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— Police Chief Wayne A. Jones took over the reigns of the department in 2023 —
Pointing to a reduction in crime citywide, the Miami Beach City Commission unanimously approved Police Chief Wayne A. Jones to continue leading the more than 600-person department for an additional two years.
“From day one, my administration has made law and order the top priority in Miami Beach, and Chief Jones has delivered real results,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner. “Since 2023, we’ve driven a significant reduction in major crime, accomplished the lowest homeless census count in city’s history, achieved full police staffing for the first time in decades, and restored order during spring break. This is what a clear vision and strong leadership look like — and we will continue our strong measures to make Miami Beach the safest city in America.”
Before being appointed chief in 2023, Jones previously served as deputy chief. He joined the agency in 1996 as a patrol officer and worked his way up through the ranks, becoming the city’s first Black police chief after holding every rank in multiple areas of the department. This includes special operations, community affairs, internal affairs and criminal investigations.
“Chief Jones has earned the confidence of his officers and the trust of our community, which is the true measure of leadership,” shared Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez, who sponsored the extension and serves as Chair of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee. “Under his direction, we have seen significant reductions in major crime, achieved full staffing for the first time in decades, reached the lowest homeless count in recent history, and built a department that is more proactive, better trained, and equipped with the latest technology. He has strengthened officer morale and developed a strong leadership bench, positioning MBPD for continued success.”
As chief, Jones has overseen the introduction of the department’s drone-as-first-responder program and the department’s Real Time Intelligence Center, commonly known as the RTIC which monitors the city’s growing network of 1,000 public-facing video cameras.
“I am humbled by this outpouring of support, but the real credit belongs to my amazing team of men and women who put on their badges with pride every day to keep our residents and visitors safe,” Chief Jones said.
