More Police Officers for Ocean Drive

Miami Beach Commissioners approved $46,000 for a pilot project with the Ocean Drive Association to put five additional police officers on the western side of the street on weekend nights for the months of June, July, and August. Under the agreement, the City will pay for one officer and one sergeant, while the Association will fund three officers.
 
Resolution sponsor, Commissioner Mark Samuelian said, “It’s a wonderful collaborative opportunity with the Ocean Drive Association.” He told his colleagues the action will be easily measured in terms of its impact on crime and the willingness of the business community to continue to pay for the additional officers.
 
Both City Manager Jimmy Morales and Miami Beach Police Chief Dan Oates said it has been difficult to get officers to work Ocean Drive in what Morales characterized as “a more difficult off-duty assignment.”
 
This effort, however, provides higher pay. “We think that the added bonus, the extra pay will make the difference this time,” Oates said. “We think the officers will be attracted to the collaborative nature of the work and the way the Ocean Drive Association has set it up.”
 
As to outcomes, Oates said, “We think it will be very effective … if it delivers five additional cops to where the heart of the activity is on Ocean Drive, it’s good for everyone.”