Miami-Dade County has greenlit a considerable investment aimed at enhancing accountability within its police department by sanctioning up to $9 million to identify and address officers exhibiting patterns of misconduct.
A unanimous approval from county commissioners facilitated a lengthy contract with Benchmark Analytics, a Chicago-based data management system provider, intending to pre-emptively identify problematic police officers and consequently shield the local government from potential lawsuits.
Innovative technologies spearheading preemptive measures
According to the Miami New Times, the strategic move to implement the innovative data management system underscores a conscious effort to meticulously track various aspects of officer performance, ranging from disciplinary history to instances of force application.
The new system will serve to monitor not only the over 3,000 sworn officers of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), the nation’s eighth-largest police agency, but also its approximately 1,500 civilian employees.
The initial five-year term of the contract is set at $2.26 million, with the option to prolong it for two additional five-year terms, potentially elevating the cost to an estimated $9.07 million.
A historical context and future uncertainties
Notably, the system’s future utilization remains undetermined with the anticipated election of Miami-Dade’s first sheriff since the 1960s occurring next year, due to a 2018 voter-approved Florida constitutional amendment.
The sheriff position, abolished over half a century ago amidst extensive corruption, does not mandate the continuous use of the newly implemented system, leaving its long-term application in limbo.
A new dawn in police accountability
In the wake of numerous violent arrests and allegations of misconduct among MDPD officers becoming public knowledge through various footage in recent years, this initiative indicates a substantial shift towards increased police accountability.
Moreover, several officers have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, facing charges ranging from federal loan fraud amid the COVID-19 pandemic to battery and intoxicated driving, further amplifying the call for a robust monitoring mechanism.
According to the Miami New Times, in August, five MDPD officers were reportedly “relieved of duty” for allegedly abusing the department’s overtime system.
Behind the technology: Benchmark Analytics
Established in 2017 and partially owned by the University of Chicago, Benchmark Analytics brings a research-backed approach to identifying potential patterns in police behavior that may culminate in misconduct.
The company’s system serves as an “early-intervention tool” that monitors a spectrum of officers’ actions, from use-of-force instances and vehicle crashes to citizen complaints and K9 unit deployment, thereby aiming to proactively pinpoint and address problematic behaviors before they escalate into legal liabilities for local governments.
A closer look at the tool’s functionality and implications
Moreover, the tool has the capability to alert supervisors to officers who might require further training or assistance in their roles.
Reports are that it is designed to assist agencies in comprehending performance, with an emphasis on mitigating rising liability costs, managing employee performance, and reducing the extensive costs linked to public criticism, media attention, a lack of transparency, and deteriorating community relations.
Mixed reactions and competing in an emerging market
The emerging industry of advanced police monitoring is witnessing a rise, with companies like Guardian Tracking and IAPro competing for contracts with local law enforcement agencies.
Early studies on police staff-monitoring software have indicated a dichotomy in impact on officer morale; while some appreciate the targeted address of misconduct, others perceive it as subjecting them to unwarranted scrutiny.
However, by spotlighting commendable officers, contemporary software in this domain can potentially counterbalance negative implications, maintaining a stable morale among the force.
