Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, in an effort to avoid a property- tax rate hike, announced an updated county budget proposal on July 8 for fiscal year 2014- 15 that could eliminate hundreds of police jobs.
Although the Miami-Dade Police Department provides services residents of the Village of Palmetto Bay and the Town of Cutler Bay won’t have to worry about reduced police protection, according to representatives of both municipalities.
After the incorporation of each, city founders and residents had expressed a desire for enhanced police service in addition to other improvements such as parks and public works projects. As a result, both communities signed an interlocal agreement with the county that set the number of officers and patrols in exchange for payments by those cities.
Major Gregory Truitt, commander of the Village of Palmetto Bay Policing Unit and a member of the Miami-Dade Police Department, said he wants to assure residents that the same service level will continue.
“The cuts and or adjustments presently being considered by Miami-Dade County will not affect staffing or any other contractual commitments mutually agreed upon by Miami-Dade County and the Village of Palmetto Bay,” Major Truitt said. “It should be noted that Miami-Dade County Commission approved a five-year contact to continue to provide police services to the Village of Palmetto Bay this June.”
Rafael Casals, Cutler Bay’s town manager, said that his city’s residents also have nothing to fear from the proposed cutbacks.
“The planned Miami-Dade Police cutbacks will not have an impact or effect on our current police staffing levels,” Casals said. “I am very pleased with the level of service, commitment, and customer service that our police officers provide our residents on a daily basis. We are very fortune to have one of the best police departments in the country to provide our police services.”
To contact the Palmetto Bay Policing Unit call 305-278-4000. For the Cutler Bay Policing Unit call the Town Center at 305- 234-4262.
