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May 21, 2012, 6:09 am

Marc Elias, First Haitian-American N. Miami Chief of Police

The city of North Miami will retain its interim police chief and name Marc Elias Jr. the first Haitian-American chief of police in the city.Marc Elias, Jr. was born Born in Miragoane, (southwestern of Haiti), Elias moved to the United States in 1982. He speaks, reads and writes fluently French and Creole and is well versed in Spanish. He is a graduate of College Roger Anglade, Port-au-Prince Haiti, where he obtained his Baccalaureate degree Part I & II (Rheto and Philo).

 

Elias joined the Miami Police Department in 1987 where he was assigned to various investigative units (i.e. Gang Unit, Criminal Investigations Section, Northeast Task Force, Vice, Intelligence & Narcotics (VIN), and the Dignitary and Intelligence Squad) where he conducted various undercover operations, assisted U.S. Customs, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the U.S. Secret Service.

 

Among his top priorities, Elias said he hopes to continue to build relationships and mentor the youth in North Miami through the city’s Police Athletic League and other initiatives. “We are about 10 percent short of the manpower we need, and we’re reducing crime in the community every day. I thank our officers and their families who support their work.This is a way for us to reach out to the youth in our community and encourage them with school. Being Haitian and seeing what’s happening around the world, our kids are our future. I want them to learn from their ups and downs and to they know they’re not alone,” Elias said.

 

The Hollywood resident said he is most proud of the city’s police officers. While at the Miami Police Department, he was assigned to a unique Task force, formed by the Chief of Police, to solve the murder of two well known Haitian radio hosts – to gather intelligence and assist in intercepting Narcotics being brought from Haiti into the U.S., as well as providing Diplomatic Security for key representatives from Haiti and other diplomats from all over the world. This task force was the one who brought down and dismantled the notorious gang known to us as the ZOE POUND.

 

North Miami Haitian community leaders are very proud and happy to have Chief Elias and looking forward to work with his department to address the crimes issues affecting the Haitian community primarily the little Haiti area.