Homestead Has A New Chief of Police

Mario Knapp is Homestead Police Department’s new chief. During the December 18th meeting, City Manager Nzeribe Ihekwaba announced that he had selected Mario Knapp as the new chief. He is now going through the transition process, and will be officially sworn in on January 3rd.

Knapp was among the candidates for Miami-Dade Sheriff. He achieved the rank of major in the Miami-Dade Police Department, where he retired after a 27-year career. He has led uniformed and specialized units, trained all levels of personnel, and has written protocols for mass casualty events and active shooters.

Additionally, Knapp served as command post incident commander at the Surfside building collapse. According to Knapp’s website, during his last assignment he oversaw the tactical operations section, which included the special response team, dignitary protection unit, bomb squad, K-9 unit, incident management team, and rapid deployment force. He also led the police operations section, which included a general investigation unit and a uniform patrol.

Along with this, Knapp led the special events and planning section, which included the aviation unit, marine patrol unit, and motors unit. Knapp held every civil service rank in the Miami-Dade department. He served as Captain of the Warrants Bureau for the Kendall and Northside Districts, where he coordinated all police functions, including the Community Advisory Councils.

He was assigned to the Miami-Dade Police Training Bureau, where he supervised and oversaw all in-service and advanced- departmental training matters, including tactical and force-related training programs within the department, and acted as the departmental use of force expert for Miami-Dade County, according to his website. Knapp's extensive experience and leadership background will undoubtedly be an asset as he takes on his new role as Homestead’s police chief.