon may have to move to Ramirez's office.

Gimenez also wants to eliminate the police's Strategic Policing Operations Response Team. The unit's mission is to identify "areas of impacting violent crime" and to provide back-up,  Lt. Ray Melcon said. It includes one lieutenant, two sergeants and nine officers.

To save $806,000, the cuts also include a unit that deals with emergency preparedness during hurricanes, acts of terrorism and shootings. This includes the Incident Management team's lieutenant, three sergeants and five officers.