Law Enforcement Reform

To Reform/Change Policies and Procedures to Include Emphasis on De-Escalation, Use of Force and Mental Health, to Name a Few.

To Report A Complaint Against A Police Officer:

Miami-Dade County Independent Civilian Panel (ICP)

305-349-7525

City of Miami Civilian Investigative Panel (CIP)

305-960-4956 

City of North Miami Citizens Investigative Board (CIB)

305-768-9983

DOJ Civil Rights Division-Miami

305-961-9001

DOJ Civil Rights Division- Washington D.C.

202-514-3847

1-855-856-1247 (toll free)

Human Trafficking

Millions of men, women and children are trafficked every year.  The three major types of trafficking are:

• Sex trafficking

• Forced Labor trafficking

• Debt Bondage

Safety of the victim and the community is paramount. Please stay vigilant and call the following numbers:

Report Suspected Trafficking: Federal Law Enforcement:

1-866-347-2423

To get help: National Human Trafficking Hotline: 

1-888-373-7888

Elderly and Child abuse

Elderly and child abuse are defined as emotional, sexual or physical abuse of a child or an elder person. Review of policies and practices of day care centers and nursing homes should be conducted regularly.

In Florida call:

Report Suspected Elderly Abuse:

800-962-2873

Report Elderly mistreatment:

1-800-453-5145

Report Child in Immediate danger:

Call 911 or -800-962-2873

Report Child Mistreatment:

1-800-955-8771

Gun Control

Gun Violence has become a Health Crisis in Miami-Dade County and the Nation.  As an Advocate for All Our Constitutional Rights including the 2nd Amendment, Responsible Gun Ownership and Common-Sense Regulations is Not Only the Right Position but it is the Most Compassionate Position.

Weapons of War and Firearm Open Carry Should Never Be Allowed on Our Streets or in our Communities.

If you own a gun, please remember to always always practice gun safety.

Firearms Safety Rules

Always Always treat every firearm as if it’s LOADED.

Always Always keep the gun’s muzzle pointed in a safe direction

Always Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire

Always Always know where your firearm’s muzzle is pointed, who is behind your target and who is in proximity

Firearm Storage

Use a firearm safety lock and store gun unloaded in a locked compartment not accessible to children and keep ammunition locked in a separate location away from the gun that is also not accessible by children.

Hate Crimes

Extremism, White-Supremacy, Anti-Semitic, Racism, among others have reached epidemic levels in the nation.  Florida is one of the highest in the country that harbors white supremacist.

Department of Justice defines hate crime as: “A crime motivated by bias against race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.  A crime + motivation for committing the crime based on biased = Hate Crime.”

We must have zero tolerance for this horrific criminal belief and action.

To report any suspicious activity:

1-800-225-5324 (Call-FBI)

FBI-Miami Office

754-703-2000

US Department of Justice

1-202-514-2000 (Main Switchboard)

Domestic Violence

This Issue Requires Extensive Discussion More Than I’m Able To Include In This Form. Therefore, I’m only Going to Provide the Definitions and Contact Information. However, The Most Important Thing I Can State Is That If You Believe You Are In this Situation, Please Speak Up and Seek Help. If you believe you are in danger, call 911 immediately.

The DOJ Office On Violence Against Women Definition: “Domestic Violence Is A Pattern of Abusive Behavior in Any Relationship That Is Used by One Partner to Gain or Maintain Power and Control Over Another Intimate Partner.  Domestic Violence Can Be Physical, Sexual, Emotional, Economic, Psychological, Or Technological Actions or Threats of Actions or Other Patterns of Coercive Behavior That Influence Another Person Within an Intimate Partner Relationship.”

National Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7:

1-800-799-7233

SMS:

Text START to 88788

Domestic Crimes Investigations Unit:  

305-418-7200

Miami-Dade County, Community Action and Human Services Department, Violence Prevention and Intervention Division

Advocates for Victims Safespace Shelter North, South, Central, and Empowerment Center

Hotline:

(305) 849-4523

Hotline:

1-800-500-1119

Calls are taken and available in English, Spanish, Creole and French 

safespacefoundation.org

Mental Health/Suicide/Substance Abuse

The need for more access and availability of mental health providers is essential in all our Communities throughout the County. There must be an ongoing initiative for mental health and substance abuse awareness campaign to promote educational training and access to providers regardless of economic status by ALL elected officials. This is truly a major crisis in our country.

Please Remember:

You’re not alone, Help is available. If you or someone you care about discussed suicide or you believe that might be on their mind, please call 988 for help and advice immediately.

Statistics From CDC:

The National Institute for Mental Health is an excellent resource for information regarding mental health.

NIMH Information Resource Center
Available in English and Español

1-866-615-6464

Live Online Chat:  Talk to a representative
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics

Miami-Dade County Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

For more information, call or visit:
www.miamidade.gov

Central Intake Unit
3140 NW 76th Street
Miami, FL 33147

305-694-2766

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION AND HUMAN SERVICES

786-469-4600

Sexual Harassment

This issue requires extensive discussion more than I’m able to include in this form. Therefore, I’m only going to provide the definitions and contact information. However, the most important thing I can state is that if you believe you are in any of these situations, please speak up and seek help.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines sexual harassment as: “Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.”

For Questions:

1-800-669-4000

To file a complaint with EEOC: 

1-800-669-6820

Sexual Assault/Rape

These issues require extensive discussion more than I’m able to include in this form. Therefore, I’m going to provide the definitions and contact information. However, the most important thing I can state regarding this issue is to please speak up and seek help.

USDHHS, Office on Women’s Health defines sexual assault: “as any type of sexual activity or contact that you do not consent to. Sexual assault can happen through physical force or threats of force or if the attacker gave the victim drugs or alcohol as part of the assault. Sexual assault includes rape and sexual coercion. In the United States, one in three women has experienced some type of sexual violence.  If you have been sexually assaulted, it is not your fault, regardless of the circumstances.”

Law Enforcement agencies provide the following advice:

Call 911 as soon as possible. Your safety is of the upmost priority, make sure you are first in a safe environment.

• Don’t wash or clean your body.  

• Don’t brush, comb, or clean any part of your body, including your teeth.

• Don’t change clothes.

• Don’t touch or change anything at the scene of the assault.

If you think you have been drugged, talk to the hospital staff about testing for date rape drugs.

National Sexual Assault 24/7 Hotline:

800-656-HOPE (4673)

Miami Dade Police Department – Special Victims Bureau 24/7 number:

305-715-3300

City of Miami Police Department list of contacts:

https://www.miami-police.org/victims_advocate.html

Woke vs. Sleep

Words absolutely matter!  However, sometimes the definition of words is even more important.  The usage of a word that inflames and misleads is irresponsible and dangerous.  We have seen the consequences of how the spoken words used by individuals sparked dangerous results by individuals who took those words to extremes.  

We the public must do our due diligence to fact-check anyone who might have an ulterior motive to misuse or mislead by using certain words or verbiage.  We have a responsibility to do proper research and make sure we understand the correct meaning.  It would be irresponsible to parrot those individuals without first verifying the verbiage and making sure we know the correct meaning.   We must require those individuals to address the definition and how it applies to their statement.  We should never be afraid to speak truth to power if any of us believe the word or statement is being used to just inflame or mislead. 

Webster’s dictionary defines woke and sleep as:

Woke: ” chiefly US slang,: aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice), past tense and past participle of WAKE”

Sleep:  ” 1: the natural, easily reversible periodic state of many living things that are marked by the absence of wakefulness and by the loss of consciousness of one’s surroundings, is accompanied by a typical body posture (such as lying down with the eyes closed), the occurrence of dreaming, and changes in brain activity and physiological functioning is made up of cycles of non-REM sleep and REM sleep and is usually considered essential to the restoration and recovery of vital bodily and mental functions

A state resembling sleep: such as a : 

1. state of torpid inactivity

2. DEATH put a pet cat to sleep also: TRANCE, COMA

3. the closing of leaves or petals especially at night

4. A state marked by a diminution of feeling followed by tingling my foot’s gone to sleep : the state of an animal during hibernation