Born, raised and educated in the City of North Miami, newly appointed Assistant Chief Robert Bage is more than ready to take on the challenges of his position.  To Robert Bage, North Miami is not just a job, it’s his home.

By the time he was hired as a police officer by the North Miami Police Department in 1999, Robert Bage had already served as a Petty Officer Third Class for the United States Navy from 1994 to 1996, a Lifeguard for the Town of Surfside from 1996 to 1998, and a Border Patrol Agent for the United States Border Patrol from 1998 to 1999.

During his career with the North Miami Police Department, Robert Bage attended Florida International University, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2005 with a major in psychology and a minor in criminal justice.  In 2012, he attended a Law Enforcement Training Session at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and in 2013, he received a Master in Public Administration from Barry University.

His first position with the NMPD was with the Uniform Patrol Section.  In 2000, Officer Bage was then assigned to Human Resources and Career Development, where he coordinated the recruitment and hiring of sworn and non-sworn personnel for the police department, as well as ensured department compliance with mandated training and certification of officers by the FDLE.

Officer Bage quickly moved up the ranks beginning with his first promotion to Sergeant in 2003.  From 2003 to 2004, he was the Uniform Patrol Supervisor, and then took over as Traffic Safety/Marine Patrol Supervisor from 2004-2009.

Bage was then promoted to Lieutenant in 2009, at which time he joined the North Miami Police Department’s SWAT Team for two years.  As a member of this specialized unit, he was responsible for and participated in the serving of high risk warrants, hostage rescue operations and the arrest of barricaded subjects.

Lieutenant Bage also became the Uniformed Patrol Shift Commander from 2009 to 2010, and at the same time he was the lead teacher in the North Miami Senior High School’s criminal justice program.

In 2010, Robert Bage was promoted to the rank of Major, at which time he became the Community Policing Section Administrator.  As the head of this section, Major Bage’s responsibilities included overseeing and coordinating operations for the Traffic Safety Unit, Marine Patrol Unit, Community Policing Unit, School Resource Unit and the Police Athletic League.  In addition to those duties, Major Bage was in charge of community outreach, recommendations on policy and budget issues, as well as the management of special events in the City of North Miami.  He also played a key role in the transfer of the Code Compliance Division into the Police Department, and continues to oversee that division to this day.

From 2012 to 2014, Major Bage took on the responsibility as Investigative Section Administrator, where he was in charge of overseeing and coordinating all operations including homicide, robbery, sex crimes, general investigations, narcotics, crime suppression and crime analysis.  As he did in the Community Policing Section, Bage gave recommendations on policy and budget issues.  He was also chair of the Region 7, Attorney General and Gang Taskforce, where he prepared weekly and monthly statistical and crime analysis reports.

Since 2014, Major Bage has resumed his position as the Community Policing Section Administrator, which now also includes the newest tool for law enforcement – social media.  As such, he started and oversees the first social media site in the City of North Miami.

In addition to his official duties in the North Miami Police Department, Assistant Chief Robert Bage also served the community in many other capacities, including:  Executive Board Member for the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) Local 6007 from 2006 to 2009, Member of the Board of Trustees for the North Miami Police Pension Fund in 2007, and Chairman of the Board in 2009.  Robert Bage is also currently an active member of the Miami-Dade Chiefs of Police Association.

Assistant Chief Robert Bage also coached flag football, served as a mentor at North Miami Middle School, and is presently the Vice President of the North Miami/Miami Shores Kiwanis Club.

What Assistant Chief Bage would like residents to know is that the titles, awards and promotions listed on his resume does not tell his entire story.  His list of professional achievements does not include his many invaluable experiences during his career with the North Police Department which have served to deepen his commitment to the community.

For example, Robert Bage started the first volunteer mobile Citizen Patrol program, in which he recruited residents to patrol the city’s streets in remarked, old patrol cars.  These volunteers were also permitted to write parking tickets.  He also created an initiative with the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission, which enabled the NMPD Marine officers to enforce marine and natural resource violations on the city’s waterways.

As liaison to the Code Enforcement Department, Assistant Chief Bage oversaw the elimination of blighted properties in North Miami.  Last year, he and his team were able to obtain five Unsafe Structure Orders from Miami-Dade County.  Two of the properties were ultimately demolished by court order, and the owners of the remaining three voluntarily demolished their properties.  The department was also successful in having two more unsafe structures demolished this year.

In addition, Robert Bage attended the Florida Police Olympics twice.  Each time he brought home the gold medal for the Toughest Competitor Alive.  This competition is similar to the Olympic decathlon, and consists of shot-put, 100 yard sprint, 5k run, 100 yard swim, weight lifting, rope climbing, and an obstacle course.

By far, the experience that had the most profound and lasting impact on Bage was his visit to the island of Haiti six months after the devastating earthquake in 2010.  His mission was to speak with local officials to coach them about the preparation for and recovery from large natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes.  His up close and personal view of the damage caused by the earthquake gave Robert Bage a new appreciation for the struggles that far too many people are forced to overcome in their daily lives.  This experience helped him gain a new understanding and perspective on issues he deals with as a police officer.

But, the one thing that makes him the proudest is that his daughter was the first girl to play tackle football for the City of Miramar.

As a proud son of North Miami and dedicated law enforcement officer of the North Miami Police Department, Assistant Chief Robert Bage knows that what really matters in life is family – both his and yours.  He is fully committed to the belief that protecting and serving the families of the City of North Miami is the highest calling of all.

Please join me in welcoming Assistant Chief Robert Bage as one of the newest members of the North Miami Police Department’s Executive Command Staff.

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”