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Friday Sep 15, 2023
Friday Sep 15, 2023
For 14 years, a section of stables at Tropical Park’s Ronald Reagan Equestrian Center went unused, except as a storage space for landscaping tools, broken cabinets, dusty boxes stuffed with papers, and other assorted detritus jam-packed to the ceiling.
The center was the home of the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit until 2009, when the U.S. financial crisis forced deep budget cuts, and the unit was slashed. There were several attempts in subsequent years to bring it back but each one fell short. By the time the Department finally did get approval, in 2022, the stables had fallen into disrepair.
The Department did not have to look far to find a local family company capable of pumping new life into the 20 stalls. It is the same firm that first partnered with the Department more than 30 years ago and has continued to contribute through monetary donations, fundraising events, sponsorships, and restoration projects.
“This was really a labor of love for our family, we love horses, we love our police, and we think that the marriage of horses and police and community policing, is perfect,” said Mrs. Ana VeigaMilton, president of the José Milton Foundation, the philanthropic arm of José Milton & Associates, one of South Florida’s leading developers and managers of rental communities and other commercial properties. The company was established in 1965 by the late José Milton, who, along with blueprints and shovels, brought to work a philosophy of giving back to the community.
It took several weeks for two Mounted Patrol Unit officers to clear out the stalls, revealing crumbling and uneven floors, cracked woodwork, and rusted ironwork. After months of work, the stalls had undergone a dramatic transformation, thanks to the José Milton Foundation. Eight of the stalls were converted into utility rooms and a tack room for storage and maintenance of saddles, bridles, and other riding equipment. The unit’s on-site workspace was updated to include air conditioning and a new floor. The roof and doors of the entire section were restructured, sanded, primed, and repainted. The gravel floors were excavated and leveled for proper drainage. Misting systems were attached to the stalls to cool down the horses and to dispense mosquito repellent when necessary.
Ms. Maria Nardi, the Director of the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, said during the Grand Reveal press conference on August 30, 2023, “This is just one great example, that with partnerships and donations like we are seeing here today, from the Milton family, we can see extraordinary improvements that will be long-lasting, and will contribute greatly to the common goals and mission and vision that we have to build an extraordinary community.”
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said during that event that the Milton family has a “special spot in their heart for law enforcement” and that the family was not content to just restore the site, but that it wanted to create a facility that would serve as a model for other equestrian centers across the country. “What we have here today, is not just a restored stables, but a whole new standard for care for our horses and the mounted patrol,” Mayor Levine Cava said.
The family’s support of the Department began in the early 90’s with sponsorship of several fundraising golf tournaments organized by the Police Officer Assistance Trust, which raises money for the families of officers killed in the line of duty, and for officers who have experienced debilitating injuries of sickness that prevents them from working. The foundation also sponsored several 5K races that raise money for POAT. The support has since grown beyond Donations and fundraising events.
When the Covid-19 Pandemic hit in 2020, the family donated 5,000 specially designed masks to the department, along with a $25,000 check to POAT. On that same day, June 9, 2020, Ms. VeigaMilton learned of another way the family could help the Department. As she was leaving headquarters, she got a call from a longtime family friend, Miami-Dade Police Department Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Hernandez. Over the years, Mr. Hernandez had served as a liaison between the Department and the family, acting as a facilitator. Mrs. VeigaMilton returned to headquarters that day for a tour, and after seeing the worn-out condition of three breakrooms, she resolved to give them a makeover. The rooms were heavily used. Staff ate lunch there, personnel took breaks to recharge, and officers and victim advocates occasionally met with families. On September 13, 2021, the newly remodeled rooms were unveiled, with new granite counters and cabinetry provided by Legacy Cabinets, operated by brothers Alec and Eric Milton, Junior Board members of the José Milton Foundation, new appliances and furniture, domino tables, and flat-screen televisions. The family again presented a $25,000 check to POAT.
The family also sponsors a military appreciation luncheon to recognize members of the Armed Forces prior to Veterans Day. The Department has many officers who have served in the military or continue to serve as reserves. The luncheon has become an annual event. During last year’s luncheon, Mr. Hernandez brought another project to the attention of the family. He told Mr. Cecil Milton, the President of United Property Management, about the Mounted Patrol Unit and how the stables needed a lot of work. Mr. Milton did not hesitate to pledge his support.
“It was almost fifteen years of abandonment, overgrown weeds, things falling apart, the walls, the ceiling, everything needed to be completely redone,” Mr. Milton said during the Grand Reveal. He and his wife, Mrs. VeigaMilton, visited one of the transformed offices. The temperatures outside were sweltering, but the air-conditioned room was pleasant. The company also converted two rooms into office space for POAT.
“We jumped right on it, we’re developers, so rehabbing stables was really easy for us; it’s been a pleasure,” Mr. Milton said.
By Brian Ballou
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
They have lived under bridges, scavenged for food, bathed in rainwater puddles, and gone unnoticed by passers-by, but that dire life of homelessness is no longer the reality for many people in the Northside District, thanks to the outreach of numerous agencies, including the Miami-Dade Police Department.
The Northside District has some of the poorest neighborhoods in all of Miami-Dade County, and the District’s Neighborhood Resource Unit makes contact with the homeless every day. Part of the Unit’s duties include enforcing the dismantling of illegal encampments, those haphazard structures made of discarded wood, cardboard, tarp and any other material that could serve to insulate humans from the elements. But whenever and wherever the Unit enforces such law, it also brings help.
“We bring the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust with us, or any type of social service agency that may be available to come out with us on that day, so that we offer the homeless help as we are telling them that they have to leave,” said Officer Fredrieka Simpo. “We’ve done so many of those enforcements, and each time, you may get one of two of them who will accept the help. And so recently, I was thinking about what happened to all those people.”
After weeks of research, she learned that many of them had transitioned from homeless shelters to apartments at the Northside Commons, a modern 80-unit building on 8301 NW 27th Avenue in Miami, within the Northside District. The building is owned and managed by Carrfour Supportive Housing, a non-profit organization that was established in 1993 by the Homeless Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, to provide private, affordable housing for individuals and families in need.
“When I found out about that, I thought to myself that these survivors of homelessness should have a day of recognition and motivation, so I started putting together an event at a place where I knew they would feel comfortable, their new home,” Officer Simpo said. On Thursday, August 3, 2023, the party was held on the second floor parking landing at Northside Commons, and approximately 40 former homeless residents, who now live in the building, showed up. The event was called “Survivors of Homelessness: A Day of Recognition and Motivation.”
Lieutenant Luis Perez Jr., the supervisor of the Unit, said, “As part of the Neighborhood Resource Unit, we partner with a lot of local, county and private organizations, to try to make as much of an impact as we can. I’m very happy for the turnout today because one of our major focuses is the homeless epidemic. I would like to commend all of you for coming out today, to either help towards the movement, or for taking the steps to help better your life.”
There were racks of clothing and shoes donated by Northside officers, and plenty of food for the tenants to take back to their apartments. Northside Operations Division Chief Shawn Browne, formerly the Northside District’s Major, donated a bike, which went to a young boy, and another member of the Unit, Officer Wideline Anestor, also donated a women’s bicycle. Detective Maguelena Aldophe donated a 50” television to a man who did not have a TV in his apartment. There were raffle giveaways, stacks of Tupperware and other kitchen and home items for the tenants, and a barbecue buffet. A representative from the Office of State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle was present to help any of the tenants navigate any legal issues that may impede them from employment, such as the process to expunge criminal records, if they meet the criteria. And there was even a barber on hand, to offer tenants haircuts at no expense.
Jeanne Albaugh, formerly homeless, but now the founder and CEO of Showering Love, gave an inspirational speech, telling the attendees, “Twelve years ago, I went from begging for change, to accepting change, to being the change I want to be in the world.” Her organization operates two buses that are retrofitted with amenities for the homeless population, including showers, washers and dryers, and a barber’s chair with a barber on staff. The buses offer free medical screening, and is stocked with clothing and hygiene kits. The buses visit areas in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
Officer Simpo said that while the ultimate goal is for those individuals who were formerly homeless to be self-sufficient, they still are in need of assistance, whether that is help them with mental health issues, drug or alcohol dependency, education and job training, or financial assistance. “Clothing and food and rent is expensive,” she said. Leading up to the appreciation party, she organized a clothing drive in the Northside District station. She posted a flyer throughout the building and the officers and professional staff responded with plenty of items, stuffing large boxes on the first and second floors.
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Marleine Bastien, who represents District 2, and the Northside Shopping Center, located directly across the street, donated money to pay for the food that was served at the event.
“This came out great, and I’m excited that the message was given and that they do feel appreciated, and seen,” Officer Simpo said.
By Brian Ballou
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
Tucked inside Officer Arlene Jimenez’s desk drawer is a folder stuffed with snapshots, some Polaroids, of the hundreds of young men and women she has supervised over the past 20 years at the Hammocks District, as part of the Miami-Dade Police Department Explorer Program. Mixed in with the photos are letters from former cadets, thanking her for the time she took to mentor them, and giving her updates on milestones in their lives, like births, marriage, and new jobs.
Many of her former cadets work in the criminal justice field, including within the FBI, DEA and other federal agencies, or as crime analysts, attorneys and probation officers, and some serve in the military.
The Explorer Program is a career-oriented volunteer youth program, for teens interested in a career in law enforcement or a related field in the criminal justice system. It offers teens a chance to train like a police officer, and learn about the career directly from working officers.
Advisors to the program are chosen based on their interpersonal skills, and work out of their district’s Neighborhood Resource Unit. Twenty years ago, Officer Jimenez was on road patrol, working midnights in the Hammocks District, when the position opened up. She applied and got the job. The academy class size back then was as many as 60 cadets, but now the average class size is about 10-15 cadets at each of the eight districts that have a program; Intracoastal, Northside, Northwest, Midwest, Hammocks, Kendall, South, and the Town of Miami Lakes.
When Officer Jimenez recently pulled the folder full of photos from her file cabinet, it was a trip down memory lane. She recalled experiences with different class over two decades, and beamed with pride at the achievements of many of her former cadets, including one who was awarded “2022 Officer of the Year” by the South Florida Police Benevolent Association.
Doral Police Department Officer Daniel Vilarchao had only been on the job for six months when he helped subdue an armed subject on October 21, 2021, likely preventing innocent civilians from being harmed. Officer Vilarchao sustained facial injuries from one of the rounds fired by the subject, but he made a full recovery.
Officer Jimenez recently ran into another former cadet, who now works as an attorney in the Kendall area. He is married and has two children, and invited Officer Jimenez to his house for dinner, to meet his family. “He told me his experience as an Explorer was something that motivated him towards his career, so it’s rewarding to see that, to know that I was a positive influence in his life.”
Officer Rosmel Hurtado, the co-advisor of the Explorer Program at the Hammocks District, said of Officer Jimenez, “She has a special way with the cadets, and I’ve learned patience and discipline from her. We call her Momma Arlene. We really care about the kids, treat them like they’re our own, because we want them to be something, to have success.
The Department counts dozens of former Explorers in its workforce, including seven who went through the program at the Hammocks District and are currently assigned there, like Officer Gerardo Perez III, who was an Explorer from 2005 through 2011. He joined the Department in 2016.
When he was an 18-year-old cadet, Officer Perez sought Officer Jimenez’s advice on a big decision. He was considering asking his girlfriend for her hand in marriage. He carried around an engagement ring that had belonged to his aunt, and was waiting for the perfect moment to propose to his girlfriend. After an Explorer meeting, he showed Officer Jimenez the ring, seeking her advice. She had a private conversation with him, and Officer Perez eventually decided to hold off from getting engaged at such an early age.
“I’ve known her since I was 14,” Officer Perez said. “She has always been there for me, she is like a second mom.” He said his time as an Explorer convinced him to become a police officer. “It was a great experience, I got to see what police officers go through.”
Officer Sabrina Toledo, assigned to the Neighborhood Resource Unit at the Midwest District, has also been a Police Explorer Advisor for 20 years, and like Officer Jimenez, her style mixes instructions on policing, with life lessons.
“It’s been consistent over the years, teaching them about police work, but also about responsibility, and commitment, key life skills to prepare them for jobs and the future,” Officer Toledo said. Many of her former cadets are also officers within the Department, and occasionally stop her to thank her. “It’s been a great experience, and proof that what I’ve done over the years has had a positive effect.”
One of her former students, Medley Police Officer Oman Galban, was awarded his department’s “2022 Officer of the Year,” after receiving a lifesaving award, and a commendation for catching a felony suspect. In accepting the award, he thanked “everyone that has mentored me along the way.”
Officer Galban went through the Explorer Program at Midwest District in 2014. Medley Police Department Lieutenant Arturo Jinet said Officer Galban was hired based on a recommendation from Officer Toledo.
Lieutenant Jinet and Officer Toledo have worked closely together over the years to organize the annual South Florida Explorer Competition, held during spring break. Lieutenant Jinet is the Chair of the event, but says that Officer Toledo “is the brains of the actual competition.” The competition includes scenarios such as traffic stops, Baker Act procedure, and crime scene evaluation, and the cadets are judged based on their performance. As many as 20 posts from throughout Miami-Dade and Broward Counties participate in the three-day event.
Lieutenant Jinet said Officer Toledo is a shining example of an officer who invests in youth and has a positive influence on their lives. “She has definitely been like a mother to many of the cadets,” he said. “She has taken them to Marlins games, she has been there for the kids when they call and need a ride. The work she puts in for those kids is incredible. She truly helps to prepare them for adulthood.”
The Miami-Dade Police Department Explorer Program is year-round, with weekly two-hour meetings. The three-week academy is held in the summer, and is modeled from the Department’s nine-month academy. The Explorer Program academy is physically challenging and to make the experience as realistic as possible, the cadets are occasionally yelled at. They are constantly quizzed on radio codes and law enforcement regulations. Training exercises include building searches and responding to mock domestic situations. They also do team-building exercises, help the Department at weekend events such as food drives, and assist Miami-Dade County Commissioners at their respective events. Explorers also go on leisurely, fun outings, like to Universal Studios, pizza nights, and canoeing, perks that are hard earned.
The program is a way for high school students to fulfill their community service requirement necessary to graduate. Candidates must be between the ages of 14 and 17 to enroll and the age limit is 20. There is a uniform requirement and the cadets are assigned rank. While the Explorers Program is geared towards youth interested in law enforcement, there are many who go on to have careers in the business, educational, and medical fields.
“Not every high school student is willing to wake up early during the summer break to do calisthenics and stand at attention while instructors shout at them,” Officer Hurtado said. “It’s interesting, you think they would tone it down so they don’t scare them away, because they’re juveniles and it’s their summer vacation, and you would think it’s the last thing they want to do, to get yelled at or told to run. But the kids push each other, and they don’t quit.”
By Brian Ballou
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
In his five fight amateur career and two professional bouts, MMA fighter Luis Hernandez Jr. has been a relentless force, pouncing on his opponents like a spider would upon a fly entangled in its web, winning by submission or knockout early in his matches. His third pro fight was the quickest. It took him all of one second to land a thunderous roundhouse kick to the side of his opponent’s head, knocking him out before he landed on the octagon floor, the fastest knockout in professional MMA history.
As knockouts go, this one, at the Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, on April 21, 2023, was full of flair and will likely make many highlight reels. The KO put the crowd into a frenzy, and among those cheering were approximately 60 Miami-Dade Police Department Officers, in attendance to support the victorious fighter, who is also a police officer with the Department, working out of the Midwest District in Doral.
Nicknamed “The Stache” for his chevron-style mustache, Officer Hernandez basked in the adulation, climbing to the top of the cage to recognize his supporters. And then, he turned his attention to his opponent, checking on him to make sure he was okay. In his post-fight interview, he acknowledged his opponent, and his supporters. As tenacious as Officer Hernandez is inside the cage, he is equally as polite and courteous outside of it. His career as a fighter has largely gone unnoticed by many of his coworkers, but that will likely change now.
He is a patrol officer, and said that he has never had to rely on his MMA abilities on calls. Through talking, and reasoning, he has been able to quell the instances that could have turned physical, he said.
“I treat individuals with respect, and that’s what you get in return,” he said. “For me, that’s the way I grew up, it was something that I learned from my father, he always emphasized that,” Officer Hernandez said.
His father, Luis Hernandez Sr., is also a police officer with the Department. He has been active in his son’s career, and supports his dream to continue to the next level.
“It’s definitely a positive that he’s representing the Department in the right way, we’re a tight family,” said Officer Hernandez Sr. “I’m an officer too, and I’m super proud to see him grow with the Department and represent it in a way that law enforcement should be represented.”
He said his son told him in the days leading up to the fight that he would win with a head kick knockout. “Yes, he did exactly what he said he would do, in the first round, but I didn’t think it would be that quick,” Officer Hernandez Sr. said.
Officer Hernandez Jr. would like to have concurrent careers as a MMA fighter and police officer, just like some of his idols have done in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) organization, the parent company of TitanFC, which he signed a four-fight contract with. His first goal is to be middleweight champion, at 185 pounds, in TitanFC, and from there, he wants to drop in weight class, down to 170. He walks around at about 210 pounds but through a meticulous and grueling regimen, has been able to cut down to a chiseled 185 for his fights.
Officer Hernandez trains out of the Freedom Fighters Mixed Martial Arts gym in Miami. His background is in wrestling and at the gym he has added Jiu Jitsu to his skills, recently earning a brown belt. He say that many consider him one-dimensional in that he wants to get his opponent to the ground, but Officer Hernandez Jr. said that he takes pride in his striking ability and can be as dangerous with his standup, as evident by his latest fight.
His grappling coach at the gym, Mr. Ray Fundora, said Officer Hernandez Jr. possesses a combination of athleticism and discipline.
“When you put those two things together as he has, it’s a dangerous combination,” Mr. Fundora said. “There are days when he is not motivated to train, after a rough night in the field, in his line of work, he sees some pretty bad things. But he still gets up and comes to the gym and still puts in work.”
Officer Hernandez Jr. also has a built-in training gym, at the “Hive,” located at the Miami-Dade Public Safety Training Institute & Research Center. That facility is where cadets go through the police academy, and the Hive gym is where “defensive tactics” are taught. Officer Hernandez said he would like to help teach other officers how to safely subdue individuals in cases when restraint is necessary.
Officer Hernandez’s next fight is on October 13 at the Gulfstre
In his five fight amateur career and two professional bouts, MMA fighter Luis Hernandez Jr. has been a relentless force, pouncing on his opponents like a spider would upon a fly entangled in its web, winning by submission or knockout early in his matches. His third pro fight was the quickest. It took him all of one second to land a thunderous roundhouse kick to the side of his opponent’s head, knocking him out before he landed on the octagon floor, the fastest knockout in professional MMA history.
As knockouts go, this one, at the Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, on April 21, 2023, was full of flair and will likely make many highlight reels. The KO put the crowd into a frenzy, and among those cheering were approximately 60 Miami-Dade Police Department Officers, in attendance to support the victorious fighter, who is also a police officer with the Department, working out of the Midwest District in Doral.
Nicknamed “The Stache” for his chevron-style mustache, Officer Hernandez basked in the adulation, climbing to the top of the cage to recognize his supporters. And then, he turned his attention to his opponent, checking on him to make sure he was okay. In his post-fight interview, he acknowledged his opponent, and his supporters. As tenacious as Officer Hernandez is inside the cage, he is equally as polite and courteous outside of it. His career as a fighter has largely gone unnoticed by many of his coworkers, but that will likely change now.
He is a patrol officer, and said that he has never had to rely on his MMA abilities on calls. Through talking, and reasoning, he has been able to quell the instances that could have turned physical, he said.
“I treat individuals with respect, and that’s what you get in return,” he said. “For me, that’s the way I grew up, it was something that I learned from my father, he always emphasized that,” Officer Hernandez said.
His father, Luis Hernandez Sr., is also a police officer with the Department. He has been active in his son’s career, and supports his dream to continue to the next level.
“It’s definitely a positive that he’s representing the Department in the right way, we’re a tight family,” said Officer Hernandez Sr. “I’m an officer too, and I’m super proud to see him grow with the Department and represent it in a way that law enforcement should be represented.”
He said his son told him in the days leading up to the fight that he would win with a head kick knockout. “Yes, he did exactly what he said he would do, in the first round, but I didn’t think it would be that quick,” Officer Hernandez Sr. said.
Officer Hernandez Jr. would like to have concurrent careers as a MMA fighter and police officer, just like some of his idols have done in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) organization, the parent company of TitanFC, which he signed a four-fight contract with. His first goal is to be middleweight champion, at 185 pounds, in TitanFC, and from there, he wants to drop in weight class, down to 170. He walks around at about 210 pounds but through a meticulous and grueling regimen, has been able to cut down to a chiseled 185 for his fights.
Officer Hernandez trains out of the Freedom Fighters Mixed Martial Arts gym in Miami. His background is in wrestling and at the gym he has added Jiu Jitsu to his skills, recently earning a brown belt. He say that many consider him one-dimensional in that he wants to get his opponent to the ground, but Officer Hernandez Jr. said that he takes pride in his striking ability and can be as dangerous with his standup, as evident by his latest fight.
His grappling coach at the gym, Mr. Ray Fundora, said Officer Hernandez Jr. possesses a combination of athleticism and discipline.
“When you put those two things together as he has, it’s a dangerous combination,” Mr. Fundora said. “There are days when he is not motivated to train, after a rough night in the field, in his line of work, he sees some pretty bad things. But he still gets up and comes to the gym and still puts in work.”
Officer Hernandez Jr. also has a built-in training gym, at the “Hive,” located at the Miami-Dade Public Safety Training Institute & Research Center. That facility is where cadets go through the police academy, and the Hive gym is where “defensive tactics” are taught. Officer Hernandez said he would like to help teach other officers how to safely subdue individuals in cases when restraint is necessary.
Officer Hernandez’s next fight is on October 13 at the Gulfstream Park. His training started immediately, on the day after his dramatic win.
“I got a bunch of cops who support me, my loved ones, my girlfriend…I’m back at the gym tomorrow,” he said in his post-fight interview. “I hope my opponent is good, I hope he’s Ok, but this is the Stache takeover.”
am Park. His training started immediately, on the day after his dramatic win.
“I got a bunch of cops who support me, my loved ones, my girlfriend…I’m back at the gym tomorrow,” he said in his post-fight interview. “I hope my opponent is good, I hope he’s Ok, but this is the Stache takeover.”
By Brian Ballou
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Whatever leisurely pursuit or activity that Mr. Jorge Carreño wanted to do in the past two years, he made it happen, regardless of the day of the week or the hour. Unencumbered by any schedule, he took vacations on a whim, went fishing or golfing, or had long lunches with friends. His time since June 30, 2021, was entirely his, that was the benefit of retirement after working for 33 years with the Miami-Dade Police Department.
But he missed the camaraderie with his fellow officers, and the sense of pride and purpose that came from serving the community, so after 22 months into retirement, he decided to return to the Department, to serve as a certified Police Reserve Officer, a volunteer position. On Friday, April 21, 2023, he and six other retirees were sworn in by Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III.
“I still consider myself young, and I would like to contribute my knowledge and expertise back to the Department, which I still love, and still want to be the best in the country, if not the world,” said Officer Carreño, who retired as a Lieutenant. His last assignment, for seven years was in the Homicide Bureau. He is now assigned to the Homeland Security Bureau. “Eventually I would like to teach at the academy,” he said, referring to the Miami-Dade Public Safety Training Institute & Research Center. Recruiting for Police Reserve Officers is done primarily in-house. When officers retire, they are invited to return as reserves. Police Reserve Officers must be willing to perform 16 hours of service each month or 48 hours every three months. They must also show that they have met or exceed all departmental training requirements, in accordance with the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. Training consists of classroom instruction, practical application, firearms proficiency, field patrol assignments, and oraland written examinations.
According to the article, “The benefits of Reserve Officers in modern policing” published in Police1, aleading national law enforcement news website and magazine, 30–35% of all public safety organizations inthe U.S. utilize Reserve Officers. With over 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States, more than 5,000 policing agencies are believed to use these officers in some capacity. The total estimate of reserve police and deputies in the U.S. is approximately 77,500.
There are 61 Police Reserve Officers within the Department. They serve in a variety of assignments, and all hold the rank of Officer regardless of their rank at retirement. Police agencies across the country havesimilar programs to bring back officers to fill important positions, and to spread their expertise to the younger generation of officers. They work alongside full-time officers and are held to the same standards.The six officers who were sworn in have more than 100 years of experience collectively. Officer Jorge Gonzalez returned after only two months. He retired on February 16, 2023, as an officer after 32 years. Before retiring he was assigned to the Homeland Security Bureau, and is now assigned to the Midwest District. Officer Arturo Perez retired on June 30, 2022, as a sergeant, after 30 years. His last assignment before retirement was with the Communications Bureau, and now he is assigned to the Information Technology Services Bureau. Officer Lazaro Valdez also retired on June 30, 2022, after 30 years. Before retiring he was assigned to the Airport Operations Bureau, and is now assigned to the Midwest District. Officer Michael Tang served for 30 years before retiring on April 31, 2021, as an officer assigned to the Airport District. He is now assigned to the Miami-Dade Public Safety Training Institute & Research Center. Officer Jorge Herrera retired on April 31, 2022, as a captain, after 31 years. Before retiring, he was assigned to the Homeland Security Bureau, and is now assigned to the Office of Assistant Director Thomas Buchanan. Officer James Dixon retired on January 31, 2022, as a sergeant after 30 years. Before retiring he was assigned to the Warrants Bureau, and will return there as a Police Reserve Officer. “This is a great moment for us, this is your home and we are glad that you are back here,” Director Ramirez told the Police Reserve Officers during their swearing in ceremony. The Department continues to add Police Reserve Officers. On Friday, June 16, 2023, retired Sergeant Robert Berris was sworn in by Director Ramirez.
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Officer Damian Colon was discharged on April 19, 2023, from the Shepard Center, in Atlanta, GA, where heunderwent recovery for several months after being shot in the head by a stalker in November 2022. The facility is one of the best in the country for such injuries. He has a long road ahead of him and is now focused on his rehabilitation.
After he was discharged, he was put on a flight that brought him back home to Miami, and was then drivento the place where his rehabilitation will be ongoing, the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center inside Jackson Memorial Hospital. Due to the severity of his injury, Officer Colon has not regained the ability to walk yet, but it is the hope of the staff at the facility, as well as his family and friends, that the 17-year veteran from Hialeah will continue to make progress. The homecoming was attended by his family, friends,and many members of his extended family at the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD). His family wore black t-shirts with the phrase “HIS FIGHT IS MY FIGHT” on the front, and an illustration of a brainon the back with the phrase “#DAMIANSTRONG.” Officer Colon, wearing a baseball-style MDPD cap, andsunglasses, was taken inside the rehabilitation center by stretcher. He thanked his supporters on the way in.Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III was by his side, and later spoke with the media in front of the center.“We thought we were going to lose him, and now you see him talking and such tremendous progress,” Director Ramirez said. “I ask that the community keeps praying for him. He’s got a big heart, a good work ethic, and like I told him, a lot more work to do, and he’s ready.”
As a member of the Department’s Crime Suppression Team years ago, Officer Colon responded to domesticviolence cases, and was instrumental in protecting citizens from harm. He was headed to work, when the stalker, an ex-girlfriend who used a tracking device to locate him, shot him, leaving him in critical condition.She fled the scene, but was arrested the same night and is being held in jail pending trial on a charge of attempted murder. Officer Colon was rushed to the Ryder Trauma Center where he underwent surgery to save his life. Director Ramirez offered advice to domestic abuse victims. “Domestic violence affects everyone, you could be a police officer, you could be a doctor, a government official, it knows no boundaries and this is what happens, that’s why if you’re going through that, if you knowsomeone who is going through that, you need to report it.”
If you’re the victim of domestic violence, call the Department’s Special Victims Bureau’s Domestic Crimes Investigations Unit at 305-418-7200. You may also ask the State Attorney to press charges by calling305-547-0150.
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Every week, the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Communications Bureau is inundated with 911 callsregarding people in crisis or with mental health concerns. The calls are highest in the South District and the Northside District, with over 5,600 logged annually, combined, an average of over 15 calls daily.
Calls that involve mentally ill subjects or people in emotional distress have circumstances that demand adifferent type of response from police than other calls, and that is why many law enforcement agencies in the U.S. have specialized units trained for such scenarios. The Miami-Dade Police Department recently launched its own Crisis Response Unit (CRU), a team of 19 officers and 2 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department paramedics. “Now is the time, we know that our community is more than ever suffering from great anxiety, great depression, a huge amount of mental illness, and that plays out unfortunately in crime, in safety issues, people who are at risk in their homes, in their neighborhoods, people who pose risks to others because of their instability, emotional crisis . . .” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, during the graduation ceremony of the first CRU class, on Monday, May 1, 2023. Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III said, “The mental health crisis is a crisis that knows no socioeconomicboundaries, it affects everybody.”
The applicants were selected based on their interpersonal skills, such as their ability to empathize with others, develop rapport, and communicate effectively. Some of the members hold college degrees in psychology, and some have children with autism or other neural disorders,or have lost loved ones to suicide. “Those lived experiences help them to relate,” said Major Melissa Barosela, Commander of the Department’s Mental Health & Wellness Bureau, which oversees the Unit. The team went through four weeks of crisis intervention training that focused on recognizing behavioral indicators of crisis, mitigating crisis situations with minimal use-offorce, and basic negotiating techniques.
Their performances during the training scenarios were video recorded and assessed. The Unit is now responding to calls in the South District and Northside District. The Department is hoping to add more officers to the Unit and expand into the Intracoastal District and the Hammocks District,Major Barosela said. The Unit works in teams of three, with two officers and a clinician from the Department’s Mental Health & Wellness Bureau. Officer safety and the safety of innocent personsremains tantamount, and only after scenes are deemed secure and safe by the officers, will the clinicians proceed to offer its specialized response. “The overall goal of the Unit is to de-escalate, assess, and divert those in crisis to behavioral health services in a safe and compassionate manner.”