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Jose M.
Diaz
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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.
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.
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