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5 Critical Changes: Inside The City Of Homestead Police Department’s 2025 Strategy

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The City of Homestead Police Department (HPD) is currently undergoing one of the most significant operational shifts in its recent history, marked by a change in leadership, a controversial federal partnership, and a multi-million-dollar infrastructure overhaul. As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the department is focused on a new era of proactive community policing, enhanced transparency, and a data-driven approach to reducing violent crime across the City of Homestead, Florida. This deep dive explores the critical changes and new initiatives shaping the future of law enforcement in the county's second-oldest city.

The transition to a new Police Chief in early 2024 signaled a fresh strategic direction, emphasizing tighter community bonds and advanced accreditation standards, supported by a substantial federal grant. These changes are designed to directly address local challenges, from managing group violence to providing officers and staff with a modern, safe working environment, moving beyond the dilapidated facilities that plagued the department for years.

The New Era of Leadership: Chief Mario Knapp’s Profile

The Homestead Police Department welcomed a new face to its top command in January 2024, marking a pivotal moment for the agency. The new leadership brings decades of experience from one of South Florida's largest law enforcement bodies.

  • Name: Mario Knapp
  • Current Title: Chief of Police, City of Homestead Police Department (HPD)
  • Date Sworn In: January 3, 2024
  • Predecessor: Chief Alexander E. Rolle, Jr. (the first African American Chief in Homestead history, who served the department since 1979)
  • Previous Experience: A 27-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD)
  • Notable Campaign: Ran for Miami-Dade Sheriff in the year prior to his appointment as Chief of Police.
  • Stated Vision: To implement robust community policing strategies, strengthen the bond between officers and the citizens of Homestead, and enhance the department's professional standards.

Chief Knapp's appointment was seen as a move to inject new energy and a fresh perspective into the department. His background as a high-ranking officer in the massive Miami-Dade Police Department provides a foundation for implementing large-scale, modern law enforcement practices in Homestead. His immediate focus has been on increasing accountability and fostering a culture of community trust.

Homestead's Five Key Initiatives Shaping 2025 Policing

The City of Homestead Police Department is not resting on its laurels. Multiple major projects and initiatives—many of which are funded by the city's FY 2025 proposed budget and federal grants—are underway to modernize the force and tackle persistent crime issues. These programs represent the core of the department's strategy for the coming year.

1. The Multi-Million Dollar New Police Station Project

One of the most pressing needs for the HPD has been a new headquarters. The department had been operating out of a 105-year-old building that was plagued with severe infrastructure issues, including mold, water damage, clogged drains, and dangerously high levels of radon gas. The old building was deemed unsafe and inadequate for a modern police force.

The solution is a massive infrastructure investment: a new, state-of-the-art 55,000 square-foot, three-story police station. The groundbreaking for this essential capital improvement project took place several years ago, but the project remains a high-priority topic as the department has been operating from a temporary police station. The construction, being managed by the firm MCM, is a celebrated commitment by the City of Homestead to ensure the safety and operational efficiency of its officers and staff.

2. The Group Violence Intervention (GVI) Unit

To combat specific violent crime trends, particularly gun-related homicides and shootings, the HPD launched its Group Violence Intervention (GVI) Unit on January 1, 2023. This initiative is a data-driven strategy designed to reduce violence by focusing on the small number of individuals who are at the highest risk of being involved in group or gang-related violence and retaliation instances.

The GVI framework is not solely a law enforcement effort; it integrates strong community involvement and human services personnel to offer targeted individuals a path away from violence. By combining focused deterrence with community support, the department aims to create a lasting reduction in the most serious violent crime categories in Homestead, Florida. The department hosted a Community Pop-Up Event in June 2024 to further engage with the public on this critical initiative.

3. Achieving Law Enforcement Accreditation and Transparency

A major focus under Chief Knapp is enhancing professional standards and public trust through formal accreditation. The Homestead Police Department was recently awarded a significant Department of Justice (DOJ) Grant, totaling nearly $250,000, specifically to support its efforts to achieve law enforcement accreditation.

Accreditation is a rigorous process that requires agencies to meet hundreds of standards for operations, management, and training. This process serves as a framework to establish and enforce best practices in policing, which directly strengthens accountability, transparency, and community trust—all central tenets of the department’s new community transparency initiative.

4. The Controversial ICE Partnership

In a move that garnered significant media attention and some local controversy, the Homestead Police Department became one of the latest South Florida cities to deputize its officers for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement. This partnership allows local police officers to assist federal ICE officers, a policy decision that has sparked widespread debate regarding the role of local law enforcement in federal immigration matters.

Chief Mario Knapp had to publicly address the community to clear the air after a recent case sparked rumors about the extent of ICE involvement in local arrests. The Chief’s communication efforts highlight the department's commitment to managing the public perception of the program while maintaining the operational capabilities of the partnership.

5. The Start Off Smart (SOS) Initiative

A long-standing, yet continuously evolving, community initiative is the Start Off Smart (SOS) program. Operating as a 501(c)3 non-profit initiative of the Homestead Police Department, SOS is a unique model that integrates law enforcement and human services personnel.

This initiative goes beyond traditional policing by offering preventative and supportive services, working to address the root causes of crime and violence in the community. It represents a core element of the department's community policing unit, focusing on building strong, positive partnerships with residents, especially in high-risk areas.

The Impact on Crime and Community Safety

The HPD's aggressive new strategy is directly aimed at tackling the city's crime profile. While the City of Homestead is generally safer than many other communities in Florida, residents still face a 1 in 94 chance of being a victim of violent crime and a 1 in 46 chance of being a victim of property crime, based on 2021 data.

The Group Violence Intervention (GVI) is the most direct response to the most severe crime statistics, focusing on reducing gun violence and homicide. The commitment to law enforcement accreditation and community transparency is intended to build the public trust necessary for these programs to succeed. Without the cooperation and confidence of the citizens, data-driven initiatives like GVI cannot effectively identify and intervene with at-risk individuals.

The new police station, once completed, will serve as a symbol of the city's commitment to a professional, modern police force. It will provide the necessary infrastructure for training, technology, and operational command, significantly boosting the department’s capacity to serve the growing population of Homestead. The combination of new leadership, advanced facilities, and targeted, community-focused programs positions the City of Homestead Police Department for a transformative period of growth and improved public safety in 2025 and beyond.

5 Critical Changes: Inside the City of Homestead Police Department’s 2025 Strategy
city of homestead police department
city of homestead police department

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