Dade County Police Benevolent Association

The Dade County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) is “The Voice of Law Enforcement” in Miami-Dade County. Since its incorporation in December 1963, the Dade County PBA has worked to protect the rights of law enforcement personnel and promote professionalism. The PBA has become the largest and most respected police organization throughout the State of Florida particularly in Miami-Dade County. While many things have changed here in Miami-Dade County, what remains the same is the PBA’s commitment to law enforcement and to making our county a better, safer and more united place to live.

Today, the Dade County PBA represents more than 6,500 law enforcement officers and is the largest certified bargaining agent in Miami-Dade County representing the Miami-Dade Police Department (Sheriff’s Office), Corrections and Rehabilitation, and most local municipal law enforcement agencies. The PBA provides services such as collective bargaining, labor relations assistance and legal representation. They also sponsor many annual events to assist and honor law enforcement for their acts of heroism.

John Rivera, Dade County & Florida PBA President

A Message from John Rivera

Standing together and fighting for what’s right

“It has been the Dade County PBA’s mission and honor for 50 years to serve as the “Voice of Law Enforcement,” to stand with our members, to look out for them and serve as their back up. As a part of the “thin blue line” we know what is asked of law enforcement and what officers are willing to give. We know the badge isn’t just a piece of metal they wear. It’s a part of who they are. These brave men and women are individuals who when challenged, rise, and who when tested, remain true.

By definition the word union means standing together for a cause. We must stand together for what is right for our profession. We must be united in our fight to represent these brave men and women who are willing to risk all that they hold dear in order to protect communities across our great Nation. No matter how tough the battle, no matter the winds of political pressure or public opinion we, as law enforcements leaders, can not waver in our commitment to each officer who is brave enough, strong enough and proud enough to wear the badge.”

~ John Rivera, Dade County & Florida PBA President

The Dade County PBA, 6500 members strong

The Dade County PBA, led by John Rivera, has been among the more aggressive unions fighting the effort to privatize public sector jobs.

The Dade County PBA is proud to be affiliated with the Florida PBA which is comprised of more than 30,000 law enforcement officers statewide and the National Association of Police Organizations representing more than 230,000 law enforcement officers nationwide. These organizations also share the PBA’s philosophy of working toward achieving greater understanding of law enforcement and fighting for the rights of the men and women of law enforcement who pin on a badge and risk their lives daily.

The Dade County PBA strives to establish positive working relationships with elected officials, to learn candidate’s positions and educate them on matters of importance which will impact public safety and the way law enforcement officers carry out their duty to protect the citizens of Dade County.

Public office holders are vital to law enforcement. The PBA strives to establish positive working relationships with elected officials, to learn candidate’s positions and educate them on matters of importance which will impact public safety and the way law enforcement officers carry out their duty to protect the citizens of Dade County. The PBA’s commitment to fostering these relationships has paid off and benefited many. The Dade County PBA has not only obtained benefits such as retirement and insurance for law enforcement officers, but has assisted with numerous pieces of crime-initiative legislation created to improve and safeguard the citizens of Miami-Dade. The Dade County PBA’s endorsement is one of the toughest endorsements for a candidate to receive and is the most highly sought after endorsement, in most part, because of the organization’s strength and credibility with Miami-Dade County voters.

The Dade County PBA believes it is important to work with the community. By working with community-based citizen groups, the PBA strives to create a better understanding of the challenges and risks that face the men and women of law enforcement while giving something back to our community at the same time. Over the years the PBA has produced public service ads to educate and remind the community of what law enforcement officers are willing to give for their community, which is everything. The PBA also supports many community groups, and optimist leagues and are steadfast supporters of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S).

For years to come, the Dade County PBA will continue working to ensure that law enforcement remains one of the most respected and professional careers anyone can pursue.

Use another picture of John here.
Subheadline: John Rivera, Dade County PBA President

For 50 years, the Dade County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) has been the “Voice of Law Enforcement.” Leading that organization since 1992, is John Rivera. John Rivera is the voice of the Dade County PBA. He is loud, clear and direct. In fact he is so unwavering in his dedication to his members and in his no nonsense approach to fighting for the betterment of the law enforcement profession that the media dubbed him “Iron John” in a feature article. It’s a moniker that stuck and one that Rivera embraces because he understands firsthand the challenges officers face and the toll it can take on those willing to pin on the badge.

Rivera has served the Miami-Dade County community for the past 37 years as an officer and sergeant with the Miami-Dade Police Department where he fought Organized Crime and Public Corruption for more than a decade. He worked countless high-level undercover operations and served as the lead investigator in the Mariel Task Force where he was responsible for special investigations into a ring of criminals. During his career, Rivera took countless violent criminals off the streets and he knows all too well the dangers that come along with that responsibility.

Rivera was shot in the line of duty while apprehending armed subjects who were in the process of committing and armed invasion and kidnapping. But even more life changing for Rivera is what he hopes no other officer will ever have to experience in his or her career: having a fellow officer die in your arms from an in the line of duty gunshot wound. Losing a fellow officer in the line of duty and meeting the families of officers killed in the line of duty are the reasons why Sgt. John Rivera is so adamant about never forgetting those who serve and protect. Those experiences have made John Rivera the leader he is today.

He is a vocal advocate for law enforcement and is committed to educating the public on the challenges officers face daily. Rivera is devoted to honoring the memories of all officers killed in the line of duty and ensuring they are never forgotten. The PBA’s Love Fund, lead by Rivera, has been there in times of need for officers and their families. Whether it is comforting a grieving mother, providing scholarships, sponsoring Little League baseball teams or providing food to those in need, Rivera’s main priority is making this community a better and safer place for all.

As a prominent law enforcement leader, Rivera lectures across the country at various symposiums, including Harvard University, on topics facing law enforcement and the role of labor unions. He appears repeatedly on national and local television programs commenting on law enforcement issues, the role of labor unions and presenting solutions to problems facing our law enforcement community. In 2011, Rivera was asked to share his leadership and insight at the National Executive Session on Policing and Public Safety sponsored by the Harvard Kennedy School, the National Institute of Justice and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Rivera has also served as a Governor-appointed Commissioner on the Criminal Justice Standard and Training Commission, the division of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and was appointed in 2010 to serve as a member of the Task Force on Performance and Efficiency in Miami-Dade County Government.

John Rivera also serves as the President of the Florida PBA where he leads a team of lobbyists who work to pass legislation and address issues facing officers statewide. One of Rivera’s top priorities upon taking office was to create a state memorial to honor the sacrifices of Florida’s fallen heroes. The PBA’s “Officer Down Memorial” is located in the Capitol courtyard and is the State of Florida’s first ADA compliant memorial.