Meandering Around Town # 37: At the Gables PD

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An Adventure in Which a Former Mayor Continues to Seek the “Soul” of His Hometown

It is hard to believe that this series of articles celebrates three years of my ramblings around town. In contemplating my next investigatory effort to find our city’s “soul,” what better place to meander than to our Police and Fire Departments, whose dedicated first responder employees protect our lives and property. Last year during the Coral Gables’ centennial celebration we highlighted those departments’ distinguished histories dating back to the very founding of our city. My current focus is on some of the less publicized activities that are part of our police department’s services to our citizens. To accomplish this mission, I “meandered” to the Community Affairs Unit led by Sgt. Michelle Christensen and Officer Natalie Flores, who provided me with some eye-opening information for me to share with this magazine’s readers.

Right: Coral Gables New Mounted Patrol: “Merrick” With Officer L. Hernandez (Left) and “Scarlet” With Officer A. sheran (Right)
Left: Coral Gables Police/Fire Mobile Command Center With (Left to Right) Community Affairs Unit Sgt. Michelle Christensen, Chief Ed Hudak, Deputy Chief Pat Hanlon, and Community Affairs Officer Natalie Flores

A unique program that promotes neighborhood safety is “Crime Watch.” This department-sponsored not-for-profit organization focuses on educating residents, business proprietors, and youth groups on steps they can take to reduce the probability that they or their neighbors will be the victims of crime or accidental home disasters. The Crime Watch Board meets monthly with the Police Chief, the Fire Chief, and a representative of the City Commission. This effort has been in existence for 45 years and was founded by a group of concerned citizens headed by our former Mayor, Dorothy Thomson.

And who amongst us doesn’t like horses? The good news is that our police department has instituted a mounted patrol featuring two equine “officers” named Merrick (a bow to our city’s founder) and Scarlet. Besides providing regular surveillance of our streets, they promote positive community engagement – especially with pedestrians and children (of all ages!). Better get your oats and corn cobs ready to greet these new four-legged officers when they visit your neighborhood.

A more sober and thought-provoking project is the placement of ceremonial bronze plaques on the street markers where Coral Gables officers died in the line of duty. Sadly, there will be ten such tributes situated throughout the city. It is this author’s prayer that there will never be a need to dedicate another such plaque in future years.

If you wish to personally meet members of our Police Department, Fire Department, and the University of Miami Police Department, plan to participate in the annual “National Night Out” event to be held on the evening of Tuesday, October 6, at a soon-to-be- announced location along the Underline.

I hope this quick visit to our Police Department increases your understanding of the scope and depth of our law enforcement activities – besides the better-known work of traffic enforcement, criminal investigation, and 24/7 neighborhood patrol.

This column appears monthly by Don Slesnick, who served as mayor of Coral Gables from 2001 to 2011. If you wish to reach him with suggestions on where he should next meander in search of the city’s soul, email to donslesnick@scllp.com.