Freddy Ramirez to take advisor role as mayor names Daniels permanent MDPD director
Freddy Ramirez, who’s been off the job as director of the Miami-Dade Police Department since he shot himself in Hillsborough County on July 23 following an argument with his wife, is moving to an advisory role within the department, a spokesperson for county Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced Wednesday evening.
Ex-union head John Rivera joins crowded Miami-Dade sheriff race — here’s who else is running
John Rivera, whose time as the head of the Miami-Dade police officers’ union came to a contentious end, has joined nearly a dozen other candidates vying for the position of Miami-Dade County sheriff in 2024 — an office that hasn’t existed in decades.
Ramirez family disputes that Miami-Dade police director pulled out gun at hotel prior to suicide attempt
A Miami-based law firm released a statement Sunday night on behalf of Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez and his wife, Jody Ramirez, disputing a witness’s claim that they saw Miami-Dade’s top cop putting a gun to his head at a Tampa hotel hours before he shot himself.
More records surface about Ramirez’s detention in Tampa before I-75 shooting
More details surfaced on Wednesday about how Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III ended up hospitalized on July 23 in Hillsborough County after he traveled there for a Florida Sheriff’s Association conference.
Tampa police officers describe detaining Miami-Dade police director at hotel
More details surfaced on Wednesday about how Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III ended up hospitalized on July 23 in Hillsborough County after he traveled there for a Florida Sheriff’s Association conference.
Police officers handcuffed Alfredo ‘Freddy’ Ramirez III at Tampa hotel before I-75 shooting, records show
More details surfaced on Wednesday about how Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III ended up hospitalized on July 23 in Hillsborough County after he traveled there for a Florida Sheriff’s Association conference.
Miami-Dade mayor says police director called her, offered to resign before suicide attempt
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava held a news conference Wednesday morning, at which time she said Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez is “alert, awake and responsive” following his suicide attempt earlier this week.
Police leaders, elected officials react to Ramirez shooting
Local and state law enforcement officials and elected officials offered their support for Miami-Dade Police Department Director Freddy Ramirez Monday after he shot and wounded himself along Interstate 75 in Hillsborough County the previous night.
This Week in South Florida Full Episode: May 30, 2021
On the latest episode of This Week in South Florida, hosts Michael Putney and Glenna Milberg are joined by Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez, ADL regional director Yael Herschfield, state Rep. Michael Grieco, Mango's Tropical Café COO Josh Wallack and Netchoice VP Carl Szabo.
Crime spree suspect shot dead by police in southwest Miami-Dade
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A yellow tarp covered a man’s body late Thursday night after a police-involved shooting in southwest Miami-Dade. He was shot dead by police outside of a market on Thursday afternoon. Jordan then took off to a Chevron gas station. Police said an employee at the gas station wouldn’t let him inside the convenience store. “With his firearm in hand he attempted to enter the store of the gas station.
Miami-Dade aims to end ‘pandemic’ of human trafficking
DORAL, Fla. – There’s a renewed push to end an unthinkable crime that’s perpetuated far too often in South Florida — human trafficking. Florida has the third-most human trafficking cases in the country, and the city of Miami has the highest concentration of human trafficking in the state, authorities say. “This has been a pandemic of a different matter, and one that we will find a way to one day also end,” said Jose “Pepe” Diaz, chair of the Miami-Dade County Commission. Leaders say it’s a true team effort aimed at bringing all forms of human trafficking to an end. “Our goal is to save the victims.”To report suspected human trafficking, or to get help if you are a victim, please use the following resources:State Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking Hotline: 305-FIX-STOP (305-349-7867) or https://humantrafficking.miamisao.com/National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-37-37-888 or text HELP to 233733(You can remain anonymous.)
Dozens of South Florida police officers head to D.C. for inauguration security
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Dozens of police officers from South Florida are heading to Washington, D.C., to help police secure the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. On Sunday, nearly 50 officers from the Miami-Dade Police Department packed up and reported for duty in our nation’s capital. And more support was on the way Monday from the Miami Beach Police Department and the Coral Gables Police Department. Monday afternoon, 27 Coral Gables officers boarded a bus bound for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and then the nation’s capital. “These are specially trained individuals — they are a special unit that is available for challenging times,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said.
Miami-Dade police sending officers to D.C. for security at inauguration, director says
Meanwhile, they are sending a specialized unit of 45 trained officers from the department to Washington, D.C., to help with the security efforts next week surrounding the inauguration. Miami-Dade County Police Director Freddy Ramirez said his police force is honored to protect America’s democracy and its process. The 45 speciality trained Miami-Dade Police Officers being sent to D.C. next week to assist with #multiagency security preps for next week’s inauguration are part of the department’s Rapid Deployment Force (RDF). “Our children are watching,” said Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez, “watching us adults, how we act. “Our law enforcement officers across all disciplines are logically preparing to protect capitols across the country in the wake of what occurred at our nation’s Capitol last week.
Miami-Dade top cops discuss growing rate of gun violence in area
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Amid concerns about the growing rate of gun violence in southern Miami-Dade, many people are asking what’s being done to address the problem. Unlike typical gang violence, these angry interactions are starting on social media and pouring out into the streets of South Florida. Police report a 32 percent increase in the number of murders in Miami-Dade County since the same time last year. A new gun violence initiative is among the efforts focused on creating federal, state and local partnerships to battle back against the barrage of bullets penetrating the social fabric of South Florida. “That’s our ultimate responsibility.”Those who report unlawful gun possession in Miami-Dade County can receive $1,000 through a gun bounty program.
Miami-Dade Police Department ready to combat crime during holiday season
KENDALL, Fla. – Miami-Dade Police are putting safety measures into place with a crime initiative that they announced Friday, but it wasn’t just law enforcement that appeared at the press conference at Dadeland Mall. Newly elected County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava began the conference stressing the importance of safety approaching the Thanksgiving holiday. Then it was time for the Miami-Dade police to talk about crime prevention and what they are planning on doing to deter spikes in crime that happen around the holidays. “During this initiative, uniformed and undercover officers will conduct surveillance at high visibility patrol’s throughout our community,” Freddy Ramirez, director of Miami-Dade Police Department, said. We will be out here working together to assure that does not happen,” Ramirez said.
This Week in South Florida: Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez
PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. What appeared to be a significant step in enforcing marking and social distancing orders took effect this week as Miami-Dade County approved civil citations for violations. They come with fines for individuals, and police officers issued dozens, and also closed a number of businesses, in just the first 24 hours. Miami Police Director Freddy Ramirez discussed the changes with Glenna Milberg and Michael Putney on This Week in South Florida. The full video can be seen at the top of this page.
2 Miami-Dade officers relieved of duty after video emerges showing woman hit in face, tackled
MIAMI Shocking footage from the body camera of a Miami-Dade police officer has drawn a quick reaction from the department's director. It involves a woman that appears to have been slapped by an officer, actions Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez says he does not condone. The video shows two MDPD officers speaking to a woman at the airport. In the video, which Local 10 News has learned has been seen throughout the department, a woman begins to confront one of the officers. That's when the officer is seen quickly stepping back and punching the woman in the face.
Miami-Dade commissioners favor civilian oversight of police
MIAMI The Miami-Dade Commission voted 9-4 Tuesday morning in favor of resurrecting a civilian oversight panel for when police are accused of wrongdoing. After passing that first reading, details including funding and the composition of the panel will need to be ironed out before a second reading and before it could be voted into law. A civilian panel had been in place in the county years ago but was defunded. Its the bad apples that we want to get, Commissioner Barbara Jordan, who is pushing for the panel, said last week. We want to make sure that there are policies in place that ... would hold them accountable.Public comments Tuesday have been largely in favor of civilian oversight, though mindful that Miami-Dade is not Minneapolis, and recognizing the countys police force for its community-minded approach.
Miami-Dade police director kneels with group of 5,000 Role Models of Excellence teens
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez and several police officers took a knee with a group of at-risk teens on Thursday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami GardensThe teenagers are members of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools 5,000 Role Models of Excellence Project mentorship program. This is important because we worked together for a long time to build bridges, Ramirez said. Ramirez announced the banning of the Applied Triangle Carotid Restraint, better known as the sleeper hold. I made the decision in this community to show the way, to show that law enforcement is listening to you, Ramirez said. Out of 624,000 calls for service, there were 288 incidents where use of force was used, Ramirez said, adding the ACTR was used 20 times.
Miami-Dade police will no longer use carotid triangle restraint
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. The Miami-Dade Police Department will no longer authorize use of the Applied Carotid Triangle Restraint tactic, director Freddy Ramirez announced Thursday. The maneuver is one that has come into question amid discussion of police use of force. Among those changes was a Departmental re-organization that emphasizes compliance with professional standards and Officer wellness as well as a streamlined approach to emergency operations. Nonetheless, as a progressive agency, we must remain in a constant state of review and open to emerging best practices and community feedback. As such, I have decided to no longer authorize the utilization of the Applied Carotid Triangle Restraint (ACTR).
Miami-Dade mayor holds news conference with police director
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez is holding a virtual news conference Thursday morning and will be joined by Deputy Mayor Maurice Kemp and Miami-Dade Police Department Director Freddy Ramirez. The news conference is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.
Who polices the police? Its a conversation again in South Florida.
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. What happens when an officer doesnt do what he or she is supposed to do? The City of Miami has whats called a civilian oversight panel. The Miami-Dade mayor and the countys police director weighed in on that Thursday. Yet this week, leaders in the black community called to bring back the countys civilian oversight panel with subpoena power to investigate police-involved violence. I can terminate at my will, the director Ramirez said.
In Miami-Dade, recommendations on how to police the police
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The case involving the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of police brings more scrutiny to how law enforcement officers face discipline. By the end of the meeting, they had formulated a list of recommendations. In Dade County today what happened to that officer in Minnesota could not happen because they could not fire that officer right on the spot," Ruban Roberts, Miami Dade NAACP, said. That doesn't keep officers from being arrested," Steadman Stahl, president of the Miami Dade Police Benevolent Association, said. The list of recommendations that the board came up with Wednesday would next be submitted to Miami-Dade County for review.
Freddy Ramirez sworn in as Miami-Dade police director
DORAL, Fla. – The Miami-Dade Police Department is officially under new leadership, as Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez was sworn into office Friday as the department’s new director. I want to create an environment where the greatness we exhibit on the outside is felt on the inside of our agency,” Ramirez told his colleagues. “There is something special about the Miami-Dade Police Department,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said. “And so, you have had a tradition of excellence, you’ve been led by extraordinary people and Freddy Ramirez is just the latest example of one of those extraordinary people.”“We’re all different, but we’re all one. We’re all the same, and it’s an honor to a part of that legacy and lead this wonderful agency,” Ramirez told Local 10 News reporter Michael Putney.
New Miami-Dade police director named
DORAL, Fla. – Miami-Dade County has a new top cop. Joined by his wife and two of his four children, Freddy Ramirez was introduced Wednesday morning as the incoming director of the Miami-Dade Police Department. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez made the announcement at police headquarters in Doral. The move comes after outgoing Director Juan Perez announced he will retire after nearly 30 years of service. Gimenez thanked Perez, who began his career with the Miami-Dade Police Department in 1990, for his service and praised the department's accomplishments under Perez's watch.