Robbery Bureau

The Robbery Investigations Section (RIS) investigates carjackings, home invasion robberies, strong-armed robberies, armed robberies, robberies by sudden snatching, and domestic robberies for the purpose of apprehending offenders, preparing evidence and providing testimony to secure a conviction of the perpetrator.

The RIS is one of the oldest investigative units within the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office (MDSO). It was established when MDPD was known as the Dade County Sheriff's Office. The RIS has a long history of conducting quality investigations, which positively impact the lives of the citizens who live or work in our community.

RIS detectives work to enhance a sense of safety and security by aggressively investigating and swiftly apprehending those who commit violent offenses.

RIS detectives’ tasks associated with each case may include conducting surveillance, collecting and photographing evidence, writing reports, testifying in court, and locating and arresting criminals. RIS detectives also conduct investigations associated with federal crimes often linked with multi-agency task forces, such as interstate narcotics and Hobbs Act Violations.

The Robbery Intervention Detail (RID) provides proactive surveillance directed at the suppression of robberies. The RID Unit identifies locations and subjects based on recent reported crimes and focuses its resources on those subjects and locations so that the opportunity to commit the crime of robbery is reduced.

The RID utilizes intelligence from interdepartmental, local, state, and federal resources to combat and prevent crime. They conduct zero-tolerance operations featuring multiple suspect contacts and the vigorous identification and apprehension of robbery subjects.

The RID was initially implemented in October 1991, with the program strategy consisting of four components: identifying individuals and locations that warrant special attention, planning investigative operations that focus on identified individuals, intervening by executing the planned operation and tracking arrests through prosecution to achieve maximum sentencing of offenders. The RID has continually evolved its strategies and tactics since its inception to maintain the objectives of the program.

The Street Terror Offender Program (STOP) targets individuals involved in the illicit drug industry, who have demonstrated a propensity for committing violent crimes, are currently criminally active, have past convictions for violent crimes, and are in possession of firearms. The STOP Unit is staffed by members of the Agencie’s Robbery Bureau, and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The STOP Unit continues to address the community’s needs by providing a concentrated multi-agency approach to dealing with violent crimes.

The Firearms Interdiction Reduction Enforcement is a joint effort between the MDSO, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Florida Agency of Law Enforcement, and the United States Attorney’s Office. This task force addresses complex cases concentrating on armed violent groups or gangs, firearms traffickers, armed career criminals, and convicted felons.

The Robbery Clearinghouse Section collects all relevant information from the tri-county area about the crimes that the Robbery Bureau investigates, performs an analysis of that information, predicts trends, and quickly disseminates that analysis so that investigators and patrol officers can be more effective in their pursuits.

The Robbery Clearinghouse was instituted in 1993 under the auspices of a resolution adopted by the Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police and serves as the Agencies's and County's robbery intelligence component. The Clearinghouse staff's primary goal is to support investigative, operational, and deployment strategies through the collection, analysis, and dissemination of county-wide robbery-related intelligence. Analytical and intelligence technological resources employed by the Clearinghouse enable a forum that provides "one-stop shopping" for robbery detectives County-wide. It is through the use of the real-time County-wide robbery intelligence that patterns are identified for immediate attention.

The Clearinghouse collects and analyzes robbery-related information throughout Miami-Dade County and provides a variety of investigative services to local, state, and federal agencies that were previously unavailable. This is accomplished through the development and linking of computerized information systems, all designed to be operated within a rapid time frame.

The Clearinghouse also provides a forum for the exchange of information by hosting a monthly clearinghouse meeting and inviting participating agencies to share up-to-the-minute information on criminal offenders to encourage information networking. The Clearinghouse is the primary source of intelligence information required to target groups and areas for intervention on a day-to-day basis.

The section also supports investigators by conducting research on available databases and providing investigative analysis in support of specific investigations.

MDSO Victim Advocates (VA) assigned to the RB are Victim Practitioner Certified through the Office of the Attorney General of Florida. Our VAs arrange services for victims of robbery, such as coordination with the MDSO Forensic & Technology Division, Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office or Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office for the purposes of pre-file conferences, depositions, or court appearances. Other duties include but are not limited to:

• Assisting with emergency needs, such as shelter, relocation, injunction, emergency funds
• Offer emotional support and crisis counseling telephonically, in person, or at the scene
• Provide transportation to services as needed
• Arrange for interpreters
• Refer counseling and immigration needs