Did You Ever Wonder Why?...
By Chief Fred Maas, SIB Police Department

Why is there a special street named sign at 172 Street and Collins Avenue in front of our city’s Town Center Park, named after Town Marshall Ralph Langworthy???
You would be surprised at how many have asked that question and how many more have wondered about it but never asked why? Well, recently, Commissioner Ros Brezin approached me and suggested that maybe we could provide a short history on how this came about. Some may have already known, some may have forgotten but those who never knew and wondered, here it is:
In the year 2001, Sgt. John Rivera, President of the Dade County Benevolent Association created an initiative whereby officers killed in the line of duty would never be forgotten. Their memories would live on forever in the form of dedicating a street or avenue, especially if it was the EXACT spot where they had given their life in service, in their honor. As you drive about Dade County you will see great testament to this project as so many are remembered forever.
Our Town Marshall is no different. On October 16, 2001, the City Commission at the time, supported and passed a resolution honoring a forgotten hero from 1928, who was killed in that very same spot while on duty. Three of those City Commissioners still serve us today. Mayor Norman Edelcup, Commissioner Danny Iglesias and Commissioner Gerry Goodman all were present and supportive of the honoring of this forgotten hero by naming that portion of 172 Street in his memory.
And so who was this Town Marshall we speak of? Well, in 1928 this area was then known as Fulford by the Sea which was a town from 1926-1931. The area was patrolled by the Marshal’s office. While on an active stakeout for illegal bootleggers who would arrive by sea, Marshall Langworthy was using his police motorcycle in stealth fashion. Unfortunately, customs agents from the Border Patrol were doing similar work also in a secret mode and at 11:30 p.m. Langworthy’s motorcycle was struck by the Customs agents car while both were responding to a call of an illegal unloading of a shipment of contraband. Langworthy sustained numerous bone fractures and internal injuries. Medicine and technology not being what it is today, the Town Marshall succumbed to his injuries and died 3 days later. No matter who was at fault, or what the outcome, the tragedy was a good law enforcement officer and a good family man, lost his life while serving and protecting his community. His community later became our community, known as “Sunny Isles Beach” and that spot was marked as the very place where Langworthy was struck and killed.
Interestingly enough, the Town Marshall’s wife, Elizabeth, was pregnant at the time and later delivered a son, David, who would never have the opportunity to meet his father. So our City Commission took it a step further than many others. The Commission invited David Langworthy, 73 years later to come and visit and attend the dedication to his father’s memory, here in Sunny Isles Beach. And he came and he saw and he was moved to tears of appreciation and gratitude for what had been done.
PBA President John Rivera and his staff attended. The City Commission and City Officials attended. The police department was there and many residents showed up in support. All in all it was a great celebration in honor of a fallen, and for awhile a forgotten hero, until the PBA and Dr. William Willbanks got involved and a found a true and fitting final resting spot for this man who gave his life. The following year, David Langworthy was the guest speaker at the annual Police Memorial in SW Dade County. At 74 years young, he held the audience captive with his heartfelt tribute and speech to the father he never met. He told me he would be forever indebted to John Rivera, the PBA, the City of Sunny Isles Beach and its community for “making this happen.” “So little done which meant so much for so long, forever!”
And know you know and can share with others, the answer to
“Did You Ever Wonder Why?"

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