The
Miami-Dade Police Department (
MDPD), formerly known as the
Metro-Dade Police Department (1981–1997),
Dade County Public Safety Department (1957–1981) and the
Dade County Sheriff's Office (1836–1957) is a Full Service
County Police Department serving
Miami-Dade County, Florida's unincorporated areas, although they have lenient mutual aid agreements with other
incorporated municipalities, most often the
City of Miami Police Department. The MDPD has approximately 4,700 employees. The Department is still often referred by its former name, the
Metro-Dade Police or simply
Metro. Miami-Dade Police officers are easily identified by their taupe/brown colored uniforms. Miami-Dade Police vehicles are identified by their green and white livery. MDPD officers carry silver badges, while officers with the ranks of sergeant and above carry gold badges.