Attendees view an exhibit on the first Black officers at the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum. Photo: Courtesy of Jorge R. Perez/City of Miami

(Miami, FL) -In celebration of Black history month, the City of Miami celebrates the opening of   “In the Line of Duty”, an exhibit on the history of Miami’s first Black officers. The opening reception for the exhibit took place on Monday, February 2, 2009 from 6:00p.m.  to 8:00p.m. at the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum, located at 1009 NW 5th Avenue, behind the Jefferson Reeves Clinic. The exhibition details the history of the building and of Miami’s first Black officers.

During the reception, City of Miami officials along with members of the City of Miami Retired Police Officers Community Benevolent Association (COM-R-POCBA) unveiled the first inductees into the Black Police Precinct and Museum Courthouse Wall of Honor. The inductees included: Judge Lawson E. Thomas, Jessie Mc Crary, Esq., Father John Edward Culmer and the first five original officers, Edward Kimble, Ralph White, John Milledge, Clyde Lee and Moody Hall.

The Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum is located in the only known structure in the nation that was designed, devoted to and operated as a separate station house and municipal court for Blacks. The precinct serves as an important icon in Miami’s Black history as a reminder of the pioneers who led the way for African Americans to serves in various roles of police enforcement through the years.

During the month of February individuals and groups will be able to tour the exhibit on Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For more information residents can call (305) 416-1300.

The Black Police Precinct and Courthouse was recently restored with funding assistance from the City of Miami, the members of the City of Miami Retired Police Officers Community Benevolent Association (COM-R-POCBA), and a generous grant from the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources.  The movement to preserve the precinct was initiated by members of COM-R-POCBA (among them many who served in the Black precinct) and the late former City Commissioner Arthur E. Teele, Jr. Project completion and the museum opening were greatly assisted by members of COM-R-POCBA, the City of Miami and Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones.  The building is owned by the City of Miami and operates as a public museum by the members of COM-R-POCBA.

For more information, contact the Office of Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones at 305-250-5390.