In 2002, Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz and Miami Police Chief Raul Martinez separately requested that the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigate the polices, practices and procedures of the Miami Police Department. The DOJ conducted an investigation pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 14141 and issued a technical assistance letter to the department on March 13, 2003. In the letter, the DOJ made specific recommendations regarding changes to the department's written policies in the following areas: use of force and use of force reporting, vehicle pursuit driving policy, search and seizure, complaints and investigations, early warning system, training, and structure of the operations manual generally.

In January 2006, the DOJ issued a follow-up technical assistance letter recommending that MPD improve training for line supervisors and Internal Affairs investigators in interview techniques, assessing the credibility of witnesses, and impartiality in the interview process. The DOJ recommended that training emphasize that investigators should consider all relevant evidence, including circumstantial, direct, and physical evidence, as appropriate, in making credibility determinations. In response to the technical assistance, MPD revised its policies, procedures and practices to ensure that every use of force is reported and adequately investigated. MPD made important changes to its policies that significantly restricted the use of deadly force. As a result, the DOJ closed the investigation without a formal agreement in 2006.

Dan Dalton - 01/22/2007
Richard Jolly - 11/25/2014
Jessica Kincaid - 03/21/2015


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