Medical Crimes Unit (MCU):

The Unlicensed Practitioner Unit (UPU), which was created in October 2001, investigates public health crimes, focusing primarily on unlicensed healthcare activities.  The unit has established relationships and routinely works in concert with agencies such as the Florida Department of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in order to reach a common goal.  Miami-Dade County experiences a high volume of public health related crimes.  These crimes and violations not only affect the citizens of Miami-Dade County but the environment as well.  Routinely, subjects engaging in these unlicensed activities do not adhere to standard biohazard waste protocols, and dispose of bio-hazardous waste, such as hypodermic syringes and blood soiled items, through residential waste systems.  Public health issues are a daily topic in local news and within the community.  Successful operations by the UPU have already drawn much attention from the public, professional healthcare providers, and the media.  Coverage in the media has reflected upon the Department in a positive manner while informing citizens of the existence of the unit.  Other local, state, and federal agencies have also displayed an interest in and have praised the efforts of the UPU.  This innovative unit takes a proactive role in order to protect the citizens of Miami-Dade County from being treated by individuals lacking proper healthcare education and/or training while not obtaining the appropriate licensing.

Hazardous Materials Crime Unit:

The Hazardous Materials Crime Unit (HMCU) was originally established in the Department of Environmental Resources Management in 1988, and transferred to the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) in 2001.  The Hazardous Materials Crime Unit was first established in an attempt to stave off the overabundance of civil offenders who ignored the law.  The violators would routinely illegally dump hazardous waste anywhere without fear of litigation or jail time.  By haphazardly dumping these drums, these offenders were jeopardizing the safety of our drinking water supply, and threatening people’s health.  Recognizing the need for more stringent protection of our water supply, laws were created making illegal disposal of hazardous materials a third degree felony.

Today, the HMCU investigates incidents of a deliberate and intentional nature involving hazardous materials.  The Unit is under the MDPD Environmental Emergency Operations Section of the Intergovernmental Bureau.  It is responsible for the investigation of science crimes including offenses relating to the treatment, transportation, storage, disposal, and dispersion of toxic and hazardous substances, biomedical wastes, and chemical and biological agents.  Scientists who are also criminal investigators staff this unit due to the need for specialized knowledge and experience.

The Miami-Dade Police Department’s Hazardous Materials Crime Unit has investigated over 1,000 science crime investigations affecting South Florida.   It is called upon to respond several times every week when abandoned drums containing thousands of gallons of toxic and hazardous chemical are abandoned on our roadsides or when industry officers want to cut corners and dump chemicals into the nearest storm drain rather than paying to properly haul the waste materials away. 

In order to facilitate complete and consistent investigations, the Hazardous Materials Crime Unit merges three major duties.  This includes HAZMAT response where emergency teams don their state of the art personal protective gear and use hazardous material and chemical agent detection systems to monitor contaminants for safety and identification purposes.  Scientists conduct on-site chemical forensic testing to characterize and identify toxic constitutes and predict environmental and human health risks as a result of chemical discharge.  The second duty includes chemical crime scene processing where scenes are thoroughly combed for prints, tracks, and any other evidence that might lead to a possible suspect.  The third duty includes research, surveillance, and interviewing prospective witnesses and suspects.  Unit scientists also interpret technical data and analytical results and authenticate evidence. 

Sometimes illegal dumpers use their own secretive measures to avoid detection.  The HMCU also uses covert techniques driven by specialized surveillance procedures.  They use video and sampling equipment, which can be operated by remote telemetry devices.

The HMCU also identifies and coordinates the recovery of approximately five million pounds of abandoned hazardous pollutants per year.  These pollutants are removed from public property, properly disposed, and are no longer a threat to the public as a source of air, ground, or water pollution.  Miami-Dade County taxpayers have spent as much as $300,000 per year cleaning up illegally discharged/dumped toxic or hazardous waste per year.  The Hazardous Material Crime Unit provides evidence to support the prosecution of offenders, recovers clean-up costs from polluters, and requires that violators return contaminated sites to their previously uncontaminated condition.

The HMCU also provides guidance on scientific matters and policies affecting the Department, provide training for department-wide response to science crimes, and coordinate and assist other investigative entities.  The Unit works in conjunction with various other local, State, and Federal agencies committed to the investigation and deterrence of hazardous materials crimes.  The Unit supervisor is a member of the Miami-Dade County Hazardous Materials Committee.

The following situations should be reported to MDPD HMCU immediately:

• Chemicals being dumped from stationary or mobile sources into storm drains, street drains, parking lot drains, waterways, lakes, manholes, drainage structures, or onto open ground.
• Dumping of chemical drums or containers or abandoned drums in any location.
• Chemical odors or vapors that affects the eyes, the skin, and/or breathing.  Call 911 and then call the HMCU.
• Fish or bird kills or other dead animal from a suspected chemical source.
  

Do's & Don’ts:

• Don’t approach the chemical spill, drum, or container.
• Don’t touch it, kick it, or shoot it in any manner.
• Do call MDPD to report your findings
• Do let the professionals deal with the incident.

Citizens should call MDPD at 305-477-1616 (Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 4 PM) and ask for the Hazardous Materials Crime Unit.  Call MDPD after hours and on weekends at 305 4 POLICE  (305-476-5423).  Citizens can also call 305-471-TIPS to report hazardous materials crime activity and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 from CRIME STOPPERS.  Callers remain anonymous.  HMCU Scientists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE UNIT
The Miami-Dade Police Department Environmental Task Force Unit (ETFU) conducts investigations into the abandonment of hazardous drum as well as bio-hazardous waste throughout Miami-Dade County.  The investigations revolve around not only corporations but also individuals responsible for these environmental crimes.

The ETFU is comprised of representatives from Federal state and local law enforcement agencies.  The goal of the Task Force is to enhance investigations by centralizing information and resources among the membership agencies.

The ECTFU works on a daily basis with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and numerous other Federal, State and local agencies.  Miami-Dade County experiences a high volume of illegally hauled and disposed hazardous materials and waste.  Miami Dade County has been referred to as the “Drum Dump Capital” of the country.  These illegal discharges of hazardous waste affect not only the underground aquifer but also the sanitary sewer systems and wildlife habitats (Wetlands), and leads to contamination of ground soil and water.  Ground water is the most important resource in Miami-Dade County.  As the population continues to grow, it is important to protect this limited resource from contamination.  Hazardous waste clean up sites can cost millions of dollars and are frequently paid for by public funds.

The ECTFU also conducts follow-up investigations of vehicles recovered from canals, lakes, and rock pits, and assists the Underwater Recovery Unit in dives and on shore operations. This unit works jointly with the City of Hialeah Police Department, National Insurance Crime Bureau, and insurance carriers.