Critical Incident Logistics Section

The Critical Incident Logistics Unit (CILU) primary mission is to provide vital logistical and personnel support during incidents of a catastrophic nature, i.e., explosions, chemical spills, disasters where evacuations are necessary, etc.  This support will arrive in multiple forms of equipment and specialized personnel.  The equipment can range from the Unit’s Command Post Bus to a 53’ Unified Command Trailer.  CILU follows the principles as set forth by the Incident Command System (ICS) and in such provides highly trained personnel prepared to effectively handle any catastrophic incident.

During times of less urgency, CILU is committed to providing logistical support to all Bureaus/Districts within Miami-Dade Police Department, as well as local, State, and Federal Government agencies. This logistical support encompasses items such as the Command Post Bus, air conditioned tents, smaller pop-up style tents, lighting, power generators, tables, chairs, and hydration.

Non-critical events in which CILU provides support includes but is not limited to:

• District open houses
• District sting operations
• District Schools police presentations
• Specialized training support, i.e. Weapons of Mass Destruction
• Mayoral/Commissioner community based events

CILU can be requested on a moments notice and is prepared 24/7 for Departmental wide responses to natural and man-made catastrophes.

Underwater Recovery Unit

In 1961 the Dade County Public Safety Department’s Underwater Recovery Team (URT) was formed.  The Team was headed by Deputy Edwin Blaze Zehnder, who because of his past experience as a US Navy diver was chosen to head the Team and prepare the diver training manual.  Prior to the formation of the URT, the Department used Deputies, who as divers, volunteered their skills and equipment.  With the formation of the Team, uniform standards and training for Departmental Police Divers were then established, which helped promote diver safety.
 
Today the Underwater Recovery Unit (URU) consists of seven full time police divers, composed of one sergeant and six officers, as well as one Public Service Aide.  Each diver is assigned personal dive equipment and a marked police van and they are on call twenty-four hours a day.

The URU conducts all of the water related activities for the Miami-Dade Police Department which includes the following: search and recovery of submerged vehicles, boats, aircraft, bodies and evidence; and provides coordination with and assistance to other investigative entities, including Homeland Security, Illegal Dumping, Homicide, Robbery, Auto Theft, Insurance Fraud Unit, Environmental Investigations Unit, United States Environmental Protection Agency, United States Coast Guard, and Immigration Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE).  Additionally, the Unit provides training for MDPD Officers and other agencies by conducting the 80-hour Police Diver Course and 16-hour Hull and Seawall Search Training.

Since December 2001, the URU has participated with ICE and other agencies in “Operation Turbulent Trident”, a task force that searches for parasitic devices on the hulls of cruise ships and freighters at the Port of Miami, Port Everglades, Port of West Palm Beach, and Port of Key West.  The URU provides the majority of the training for the Miami-Dade and Broward County agencies involved in the operations.  Also, since June 2002, the URU has coordinated “Operation Safe Port”, a comprehensive security detail for the search or cruise ship and freighter hulls, seawalls, fuel barges, and both domestic and foreign Naval ships at the Port of Miami as part of the Homeland Security Initiative.

The URU also conducts numerous media interviews for local and cable channels as well as magazines promoting the Miami-Dade Police Department’s efforts in Homeland and Port Security.  Public presentations at local schools and civic organizations are routinely conducted as well.