MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Dozens of South Florida law enforcement officers are on their way to Washington, D.C., to assist with security efforts during Monday’s presidential inauguration.
Fifty-two Miami Beach police officers boarded a flight from Miami International Airport early Saturday, prepared to help ensure safety before, during, and after the historic event.
“This is the sixth time the Miami Beach Police Department has been asked to participate in the presidential security detail,” said Assistant Chief Daniel Morgalo.
The Miami Beach officers, including 13 with specialized crowd control training, have undergone extensive preparation over the past year.
Their duties will include monitoring the parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue, preventing security breaches, and assisting with crowd management for the event, which is expected to draw thousands of attendees.
“We’ve been enduring a lot of training, equipping them for the elements, and selecting the finest our agency has to offer,” said MBPD Deputy Chief Paul Acosta.
The Miami Police Department is also dispatching more than 40 officers, and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office will send 45 deputies from its rapid deployment force.
Local 10 News also reported on Thursday that ten police officers from the North Bay Village Police Department will also be traveling to Washington, D.C., for the presidential inauguration.
A U.S. Secret Service spokesperson noted that more than 25,000 law enforcement personnel will participate in securing the event.
“When they look back at this 10 or 15 years from now, they can tell their families that they represented our city during a peaceful transfer of power,” Acosta added.
Most South Florida officers are scheduled to return Tuesday after completing their assignments.