ABSTAINED.
THIS MONTH MARKS ONE YEAR
SINCE PRATT TOOK OVER AS THE
CHIEF OF MIAMI GARDENS POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
SHE MADE HISTORY AS THE FIRST
BLACK WOMAN TO HOLD THE JOB.
WE SAT DOWN WITH THE CHIEF FOR
NEXT -- EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW.
Reporter: MIAMI GARDENS
POLICE CHIEF, CHIEF PLAT
PRACTICES WHAT SHE PREACHES.
I DON'T ASKED HIM TO DO
THINGS I CAN'T DO MYSELF.
Reporter: WHEN SHE
IMPLEMENTED A STRATEGY TO GET
HER OFFICERS OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY, SHE GOT OUT OF HER
CAR AND FOLLOWED HER OWN
ORDERS.
WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF
KNUCKLEHEADS TO GET OUT.
PREDOMINATELY GOOD PEOPLE HERE
JUST LIKE YOU.
Reporter: SHE SAYS THE FACE-
TO-FACE CONNECTION IS KEY.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO
LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS
THEIR DEPARTMENT.
Reporter: SHE HAS BEEN
WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE FOR OVER
A YEAR NOW.
[ CHEERING ]
Reporter: SHE WAS SWORN IN
ON MAY 1, 2017.
THE GIFTS COME IN SMALL
PACKAGES.
Reporter: STANDING ON A BOX,
SHE GREETED HER NEW COMMUNITY
WHICH REALLY WASN'T THAT NEW TO
HER AT ALL.
IT'S LIKE COMING HOME.
IT WAS RIGHT HERE.
I HAVE TRUE LOVE FOR THIS
COMMUNITY.
Reporter: AT A RECENT
GATHERING, CIVIC MINDED
RESIDENTS COMMENDED HER ON A
SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR.
AS A WOMAN I AM INSPIRED IN
SO MANY ARE INSPIRED BY YOUR
LEADERSHIP, YOUR STATURE AND
YOUR INTEGRITY, YOUR
TRANSPARENCY AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY AS YOU SAID
EARLIER, YOUR LOVE.
Reporter: THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS SEEN ITS SHARE
OF CONTROVERSY IN A STRING OF
LEADERS WITH SOME REALLY
LASTING A YEAR AT THE HELM.
THE CAPTAIN PLAT SAYS SHE IS
NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE PASSED.
I JUST SHOW THE COMMUNITY IN
THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT I AM
MADE OF.
THE PAST HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
ME.
Reporter: THE MT PD WAS IN
NEED OF AN IMAGE OVERHAUL AND
POSITIVE PR.
I WILL LET THEM KNOW THAT WE
WANT TO TAKE THE COMMUNITY BACK
AND MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE THAT
LIVE HERE FEELS SAFE.
Reporter: THE CHIEF BUT IN A
NEW COMMAND STAFF WHICH INCLUDES
JD PATTERSON AS HER ASSISTANT
CHIEF AND ADDED SOME PUBLIC
INFORMATION OFFICERS AND
BOOSTED THE DEPARTMENT SOCIAL
MEDIA PRESENCE USING ONE VISION
ONE MINDSET.
EVERYONE HAS TO HAVE THE
SAME MINDSET.
THAT IS WHAT WILL MAKE THIS
WORK.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS, I
CAN DO IT ALONGSIDE YOU.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I WILL
PULL OVER CARS ON TRAFFIC STOPS.
I BACKED MY OFFICERS UP.
I DO NOT FORGET WERE I HAVE
COME FROM.
Reporter: BORN IN LONDON AND
RAISED IN MICHIGAN, SHE MOVED
TO FLORIDA AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
TOGETHER WITH HER HUSBAND, THEY
LEAD A LIFE OF SERVICE.
HER GREATEST DUTY IS TO THEIR
THREE DAUGHTERS.
I KNOW THEY ARE SEEING
EXACTLY WHAT I DO.
AND SO IT IS IT DOES VERY
IMPORTANT.
Reporter: WHILE IT IS CRIME
THAT MAKES HEADLINES HERE, IT
IS THE STORIES YOU DON'T READ
ABOUT THAT MAKE MIAMI GARDENS
SO SPECIAL TO HER
THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF
PROFESSIONALS THAT LIVE HERE
AND WORK ON THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THEY ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS.
IT IS NOT A BAD PLACE.
I DON'T MEAN TO BE
DISRESPECTFUL, BUT DON'T LISTEN
TO ALL THE HYPE IN THE MEDIA.
COME AND SPEAK TO ME. I WILL BE
GLAD TO TELL YOU WHAT IT'S ALL
ABOUT LIVING HERE AND WORKING
HERE IN THE CITY OF MIAMI