New Miami Beach Police Chief Sworn In
MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) - Chief Daniel Oates will now run the Miami Beach Police Department of 385 officers, command personnel, and civil staff to help protect 95-thousand residents and hundreds of thousands of visitors.
He was sworn in Wednesday by Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and he recieved a warm welcome from the City Commission. But he knows the fuzzy feelings and pats on the back come with the promise that he will protect the residents and visitors to Miami Beach.
"I know the expectations are extremely high and I will do my very best for you. I consider it a sacred honor," Chief Oates told the commission.
Chief Oates told CBS4's Natalia Zea that his experience working in as a street cop in New York City, a police chief in a college town, and the Chief of Police in Aurora, Colorado during the movie theater massacre have equipped him to serve in this new role.
"It's a full spectrum. I've had just an extraordinary career. I'm very, very fortunate and this is a great way to finish and I'm excited as can be," he smiled.
He's already been busy. Just one day before he was sworn in, Oates went to the crime scene at Club Mansion where well-liked personal chef Antaun Teasley was shot to death.
Click here to watch Natalia Zea's report.
"I believe that as the police chief, I own the responsibility to shepherd and supervise the most important events the department is dealing with and obviously, it's unusual but a homicide in Miami Beach is a very very important event to be handled well."
That isn't the only high-profile incident he has to deal with. Former Miami Beach cop Derick Kuilan will soon be sentenced for that infamous, reckless ATV ride with a bachelorette while on duty which injured two people.
"Clearly I was brought in here to take a look at recent events and try to adapt the department and make it as effective as I can should we be faced with those circumstances in the future," he told Zea.
On a personal note, he says he looks forward to selling his Colorado home, and moving his wife and two grown children to town.
Levine made sure he was well equipped to cheer on his new hometown basketball team by giving him him a Miami Heat shirt during the swearing-in ceremony.
"Hopefully things will turn around and you'll be able to wear it more properly," laughed Levine.
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