POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES
The Sweetwater Police Department consists of 24 sworn police
officers, 45 reserve officers, 3 code enforcement officers and 6
support personnel providing around the clock protection for our
residents and businesses. The response time is less than two minutes
to any location within the city. Within the police structure are a
motorcycle unit, a code enforcement division, a detective division, a K-9 division, a
SWAT team, a community resource unit, a Dive team and a school guard
division.
The City's fire protection services are provided by the
Miami-Dade County Fire Department from Station 29 located at S.W.
107 Avenue and S.W. 4 Street on land donated by the City of
Sweetwater. Emergency rescue service is also provided at this
location along with free blood pressure checks at the station.
PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Home Alone Project - Community Resource Unit - Run by
Lieutenant Fuentes, members of this unit contact the city’s
elderly population either by phone or in person to make sure they
are okay. If they need help, they are referred to the city’s
social services office.
Community Service Project - People on food stamps in order
to receive them are required to perform 24 hours of community
service per month. The City makes the community service requirements
accessible to people in the area by providing them the opportunity
of serving their hours close to home. In exchange, the City utilizes
these persons to supplement staff in the administration, police,
maintenance and parks departments.
Police Explorers - consists of young people from 13 to 17
years of age who aspire to go into police work. The Police
Department provides direction and guidance to these participants.
Crime Watch - Run by one of the City’s Reserve Officers,
Corporal Milian-Zabala, this program keeps citizens informed and
empowers them to invest in their neighborhoods. This not only brings
neighbors together for a common cause but forges a closeness that
may not have existed between neighbors before.
Youth At Risk - This program is directed at youth in
endangered homes and environments. Officers give them general
guidance in their lives and help in school with the goal of keeping
them from succumbing to a life of criminal activity.
Domestic Violence Program - The City’s Detective Bureau
in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office, provides services
to victims of domestic violence. The State Attorney’s Office
provides a mobile unit that comes out to the city to help them.
Mental Health Services - Partnering with Dr. Marta Alamo
and Southern Wind Hospital, the City provides 24 beds at this
hospital for residents with mental issues.
Pre-filing program - in conjunction with the State
Attorney’s Office, Sweetwater is the only municipality to pre-file
cases by live feed camera directly from the police station. This
service is offered to other agencies and entities in the area and is
frequently used by the Florida Highway Patrol and the Miami-Dade
Public Safety Department. In exchange, the Florida Highway Patrol
provides the department with a Breathalizer machine at no cost.
DUI Task Force - In conjunction with Mothers Against Drunk
Driving and the Florida Department of Transportation, the City
partners with them to focus on removing drunk drivers from behind
the wheel. As a result of this partnership, the City has received in
excess of $70,000 worth of equipment for its efforts.
Community Resource Unit - This unit provides an officer
who provides protection and mentoring to the young participants of
the City’s summer camp program. This officer dresses in a uniform
that is not intimidating to parents or children such as a polo shirt
and shorts with the police insignia similar to the city’s bicycle
unit uniforms.
Reserve Officer Program - Saving the best for last. This
unit consists of 45 officers who donate their time to the city in
varying amounts. These officers are scheduled to work along side of
the city’s full time officers patrolling the city, as part of the
detective bureau, on the SWAT Team, as members of the Motorcycle
Unit, the K-9 Unit, the Community Response Unit, and performing any
tasks given to them by the Chief or the Major. They give the City
anywhere from 16 to 32 hours a month. These reserves are for the
most part retired officers from other departments with many years of
police experience who want to continue with their involvement as
part of the police community. The city acknowledges its low crime
results are a direct result of having this program. The city could
never afford to fund this many officers in its budget and has
greatly benefited from this program.
WATCH
YOUR CAR PROGRAM
Click
on the above link for information on an exciting new program offered
to residents by the Sweetwater Police Department designed to
minimize car thefts in the City.
| Contact Us - Police
Telephone: (305)552-9900
Fax: (305)552-8053 |
|
|
Position |
Name |
Chief |
Roberto Fulgueira
E-mail: rfulgueira@cityofsweetwater.fl.gov
|
Commanders |
Rafael Toledo Mario
Miranda Victor Valladares |
Major |
Roberto Ochoa |
Captain |
Jesus Menocal |
| Chief's Secretary |
Mayra Toledo
E-Mail: mtoledo@cityofsweetwater.fl.gov
|