Miami Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum

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!

Today, we remember and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten 🇺🇸

One thing our team has learned while working in the archives here at the BPPCM is that not every piece of history comes neatly labeled and organized. Many of the items in our care lack official provenance, but we still wanted to find a way to share them with the public in a meaningful way that honors the lives and achievements of the people depicted.

Among these materials are dozens of loose photographs showing law enforcement personnel, community events, ceremonies, and everyday moments connected to the City of Miami Police.

Even when it’s not always clear who is pictured or when an image was taken, the photographs still hold value and tell a story — one of fraternity, camaraderie, and service to The City Beautiful.

As you look through the images, you begin noticing the small details: uniforms, patrol cars, buildings in the background, the way people interact with one another, and even the expressions on their faces. Some photographs feel very official, while others are candid and deeply personal. Together, they help paint a broader picture of the people charged with protecting and serving our community.

One of the realities of archival work is that sometimes you’re piecing history together from fragments. Not everything survives with a caption attached. Part of the process is slowing down, looking closely, and reconnecting names, places, and stories that may have been forgotten over time.

Over the next several weeks, we will continue to share more of these images and artifacts with the public. If you know any of the faces or locations depicted, feel free to reach out!

As we close out National Police Week, we invite visitors to pause and reflect at the Remembrance area in our gallery, where we honor six Black officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

🌹 Today, we remember Leroy Joseph LaFleur, Victor Butler, Jr., Johnnie Young, Nathaniel Broom, Jerrel Eugene Ferguson, and John Milledge.

We’ve shared their stories before on our page, and today—and every day—we thank them for their service, sacrifice, and lasting legacy. 💙

Calling all young artists!

The Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum is excited to launch 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 look like for a chance to win cash prizes & more 💥

🗓 Submission Deadline: June 12, 2026
📍 Open to original student artwork

Scan the QR code or visit the link on the flyer to register and submit your design! 🎨✨

Congratulations to Gary Tyler on being named part of the Galaxy Leader Fellowship 2026 Cohort! 👏

Founded to support directly impacted and visionary leaders working to transform the U.S. criminal legal system, the fellowship recognizes advocates creating meaningful change through leadership, education, art, and community impact.

We celebrate this well-deserved recognition and look forward to seeing Gary Tyler continue to inspire and uplift others through his work as he did when he showcased his art at the museum in 2025.