#homestead #marioknapp #HomesteadPoliceDepartment

Photo: Mario Knapp, Chief
City of Homestead Police Department
(FB: Mario Knapp)

When Mario Knapp was sworn in as Chief of City of Homestead Police Department (HPD) on January 3, 2025, the ceremony represented more than a leadership transition. It marked a pivotal moment for a city experiencing rapid growth, new economic development, and evolving public-safety challenges. With nearly three decades of experience in the Miami-Dade Police Department, Chief Knapp brings not only command-level expertise but also a philosophy built on trust, analytics, and a deep commitment to community partnerships.

A Leader Forged Through Experience

Chief Knapp’s law-enforcement journey began in 1994 with the Miami-Dade Police Department, where he served in numerous high-impact roles. His command experience spans critical units such as SWAT, Bomb Squad, Marine Patrol, K-9, Motors, Seaport Operations, and the Crime Suppression Unit. He is widely respected for his expertise in use-of-force training and for helping develop active-shooter protocols used nationally.

Knapp’s leadership was especially visible during the Surfside condo collapse, where he served as the Command Post Incident Commander, an experience that demonstrated his ability to lead with calm precision in moments of crisis.

Now, as Homestead’s Chief of Police, he brings this depth of knowledge to a department poised for transformational growth.

Strengthening the Homestead Police Department

HPD is a mid-sized, full-service police agency operating out of 45 NW 1st Avenue and staffed by approximately 130 sworn officers and more than 80 civilian personnel. Under Chief Knapp, the department is steadily growing and modernizing to meet the needs of a city on the rise.

Key HPD Units and Special Teams

SWAT / Hostage Negotiations
K-9 Unit
Traffic & Motors Unit
Special Investigations Unit (SIU)
Community Action Team (CAT)
Crime Scene Investigations (CSI)
Community Policing Unit (CPU)

Chief Knapp has made it clear: as Homestead grows, HPD must grow “proportionally and strategically,” with a focus on both capability and community presence.

Community Policing at the Center

One of Knapp’s first priorities has been strengthening the department’s community-policing framework. Rather than relying solely on enforcement, he views public safety as a long-term collaboration with residents, civic leaders, local businesses, and youth organizations.

HPD’s Community Programs Include:

Group Violence Intervention (GVI)
Police Athletic League (PAL)
Police Explorers (youth leadership program)
Start Off Smart (SOS) social-service partnership
Citizen’s Police Academy (CPA)

From neighborhood walks to school presentations and community meetings, HPD’s presence has become more visible—an intentional move by Knapp to reinforce trust, transparency, and accessibility.

Data-Driven Policing: Smart, Targeted, Effective

Beyond community outreach, Chief Knapp is modernizing HPD through analytics and strategic deployment. His philosophy is simple: diagnose before you prescribe.

Using crime statistics, geographic trends, and call-for-service data, HPD is enhancing how officers are positioned across the city. The goal is to reduce response times, prevent incidents before they escalate, and use limited resources efficiently.

This shift comes at a critical time, as Homestead continues to experience some of the highest crime rates in Florida.

Crime in Homestead: The Numbers Behind the Challenge

A clear-eyed view of Homestead’s public-safety environment shows a city with serious but addressable challenges.

Recent Crime Statistics

Over 4,343 violent crimes and 5,833 property crimes occurred in Homestead from 2019–2023.
The violent-crime rate averaged 2,048.8 per 100,000 residents, well above state and national averages.
In 2022, Homestead recorded:
- 513 aggravated assaults
- 205 robberies
- 30 rapes
- 5 murders
In 2023, the city logged 1,836 property crimes, including burglary, larceny, and motor-vehicle theft.

While these figures underscore the obstacles ahead, Chief Knapp’s initiatives target both the root causes and the patterns behind these trends.

From Enforcement to Engagement: Building Public Trust

Knapp understands that improving safety is not just about lowering statistics, it’s about how residents feel. To strengthen community trust, HPD has taken meaningful steps:

Expanding accessibility through public meetings and neighborhood patrols
Increasing body-camera transparency and timely public-records responses
Enhancing officer training, particularly in de-escalation and crisis intervention
Building youth mentorship pathways through PAL and Explorers
Collaborating with social-service networks to support victims and at-risk families

Early feedback from residents and community leaders reflects growing confidence in HPD’s direction.

Challenges Ahead and a Vision for the Future

Homestead’s rapid development of new housing, commercial expansion, and population growth presents a dual challenge: rising service demands and a more complex safety landscape.

Chief Knapp has outlined several long-term priorities:

Expanding sworn staffing to meet national policing benchmarks
Improving dispatch and communications infrastructure
Streamlining investigative processes for faster case resolutions
Strengthening partnerships with schools, faith-based groups, and nonprofits
Securing accreditation, which ensures national best practices in transparency and professionalism

His leadership style, collaborative, analytical, and forward-leaning, may be exactly what Homestead needs as it navigates its next chapter.

The Path Forward

Chief Mario Knapp faces a difficult but crucial mission: to reduce crime, strengthen community bonds, and build a modern, trusted police department. Yet early signs point to a positive trajectory. His blend of experience, innovation, and community commitment positions HPD to deliver meaningful, lasting change.

In a city defined by diversity, growth, and resilience, Knapp’s leadership is helping write a new story for Homestead; one where safety, partnership, and progress move hand in hand.

Tag: #homestead #marioknapp #HomesteadPoliceDepartment

A New Chapter for Homestead: Chief Mario Knapp Leads with Vision, Community, and Data-Driven Policing