A Story of Bravery, Heroism and Tenacity
featuring Sunny Isles Police Department’s Officers of the Month
By Luz Urbaez Weinberg

The Sunny Isles Police Department Officer of the Month was a double-hitter for the month of November. The Department recognized two outstanding members of the force, Sgt. Robert “Bobby” Randazzo and Officer Joseph Alvarez, for the brave policing skills demonstrated during a recent yacht fire that endangered property and life on the marina.

At the November Concerned Citizens Luncheon, Sunny Isles Police Chief Fred Maas explained how a decision was made on October 11, 2004 (Columbus Day) to place into operation the Marine Patrol Unit so as to maintain a presence in the north end of Miami-Dade County since almost all of the other marine law enforcement agencies had committed to the Columbus Day regatta and related-festivities that occurred primarily in South Dade. The unit was deployed to handle enforcement issues and possible emergencies that may occur on the water. The decision to deploy and maintain them proved to be a property and life-saving one.

Just over one month later on a sunny morning, an Aventura family set out for a day on the water on the family’s 55 ft. yacht. Soon after departure, one of the family members noticed smoke billowing from beneath the cabin area. Smoke quickly turned to flames, and the family had no choice but to jump overboard. Thankfully, the family swam ashore and out of harm’s way. The now fully engulfed yacht, however, remained in the water, becoming an explosive time bomb without operation.

South Florida winds on that day worked against the situation, and a potential disaster began to brew. The yacht began drifting back to the marina where there were other expensive yachts, boats and occupied town homes.

Emergency units from the fire department and police department responded via the shoreline, and the Sunny Isles Police Department Marine Unit, led by Randazzo and Alvarez responded on an emergency basis by water. Randazzo and Alvarez quickly realized the fire department efforts were futile because the yacht was then drifting away from the water and the foam hoses could no longer reach the yacht by shore.

Exemplifying courage, bravery and quick-wit, Officer Alvarez strategically maneuvered the police boat to take a downwind approach to the burning vessel. Sgt. Randazzo made his way to the bottom of the police boat where he laid flat on his stomach across the bow attempting to attach a towline to the burning yacht so as to drive it away from the marina to a spot that would enable the fire department to reach the flames and extinguish them.

The heat from the runaway yacht became so intense that Sgt. Randazzo’s began to feel a burning sensation on his face and hair. Smoke began to impair his ability to act. However, Randazzo knew that if he did not act quickly, the fuel tanks aboard the yacht would ignite and create an explosion that could set ablaze the other boats on the marina, and possibly the town homes that were occupied. He also knew that he had to avert the pending disaster, and this was the only way to do it.

Battling unfriendly winds and flames, and endangering their own life Randazzo finally managed to grab hold and secure a towline while Alvarez pulled the burning yacht into a position that enabled the fire department to extinguish the blaze.

Miami-Dade Fire Department Chief Herman Lorenzo and Lt. Abel Fernandez were so impressed and appreciative of the officers’ skilful act of marine ability – notably exhibited in the face of a life threatening danger – that they nominated both officers for the agency’s prestigious “Life and Property Saving Award.” It was estimated that Randazzo and Alvarez’s actions not only saved a close-by $9Million yacht, but also numerous other yachts and boats on the marina. The greatest fear was for the occupied town homes that surround the marina.

Randazzo and Alvarez have received numerous letters of thanks and commendations from different agencies for their heroic actions on that November 23rd morning.

The Sunny Isles Police Department proudly awarded Bobby Randazzo and Joe Alvarez with the Officer of the Month Award. At the November Concerned Citizens Luncheon, Steve Lesnick presented a check to the officers of the month on behalf of Midtown Towing and the Citizens Public Safety Advisory Committed of Sunny Isles Beach. Other area businesses also presented checks, and Concerned Citizens presented Sgt. Randazzo and Officer Alvarez with the Dave Samson Award for “Outstanding and dedicated service to the department and the community.”

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