Firefighters Recognize SIB Police Officers
By Bari Auerbach

Representatives from the Miami-Dade Fire Department recently attended a City Commission meeting to recognize two Sunny Isles Beach police officers for their heroic actions when a yacht caught fire at Aventura’s Turnberry Yacht Club Marina.

It was estimated that Sgt. Robert “Bobby” Randazzo and Officer Joe Alvarez helped salvage a nearby $9 million yacht, numerous other yachts and boats on the marina plus occupied town homes surrounding the marina.

Lt. Abel Fernandez, in charge of engine 63 out of the Aventura fire station explained, “It was mid-morning on October 11, 2004 when we responded to the call of a large vessel fully involved in fire. We arrived at the Turnberry Yacht Club Marina to find a fifty-two foot vessel that had broken away from its mooring and was in the process of coming into contact with a large mega-yacht.

“We had called for a marine support unit and we ended up getting an Sunny Isles Beach Police officers’ boat there…They came over, expressing [the Department’s] motto: ‘How can we help you?’

“We gave them instructions on how we could coordinate with them on securing the vessel…normally when we go on a structure fire we have the fire confined to a building that doesn’t move on us. This day, the vessel moved not once, twice but three times across the channel. Sgt. Robert Randazzo and Officer Joe Alvarez were able to secure the vessel and keep it in one place so we could start the extinguishing process. Then they coordinated with us to bring the vessel dockside and the total job was completed as far as extinguishing the fire and salvaging what we could of this yacht.

“Both of these officers exhibited professionalism and heroic bravery that day. They acted as any firefighter at the most trained capacity I’ve seen. They were faced with heavy fire, smoke and extreme heat of 1,200 degrees – but were able, without any protection, to grab the vessel that was moving and prevent the damage of millions of dollars of property loss along that channel where we could have had a row of yachts catch fire and in turn the town homes.

“On behalf of Metro Dade Local 1403 firefighters and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, we’d like to present a plaque as a small token of our appreciation to Officer Joe Alvarez and Sgt. Robert Randazzo.”
Taking the podium, Sunny Isles Beach Police Chief Fred Maas noted, “This is one of those things you learn in leadership and development classes about win-win situations. This community is in a win-win situation when you have the professionalism of the Miami-Dade Fire Department and the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department working together. Our job is all about: ‘What can we do to help you?’ and with that shared philosophy, I think we really work together well.”

The Sunny Isles Police Department Officer of the Month award for November 2004 was also bestowed upon Randazzo and Alvarez at a recent meeting of Concerned Citizens of Northeast Dade, where they were presented with a check on behalf of Midtown Towing and the Citizens’ Public Safety Advisory Committee of Sunny Isles Beach. Other area businesses also presented checks, and Concerned Citizens honored Randazzo and Officer Alvarez the Dave Samson Award for “Outstanding and dedicated service to the department and the community.”

New Fire Station Proposed
Battalion Chief Stan Hills, president of the fire-rescue union, was also present at the Jan. 13 City Commission meeting to commend the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department. “Our cruising station tells me your police officers are very professional and proficient,” he said.

Hills also informed the Commission, “I spoke to our fire chief and our fire department intends to rebuild fire station ten on 172nd Street – it is a two bay station now and it will be rebuilt as a modern three bay station. We’ll have to work with the city to relocate the units while that process goes on. It’s in early planning stages now and details from our logistical bureau will be coming to you in the next few months.

“We would also like to locate a facility in the vicinity of 192nd and Collins as high rises continue to be built, the traffic gets thicker and our response times are suffering. We’re asking [the city] to identify a site and we’ll be happy to build a station and provide service once we’re told where…that offer is extended from our fire chief to you.”

In response, Mayor Norman Edelcup noted, “We can arrange a meeting to explore what sites may be available at your earliest convenience.”

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