Legislature meeting regarding Disband

[Unregistered]

Miami-Dade has a Director, not a Sheriff. If you go to the Florida Sheriff's Association it says there are 67 counties, 66 Sheriffs, and 1 director. So, while Miami-Dade has someone who works in a job with similar functions of a Sheriff, they are NOT a Sheriff, he is a Director. Every other Sheriff has been elected to that position, not selected for it by a Mayor. So when you call him Sheriff it is completely and utterly incorrect because he is not one. It is like everyone on here calling it a Sheriff's department and when in actuality it is called a Sheriff's Office because it is an official elected position. Hence why Miami-Dade is called Miami-Dade Police Department because that position is not elected but selecred.

I didn't know this. Very informative.... thank you.

[Unregistered]

Miami-Dade has a Director, not a Sheriff. If you go to the Florida Sheriff's Association it says there are 67 counties, 66 Sheriffs, and 1 director. So, while Miami-Dade has someone who works in a job with similar functions of a Sheriff, they are NOT a Sheriff, he is a Director. Every other Sheriff has been elected to that position, not selected for it by a Mayor. So when you call him Sheriff it is completely and utterly incorrect because he is not one. It is like everyone on here calling it a Sheriff's department and when in actuality it is called a Sheriff's Office because it is an official elected position. Hence why Miami-Dade is called Miami-Dade Police Department because that position is not elected but selecred.

Right on the money! Thanks

[Unregistered]

Charter County v Constitutional County

Miami-Dade is a charter county (and not a constitutional county).

• Florida's "charter" counties can amend their county charter to appoint the constitutional sheriff, instead of electing him.

• This is done by voter referendum to change the "elected" sheriff to become an "appointed" sheriff, whereupon the appointed constitutional sheriff can be fired and replaced by county commissioners for incompetence, just like any other hired employee. The commissioners would then hire another "appointed constitutional sheriff."

• Constitutional counties cannot change their "elected" sheriff into an "appointed" sheriff. Only charter counties can do that (by voter referendum). Miami-Dade is a charter county! In a constitutional county, the county commissioners cannot remove an elected sheriff from office for incompetence or dereliction of duty.

Click here to see a list of Florida's charter counties. By referendum, county voters can change their county constitution into a county charter, which allows voters and commissioners to make changes more quickly, on an as-needed basis. The "elected" Miami-Dade sheriff is now an "appointed" Miami-Dade sheriff (by the county commissioners). Every Miami-Dade police officer has a “deputy sheriff commission card,” which allows them to perform the full functions of a sheriff’s office.

Here is a link to the Miami-Dade Sheriff Bureau:
http://www.miamidade.gov/police/cont...iff-bureau.asp

[Unregistered]

Right on the money! Thanks

You guys crack me up.. Miami-Dade Police function as the county Sheriffs Office, there badges still have the star in the middle and say deputy sheriff. They handle all court security, civil process, warrants, and various other tasks that Sheriffs handle, but just because they changed the name of the Sheriff to Director does not change his job function. And while yes we can agree that its an appointed position its still a County Sheriff no matter what you want to call it..

[Unregistered]

Jacksonville (JSO) calls their officers officers and not deputies..

[Unregistered]

You guys crack me up.. Miami-Dade Police function as the county Sheriffs Office, there badges still have the star in the middle and say deputy sheriff. They handle all court security, civil process, warrants, and various other tasks that Sheriffs handle, but just because they changed the name of the Sheriff to Director does not change his job function. And while yes we can agree that its an appointed position its still a County Sheriff no matter what you want to call it..

Technically their badge is also shaped like a regular badge and says police officer too if you want to split hairs. The badge in general is showing they are a unified agency. Nonetheless, it is incorrect to call them a Sheriff's Office. The original debate was about the name of the person in charge and who chooses them, not the function of the agency.

[Unregistered]

You Miami guys that want to talk about what a sheriff vs director or whatever they are called down there, start a new thread. This thread is for the purspose of discussing our possible disbandment. Thanks (cue nasty remarks I'm sure)