Citizen Police Academy
Hate Crime Prevention

The Miami Beach Police Department's Command Staff will welcome participants and offer an overview of the department, its mission, goals, special initiatives and challenges. The Department's LGBTQIA+ Liaison will also provide an overview of the LGBTQIA+ initiatives, including the "Safe Place" and "Stop the Hate. Don't be a Victim." programs.

During this session, participants will learn to identify and detect warning signs for possible fraud or identity theft. Participants will also learn how to respond appropriately to prevent and mitigate identity theft. Furthermore, instructors will go over the underreporting of bias-motivated crimes.

This session will focus on the critical elements of biological sex, gender identity, and gender expression. During this session, participants will review statistics, terminology and resources and discuss how to be a trans ally.

The objective of this lesson is to teach participants how not to be a victim. More specifically, it will teach participants how to proactively disrupt an attacker's plan preemptively and with the proper mindset.

This session will help participants understand the history, statistics, response and prevention practices associated with an active shooter/attack incident. This session will also include a presentation on the Pulse nightclub shooting.

This session will help recognize nonverbal, verbal and physical cues and act precisely to diffuse escalating situations via the department's state-of-the-art virtual reality training simulator.

The firearms block of instruction familiarizes participants with firearms, including the nomenclature, care and maintenance. During this session, participants will go to the MBPD shooting range, where they will receive an introduction to shooting fundamentals.

During this final session, participants will reflect on what they learned during the program and receive a Certificate of Completion.