Miami, FL – July 14, 2005 – City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz will speak before a class of 70 graduates of the Miami-Dade County Drug Court on Friday, July 15th, 2005, at 11:30 am. Drug Court is a diversion and treatment program created in 1989 that provides certain drug offenders with the opportunity to avoid prosecution by participating in rehabilitation programs until they recover sufficiently to have their cases dismissed. Mayor Diaz will offer words of encouragement to this most recent group of individuals who have successfully completed their drug court requirements.

This event is a fitting end to a week of marked accomplishments in the City’s efforts to effectively reduce crime throughout the community. Just this Monday, the Miami Police Department announced they made nearly 300 arrests as a result of Operation Difference, the year-long effort to combat crime in our neighborhoods by dedicating officers from every unit to a number of sting and reverse-sting operations for several days. This portion of Operation Difference, called “Straight Flush,” yielded the most successful results yet.

In addition, Mayor Diaz and Chief John Timoney announced the implementation of a new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, replacing a 21-year-old system and allowing faster, more accurate input of emergency information. The new system will ultimately provide citizens with better service.

Who: City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, 11th Judicial Circuit Judge Jeffrey Rosenik, 70 drug court graduates

What: Drug Court Graduation

When: Friday, July 15th, 2005, at 11:30 am

Where: 1351 N.W. 12TH Street, Chamber 405