Wayne Jones sworn in as first Black police chief in history of Miami Beach

In front of a packed crowd at the New World Center auditorium, Wayne Jones was sworn in Thursday morning as the first ever Black police chief in Miami Beach.

Jones, who was previously the department’s second-in-command, received numerous standing ovations during an emotional ceremony that culminated in him receiving a letter of support signed by President Joe Biden.

Earlier in the proceedings, Mayor Dan Gelber administered the oath of office and Jones’ father placed the police chief badge on his son’s chest.

“Today I am humbled to stand before you as the first Black police chief in one of America’s most iconic cities,” said Jones, 54, a Bahamian American who has ascended the department’s ranks over the past 27 years.

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, who is also of Bahamian descent, called the appointment “a giant stride forward towards justice, diversity and equality.”

“I couldn’t think of anything more important that is happening in this nation today,” she said.

Jones and others acknowledged the moment’s weight given the history of racism in Miami Beach, which includes its status as a “sundown” city where Black people weren’t allowed after dark.

More recently, as a teenager learning to drive in South Florida in the 1980s, Jones said his father “warned” him to steer clear of Miami Beach police.

In laying out his vision for the department, Jones noted that data show crime decreasing in the tourist hub over the past decade. Still, he said, “some residents say they feel less safe, even when data shows otherwise.”

“It is also my job to make you feel safe,” Jones said.

Jones addressed the city’s high-profile struggle to manage spring break in South Beach in recent years, saying he would soon “begin formalizing a plan of action” to “curb criminal behavior from a very small number of people.” A pair of deadly shootings amid large crowds on Ocean Drive made international headlines this past March.

The new chief also spoke about a need to “end open-air drug dealing” in the city. And he talked about his approach to homelessness — a hot-button issue as the city’s elected officials consider new laws to crack down on sleeping outside. Miami Beach has an unsheltered homeless population of 152, according to an overnight count conducted last week, down from 235 in January.

Jones said he would “make every attempt” to offer services to unhoused people, but added: “We will not allow a criminal element to take advantage of our collective empathy.”

Thursday marked the last day on the job for outgoing Chief Richard Clements after 33 years with the department.

Clements’ salary was around $259,000, according to a city spokesperson. Jones’ salary as chief will be just over $262,000.

City Manager Alina Hudak announced the appointment of Jones in June after an interview process that was limited to internal candidates. The City Commission voted unanimously to approve the appointment in July.

Weeks later, the Miami Herald obtained records showing Jones had spent almost three weeks in jail in 2001 and was suspended from the Miami Beach Police Department for almost a year after a domestic incident with his wife in which he was charged with battery and kidnapping. The incident had not been previously reported.

The charges, stemming from Jones allegedly entering his estranged wife’s home without permission and grabbing her wrist during a dispute over a spare key, were dropped 10 months later after Jones agreed to a pre-trial diversion program. Jones told the Herald he still has “PTSD” from the ordeal and that it was “the most difficult and most painful thing I’ve experienced in my entire life.”

Hudak, Gelber and several city commissioners said they knew about the incident before backing him as chief.

“The chief has my FULL support,” Commissioner David Richardson said Thursday in a text message, describing coverage of Jones’ arrest as “hit pieces.”

Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez had initially said she would not support Jones’ appointment, citing her disappointment with the department’s administration under Clements in recent years. She ultimately voted in favor, saying she didn’t want to “begrudge” him a unanimous appointment.

The change in leadership comes as Miami Beach voters prepare to elect a new mayor and three new city commissioners in November. Public safety has been cited as one of the top priorities for several candidates, including Commissioner Steven Meiner, who spoke during Thursday’s ceremony about the importance of making Miami Beach a “law and order” community.

“Upholding the rule of law is paramount,” Meiner said.

The move also follows years of scrutiny and critique over the police department’s treatment of Black people in a city where just 4.7% of residents are Black, according to U.S. Census data.

In 2021, five Miami Beach officers were arrested for using excessive force on a Black man in handcuffs and for pummeling a Black bystander who was recording the incident.

The city also faced criticism for enacting an ordinance that disproportionately targeted Black visitors who made video recordings of police. That law was enacted as part of a series of tough-on-crime measures following an unruly spring break in 2021.