Miami Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum

🎉 Congratulations to our Juneteenth poster contest winner, Olie Magloire! 🎉

Olie, a 1st-grade student at Phyllis Ruth Miller Elementary School, was selected as a winner for his poster, "Our Heroes Keep Us Safe."

Through his artwork, Olie captured an important message about the role first responders play in keeping our communities safe. His creativity, thoughtfulness, and ability to express big ideas through art made a lasting impression on our judges. Thank you, Olie, for sharing your vision and reminding us that safety, service, and community matter.

This photograph, also found in the June 1967 issue of the Miami Police Newsletter, captures a moment of recognition for officers whose careers started right here at the BPPCM.

Among those honored was Officer Clarence Dickson, who received the Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) Silver Medal of Merit for his actions during a dangerous incident in June 1966. According to the newsletter, Dickson was confronted at the intersection of Flagler Street and 2nd Avenue by an armed individual carrying a fully loaded .45-caliber weapon. The article credits Dickson's calm judgment and composure under pressure with protecting members of the public at one of Miami's busiest intersections.

Also recognized was Officer Leroy Smith, who received a Bronze Medal of Service years before rising through the ranks to become Major Leroy Smith, one of the most prominent figures associated with Miami's rich history of law enforcement.

For the BPPCM, this image serves as a reminder that the leaders we remember today first earned reputations through years of service, professionalism, and dedication to their communities. Long before they became Chief Clarence Dickson and Major Leroy Smith, they were patrol officers navigating the challenges of policing during a tumultuous period in Miami's history.

Particularly significant is the accompanying image of the officers' wives holding portraits of their husbands. The photograph highlights the often-overlooked role of families, especially their wives, who supported officers behind the scenes, sharing in both the sacrifices and the achievements of public service.

Questions about our collections? 📧 Contact [email protected]

Girl Scout Community Troops are keeping the fun going all summer long with exciting events, new experiences, and opportunities to grow. Renew your membership today and join them for another amazing year of friendship and discovery! 💚🍀

In June 1967, the Miami Police Newsletter published a case study titled “Three Rapists Beat the Law,” written by Lt. W.P. McClure. The article recounts a sexual assault investigation in which detectives developed strong evidence against three suspects, obtained confessions, and believed they had solved the crime. However, the confessions were later ruled inadmissible because investigators failed to fully comply with recently established constitutional requirements surrounding suspect interrogations. As a result, the charges were dismissed.

What makes this article particularly striking is its closing challenge to readers: “We welcome critical comment. How would you have handled the above case?”

Featured in the June 1967 issue of the Miami Police Newsletter, "Three Rapists Beat the Law" tells the story of a criminal investigation that appeared solved—until the case unraveled in court.

Detectives developed suspects, obtained confessions, and believed they had secured justice for the victim. However, because investigators failed to fully comply with constitutional requirements governing interrogations, the confessions were ruled inadmissible and the charges were dismissed.

The article's author viewed the outcome as a lesson for police officers and ended with a challenge: "We welcome critical comment. How would you have handled the above case?"

Nearly sixty years later, that question remains relevant.

At the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum, one of our core educational initiatives is Knowing the Law: Awareness+Education= Smarter Choices. This historic article demonstrates why legal knowledge matters. Laws and constitutional protections such as Miranda Rights are not simply technicalities—they shape how justice is pursued, how evidence is gathered, and how cases are decided.

For the Black officers and citizens in Overtown and communities like Coconut Grove during segregation, understanding the law was especially important. They lived within a system that often denied equal treatment to African Americans while simultaneously enforcing the law in their community. Their experiences highlight a broader lesson: public trust in the justice system depends not only on solving crimes but on ensuring that legal rights are respected throughout the process.

This document reminds us that debates about policing, accountability, victims' rights, and constitutional protections are not new. They were being discussed in Miami during the Civil Rights era and continue to shape conversations about justice today.

With June upon us, we're excited to share a variety of fresh programs, updates, and much more! Discover everything in our latest newsletter.
https://historicalblackprecinct.org/news/e-newsletter/

REMINDER 🚨 Young artists, this month is your time to shine!

We're launching the “We Too Sing America: 250 YRS” Poster Contest for elementary, middle, and high school students. Create a poster showing what freedom and safety in your community looks like and you could win cash prizes & more 💥

🗓 Submission Deadline: June 12, 2026

https://bit.ly/We2SingContest2026

With the City of Miami recently appointing Edwin Lopez as its new Chief of Police, it serves as a reminder that every new chapter in the department’s history is connected to those who came before it. Here at the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum, many of the stories preserved in our archives, seen in these pictures from the 1984 MPD yearbook, reflect the evolution of leadership within the Miami Police Department and the individuals who helped shape it.

One of those individuals is Clarence Dickson, who made history in 1984 as the first Black Chief of Police of a major American city. Years earlier, in 1960, Dickson also became the first Black recruit allowed to attend the formerly segregated Miami Police Academy. His career represents not only personal achievement but a major turning point in the history of policing in Miami.

The museum also preserves materials connected to Calvin Ross, Miami’s second Black police chief, whose leadership continued that legacy of progress and representation within the department. Through photographs, documents, newspaper clippings, and oral histories, these stories help show how much the department — and the city itself — has changed over time.

As Miami welcomes a new chief, moments like this remind us why preserving local history matters. Today’s headlines eventually become tomorrow’s archives, and the decisions, challenges, and achievements of current leadership all become part of the broader story of the City of Miami and its police department.

Questions about our collections? 📧 Contact [email protected]

Last week, our Knowing the Law curriculum brought learning to life for the 3rd-grade classes at Frederick Douglass Elementary School! 🚲✨

Students learned important safety tips for their communities, from memorizing their address and parent/caregiver phone numbers to staying safe while walking and riding bikes. The experience continued with a field trip to the museum, where they explored the history of community policing and discovered the stories of the trailblazing Black officers who broke barriers during segregation.

Learning, history, and future leaders all in one day!