Miami Gardens police report 25.73% drop in reported crime; council members praise community outreach

Domino L. Pratt, chief of the Miami Gardens Police Department, reported to the City Council on April 23 that overall reported crime in the city is down 25.73 percent year to date.

"We are doing very well as it relates to, crime. Okay. We're at negative 25.73% currently," Chief Domino L. Pratt said, attributing the reduction to departmental effort, partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, and new technologies such as license-plate readers.

Pratt told the council the department is meeting regularly with partners across jurisdictional boundaries to share intelligence and coordinate responses. He said the department is focusing resources on specific places and people and combining sworn officers and professional staff who analyze data.

Council members said the department’s neighborhood engagement has helped. Councilwoman Julie Julian praised Executive Officer Gentry and the reorganization that introduced a new team to Residential Seat 4, saying residents welcomed meeting the officers. Councilwoman Michelle Powell thanked officers who spoke with residents and noted a 25% reduction in Residential Seat C3 during a recent community meeting.

"Those kinds of strategies are the strategies that are going to contribute to the continued decline of crime," Julian said after the chief’s presentation.

City staff and council members discussed how policing updates are reported. Vice Mayor Stevens asked whether crime data could be provided weekly; the city manager…