Utopia residents enjoy one of the safest neighborhoods in Miami because of a visible and proactive patrol by City of Miami off-duty policemen contracted by the Utopia HOA.
The following is an excerpt from an email received by the Utopia Security Liaison from Sgt Abad reporting on activities during his security patrol on Feb 5, 2014:
Mr. Fernandez FYI tonight at 11:30 PM I initiated a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle traveling east on Ventura from Lejeune crossing the park and heading to Braganza. At Poinciana and Braganza the vehicle attempted to black out and conceal itself at which point I initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle tag was expired and the individuals were dressed in all black. The driver was arrested and the passenger was released. Both subjects came back with prior robbery and burglary arrests.
We encourage our members to spread the word about how our security association is thwarting crime and ask every homeowner to join the security association so we can afford increased hours of police protection.
According to Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, in his recent District 2 Newsletter, the police are targeting gang-related violent crime in Coconut Grove with a new police substation located close to Utopia at the intersection of Douglas and Grand avenues.
In July 2013, I brought forward the idea of a supporting base of operations for the police in Coconut Grove to City of Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa and newly-appointed Commander Manuel Morales. They both agreed with and supported the idea as a direct way of fighting criminal activity in a high-crime area where gang violence had emerged as a serious threat to the safety of Coconut Grove citizens. These citizens supported the station as a definable place for community outreach, where residents and businesses can connect with police services. The community also supported the idea in response to a spike in crime.
We are lucky to have such a proactive city commissioner supporting our call for improved safety. We should also be aware and vigilant about expanding our own patrols as gangs are notorious for striking out when law enforcement starts a dragnet operation in their “territory”. It is very possible that we may witness an increase in gang-related violent crime and crimes against property as the new police station forms a base of operations in their backyard. Please encourage your neighbors to join our homeowner’s security association and consider making a supplemental monthly or annual voluntary contribution for increased police patrols.