Mayor Pocket - CIP
Mayor Pocket - CIP
WHEREAS, in 2001, the City of Miami (“City”) Charter was amended to mandate that the
City Commission create and established a Civilian Investigative Panel (“CIP”) providing for an
independent and impartial civilian board to oversee the sworn officers of the City’s Police
Department; and
WHEREAS, civilian oversight of police serves to better improve the quality of a police
department and better hold individual officers accountable for their actions; and
WHEREAS, the CIP has been the only active independent investigative authority in
Miami-Dade County (“County”) for more than a decade; and
WHEREAS, the County does not currently provide individuals mistreated by Miami-Dade
Police Department (“MDPD”) officers with any mechanism to register a complaint for
investigation by an independent civilian oversight committee; and
WHEREAS, local governments throughout the United States, including the County, and
the municipal governments within it, have experienced a need for strong, independent civilian
oversight of law enforcement; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2-33(f) of the City Code, the Miami City Commission by
a majority vote deems this Resolution to be of an emergency nature in order to immediately
protect the public health, welfare, and safety of the City’s residents;
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The Miami City Commission urges Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A.
Gimenez and the Board of County Commissioners to create and establish an independent entity
providing civilian oversight of law enforcement which is: (a) adequately funded; (b) staffed with
an independent director and independent legal counsel; (c) authorized to issue subpoenas
within the County and in accordance with the law; (d) authorized to conduct alternative dispute
resolution; (e) authorized to investigate complaints against law enforcement officers; (f)
available for use/participation by all municipalities in the County; (g) authorized to review all
Miami-Dade County Police Department policies and procedures; and (h) all above-referenced
authority be made available to all municipalities in the County which do not have a similar entity.
Section 3. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to Miami-Dade
County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and each of the elected officials on the Board of County
Commissioners.