"May - The Month of Commitment and Memorials
By Chief Fred Maas

I remember the day like it was last week. April 1, 1976. Yes, 28 years ago, but to many of us it is still a vivid reminder every day of what can happen.

I was a young patrolman in uniform and ironically I was working the same area of Sunny Isles Beach, only then it was unincorporated and policed by Miami-Dade County. About an hour before my tour of duty began, word spread quickly about a police shooting that involved several of our officers. They actually turned out to be detectives from the auto theft unit.

Three of them were killed in one incident and it was the most horrific, deadly day of our department's history. They were in essence, investigating a possible stolen car found in a motel parking lot further south near Surfside. Unfortunately, when they went to find out from the motel clerk's office who the car belonged to, the clerk tipped the guest off and the rest is history. Unbeknownst what they were walking into, the habitual, career criminal felon, and former prisoner awaited them and blasted them with a shotgun thru the window as they approached. They never saw it coming. They never had a chance. Ultimately, three detectives were dead and the subject also as he committed suicide as the police closed in on him.

Two of the three police officers were married and had children, the third was engaged to be married. Imagine the pain, suffering and devastation to all the lives who were touched and affected by this one incident.

I remember vividly, patrolling Collins Avenue that night. It was eerie. The police radio was deadly quiet, the TV news was filled with the story of the incident and people kept coming up and saying "how sorry" they were to hear about "my colleagues." And they were! They were my colleagues and the people were sorry. Because people then respected and knew the job that public safety, police and fire did for their community. For very little pay, they risked it all. They still do it, 28 years later. Even riskier today with the abundance of guns and drugs and people on drugs who have guns and no conscience. That is a dangerous combination.

Sometimes we think cops are invincible. But they're not. They're human, with families and children and they can get scared too. In fact they had better possess a little fear or else they are a fool and won't be around long. But fear is displaced and overcome by proper training, common sense, procedures to follow and bottom line, an overwhelming commitment to serve and protect and defend others who otherwise can not do for themselves.

May is Police Memorial Month. Locally and nationally services will be held to honor those who made the ultimate commitment. Our little city has its own memorial tribute to Town Marshall Ralph Langworthy who died on duty decades ago.

May is a memorial month to commitment. Let us remember those who did the ultimate but ALSO, those who make the commitment every day they go to work in our city. "120" in Miami-Dade County alone were remembered on May 6, 2004 in a candle light vigil at the Police Memorial at Tropical Park. I hope we NEVER hit "121"

God Bless America and Keep Sunny Isles Beach Safe !!!
 

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