The Miami River Enforcement Group (MREG) is comprised of law enforcement and regulatory agencies operating on, or along, or having jurisdiction over the Miami River and the adjacent land within the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County. Acting with DERM as the lead agency, the MREG performs multi-agency inspections of facilities along the Miami River. This approach is beneficial to both facility operators and regulatory agencies alike. Facility operators benefit from the unified, consistent enforcement approach by local, state and federal agencies with sometimes concurrent jurisdiction. The agencies benefit from an increase in knowledge across jurisdictional boundaries, increased interagency cooperation and greater efficiency.
The MREG offers a consistent approach to enforcement by allowing waterfront facilities not currently in compliance with regulations to come into compliance. The MREG multi-agency inspections have also helped to combat the single greatest problem of enforcement identified by agencies: lack of resources.

PROBLEM: The greatest problem affecting Miami River enforcement effort is identified as limitations in staff and funding.

SOLUTION: Emphasize and pursue a creative combination of continued efforts, new initiatives and alternative funding sources.
A variety of new programs and funding sources are described in this section. In addition to the Miami River Enforcement Group's regulatory efforts aimed at marine operators, a number of agencies are devoted to stopping environmental infractions and criminal activities taking place in the larger context of the River (such as Customs, Coast Guard, DERM, multiple local police forces, the State Attorney's Office, Marine Patrols, etc.). A desirable end product of reduced crime is enhanced quality of life for the River community through the improvement of neighborhoods.

PROBLEM: A lack of attention to the Miami River and its navigable tributaries in the West Little Havana area has lowered property values, increased smuggling, harmed the environment and discouraged the commercialization of waterside properties.

Long neglected code compliance and environmental, safety and law enforcement problems can be resolved with increased staff and funding. The City should designate this River neighborhood to serve as a "laboratory" for the nation to measure the success of community policing and government initiatives.

SOLUTION: In 1998, the City of Miami Police Department received a one million dollar grant from the Community Oriented Policing Services program under the U.S. Department of Justice. The funding provides technology and training for officers within three areas of Miami to undergo community partnership development and problem solving training. One of the areas chosen was the West Little Havana NET area along the Miami River.

The City of Miami Police Department recognized the West Little Havana area on the Miami River as a suitable "neighborhood" for implementation of the SARA problem-solving management model used in community policing. The application of the SARA (Scanning, Analysis, Response and Assessment) model encourages sergeants and their community officers to use external and internal resources to be innovative and "think outside the box" in addressing problems within a specific beat. The intent in West Little Havana is to improve the quality of life and promote marine business interests along the contiguous waterfront properties. The expected result is a reduction in crime, increased property values, greater environmental protection and improved commercial viability. Halfway through completion, the program will solicit post data from the West Little Havana NET in the fall of 1999 to determine the success of the training.

PROBLEM: Limitations of agency resources in staff and funding for other distressed neighborhoods along the Miami River.

SOLUTIONS: Identify a funding source to supplement Miami River enforcement needs.

A second creative application for funding was undertaken in 1998 by the City of Miami to supplement limited resources through application to the Department of Justice. Again granted under the Community Policing Services Program, the City of Miami is slated to receive $26 million dollars to fund 168 new positions for police forces to fill in "distressed neighborhoods." The Miami River is recognized under the terms of this grant as a "distressed neighborhood;" as a result, the City of Miami will dedicate funding for 18 new officer positions over a three-year period specifically targeting the Miami River. Officers will be phased in as they qualify for duty and funds become available.

Illegal Drugs, Aliens & Merchandise Cocaine: 1,248 kgs Stolen Cars: 15 Illegal Aliens: 114 Arrests: 18 Seizures (vessel or car): 3 Public information seizures by one agency alone, U.S. Customs, for 1998-99.

Phone: (305) 637-7977
Fax: (305) 637-7949
Email: [email protected]