Director J.D. Patterson, of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) leads the largest local police department, which provides public safety service for more than 2.4 million residents and visitors of Miami-Dade County, with an annual budget of over $526 million and is staffed with over 4,065 dedicated sworn and non-sworn personnel.
The Miami-Dade Police Department provides customary localized police services to the South Florida area. The Department also provides specialized investigative services to the unincorporated municipal service area and municipalities that contract for police services within Miami-Dade County. Additionally, the MDPD affords traditional sheriff-related services to all Miami-Dade County residents.
On February 1, 2013, Director J.D. Patterson was appointed Director of the Miami-Dade Police Department. Director Patterson has been a law enforcement officer for 30 years, and has served the Miami-Dade Police Department continuously since 1985. During his career at MDPD, he was promoted through all civil service ranks and in 2004 was appointed Assistant Director of Support Services, where his responsibilities included developing the budget for the eighth largest law enforcement agency in the southeastern United States. Throughout his career, Director Patterson has served communities throughout Miami-Dade County, including Northside, Kendall, Miami Lakes, Doral, and Carol City. Prior to becoming a law enforcement officer, he spent four years in the military service achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force.
A lifelong Miamian, born at Jackson Memorial Hospital and raised in Brownsville, Director Patterson holds an Associate’s Degree from Miami-Dade Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree from Barry University, and a Master’s Degree from the University of Miami. He also attended the F.B.I. National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
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