Monday night we covered the restoration and unveiling of Miami's first black police station. Built in 1951, it served the black communities of Coconut Grove, Liberty City and Overtown for more than a decade. For the past 40 years it has sat abandoned... left behind when the department desegregated. The City was planning to demolish the building when a group of retired officers started in initiative to save it.
Back then the officers were called colored patrolmen. Only white policemen were called officers. The patrolmen were trained in secret, couldn't where their uniforms home, and were not allowed to arrest white people.
The first five black Miami Police patrolmen.
Prior to the black police station they met a black dentist office every day. The building of the station was the city council's response to a rise in crime. They thought this would be a good way to unclog the white courtrooms of all the black cases.
The colored patrolmen were only allowed to police their own race. Instead of cars they rode around on bikes. Can you imagine bringing an arrest in on the handlebars?
Upstairs there was a courtroom where South Florida's first black judges worked. They handled primarily black on black crimes. Often they were trivial cases like drunk and disorderly, theft, and simple battery (fights). Because of the limited resources and budget policemen served not only as witnesses but as prosecutors. The judge often served as the defense attorney as well!
While most of us would look back at the segregated police station and courthouse shamefully... it was actually a huge step in the desegregation movement. For the first time blacks were able to get a fair trial. Even if convicted the sentences were more fitting than those handed out in the white courtrooms. The African American community not only had pride in their new justice system, they were on their way to equality.
Archie McKay served 25 years with the Miami Police Department, including five years in the black police precinct. He saw the movement first hand. As he showed us his accomplishments around the station you could hear the satisfaction in his voice.
McKay's grandson Eric was at the grand opening Monday. He looked around in amazement as grandpa's stories came to life.
Starting salary in 1970 for Miami Police officer was $7200.
In the fifty plus years since the police station opened so much has happened. The original five black officers paved the way for the 350 black officers who work for the department today... not to mention the women who joined the force a short time later.
Exhibit Guest Book
Clarence Dickson was the first black man to go through the police academy. Little did he know he would rise through the ranks all the way to police chief. As he stood in the precinct Monday night he told me he was amazed to see how his life will remembered after he is gone.
Clarence Dickson and his family.
Unfortunately the original five black officers didn't live to see this day happen. When Ralph White died last year he was thought to be the lone survivor. Sure enough Edward Kimble rolled up in a wheelchair at the funeral surprising everyone. Kimble the true lone survivor of the original five died a short time later. He died though knowing his memory will live on within these walls.
Typically I look at projects like this, produced by our political leaders, as political. And this one may very well be political. The politicians were all there Monday night speeches in hand. However I do believe the community stands to gain a lot from this exhibit. I hope the city is able to keep the precinct open for future generations to experience... so that the memories of the struggles for equality are never forgotten.
To visit the museum:
It is at 1009 NW Fifth Avenue, Miami, FL. The hours are Tuesday thru Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information, call 305-416-1300.
