The Miami-Dade Police Department Hispanic Police Officers Association, Inc. (HPOA) provides certain limited benefits to HPOA members who require legal assistance. The HPOA is not the Collective Bargaining Unit for MDPD employees or HPOA members and therefore, cannot and will not represent members who wish to challenge disciplinary actions or administrative issues, file a grievance, complain about working conditions or contest any other matters related to employment, collective bargaining or issues involving the workplace. The purpose of the HPOA is fraternal, social, and charitable. The legal benefits that are presently provided as a service to members are outlined below:

If an HPOA member is a subject officer in a police shooting, whether contact or non-contact, the HPOA, upon request, will provide an HPOA approved attorney to respond and represent the officer up to and including attendance at an inquest. The cap on legal fees authorized by the HPOA is $5,000 for a fatal shooting and $3,000 for a non-fatal shooting. The cap on a non-contact shooting is $1500. Officers who are the subject of a fatal automobile crash investigation are, upon request, authorized representation by an HPOA approved attorney up to a cap of $5000, up to and including attendance at an inquest.

Should an officer become the subject or target of a criminal investigation, the HPOA will, upon request, provide an HPOA approved attorney to represent that officer on a pre-arrest basis up to a maximum cap of $2,500.

Should an HPOA member officer become the subject of a PCB investigation with potential criminal implications, the HPOA will, upon request, provide an HPOA approved attorney to represent the officer at their PCB statement, up to a maximum cap of $1500.

Any costs attendant to the representation of an HPOA member such as investigators, transcripts, travel, or other out-of-pocket expenses will be covered by the HPOA up to a maximum of $500.

HPOA members or members of their families facing possible or actual criminal prosecution can consult with HPOA approved lawyers on a 24 hour per day basis at no charge. HPOA approved lawyers are on call 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and may be reached by calling the HPOA hotline at (305) 594-1173.

The extent of HPOA representation is limited to police shootings, fatal traffic accidents, potential criminal charges, PCB statements, and criminal investigations that are duty-related. As stated, disciplinary issues, grievances, or collective bargaining issues are not covered. A determination of on or off duty status shall be made pursuant to the definition contained in the MDPD Departmental Manual. Should a member become the focus or the subject of a criminal investigation that is non-work related, the HPOA will not contribute to the payment of legal fees. However, reduced rates by the HPOA approved attorneys will apply, should the member-elect to privately retain an HPOA approved attorney.