“This Community Says Thank-You to Their Heroes Everyday….”
By Chief Fred Maas


As part of my acceptance speech on Sunday, October 17, 2004 at Temple B’Nai Zion, I used that very phrase listed above to relate how this community of Sunny Isles Beach recognized and appreciates their police and fire and public safety personnel.
Almost 200 people gathered on a Sunday afternoon at a “celebration to service” sponsored by the Temple and organized by Rabbi Mayer Abramowitz, Mayor Norm Edelcup, Mr. Irving Turetsky and the committee from Temple B’nai Zion.

“They just wanted to say thank-you” to the police and fire personnel that serve this city. When asked when a “good time” to hold the event would be, I could only say there isn’t because we never know what lies ahead for us. We are a 24 hour, 7 day a week emergency operation. We don’t plan, we react to what calls for us. Case in point was the fact that 30 minutes before the event, a raft load of refugees seeking freedom arrived on our beach. We dealt with it. During the ceremony, a traffic accident occurred that required the motorcycle officers to leave early to investigate. We handled it. And if a fire had broken out in an apartment or condo, all the fire personnel in attendance would have responded and handled it — It’s our job!

But my point was, this community says thank you everyday in the way they show their appreciation to us for what we do. On a call by call basis, they know both police and fire will be there and they say Thank You then, to us, EVERYDAY, one call at a time. We were honored at the event and we are honored to serve. We thank those who worked so hard on this event which turned out to be a very special day. Thank from your public service people!

Click here to read Commindation Letter to Cheif Maas from Cheif of Police Thomas E. Ribel (pdf)

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