“Dave’s Dash was Bigger Than Life…”
By Chief Fred Maas and select officers of the
Sunny Isles Beach Police Department

There is a wonderful story out there about the significance of the “DASH” which can be found between the dates of birth and death of a person. You’ve seen the dash before, on gravestones, monuments, prayer cards and memorials. Essentially, it is what symbolizes or stands for ALL that the person was about, what they accomplished or meant to others during the time between their birth and their death. Sadly, in some cases there isn’t much. Proudly, in many cases there is a great deal! Exceptionally, in rare cases, it is unbelievable and extraordinary. DAVE BROMAN was an example of the latter, because he was EXTRAORDINARY! Let me tell you about “Dave:”

For many, many years Dave Broman was the head of security for the Newport Hotel in Sunny Isles Beach, for as long as I can remember. Officers would meet Dave whenever they handled their first call there. He would be the one to meet and greet and offer any help he could. Many of our officers, including myself, have known Dave since our first day of service in 1998. I asked a few veterans who knew Dave to reflect on what they remembered about him and what he meant to them.

“Dave was there no matter what to help you. He was warm, gentle, soft spoken, compassionate and helpful. He would be the first to take you where you needed to go, get you what you wanted, even if it was a drink of water on a scorching hot day.” Dave would bring it to you. Officers remembered working outside details in the dog days of summer back when we first started up and there was Dave Broman, lugging bags of ice and jugs of water to refresh the troops. You never had to ask, he was always ahead of you. After handling calls for service, he would await the officer, never getting in their way, but offering a cup of coffee when they were done.

Dave loved the City of Sunny Isles Beach. It was a great part of his life. You could often find him walking thru the city, with such a positive attitude about him, you could not help but come to like him. In the case of our police officers, we came to LOVE him.

During hurricanes and storm threats, Dave Broman opened the hotel services at the Newport to the officers and made them feel at home. Why? Because Dave knew that they would be away from their families and homes for an extended period of time. He would even cook and serve them along with other staff members when the officers had a short meal break from their duties.

When a new officer or a rookie was in training for our department, one of the first people he or she was introduced to was Dave Broman. The veteran officer would always say “This is Dave, head of security, whatever you need here, just tell Dave, he’ll help you!” And he did. Need Information! See Dave!” Need directions? See Dave! Need help with a room for visiting friends or family members? See Dave!!

Dave’s life was not always a bed of roses however. He was devastated when he lost his wife years ago. Because of his love and his son Justin’s love of the beach and ocean, they scattered her ashes to the water at 174 Street and the Ocean. Justin, their loving son, and a lifeguard on our beaches, could therefore be with his mom or at least the memories of her, everyday while he was at work. Justin has saved a number of lives thru ocean rescues of drowning victims, some right there at 174 Street. Think mom was smiling and watching proudly over her son during those rescues? I do!

Years later, Dave’s health started to deteriorate himself. He never said a word, never complained, never asked for anything. If you engaged him in conversation, all he would talk about was how proud he was of his son Justin, the lifeguard, a good boy, and how much he loved this city. You would never hear it from Dave that he was dying.

Sunny Isles Beach Police Officers, Sgt. Bobby Randazzo, Lt. Dwight Snyder and Detective Blake Royal all shared the aforementioned memories and thoughts of Dave with me. But there is another officer, Dave’s Angel of Mercy, who incredibly went above and beyond in Dave’s last months and days. Officer Cari Brizuela exhibited the compassion and care and assistance that one only reads in stories. She would bring food, drinks, conversation. And when she could not bring hope or a cure, she would bring a SMILE. Dave loved that, that smile. He was such a positive and upbeat person, that the smile probably did more then anything else. Officer “Cari” treated Carmela and Dave and cared for them as a loving child would for her own parents. She spent her own money, little that she has to part with, to make Dave’s day just a little more comfortable. And to Carmela, what a source of support.

Finally, the dreadful day arrived when Dave’s DASH was completed; August 23, 2006. Tears well up in Officer Cari Brizuela’s eyes when she speaks of Dave’s last day.

In the middle of the night when he passed, Dave’s son Justin reached out to some of his friends. Detective Blake Royal got dressed and responded in the middle of the night. Justin and Blake had become friends thru common interests of boating, fishing and the beaches. Word spread quickly of Dave’s death thru the ranks of the police department.

I myself, was deeply saddened as I remembered one story that epitomized the humility of Dave Broman. When we coincidentally learned that he and I shared the same birth date of December 13, Dave was so proud that he would tell anyone that would listen that he had the same birthday as a “celebrity”, the Chief of Police. And I would counter with “Dave, you’ve got it all wrong, You’re the Celebrity, just ask any of my officers…” It truly was a coincidence and one that I was very proud of sharing with this tremendous human being.

Justin had Dave’s ashes scattered in the same manner, the same place as his mom, at 174 Street and the ocean. He can visit and talk to them everyday on his job. The pain and the hurt is still there as is expected. But with the support of friends and the compassion of so many fellow colleagues and officers, Justin will learn that his dad’s “DASH” will always be bigger than LIFE!!! May you rest in peace Dave Broman, those whose lives you touched will always remember you!!! Thanks for your DASH!!!

DAVID BROMAN
DECEMBER 13, 1932 — AUGUST 23, 2006

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