Palmetto Bay - Participating in "National Night Out" - Join us on Tues., Aug. 7, at 6:00 PM

Join our Palmetto Bay Police at Village Hall on Tuesday, August 7th at 6 pm and learn about community-based crime fighting programs.  How can we work together to deter burglaries and other crimes? Learn about the R.A.D. system of self-defense for women offered here at the Village.  See: Palmetto Bay Village Officers to Impart "R.A.D." Training - See you on the 7th

Suspect Identified - Update: suspect in the April 29, 2017 Cyclists Hit & Run turned himself in at the Palmetto Bay Village Hall - 3 felonies/2 misdemenors pending

Update – Monday – 5/15/2017:  I am authorized to announce that a suspect in the April 29, 2017 Cyclists Hit & Run turned himself in today at the Palmetto Bay Village Hall accompanied by his attorney.  (see prior post of May 2, 2017: Update on Saturday, 4/29/2017 Cyclist Hit & Run - Police seek your help)

I was advised that the subject is to be charged with three felonies – three counts of leaving a scene of an accident with injuries and two misdemeanors – leaving the scene of the accident with property damage. 

I want to thank our MDPD/Palmetto Bay Policing Unit for their persistence and talent so far in this case.  I particularly want to recognize MDPD/Palmetto Bay Motor Officer Mike Valdez.

This is an update – there is no judicial determination of guilt or innocence at the present time.  

Evening update: the suspect was identified -  Justine Breland, 23 years old

That is all the information that I am authorized to release at the present time.

Palmetto Bay Earth Day events - Family Bike Ride - April 22, 2017 - video & photos

A great Family Bike Ride - part of Palmetto Bay's Earth Week 2017.  (yes, I was late - coming from troop 457's Eagle Scout Court of Honor, but I did my best to race and catch up with the ride in progress.)  I took the embedded video and 29 of the 30 photographs posted below. Can you find yourself, family or friends in any of the pics?  If not, I hope to see you at our next ride. (Please take the time to view prior blog posts, photos and videos by clicking the "Bicycling" Label - labels posted in the right side column)  
A big thank you to Green Mobility Network and Palmetto Bay resident, Green Mobility Member, Eric Tullberg for designing and leading this ride.  

This bike ride included traffic and ride support from our MDPD, Village of Palmetto Bay Policing Unit, both regular and bike patrol.  Safety is a number one concern!

A great time was had by all who participated.Please take the time to view the 30 phots below, click on any photo below to view a larger photo slide show.

(above - Route along 67th Avenue)

(Above, heading west on 152) 

(below Village Police support - traffic control at 152 & Old Cutler Road)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Our Palmetto Bay Police Bike patrol - bike, car, motorcycle patrol - 

always ready to serve the Palmetto Bay ready with the proper tools for the occasion. 

Thank you to all the families who participated in this event

Thank you Team Palmetto Bay - #ItTakesAVillage including our Manager Ed Silva and staff including Parks & Recreation Department, Director Fanny Carmona, Saylin Paez, Events & Programs Coordinator and Village Policing Unit - Major Serralta - Palmetto Bay Police Commander

See you next ride!

Commander Gregory Truitt Honored on Capitol Hill - VPB officials are there!

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen recognizes recently retired Village Police Unit Commander Gregory Truitt. 

It was my honor to be present with Councilman Tim Schaffer, the Manager and staff in Washington, D.C., when Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen recognized retired Village Policing Unit Commander Gregory Truitt for his service, in the House Chamber floor, Oct. 22., the remarks wee carried live (and archived here) on C-SPAN.

Man killed in Palmetto Bay shooting - Palmetto Bay - MiamiHerald.com

Man killed in Palmetto Bay shooting - Palmetto Bay - MiamiHerald.com

Miami-Dade police are investigating a homicide in Palmetto Bay.  One man was killed after being shot outside a house at 17531 SW 97th Avenue.  Neighbors reported hearing gunfire around 3:00 a.m. A witness advised that he a group of men jump into a blue Taurus and drive off.

Condolences and deepest sympathy go out to the victim as well as his family and friends.

This appears to be a targeted crime, specific to the victim and not a general act of violence.  I recommend that you follow the local news for updates as they become available.
Evening update: 

http://www.local10.com/  : Club promoter shot, killed in Palmetto Bay, Published On: Jun 16 2012 06:27:33 PM EDT  Updated On: Jun 16 2012 06:29:40 PM EDT 

CBS 4 Miami, http://miami.cbslocal.com/ Music & Club Promoter Gunned Down Outside Palmetto Bay Home, Tiffani Helberg reporting,
June 16, 2012 6:33 PM

Operation Lookout. Now is the time for professional police action in combating Village crime. Mayor and Council need to step aside and let the Policing Unit do its job without political interference. This is not photo op time. Our property, personal safety and peace of mind are at stake.

A $50K home burglary occurred in Palmetto Bay on April 14^th, 2012.  Is this really news?  It is an unfortunate fact of life is that these burglaries occur.  I have reported on such events before, both while in office and obviously through this blog.  But readers should be well aware that the MDPD/Village Policing Unit has been doing an outstanding job in clearing approximately 25% of these crimes.  Compare this to an overall average of 10 to 12%.  Palmetto Bay residents should be proud.  This is little consolation to those who have had their peace of mind violated by these criminals.

The Policing Unit is being proactive in bringing forward Operation Lookout, created by the Village Police.  This is a campaign to make people more aware of suspicious events and provides proper conduct and contact points to encourage reporting suspicious activities.  The Policing Unit has created materials, specifically door hangers, for distribution.  These materials have been ready for over a month.  This was discussed at the February Committee of the Whole meeting. 

You may have heard something about Operation Lookout, but you have not seen it in action.  Why?  Because apparently this current Mayor and the vice mayor think their judgment should supersede the professional judgment of professional police and have weighed in on the operation of the deployment of this program – which has caused a delay.  The council complained about the door hangers then the council directed the manager to find the money to mail these items.  This delay may have cost at least one Palmetto Bay community $50,000 in lost irreplaceable personal items   See  Online CBS Miami, Channel 4: Palmetto Bay Burglar Wanted For Stealing $50K In Jewelry, April 26, 2012 (Click the headline to view)

Besides the delay and forgetting the fact that there will be no personal interaction as police bring these door hangers to your door, additional costs will now have to be expended to process the materials, stuff envelopes and then mailing costs for the saturation mailing.    All this delay causing additional time delay for more suspicious acts to occur that may be crime in progress.  People should not have to wait until mail delivery.  Police could have received these materials directly.   I wonder how the Mayor and Council will respond to any complaints of junk mail or more costs.

Mayor Shelley Stanczyk, Vice Mayor Brian Pariser and the Council need to step aside and let the Policing Unit do its job as their professional expertise sees fit.  This is a time for professional decisions, and professional action, not time for political or emotional interference.  The Mayor and council cannot treat this as a photo op.  Our property, personal safety and peace of mind are at stake.

Gunman at Wendy's In Palmetto Bay arrested

Great police work, MDPD Palmetto Bay Policing Unit, alert and daring witnesses make an arrest

Customers at a Wendy’s restaurant in the 13900 block of South Dixie Highway were held at gunpoint while a thief tried to rob the restaurant at 7 p.m. Feb. 23.  The subject reportedly removed the gun from the hip of an armed guard and fled.  The armed guard and two
witnesses gave chase, captured and detained the subject until police arrived.  The subject was arrested. No injuries were reported. 

Read More:
Miami Herald, Crime Blotter, Thief arrested in Palmetto Bay fast-food restaurant

Palmetto Bay on-line Weekly Crime Report for period of Feb 20 - 26, 2012

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/11/2687208/thief-arrested-in-palmetto-bay.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

One of my favorite photos. Palmetto Bay's finest capturing a non-native snake in 2005.

The capture of the 13 foot python in Palmetto Bay on Christmas Day provides me with the opportunity to share one of my favorite photos taken during my two terms as founding mayor. This photo was taken on October 12, 2005, and shows one of Palmetto Bay's original policing unit officers and high school friend, Ofc Randy DiStefano, participating in the capture of a non-native snake.  I believe this snake was captured on Franjo road in the parking lot of a former grocery store, where Palmetto Bay's village hall building now stands.  If I'm correct, this is not too far from where the 13-foot Burmese python was captured on Christmas day.  Are the snakes both part of an existing feral colony of snakes in the area or both recently escaped pets?  Regardless, both are examples of the extent of the problem.

Officer Distefano passed away on December 5th, 2007, after battling cancer.  Officer Randy DiStefano was also a Palmetto Bay resident with his wife, Rose.  He will always be remembered as a friend as well as an original member of the Palmetto Bay Policing Unit and as Palmetto Bay's first motorcycle patrolman within the Palmetto Bay policing unit. We miss you Randy!

Palmetto Bay sees an uptick in property crimes

See Channel four online for Gary Nelson's, (a Palmetto Bay resident), 11/14/2011, report that Palmetto Bay has seen 165 burglaries so far this year, an increase of 40 percent over last year.

“We are experiencing an uptick in burglaries, as are most communities,” said Village spokesman Bill Kress.  “While we have had more than 160 so far this year, when you compare it to some comparably-sized towns, they may have that many in a month.

CLICK HERE to view the online report - Palmetto Bay Sees An Uptick In Residential Burglaries

As reported: The burglars typically ring the doorbell, knock on the front door, and if no one answers go around back and break in.

Palmetto Bay is increasing neighborhood patrols and conducting community awareness programs, urging residents to stay alert to what’s going on their block. 

Started under the original village council, the Village Policing unit remains committed to neighborhood policing programs and I continue to ask that you and your neighbors participate in a neighborhood crime watch. 

CLICK HERE to view the relevant police page with information on how to join a neighborhood Crime Watch group -- or to start one -- in your neighborhood.  You can e-mail Officer Pete Judge with the Village of Palmetto Bay Policing Unit or by calling 305-259-1270 (M-F, 9-5). You may also contact the Crime Watch organization directly.