City Of Miami Police History
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A CENTURY OF SERVICE Miami, Florida 1896 - 1996
A CENTURY OF SERVICE - THE CITY OF MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT
It started with humble beginnings and big dreams. Mrs. Julia Tuttle and Mr. Henry Flagler envisioned a new tropical paradise. That paradise was to be the new City of Miami. On July 28, 1896, 312 voters anxiously cast their vote to incorporate this new municipality. That day also included the vote for the first law enforcement officer who would "preserve the peace and maintain order." Young F. Gray, a dynamite expert for Henry Flagler's construction projects, was elected the first marshal of the young city.
As the lone "policeman" until 1898, he proudly pulled his goat-drawn wagon, collecting stray dogs and unwanted law breakers in the city of 1,500. He was also the building inspector, sidewalk and street superintendent, sanitary inspector and tax collector. He received $50 a month plus a small percentage of the taxes he collected. The new wooden jail opened in December 1896 with the jail on the first floor and city hall upstairs. Not surprisingly, Marshal Gray also became the jailer. Marshall Gray served as marshal for almost three one-year terms.
The adoption of a new city charter in 1905 would call for the marshal's term to be increased to a two year term. In September 1907, following provisions in yet another new charter, the city abolished the office of marshal and established the Miami Police Department under a chief of police, whose salary was set at $1,200 a year.
Marshal Frank B. Hardee then became the first Chief of Police. The seventeen officers under his command were paid between $720 and $840 per year. The difference being, there were two police departments servicing the public: one for the season tourist town and the other for residents. Both worked six months out of the year. The only legal requirement to become a policeman was residency - a year in Florida, six months in Dade County and 30 days in Miami. Needless to say, this caused great confusion in the police department and undermined morale.
Despite the problems, Chief Hardee and the new Miami Police Department, now decked out in spiffy blue uniforms with brass buttons and gray helmets, bully clubs, and .32 caliber Smith & Wesson revolvers, were the pride of the young city.
In 1910, the population of the City of Miami was 5,000 (a 400 percent increase in one decade). In the same year the original city hall was built at Flagler Street and Southwest 1st Avenue. During this era, Robert Ferguson became the second Chief of Police. Under his leadership, the position of desk sergeant and the ranks of captain and lieutenant were created. The police department hired the city's first traffic officer and motorman. The motorcycle policeman had instructions to arrest anyone who exceeded the new 12 mph speed limit.
June 2, 1915, became a sad day for the Miami Police Department. It was the day the first City of Miami Policeman was killed in the line of duty. Officer John Ribblet died in a shoot-out with Bob Ashley, a member of the notorious Ashley Gang who was trying to free his brother from jail. After the gun battle, three men - the jailer, the officer and a fugitive died within hours of each other at the city hospital.
In 1916, the department numbered 20 and a new chief was elected. Chief Raymond F. Dillon oversaw the long awaited establishment of 18 call boxes and the hiring of the first policewoman, Mrs. Ida Fisher. She was hired to work with delinquent young girls. The police also instituted the Bertillon System of fingerprinting and added a new Ford, the MPD's first automobile, to their list of "modern" equipment.
In 1921, Miami's city government switched to a commissioner-manager form of government, bring sweeping changed to the police department. The chief and the new public safety director were to be appointed by the city manager and police officers would fall under civil service guidelines.
Miami's first city manager was Colonel Charles Coe and he appointed Leslie Quigg as the new chief of police. Chief Quigg was extremely popular but had absolutely no police experience. However, before his first tenure as chief ended, Miami's modern police force grew from 40 to over 200 members in only five years.
Beginning December 13, 1921, long awaited civil service guidelines were enforced which required all policemen to be between the ages of 25-45, pass a physical and written exam, be at least 5'9" tall and serve three months probation. The department was then reorganized into four divisions: traffic, bureau of detectives, vice squad and motorcycle corps. Between December 1921 and March 1922, the Miami Police Department made 2,002 arrests, collected $12,258 in fines, solved 75 percent of all robberies and escorted 100 undesirables out of town.
Chief Quigg was a master at public relations. He created a special force of school policemen to protect the city's children and spoke out forcefully for gun control he also created a courtesy campaign that improved relationships between the police and the public.
On September 5, 1925, Miami annexed Coconut Grove, Lemon City, Buena Vista, Allapattah, Little River and Silver Bluff, increasing the city from 13 to 50 square miles. By the end of 1925, the MPD had grown to 312 members, a 400 percent increase in one year.
It was a rocky period between 1928 and 1944 when five officers and four Miami Police Chiefs were either indicted, suspected or forced to resign. Chief Quigg was indicted for first degree murder then acquitted. He was then charged with assault and battery of which he was acquitted. He was later fired for neglect of duties. Chief Quigg would later be appointed Chief of Police during two other periods of times.
It is not surprising that the Police Benevolent Association was born in the midst of all the instability in the police department. In 1935, a group of policeman organized the PBA to present a unified forum in civil service and employment matters.
In 1944, during Charles Nelson's tenure as chief of police, Miami's Black population was 43,187 and the racial climate throughout the nation was very sensitive. Beginning as early as 1901, Miami's Black community had asked for Black policeman to be assigned to what was then known as "Colored Town." To avoid public controversy, training sessions were held in secret at the Liberty Square Housing project.
Five brave Black men completed the training and were sworn in as patrolmen on September 1, 1944. Those five men were: Ralph White, Moody Hall, Clyde Lee, Edward Kimball and John Milledge. Patrolmen Milledge would later become the first Black patrolmen to die in the line of duty on November 1, 1946. Chief Headley built a separate new Black precinct in 1950, which remained in existence until 1962.
On March 11, 1947, the Miami Commission gave Black patrolmen civil service status after one year of satisfactory service. They were later integrated in the police department in 1960. In 1948, Walter E. Headley became Chief of Police and during his 20-year reign, the Miami Police Department changed dramatically. In 1949, women became sworn members of the department with Officers Dorothy Asti Gramling and Lillian Gheer being the first two women trained in the police academy.
Chief Headley fought for and got a new police headquarters building at 1145 NW 11 Street. On November 10, 1956, more than 1,000 police personnel moved into that new building.
By 1971, there were nine women on the police force. Today, the Miami Police Department employs 166 women and they are no longer classified as policewomen. Females, as well as Blacks, are all simply called police officers.
In 1980, the McDuffie and Jones riots, combined with the Mariel boat-lift (encompassing 125,000 new Cuban refugees landing in Miami) wore the department thin. Chief Kenneth Harms, appointed in March 1978, survived the riots of 1980 and 1982. His strength, commitment and strong opinions were well known but he left office after being fired by the City Manager on January 27, 1984.
Clarence Dickson made history once again when he was appointed the first Black chief of police. Chief Dickson was used to making history. In 1960, he was the first Black admitted to the Miami Police academy and the second Black to attain the rank of major. He retired in July 1988, after 3 1/2 years as chief of police.
Perry Anderson, Jr. was appointed as the second Black police chief, and sixth chief in 19 years. He worked tirelessly to change this department's image and improve morale. He tackled crime by stressing professionalism and teamwork and increased the number of crime prevention programs for adults as well as youth. One way was through the police sponsored program, "Do the Right Thing", which rewards students who were doing just that. This highly successful program became a national corporation and produced training materials to help kick-off new chapters all over the country. Chief Anderson left the department in 1991 to become the Police Commissioner in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Calvin Ross was appointed the new Chief in March 1991. Chief Ross, the third Black police chief, grew up in Overtown and Liberty City, and was well known for his honesty and integrity. One popular change during his administration was the creation of the Neighborhood Enhancement Team (N.E.T.) program. This program divided the city into 11 neighborhoods and has now grown to 13 and the cornerstone of the city's efforts to make each neighborhood cleaner and safer area in which to live, work and play. He left the department in July 1994 to serve the State of Florida as the Secretary of Juvenile Justice.
Donald H. Warshaw, a 22-year veteran of the Miami Police Department became the new police chief. His first official act was to name Bobby Cheatham, a Black assistant chief, as his deputy chief. Under Chief Warshaw's leadership, the Miami Police Department received the nationally touted recognition of being accredited through CALEA standards on November 1995.
Chief Warshaw is a strong advocate of community based policing and has fine tuned the department into one of the most progressive and nationally recognized law enforcement agencies in the country.
The Miami Police Department continues to set the standard of what a great police department should be. It continues to revel in glory and accomplishment amidst upheavals and change within city government. It remains in the forefront of professionalism in police practices, reinforcing its crusade to not only serve the public when a crime occurs but providing crime prevention measures as well.
The year 1996 was a splendid year for the Miami Police Department in many ways. Overall, Part I crime visibly showed an 11 percent decrease. The operations of the Neighborhood Enhancement Team ( N.E.T.) program expanded its services and has proven to forge closer relationships between the police and the community. The Security Communication Alert Network, (S.C.A.N.) program brought forth a decrease in tourist related crimes, while fostering a closer partnership between the hotel industry and the police department.
In 1996, Miami also celebrated its 100th birthday with a myriad of shows, concerts and festivals, throughout the year, culminating in a gala dinner at the Crown Plaza Hotel. Over 1,000 employees and friends attended this great birthday party celebration.
We have come a long way from the sleepy little railroad stop in 1896 to the busy city we are today. With an airport considered one of the finest in the world, the largest cruise ship port in the world, the gateway between Latin and South America and the world, Miami has become one of the most recognized and most visited tourist and business locales in the United States. It has also become a multi-racial community representing over 100 different nationalities and religions.
In law enforcement, we have transcended the borders of mediocre policing from one marshal who patrolled Miami in 1896 to the 1,500 plus police employees. The Miami Police Department is proud of the caliber, experience and integrity of its force, and we insist on maintaining that exemplary level of professionalism. We are committed to our city leaders and residents because we believe that the personal and individualized service we provide is the best way to keep our community safe and secure.
As we work to meet our upcoming challenges, we are determined to maintain the core of values that have long distinguished the Miami Police Department - professional law enforcement, service, integrity and citizen focus. Let's work together and make the next century another proud tribute to Miami and its future.
(In October of 1998, Donald H. Warshaw was appointed to the position of City Manager and he named Major William O'Brien as the new Chief of Police of the City of Miami Police Department.)
Based on information taken from "Century of Service" by Arva Moore Parks.
Borrowed from The Un Official Miami Police Website
Thank You Nelson.
