Major Keandra Simmons

The City of Miami Central District consists of Downtown, Overtown, Wynwood, Allapattah, and Edgewater Neighborhood areas.

• Wynwood is an eclectic district in the urban core of Miami, Florida. It is home to art galleries, retail stores, antique shops, eclectic bars, artisanal eateries and one of the largest open-air street-art installations in the world. With over a million visitors annually, the Wynwood Neighborhood has experienced rapid growth within the Miami Police Department and is now the area with the largest presence of Beat Officers. Officers conduct foot and bicycle within the Wynwood BID 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Downtown Miami is currently experiencing a surge in both tourism and residential growth, with projections indicating continued increases in the coming years. Our objective for the Downtown Neighborhood is to make it the safest urban center for residents, visitors, and business owners. We pursue this goal through a comprehensive approach focused on education, prevention, and enforcement. A key element of this strategy is the Downtown Problem Solving Team, which has been actively operating to identify and address crime patterns through proactive policing, limiting opportunities for offenders to target the area’s growing population. Adding to the district’s transformation, Miami Worldcenter, set to officially open in May 2025, is a dynamic new destination to experience the best of Miami’s shopping, dining, and entertainment. From flagship global brands to local favorites, this urban district brings a magnetic energy and captivating vibrancy, reinforcing the need for a sustained public safety presence in one of the city's most high-profile neighborhoods.

Downtown continues to see a reduction in its homeless population, as the HEAT team, in collaboration with Downtown support units, maintains consistent long-term outreach efforts and ongoing clean-up operations.

Our Downtown Neighborhood Support Team have created a greater presence and interactions with the business owners and the citizens of downtown. Our goal is not only to prevent and deter crimes, but to build a partnership that will develop a long-lasting positive relationship with the citizens of downtown.

• The Historic Overtown Neighborhood has experienced a remarkable resurgence in recent years, driven by strong community partnerships that continue to thrive. The City of Miami, through the efforts of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, has led these revitalization efforts in coordination with the Miami Police Department, resulting in a safer community and a significant reduction in violent crimes. Overtown is not only attracting new businesses but also expanding opportunities for homeownership through the development of affordable housing and a sustained focus on reducing homelessness and eliminating brightness. The police department has also re-established previously fractured lines of communication with local Homeowners Associations—renewed engagement that has proven critical to the neighborhood’s ongoing progress.

In addition to the City’s investment and partnerships in Overtown, organizations such as the Overtown Youth Center, Touching Miami with Love, the Saint John Community Development Corporation, Urban Philanthropies, Stephanie Creates, Inc., and the Gibson Park Complex have become vital pillars of the community. These groups continue to make a focused and coordinated effort to enhance the quality of life for Overtown’s residents, as well as those who work in or visit this historic neighborhood.