Crime Prevention Programs and Community Resources

Citizens Police Academy – We have conducted fifteen Citizen Police Academies. The CPA has been an extraordinary success and we have over one hundred graduates. Residents and business people attend the firearms range, ride on a police boat, attend a K-9 demonstration, listen to guest speakers from other agencies, and meet our officers over an eleven week period.

Residential and Commercial Security Assessment – The Surfside Police Department is now offering Surfside residents and business owners the opportunity to receive a residential or commercial security assessment at no charge. The surveys will be conducted by Neighborhood Resource Officer Dianna Hernandez.

Crime Prevention Workshops – We host a crime prevention workshop or seminar. Topics include Back to School Safety; Crimes Awareness for the Elderly, Women, and Children; Hurricane Preparedness; Home Security; Drug Awareness; School Bullying; and others.

Bicycle Registration Program – Residents may register their bicycles with the police department. This program will aid in the recovery of bicycles lost, stolen, or recovered.

Halloween Safety Night – Officers block off streets in the neighborhood ensuring the safety of the children and distribute glow sticks and bags of candy to the children.

Dog Registration Program – Residents may register their dogs with photos at the police station. This allows us to return found dogs to their owners instead of having County Animal Control take the animal to the pound.

Police Teen Summer Camp Program – This program operates annually during the Parks and Recreation Teen Summer Camp. One day a week the teenagers attend classes managed by police officers on different subjects. The goal is to build better relations with teenagers.

Code Red Emergency Telephone Notification System – Emergency telephone notifications or informational messages such as hurricane warnings, evacuation notices, beach closings, and missing child alerts are delivered timely and accurately to our residents and businesses.

Dog Tag and Identification Program – This community initiative program is for residents who are dog owners. The Police Department offers free tags for the collar of their pets that will have the police department’s telephone number and registration number. The registration number will enable the department to contact the owner of the lost or loose dogs without calling Miami-Dade Animal Control.

Surfside Safe Transaction Program – Some cities have reported their residents becoming victims of fraud or robbery when meeting customers or sellers to conduct online transactions. This community initiative offers residents a safe place to conduct their transactions at the police station in order to deter crime.

Coffee with the Cops – The Police Department has implemented this community initiative with Starbucks. Residents, business persons, and visitors can meet with the Chief of Police over coffee to discuss community issues and provide feedback on the police department.

Bike with the Chief – This community initiative allows residents the opportunity to bike with the Chief of Police. Participants will ride through the community with Chief Allen and his police staff.

Mobile DMV in Surfside – The Police Department in conjunction with the Community Outreach Specialist from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles hosts a mobile DMV at Town Hall several times a year.

Prescription Drug Drop Off – The Police Department hosts a National Take Back Initiative several times a year. This gives the public the opportunity to surrender expired, unwanted, and unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications to law enforcement for destruction.

Donate Old/Used Cell Phones Program – The Police Department collects old/used cell phones and donates them to a local domestic violence shelter.

Blood Drive –The Police Department hosts a blood drive in conjunction with the One Blood organization several times a year. The Blood Mobile parks in the Town Hall parking lot.

Annual Holiday Toy Drive – The Police Department hosts Holiday Toy Drives and Giveaway Events each year. Unwrapped toys are collected for children during the holiday season. The toys are distributed at the giveaway party.

Career Day – The Police Department participates in career days at area schools ranging from Elementary to High School levels.

Bring Your Child to Work Day – The Police Department and the Parks and Recreation Department host this annual event for the children of town employees.

For inquires and more information on the Prevention Programs and Community Resources, please call Senior Executive Assistant to the Chief Dina Goldstein at 305.861.4862