Florida Trust For

Historic Preservation

1994

In 1994, Chief Each implemented the first citizens’ Police Academy in Dade County. The Parks Police Unit, Crime Scene and Code Enforcement Units were all added to the department.

The second death of a North Miami police officer occurred on January 3, 1992, just six months into Chief Each’s administration. Detective Bauer was shot and killed in the line of duty during a bank robbery. Following his death, the voters of North Miami approved a $5 million special bond issue to build a new police headquarters building. The new building would be named the Sergeant Steven E. Bauer Police Building in his memory and would be dedicated to all future fallen officers, killed in the line of duty. Less than two years after Bauer’s death, North Miami lost its third officer in the line of duty. Officer Lynette Hodge responded to a fellow officer’s emergency call for help during the midnight shift on November 16, 1993. En route to help, she lost control of her police vehicle, which flipped over, throwing her from her vehicle. She died fourteen hours later. And so it was, that in 1997 the police department, for the third time in its history, started to move to its current location at 700 N.E. 124 Street. The formal dedication was held June 20, 1997, just weeks before Chief Each retired after 27 years of service.

Thomas S. Hood was named interim Chief of Police June 30, 1997, after being promoted to Assistant Chief of Police in April 1997. In 1997 the department had 118 sworn officers and 55 civilian support personnel, for a total staff of 163. In the two months following his appointment the Family Violence Unit was implemented. He was named Chief of Police on November 10, 1997. He arranged the department’s first Community Open House and Family Day. Under Chief Hood the move into the new Sergeant Steven E. Bauer Police Building was completed. The new building included a training classroom, community meeting room, men and women’s locker rooms and a fully equipped gym. He also provided the patrol officers with laptop computers in their police vehicles. In June 2000, the department received accreditation status from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation. Chief Hood retired on January 11, 2002.

On January 14, 2002, Gwendolyn V. Boyd-Savage was named Chief of Police. Chief Boyd-Savage is North Miami’s current top law enforcement officer and the first African-American chief in the history of the department. In Chief Boyd-Savage’s short tenure, she has expanded the Community Policing concept and promoted the department’s first minority to the rank of Commander. She has implemented the department’s first Strategic Management Plan (2002-2005), clearly defining the department’s goals, objectives and strategies. A computerized statistical analysis tool (CompStat) has been implemented to better analyze crime patterns and therefore develop and evaluate proactive crime reduction strategies. A Community Policing Coalition group has also been formed so that the community and police can work together on matters of mutual interest and concern.

The North Miami Police Department, in partnership with the community, is committed to providing professional, efficient and courteous public service by creating a safe environment and improving the quality of life for those we serve in an atmosphere of respect, courtesy and integrity.