Major Antonio Brooklen

Major Antonio G. Brooklen, the Commander of the Operations Division, joined the City of Miami Gardens Police Department on August 27, 2007. Major Brooklen directly oversees the day-to-day proficiency of the Operation’s Division, and was part of the team that successfully transitioned police services from the Miami Dade Police Department on December 16, 2007. In his role, he administers and manages the division, and analyzes and resolves problems and emergency situation as it relates to the functionality of police services within the City of Miami Gardens. Major Brooklen also implements and enforces departmental rules, regulations, as well as city ordinances and policies.

The Operations Division of the Miami Gardens Police Department is comprised of the Uniformed Patrol Division, Traffic Homicide Unit, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, Motors Unit, Canine (K-9) Unit, Community Service Unit, Community Service Aides, and School Crossing Guards. The Division members respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service and are dedicated to providing professional, efficient, and effective law enforcement services to the citizens, businesses, and visitors of the City of Miami Gardens.

Major Brooklen began his journey in the law enforcement arena in 1994 as a Public Service Aide and Police Officer with the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD). He has held various positions, which included assignments in the Northside District’s General Investigations Unit, Auto Theft Unit, Community Oriented Policing and Team Police Unit, Neighborhood Resource Unit, Warrants Bureau, and the Internal Affairs and Criminal Conspiracy Section of the Professional Compliance Bureau.

Major Brooklen holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Lynn University and is a member of the Alumni Association as well as the National Honor Society. In addition, he is also a loyal member of the Miami-Dade Police Chief’s Association and the Kiwanis Club of Miami Gardens.

The City of Miami Gardens Police Department is guided by a mission statement that invokes a strong partnership with the community. Its various divisions, departments, and units strive to reduce crime and the fear of crime in our community.
The Operations Division is the entity responsible for the physical 24-hour delivery of Police services throughout the City of Miami Gardens. A total of 137 members comprise the Operations Division.  In addition to the Operations Major, there is one Executive Captain, four platoon captains, 15 sergeants, 104 sworn officers, 10 community service aides and support staff.

The Division operates in a three-tier system:
·  The guidance and leadership of the Major directs the Operations Division through the efforts of the Executive Captain and four Operations Platoon Captains.

·  The second tier is made up of the Platoon Captains who are responsible for the delivery of Police services in three geographical zones composing the City of Miami Gardens.

·  Finally, the Traffic Unit, Canine (K-9) Units and Community Services Unit complete the operational makeup of the division.

The Operations Patrol Division is comprised of street uniformed officers who are most visible. As the largest division in the agency, it is divided among the four shifts, each commanded by a Platoon Captain.
The Platoon Captains direct the officers of the Operations Patrol Division to provide the most basic of law enforcement tasks, as well as perform operations in maintaining a safe community including:

The number of officers allocated to each shift is determined by a variety of factors including: number of calls for service, number of arrests, geographical barriers, crime factors, civic organizational boundaries, and other criteria.
Based on the needs of the community, each district is allotted specific resources including platoon captains, sergeants, uniformed patrol officers, motorcycle officers, canine officers and community service aides. Additionally, the Operations Division is supported by all other divisions and units within the Police Department, in their efforts to provide the best possible service to the community.