The City of Fort Lauderdale has a Code Team comprised of six members. The team has two Building Inspectors, a Fire Inspector, two Police Officers and a unit secretary. The combination of these three disciplines brings together a complete range of enforcement options that begin with civil processes and can end with actual criminal arrest.

Historically, the Code Team process has evolved to its present state over an eight year period. The concept originated with one team and it addressed the issues of substandard dwelling units and associated crime problems within the Northwest Improvement District (NID).

One major problem that plagued the Code Team was a conflict of command. The Code team answered to more than one boss. Fire inspectors were responding to the Fire Marshall’s office, Building Inspectors to the Building Department and Police Officers to the Police Department. In July of 1990, the Code Team operation was transferred to the Police Department and placed under the command of an Assistant Chief of the Staff Services Bureau. A department head steering committee made up of the Police Chief, Building and Zoning Director, the Fire Chief, and an Assistant City Manager was established to deal with overall policy making issues. In 1994, the Building and Zoning Departments were merged with the Fire Department and the Code Team was assigned to the Inspection services Division of the Fire Marshall’s office.

A tri-level strategy addressing Code Enforcement initiatives has been developed involving Code Compliance Inspectors, Community Policing Officers (Patrol Division) and Code Teams. This results in more Code Enforcement initiated by Code Compliance inspectors and Community Police Officers in all parts of the City allowing the Code Team to address the serious, long-term, technically complex cases requiring their intra-departmental specialties.

Experience has shown the role of the Code Team to be that of a Code Enforcement Specialty Team. The Code Team is a collection of experts which is called upon to address problems identified by a variety of City entities. The role of daily Code Enforcement falls more on the Community Policing and Code Compliance Officers.

The assignment of the Code Team to the Community Inspection Bureau under the Fire Marshall’s Office encourages cooperation through constant interaction with the Code Compliance Inspectors.

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WHY THE CODE TEAM PROCESS?

The answer to this question lies in the historical method by which violations of building and zoning codes have been inspected and enforced.

Traditionally, non-law enforcement entities, using the civil process of code boards have had the responsibility for code enforcement. Such a process has, in many instances, led to cases where violations and unsafe conditions have spanned months and years. The give and take nature of the board hearings provided little incentive for major corrective actions.

The continued deterioration of quality of life issues that many code violations foster eventually led to more crime, drugs and violence in the worst areas. It was at this point the creation of a multi-disciplined team concept was formed.

The pairing of the two major inspection forces of the fire and building departments with the law enforcement powers of a police officer places building, fire and zoning violations into the criminal arena. The motivation to correct violations and improve physical conditions of unfit and unsafe structures increases when arrest and jail time become possibilities and realities.

The greatest benefit to the Code Team process is to the people who face the daily challenge of existing and surviving under deplorable living conditions while trying to improve themselves and raise a family. The work of the Code Teams bring new standards of quality living to many people