Captain Elise Dillard
Miami-Dade Police Department
Captain Elise Dillard retired after serving 30 years with the Miami-Dade Police Department. Throughout her tenure on the department, she has served in various assignments gaining knowledge and experience in everything from uniform patrol, investigations, administration, training, and tactical. Her last assignment prior to retirement was Captain of the Special Victims Bureau (SVB), where she oversaw 122 sworn and civilian personnel responsible for investigating Sex Crimes, Child and Elderly Abuse, Domestic Violence and Abuse, in addition to Sexual Predators and Offenders. It was her job to manage personnel and ensure that Detectives provide an immediate response to allegations of sexual and domestic crimes and initiate an expeditious follow-up criminal investigation.
In June of 2015, Captain Dillard made history, by becoming the first African American female in the history of the Miami-Dade Police Department to hold the position of Special Response Team Commander (Commonly known as a SWAT Commander). As a SWAT Commander, she was responsible for coordination of Dignitary Protection details, execution of various high profile search warrants, response to call-out situations and active shooter scenes, as well as commanding the Bicycle Response Team, and chairing the Department’s Mobile Field Force Committee. Her command of the SWAT team highlighted her tactical skills and abilities, and earned her great respect and admiration. Upon being promoted, Captain Dillard commanded the entire Tactical Operations Section, where she was in charge of the SWAT, Bomb, and Canine Units.
Born and raised in Miami-Dade County’s Brownsville Community, Captain Dillard has worked hard to set a positive example for the youth in her community. She believes in giving back, through mentoring and volunteerism with organizations like the Embrace Young Girls Foundation, 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, First Tee Miami, FORE Life Foundation, Women’s Breast and Heart Initiative, and the Wounded Warrior Soldier Project. She also serves as the Vice President of Progressive Officers Club, and is an active member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, which both serve to help build better police/community relations, and positively impact neglected and needy communities.
Retired Captain Dillard is an avid athlete and scholar. A proud Honors graduate of Miami Northwestern Sr. High, and a cum laude graduate of Grambling State University (B.S. Computer Science), where she was an All-American Candidate in women’s basketball, and is a member of the Grambling Legends. She is also an avid golfer, and member of the Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Palm Beach LPGA Amateurs.
