Gun stolen from Doral police officer in Miami Beach, authorities say

Glock 17 reported stolen Aug. 4

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A fully loaded Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol was stolen from a Doral police officer earlier this month in Miami Beach, authorities confirmed Wednesday.

A Miami Beach spokesman said the theft was reported at 2:30 a.m. Aug. 4, off 20th Street.

According to a flyer distributed to other police officers, the officer was off-duty and on the beach when the theft occurred.

A Miami Beach spokesman said the officer, identified in a police report as Ruben Picallo, left a bag unattended on the sand. The bag -- containing the loaded gun, a set of his patrol car keys, two police IDs, a watch, and credit cards -- was stolen.

A concessions worker on the beach said thefts on the sand are not uncommon.

The 9-mm handgun has "City of Doral Police Department" engraved on the top part of the slide. The gun was loaded with an 18-round magazine with one in the chamber when it was taken, Miami Beach police said.

Doral police spokesman Rey Valdes told Local 10 News Thursday that the officer has been on the force for less than a year.

According to Valdes, police policy indicates that when a service weapon is not on the officer's person it must be secured in a vehicle's locked trunk or be secured at the officer's home.

Valdes said Picallo was issued a written reprimand and will have to reimburse the city for the cost of the gun, which is valued between $400 and $500.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.


About the Authors:

Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.