A public safety officer in Miami-Dade County, Fla., was seriously injured Sunday and was hospitalized in Tampa, the city’s mayor said Monday. The wound was a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to two people with knowledge of the incident.
Alfredo Ramirez III, who serves in a dual role as head of public safety and director of the Miami-Dade Police Department, the largest police department in the Southeast, is in “critical but stable condition” on Monday, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. he said in a statement. His office said he went to Tampa overnight to be with the chief’s family. The police department said Chief Ramirez underwent surgery there.
“All that matters right now is Chief Ramirez’s health,” said Ms. Levine Cava, “and I join his family, his loved ones, the Miami-Dade Police Department and the Miami-Dade County family in praying for his speedy recovery.”
Director Ramirez, 52, known as Freddy, was injured on Interstate 75 south of Tampa, according to the Florida Department of Justice, which is investigating the incident with the Florida Highway Patrol. No one else was injured, FDLE said in a statement.
The Miami Herald reported that President Ramirez and his wife attended the Florida Sheriffs Association summer conference, which began in Tampa on Sunday.
Chief Ramirez’s position as director of the Miami-Dade Police Department is vacant; he was appointed to this job by Ms. Levine Cava in January 2020. The department has more than 4,700 employees and a budget of more than 850 million dollars.
Following next year’s election, the job will change to an independent sheriff’s position, as is the case in Florida’s other 66 counties. Chief Ramirez filed papers in May to run for sheriff as a Democrat.
He spent more than twenty-five years in this department, according to his official statement.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.
Kitty Bennett research done.
| Daily News Post