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Home My WebLink AboutR-01-1260J-01-1052 12/11/01 • RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION SUPPORTING THE CODESIGNATIONS OF CERTAIN STREETS IN HONOR OF FALLEN CITY OF MIAMI POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION; WAIVING THE DEPOSITS AND APPLICATION FEES REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 54-138 AND 54-139 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, FOR SUCH CODESIGNATIONS; FURTHER STRONGLY URGING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO ALSO CODESIGNATE CERTAIN STREETS FOR SAID PURPOSE; DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO INSTRUCT THE ADMINISTRATION TO INITIATE THE FORMAL PROCESS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SAID CODESIGNATIONS; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS DESIGNATED HEREIN. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section ]. The codesignations of certain streets in honor of City of Miami fallen police officers, firefighters, and employees of the Department of General Services Administration are supported. CITY COMOSSION MEET","TCq'OP Rocolutio l No. Section 2. The deposits and application fees required pursuant to Sections 54-1.38 and 54-1.39 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, are waived for such codesignations. Section 3. Miami -Dade County is strongly urged to codesignate certain streets in honor of such police officers, firefighters, and employees of the Department of General Services Administration. Section 4. The City Manager is directed to instruct the administration to initiate the formal procedure for implementing said codesignations. Section S. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to all members of the Board of Miami -Dade County Commissioners, Mayor of Miami -Dade County Alex Penelas, and Miami -Dade County Manager Steve Shiver. Page 2 of 3 0 Section 6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.''/ PASSED AND ADOPTED this 11th day of December . 2001. MANUEL A. DIAZ, MAYOR i7 _ ;1�i71'[ fiiS(;:, srl',`'iti iv'..:?i... .:4,.... ;it?... _ ,ii'��;;; 't`? ��rrn' i r 9� rll�.'a � •��u. r:E;<:1 r? � � ,' _ `�t .. �Jf: .1 ii, i 1'x!5. II �..."�,"r.. � �• ; c5 ,ll�- I. ,: � ii4_'•r1 i?��.` ,_ �,-.n ii int '.,'s .',; .. ... .ri, .-. - ,. ., il'' JCJfi�l1 VJU.i.: "k's; :- 1 11 7 �;(i i f)fhi(flf' wiaivmt >f13 Mui (Avii]. y ATTEST: city clork WALTER J. FOEMAN CITY CLERIC APPROVF0' AS TOXORM AN�ORRECTNESS : TLARELLO TXMEY 856:LB:BSS 1� if the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten calendar days from the dale it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission. Page 3 of 3 Dec 03 01 04:25F Commissioner Joe Sanchez 305-250-5385 r-1 D41"RIC"T 3 - CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDI COMMISSIONER SANCHEZ TO: Carlos (;imenez DATE: December 3, 2001 FELE: City Manager SUBJECT : Agenda Item Police and Fire Memorials r . v��'' A REFERENCES: FRO .}Oe Sanchez i Commissioner FNC;LO-gURES On the July 10�h Commission Meeting, the City Commission passed a motion to refer to the Miami Street Co -designation Review Committee the proposed campaign to co -designate streets to honor fallen police officers anis fire personnel who have died in the line of duty. Therefore, I respectfully request that a resolution be prepared for further consideration at the Commission meeting on December 11, 2001. Thank you for your attention in this matter. Cc: Elvi Alonso, Agenda Coordinator Alejandro Vilarello, City Attorney Raul Martinez, Chief of Police William Bryson, Chief of Fire Rescue Department it •- tHo L City of Miami Police Officers John Rhinehart Riblet Frank A. Croff Richard Roy Marler Laurie LaFayette Wever John D. Marchbanks Samuel J. Callaway Jesse L. Morris Albert R. Johnson James Franklin Beckham Augustus S. McCann Sidney Clarence Crews Robert Lee Jester John I. Brubaker Samuel D. Hicks Patrick Howell Baldwin Wesley Frank Thompson John Milledge Johnnie Young Frampton Pope Wichman, Jr. Leroy Joseph LaFleur James Herbert Brigman John Thomas Burlinson Jerrel Eugen Ferguson Ronald Flirl McLeod Rolland John Lane, II Victor Butler, Jr. Edward Francis McDermott Nathaniel Broom Jose Raimundo DeLeon David Wayne Herring Victor Estefan William Don Craig Osvaldo Juan Canalejo, Jr. Carlos Santiago William Williams 0 Other Departments and Agencies Deputy Wilbur Hendrickson Officer John E. Dickson Officer William L. Nichols Sgt. Homer C. Barton , Officer Owen K. Bender Agent Charles Mann Agent Nicholas Fragos Trooper Bradley S. Glascock Agent Ariel Rios Agent Eddie Benitez Officer Scott Rakow Lt. Thomas J. Leis Detective Evelyn Gort Officer Leonard Trudeau City of Miami Fire Fighters Johnny Johnson John Austin Thompson Bon H. Stubble W.R. Voorhies �, -' "- `} S O tere,ted in genealogy and ha, compiledas- ,iye famii+ tree dating back to the emigi or Archibald McGregor tRhea's __-rand),[ cr) to North Carolina from Scotland in 130.4. Jailer Gustav A. Kaiser. a:e unknown, un- [ikejailer Perkins, appears to ha+r been well -liked in the community, His wife. Frida.:01 bom in Sept. of 186-1t. lived with him in the room adjoining the cage room of the jail and "was employed to wurk ai the jail feeding the prisoners." The couple had no children. The 1900 Census indicates that Frida Kaiser was bom in Denmark las were her father and motherr and that she immigrated to the U.S. in 1832 at the age of I3. It is likely that Gustav Kaiser was also born in Denmark and that he im- migrated to the U.S. in the same year (1882). How- ever. a search of U.S. immieration records for 1882 for Gustav A. Kaiser failed to locate any record of his arrival in the U.S. The Minutes of the Dade County Commis- sion for 1395 have numerous references orpay- inent from the County to • %Irs. G.A. Kaiser" For "feeding prisoners." It appears that these pay- ments began at the time of her husband's death or shortly thereafter as payments for the feeding of prisoners before that time went to someone else. The salary for Jailer Gustav Kaiser was S40 per month but he may have had the job for only a month or so as County records indicate that L.L. Dodge was Jailer in Aug. of 1893. George R. Edw•iek r and later N.P. Cain) was appointed Jailer after Kaiser's death. The Commission records indicate that Mrs. Kaiser continued to be paid for feeding prison- ers (and sometimes jury members. the insane. etc.) until mid -1399 (four vears after the death of her husband). The jn! ,An_River .advocate noted that a month after her husband's death. a "small cottage" was erected on "the Tuttle es- tate" for the "occupancv of Mrs. Keyser (sic). who prepares meals for the prisoners confined in the county jail." She may have lost the job when the Dade County Jail was moved from Juno ro Miami in the summer of 1899. Frida married John Kronowitter of Miami on Nov. 2. 1399. The Nov. ,', Miami �tetr000lis noted in its coverage of the wedding that Frida "w a: born abroad" and had resided in Morgantown. W. VA. in Chicago. IL. and for a ..number of years past in Florida." She was likely married to Gustav Kaiser during the residences in Morgantown and Chicago. The Metrotwlts ..Iso noted that both Kronowitter and Frida Kai- ,er were 'well and favorably known in Dade Counr�" and that a quarantine "(orbade the cel- chr:uion of the wedding in the midst of Mrs. Kromm iuer's largest circle of friends at West Palm Beach as had been arranged." The wed - dim, ceremony was held at the "bride's resi- dence" t the jail?) which "allowed room for but few guests." However. "there was plenty of good cheer. and Full justice was done to the substan- tial feast spread for the guests." The M.Uroyolis also noted that John Kronowitter was "one of the most trayel-d of Miami': ciricens. haying first wandered from his European home to Cairo. Egypt." where he re - ,[Jed for,ome vears. "thence to Australia. thence to New York, thence for health's sake to Florida." Earlier the lira issue of the Miami %letr000liz May 15. I S96f described John Kronowitter as: the tailor. who has served as tailor to Kings. Princes. Counts and Lords. %hole sat cross[egged upon a tailor's table nearly every prominent city in Europe. Asia. Africa. America and the Islands. He is ready now to serve the public as a "mender of breeches." etc. at Miami in rooms over the bakery next to the Hotel Miami. John comes to Miami from West Palm Beach. where he is known as an accomplished workman. (Miami Metrop_oL%. 511511396) The Harmonia folasonic) Lodge passed "resolutions of condolence" over the killing of Kaiser. The jpdian River Advocate said that the Masons "w•enr in a body" from Titusville "to par- ticipate in the funeral of Kaiser." Undertaker Maltby brought a casket from Titusville for Kaiser's burial. His body was dressed and laid in a small house apposite the jail, where the t'u- neral was held on Sunday night. Aug. 'S. The funeral was conducted "under the auspices of the Masonic Order' since Kaiser -was a Mason or excellent standing." No mention was made of the burial sire of Kaiser. Newspaper.accounts said that Gustav Kai- ser "was a man of especially fine character and his death was ;reatly mourned." another paper said he was one of the "esteemed citizens of Dade County." Some accounts state that Kaiser was black (specifically a ",yellow black" or a mulatto) but it appears that these accounts confused Kaiser with his black deputy. Perkins. The 1909,Ljj, b e 's article. based on the accounts of sev- eral eyewitnesses. clearly stated that Kaiser was white and Perkins was black. Also, it is unlikely that a black man would have been given the job of jailer in 1895 or that a white Masonic Lodge would have mourned his passing. Finally. Kaiser's "German sounding" name would sue - gest that he was white as was the Fact that his wife. Frida. was white. In 1995, little is known about Gustav Kai- ser. The location of his grave is unknown though it is thoueht to be somewhere in the Juno area. Frida Kaiser Kronowitter and her husband John were listed in the 1900 Dade Census but do not appear in the 1910 Dade census and no record could be found as to where Frida and John moved. Since Gustav and Frida had no children. there are no direct descendants of Jailer Kaiser. Unfortunately. Gustav Kaiser. is destined to be a forgotten hero given the scant information available on him. The National La++ Enforcement Memorial in Washin,ton. D.C.. includes the names of Rhett McGreoor [East Wall. Panel '_?. Line 14 and Gu,tav A. Kaiser (East kVall. Panel 5: , Line 161. Their name, crib are also inscribed on a lame stone "+ya1l" in the lobhv or the Metro -Dade Police Department. The name% or Rheu McGrecor and Gustav Kaiser are read each Mas at the Dade County Police Mernorial in Tropical Park. The May 13. 1995, Police.\lentorial Service marked the 1011th anni+er,ar% of the killing L)f the two officers. The [011th anni+er,an of their deaths was also marked by Dr. Wilbanks' article on the five 1895 murders in the Miami Hertld'sTropi Mgwine on April 9. 1995. A plaque commemorating their death was also displayed at the Men and Women in Blue exhibit at the Historical Museum of Southem FL from Oct. 9 -Nov, 27. 1995. SOURCES: "Dade's Bloodv Period" b% Oscar T. Conklin. Miami ' _ e o nlis. Nlav 15. 1996. Nov, 3. 1399. June 26. 1949: L a " +: o_ neering on -5 uvne 131}. 1 S 0-1 9'_ by Thelma Peters (Miami: Banyan Books. 1976, pages 160- 166): a isror+,vof Juno Beach and Juno. F!Qdda by Bessie Wilson DuBois: "The Hanging of Sam Lewis. August. 139:. Juno." by Bessie Wilson DuBois injupi(er-Teque>ta 8tuton _'S. 1966: "Inquest on &,dies of J.F. Highsmith and G.A. Da+is. 7-_':-139:. Vardiet on Evi- dence' Irrom Dade County records[: "The LynchV& of Sam Lewis: Our First Caseof Tron- tier Justice by. James R. Knott. Palm Beach Post-Timei. April S. 19'9: The Stora of the Chokoloskee 13 + iu 's- Oneew or' Pioneer C.S.--le-d- Smallwood b% Chariton W. T'ebeau. Miami: Banyan Books. 1976. pp. 68.72: InJian_RLi:er LTi(ui%- ille, .-\d- vocate. Aug. ?9. [ 6. 0. Sept. 34. 1395: �L- ar�i Tribune. Dec. 26. 1925: Palm Beach Posr- Times, Aug.. 19.:6: Miami Herald. April 19. 1931. P. '_ Miami Herald Sunday Magazine. Sept. 4. 1966 tarticle b% -Angus McGre_ori: LLL a_mi Herald. flay 6. 19"a. B-1: "Dade's Bloody Period -1395," an unpublished paper b} Angus H. McGregor. 1969. Miami Herald. be:. 17. 1994; Feb. 21. 1995 [column by Howa--i Kleinbergt and Mrami TLerald. April 9. 1995. Tropic Maglziix. "Hunting the Depopulator." by Wm. Wilbank;: Flonda Times_ Union iJack- sonvillel. July 20.2-. Aus. 14.19.20.31. 1395: %linwes of Dade Counr+ Commission. !S94. 1399: grave markers of Murrettus McGregor and Archibald and Mary Ida H. McGregor in Miami Citvicemeterv: census and marriaze rt:.,rJ, ,ro- vided by Robeson County Pu4;:•: i.rbr,:. in Lumberton. N.C.: inrerview, •.,i:h C,a:a Hutchison McGregor and) laryJeanette l-Iow[e. #3 WILBI;R W. HE. DRICKSON Dade Country Sh,riff's Office Shot & killed on June 2. 1915 t }OH%ki'EHRTaR$LET Miami Police Dem. Shot & killed oa June 2. !91 S THE EVENT Dade County deaut+ sheriff and jailer Wilbur «'. Hendrickson. -1-4. .vas shot and killed around 1:00 PM on Wednesday. June 3. 1915. by Bob Ashle+. a member of ncc nowr:Ju+ -+shlev cane. in an abor::.i act,-mr: -o bre.!` brotherout of the D.tde C,,unt_+ jot!. As the :eller ,f HendrickNon aro nlpt.J :0.cape. he in a shoot-ou( %%r,h \trami Police Diticer John Rhinehart "Bob" R:clt:, ; I. resulting in the death of beth Hien. Rih;:!c wa, the first Miami officer killed in the line of Jut}. HerfdriA on +vas the third Metro -Dale officer killed tRhen McGreeor and Gupta+ Kaiser were killed in 1395) and the second jasierrGu,ua+ Kai,er wa, the first[. John A,hle+. _n, w a• a " traperr and trader in the Glades and oPc rat:.: along the Laude-J.0c canal" w here he trade.! ++ 4th the Indian,. He -.k a, charged w ith the rnurder,)(DeSout Tier. a Senu- nolo Indian chie. a, the Sheriff of Palm Bach County claimed that Aa hie% had killed the Ir- dian to obtain his itrapped 1 furs. John Ash[e+ was arrowed after Sheriff Dan Hardie and a deputy tracked hint through thAbout security in the old jail. especially in light Everglades for 21 days. after a confrontation of rumors that there Wright be an attempt by the between Jahn and Bob Ashley and the Sheriff. Ashley gan__ to break John Ashley out of jail. Bob Ashley escaped but John Ashley was Three months before Ion ,L1ay 21 t jailer "draeved" hark to the Dade County jail by the Hendrickson had pubhcf% criticized the security Sheriff. Duet Hardie was clearly the most "leg- of the jail in an interx iaw recorded in the i m' endar sheriff in the history of Dade County" Metropolis. He said th.:t "the way the county jail and personified the '111M. a of the tictionatized is arranged the jailer :.ekes his life in his hand+ wild west law man." He served as Sheriff front a%en time he enters w ithin the walls." He added 1908 to 1916 and 1933. (He was also involved that the "condition of the present jail is a dis- in the chase of the Rice gang that led to the mur- grace to the county"and suggested that there was derof posse members Alan and Will Henderson ample room in the jail yard to make additions. and Charles Williams.) The Li indicated that at the After a mistrial in Palm Beach County. the time Hendrickson killed there were three defense claimed John Ashley could not get a fair men under sentence of death and four more trial in Palm Beach County and sought and won charted with firat deg'_e murder. The jailer also a change of venue to Dade County. The Dade said that several %6itice sheriffs had commented trial ended with a conviction for first degree that they'%%oufd not act as jailer at a place like murder and a death sentence. The attempted juil that at any price." break that led to the deaths of jailer Wilbur Hendrickson'sconcernsware mostly about Hendrickson grid Miami OfticerJohn Riblet oc- internal security t i.e.. assaults by inmate, upon curred while John Ashley was awaiting an ap- the jailers[. A week after this statement peal of his conviction and death sentence. Hendrickson was atta.•ked by an inmate who John Ashley escaped briefly while in jail in Palm Beach County while being escorted from the court room to the jail. He -Made his escape � at the jail door. scaled a 10 -foot heavy wire fence. and ran out through the back yard of the jail." He was recaptured at his home in Gomez and was returned to the Palm Beach jail. A second attempt to escape jail occurred in Dade County when Ashlcy used a spoon to dig a hole in the concrete floor of thejail and a tunnel under the floor. That escape attempt failed. However. Bob Ashley was not the type of man to allow his brother to remain in jail with- out making an effort to free him. He left his home in Palm Beach County on the train on June 1. 1915. intending to break his brother out of jail. He arrived in Miami fate at night and slept in a boxcar until momins. +� . Ashley spent most of the morning on June ' '_ hanging around the Baker & Holmes grocery and warehouse in the "colored section". One 4ttl� witness later reported seeing Ashley communi- cating. with his hands (using the "deaf and dumb alphabet") with someone in the jail which was in plain sight of the warehouse. Ashley's rifle was wrapped in blue paper at this point. Shortly before noon he walked to Jones' garage which , was across the street from the old jail at the cor- ner of Eleventh St. and Ave. E. There were rumors after the killin_ that Bob .Ashley had one or more accomplices. '-6 Some witnesses su;gested that two men in a ;^• Ford were seen earlier with .Ashley and that the Ford was parked in Jones' garage poised for a net -away. Others said they had seen vari- ous members of the W-ang te.g.. Kid Lowe and Joseph "Old Man" Ashley. the father of John and Bob) in Miami that day. However. Sher- iff Hardie. atter talking with the dying Bob •, , Ashley discounted these rumor, and main-` rained that Bob.Ashlcy acted alone. The Palm Blai.h Po-;( later reported that Joseph Ashley rJ was seen working on a farm near Jupiter on ' June 2. The elder Ashley decided to go to Nfi- 1 " ,' .01 ami when he heard that his son Bob had been killed there but changed his mind "after giv- ingthou-ht to the kind of welcome he was likely to meet with in that agitated city." Sheriff Dan Hardie had been concerned lVilherr Hendrickson. 0 e the jail keys and attempted to e,cape bc- tore he was overpowered by Hendrickson. As a result of this incident Sheriff Hardie indicated that the jail "kc%s stere locked up in a stron_ bine which was not easily accessible." However. this public statement may have been made to deter auempts to break inmates out of the jail as it is di111cult to see how ajail could actually op- erate with the keys locked in a strong box. Several :-rand juries had criticized the se- curity provisitvts of the jail and the recent _rand jar} had sero .0y recommended that a new jail be built. On lune 1 ( the day" before Hendrickson was murdered) the "county commissioners de. cided to build a new jail. arranging to levy a spe. cial tax in July for this purpose." Out of concern for external security (i.e.. confederates breaking into the jail to free pris- oners). the Sheriff posted a second deputy at the jail and had a blacksmith make a large chain to further secure the front door of the jail {which led to Hendrickson':: residence). However. since no one expected ajail break during broad day. Metro -Dade. 1915. "� -"9 0 light. the chain was taken off the door during the day. And when Hendrickson later opened the door at Bob .Ashley's knock, he "responded to the knock without a thought of danger." Curi- ously. Sheriff Hardie later expressed little sur- prise that the attempted jail break occurred dur- ing the day as many acts of the Ashley gang were committed in broad daylight. including the rob- bery of a bank in Stuart on Feb. 23. Shortly before 1:00PN1 on June 2. Bob Ashley decided to make his move to free his brother. Hendrickson had just finished lunch with his wife and "went for his pipe" when the door bell rang. When Hendrickson opened the door Bob Ashley said, "Are you Hendrickson?" and when the jailer answered in the affirmative. Ashley fired a shot from a Savage .330 rifle into Hendrickson's body. The bullet passed close to the heart. making death imminent. Ashley tired two other shots which did not hit Hendrickson. One bullet went into the wall and the second into a staircase. Mrs. Hendrickson was in an adjoining room when she heard the shots and ran to the front door in time to see the killer bending over her husband's body (she later found a pistol missing and assumed that the killer had taken it). She saw the man who was apparently the killer "lei- surely walking to the street" and so she grabbed a shotgun and tried to fire it at the killer but the _un would not fire. She said that "she could have easily killed him if the gun had worked." Her husband had recently told her that one of two guns that stood side by side didn't work and she apparently had chosen the wrong gun. Bob Ashley's plan is vague though one newspaper account suggests that he may have expected to find the jail keys on Hendrickson and fled when he found no keys on the slain jailer. Mrs. Hendrickson did later testify that she saw him lean over her husband and remove a pistol from his body but then he fled. Police specu- lated that the killer may have been scared away by the jailer's armed wife but that is unlikely riven the reputation of the gang and the fact that he was heavily armed. But Bob As May may have feared more than the jailer's wife as the St. Lucie County Tribune reported that "Ashley grabbed the officer's keys and started for the jail. but when the shooting attracted men nearby. he turned and ran the other way, dropping the keys on the ground." If Bob Ashley did shoot Hendrickson w ith- out any further attempt to enter the jail. the mur- der would seem rather pointless and reckless if his intent was to free his brother. Perhaps he feared additional armed guards inside the jail but if that were the case it is difficult to understand why he would alert those guards by shooting Hendrickson ratherthan taking him prisoner and using him as a hostage to force other jailers to free his brother. it may be that rumors that Bob Ashley had been "crazy" for two months were true. Later on his deathbed. Ashley admitted to intention- ally killing Hendrickson and also told Sheriff Hardie that he had intended to kill him also. When Sheriff Hardie asked why Ashley wanted (o shoot him. Ashley replied: 'Because you wouldn't put your hands up.' 'What do you mean'' Sheriff Hardie asked. 'O. 1 always heard you wouldn't put your CJ hands up.' Ashley returned. (4liami._FieL aW. 6/3115) The nonsensical statement by Bob Ashley could have due to the fact that he was not think- ing clearly as he was dying or because he really had been crazy for the past two months las his father-in-law claimed) and thus that his behav- ior on June 2 could not be understood from a rational perspective. Bob .Ashley fled across the street to Jones' garage where a Ford car was parked. He at- tempted at gunpoint to force two different men to drive him north in this get -away car but was unsuccessful. Some later speculated that his con- federates were to be waiting with a get -away car but abandoned him for some reason. At any rate. Ashley began to flee on foot but was chased by several townsmen who had heard the shots and been told by Nirs. Hendrickson and her 9 year old son ("they shot Papa') that he had been shot and that the gunman had fled on foot. The chase also involved automobiles. The lead pursuit car was driven by ,Miami police of- ficer John Rhinehart "Bob" Riblet and desk Sgt. F.V. Stevens. These two officers had been sit- ting on the front porch of city hall when they heard the shots that killed Hendrickson and learned the gunman was fleeing on foot. The two officers commandeered the first car they encoun- tered and ordered the driver, Will Flowers. to pursue the fleeing gunman. As the gunman fled he carried his rifle in a blue paper wrapping. Some: of the unarmed townsmen on foot ceased their chase when Ashley unwrapped the rifle and prepared to shoot. T.F. Duckett was eating dinner when he saw several men run by his house. When Duckett learned the purpose of the chase he jumped into his "bread wagon" or delivery truck (for Marvin Bakery) and joined in the chase. As Duckett neared the intersection of Eighth St. and Ave. I. he saw a man standing in the street with a rifle motioning for him to stop. Thinking that the man was a member of the posse. Duckett stopped his car but realized too late that the man with the gun was not part of the posse but the killer beim pursued. However. he did not know that the killer was Bob Ashley, a member of the notorious .Ashley gang. Ashley pointed his rifle at Duckett and then jabbed it into the pit of his stomach as he said. "Drive for the county road like a bat out of hell. or... I will blow your damn head off." Duckett, know int, a posse was in pursuit. played for time by saving that he was, a newcomer and did not know where the county road was. The bakery delivery ratan also suggested that [he gun- man aet in the car and drive himself to the county road hoping that he could grab the killer's rifle once he was confined behind the seat of his truck. Fortunately. Ashley did not decide to drive him- self as Duckett would ha%e likely been killed since he was unaware that Ashley was also carrying three handguns t"two Snaith and Wasson specials. a Cul['; automatic and a bull dog''). At this point .Ashley jumped onto the run- ninh board and demanded that Duckett "make haste". The ,Nis i Oetropolis account indicates that Duckett obeyed and that the torpedo shaped car tore along Ave. G. swaying from side to side, with NIr. Duckett racking his wits to hit on some move that would delay the de%perado. Suddcn1%. just before they neared Eighth street, he man- aged to kick a connection on the magneto. and the car paused sufficiently to neootiaw the corner w ithout turning over. 'Dri%e. or %ou are a dead man.' .creamed the bandit, who just thea Ji<- cerned the long line of punsuin, car: that broke into view as it rounded Avcnue G. and Twelfth street. and again the car :uick- ,Oed its speed. At Avenue I and Eighth street Mr. Duckett took his life into his hands and kicked the battery connection orf :om- pletely. With asava,e _groan the thief jabbed the gun through the open space at the side of the driver, but just then, simultaneously with the stopping of the car and the oaths of Ashley. the pursuing car with the police- men appeared. i\ra 'fie o r's.t•:II?t However. the account in the 4liami Herald suggests that Duckett never did start the car and thus that the confrontation with the police oc- curred at the same location where Duckett was halted by Ashley. The ffg,raltl and the < <rn - W also differed in their accounts of the shout - out that followed betweenAshley and Riblet. In fact. different %ersions of the "shoot-out- ap- peared in different issues of the Herald. Instead or simply opening fire on Aa hlev from a distance as one might expect it s: =ears that Riblet approached Ashley and told hie:^ that he was under arrest. One Ljoraid account says that when Ashlev was about to raise his rifle. Riblet closed with Ashley and grappled with him. In the struggle that ensued and in such a short time that Sergeant Stevens .?id not have time to came to his as+isiance. Riblet received a ri tie shot on the point of:h: j l%�- ,Ashley had managed to tum the Point of his weapon upward and discharge_' :t. so that the bullet passed out of Riblct's _.`.eek. rhe shock of the injury spun :R:blet Partly around. and before he could re: ver himself and again grapple with AsNev. the latter drew an automatic and fire_' into Riblet's body, it was then that Riblet got in his •.%ork and fired one bullet from his revol%e- into Ashley's check, the bullet pa:sine, ot::lithe top of the head. and sired another bul:e: ruo .Ashley's body. Each roan fired three times. an' =Jch scored two, hits. Bath were shut in :`:ajaw and close to the he trt. i Miami Her ;.. 61: 15) 340 Another Heraldaor,, eliminated the -h% si- cal hysi- cal struggle from the ac:ount of the sheet -out. In this account. Riblet .approached Ash:.- and "touched him on the shoulder' while Jem"and- ing his surrender. ,A;htev backeJ away. and, lak:r.; de' liberate aim. at a distance of sir Co-:: reJ. the bullet entering Riblet's jaw. Ashie. «a' cool and perfectly ,:;elm. Riblet tired and his bullet entered Ashley's body. Then Ashley fired _n d the shot went NOid, passing through the bod% of the cycle car. A. tired again ar.J this time the shot went through Riblet'i :gidY. A r* n n 4.1 _!1 il. / 47 t Y The last shot came from Rible it was the shot that put Ashley out of the tght. It struck him in the cheek and came out at the top of his head. (�, 613115) The Nerald added Ashley fell prone to the street and lay writhing in a pool of blood. rolling his eyes about and frothing at the mouth. He had great difficulty in breathing. Riblet did not fall but.was caught by his companions and was rushed at once to the city hospital. Later when Sheriff Hardie, who was on his way to dinner when the trag- edy was enacted, came upon the scene. Ashley was taken to the same hospital. in the meantime. within a few minutes after being shot by Ashley, Deputy Sheriff Hendrickson was placed in a car and has- tened to the city hospital. so that, on the arrival of the two mortally wounded men there lav at the hospital one dead and two dying men. as a result of Ashley's mad act. (MWmLHimW. 613115) Jailer Hendrickson died almost immediately upon reaching the hospital. Officerlohn R. Riblet died three hours later. The h1i4ML&UU reported that,Nr1iami Mayor Watson "remained at the bed. side of the wounded officer in city hospital until the spark of life flickered out." Ashley died shortly before Riblet (2 & 112 hours after being shot) at the countyjail where he had been taken "for safe keeping.. as Sheriff Hardie feared that the angry crowd milling around the hospital i might turn into a lynch mob. The Mayor rejected suggestions that he telegraph Gov. Park Trammell for "state troops" to preclude mob s action as he stated that "the situation was being ably handled by the authorities in charge" and characterized the rumors of a lynch mob for John Ashley as "ground less." Perhaps Sheriff Hardie was aware of the t lynch mob 20 years earlier that broke into the o county jail (at Juno) to hang the killer of Rheu .McGregor. Security at the jail was increased to keep any lynch mob from breaking in to hang m the mortally wounded Bob Ashley or his sh brother. John. However. the Sheriff refused to sh request the National Guard and wired Gov. d Trammell to the effect that the situation was in Ii - hand and that the Governor should "pay no at- hi tention to sensational stories emanating from unreliable sources." T The Sheriff hoped that his decision not to call in the "militia" would convince local citi- As zens that the wild rumors being spread around the community were faire and that the Ashley �' gang would not come and shout up the city. The ga Sheriff did appoint a new jailer. Ben Hicks. and Ev assigned "a numberof deputies and plain clothes 191 men" to provide extra security for the jail. by Rumors about the imminent arrival of the writ Ashlev gang bent on vengeance were fueled by was three messages sent to the Sheriff allegedly from doz the Ashley gang. One message was thrown into Iraf thejail )ard on the afternoon of the shooting and Wil two came via the mail. One said that Bob Ashley Rib) had been "brutally dealt with after being shot to Bak death by one of your tits officers" and that John Ashley should not be in jail for taking "the life of ricer a god dam Seminole Indian." The note warned that that the gang expected to "shoot up the whole god ter f dam town". However. Sheriff Hardie did not be- Hen 16 lieve the messages were sent by the Ashley g but were "probably the work of some crank* There were also many rumors that mem. bets of the Ashley gang had been seen in %Ii. ami. Some claimed to have seen Old 4fan Ashlev and Kid Lowe or another member of the gang but none of the rumors could be substantiated. However. the rumors created a great deal of fear in the community. Sheriff Hardie did speak forsome time with the wounded Bob Ashley before his death. Ashley denied that he had any confederates in the jail break and killing and maintained stead- fastly that he had acted alone. Nevertheless. Sher- iff Hardie telephoned several law enforcement officials to the north "to stop all vehicles and search all trains passing through" in an effort to locate any fleeing members of the Ashley gang. After Bob Ashley's death. Sheriff Hardie took a posse north to conduct his own search but found no trace of other gang members. He became con- vinced that Bob Ashley's repeated dying decla- rations that he acted alone were true. Before Bob Ashley died Sheriff Hardie at- tempted to get John Ashley to tell him what he knew of the plan by his brother to free him from jail. John denied all knowledge of his brother's plans and declared that he was "pained and sur- prised" to learn that his brother had come to s Miami to free him and had been mortally e wounded. The Sheriff offered to let John speak E I his dying brother but John at First refused say - ng "that as far as he personally was concerned a Hardie might take him out and hang him." R John Ashley did finally agree to be taken to h cc his brother but as he was being taken to the th upper floor of the jail for the meeting Sheriff Hardie was informed that Bob Ashley had died. en Bob Ashlev's body was taken to the morgue and re thousands of the morbidly curious thronged to th he morgue... and saw Ashley's body as it lay Ju n a bier being prepared for burial." rel Spectators described the slain Ashley as 165 to bs., "sinewy and well developed. He seemed of the edium height. with full chest and excellent 17 oulder and back development. His hair roots owed black beneath the artificial red which pri ved it." Dozens oFmen identified the body poli- his vel y as that of Bob Ashley. "Some had known Ev m nearly all their lives and so were sure." fro HE PERPETRATOR Bob Ashley was one of four brothers of the hIcy gang which is chronicled in h ti to 4t�c Ashl— et Cann t 1928) by Hix C. Stuart. The i a described thegang as a "kill crazy ng of swamp rats" which operated out of the erglades Imostfy west of Palm Beach) from 3 to the mid 1920's when it was eliminated lawmen. Miami historian Paul George has ten that "during its heyda), the Ashley gang responsible for the death of more than a en men, numerous bank robberies, and liquor fieking." The 12 killed included Dade Jailer bur Hendrickson. Miami PoliceOfficerJohn et and Palm Beach Sheriff's Deputy Fred er(in 192.1) The coroner'sjury on June 3 ruled that Of. Riblet was murdered by Bob Ashley and Ashley was killed justifiably by Riblet. Af. urther investigation the jury also ruled that drickson was murdered by Bob Ashley and that Ashley acted alone. The jury disregarded the testimony of 'Mrs. Hendrickson who claimed to have seen Bob Ashley and "Iwo other men drive up in front of the jail a few• minutes before the shooting." She further testified 'that a man in a blue suit looked into the jail and that all of the party acted suspicious." She then watched as one of the men parked the Ford car in Jones' garage across the street from the jail. Mrs. Hendrickson regretted that she failed to report this suspicious activity to her husband when, ba came to lunch. Her observations of the three MA' had made her uneasy and she had intended Pelting her husband just as soon as he came to din- ner from the court house. but that when he entered in a jot ial mood, telling some funny little incident of the morning, she forgot the suspicious men for the moment. (L`ami Lkletronolis. 6/5!15) A couple of suspects. C.C. Cowart and Ed Anderson. were held briefly for investigation but Sheriff Hardie eventually decided that they were not involved in the Hendrickson murder. Thus the case wa, solved with the death of BobAsh)ev. On June 5. Ashley's body was shipped to'a Fruita. 10 miles from Hobe Sound, for burial. Bob Ashley was survived by his parents. three isters. and four brothers (including John). Set - ral members of his family attended the services. d Rosters. the father -in -lath of Will Ashley. a member of the Bane, traveled to %liami to make rrangements for the shipment of the casket. ogers also indicated that after John Ashley was anted the family would ask for his body and at it would be buried beside his brother Bob. The death of Bob Ashley did not mean the d of the Ashley gang -in fact, it marked the al beginning of the more famous exploits of c can The Florida Supreme Court reversed Joh Ashley's conviction and ordered that he be eased. Sheriff Hardie had Ashley transported West Palm Beach tt here he was convicted of 1915 Stuart bank robbery and sentenced to & 112 years. However. John .�shley escaped from a son road gang into the Everglades and rejoined sang. The Ashley-}lobley gang, based in the erglades, "marauded" nearby communities m 1915-19? t robbing banks. trains. bootleg. ging. and killing at least 12 People. John Ashley. Hanford Mobley. and nvo other members of the sang were killed on tio%, 1. 1924, w hen the ^ane was "ambushed" by Sheriff Bob Baker of Pal nt Beach County after a robber)- of the Pompano Bank. THE OFFICERS Wilbur W. Hendrickson was born inti Fair Port. Ohio, on Sept. 12. 1870. His father. Simeon E. Hendrickson. "who u as a captain of a Great Lake steamer." died it hen he was a child so his mother moved her three children (Wilbur and two sisters) to eastern Penns%I%unix. Wilbur's uncle. Captain C.D. Hendrickson. moved to Palm Beach in 1878(at (he age of32)and opened a store at Lake Worth. He waN a recant graduate of Harvard Law School and :caned a .hipping business. He owned several boats that trans- ported goods from Jack>onville to Palm Beach includine the "Emily B" which carried house- hold goods and lumber w \Miami forJulht Tunle'.s new home. His general store in Lake housed the Lake Worth post office for 17 years (until 1901). Capt. Hendrickson remained in business in Palm Beach until 1920 and died in 1935 at the age of 79. in 1888. Wilbur. 18. joined his uncle in Lake Worth and worked in the "family store." By 1890 his uncle had "pug a steamer on the lake" and as soon as Wilbur reached the age of 21 he ..was made pilot and operated the boat between the old town of Lake Worth and Hypoluxo until the railroad came through in 1894." After the railroad displaced the steamers. Hendrickson went to Juno (the county seat) where he worked for the newspaper. the Troni- -al . He "ran the first paper through the press that was ever printed in this county." The young pressman "made his home in the building of the Joniclga fora year and a half." He was also a "master printer" and "had charge of the paint- ing of the Poincianna Hotel." Hendrickson was married on Aug. 21. 1901 (at the age of 30). to Marion O. Platt at West Jupiter. Her father. F.M. Platt, was a "pioneer resident" of Palm Beach. F.Nt. Platt and his eight children (including Marion) became the "first white settlers in Indiantow•n" in 1868. The Egm Reach Times ran a picture and story of F.M. & Annie Platt on Oct. 22. 1932. on their 64th wed- ding anniversary when he was 83 and she was 81 and described F.M. as one of the area's earli- est pioneers and a successful cattleman. Wilbur Hendrickson. Sr., had a long law en- forcement career. He had been marshal of the town of West Palm Beach for 5 years (1904- 1909) before his 6 & 112 years as a deputy sher- iff in Miami. Shortly before his death Hendrickson had announced his candidacy for the office of Chief of Police of the City of lvii- ami. However. he failed to receive the nomina- tion on the Tuesday primary day (the day before his death). He had told justice of the peace J.J. Combs on election day that if he did not win the election he planned to retire to the Lake Okeechobee region and "engage in growing veg- etables." Mrs. Hendrickson's father resided near the Lake and had offered to let his son-in-law farm a tract of 20 acres of vacant land. Hendrickson was the jaileron July 3. 1913. when Dade County executed its last condemned man before the Mate took over this function. He and Sheriff Dan Hardie "marched" Joseph Brown to the scaffold which had been set upout- side the jail in 4liami. Wilbur Hendrickson's funeral service was held on June 4 and was described by the 'LOJami Herald: No sadder or more impressive funeral has been held in Miami than that of the late W.W. Hendrickson yesterday afternoon at the Southern Methodist church, where hun- dred% of the city's most distinguished men and officials and the close friends of the de- parted gathered to pay homage to the dead. Judge Branninn and the court officials as well as members of the bar. Mayor Watson and members of the city council. the police department, firemen and others attended. The building was crowded to the doors and there were many standing out- side who could not find seats. (.M1 mi-H_,,L aW. 615/15) The casket containing (he body was born0brotherRalph R. (born in 1886) and sisters Nettie by pall bearers from the court house where viola (born in 1889) and ida May or "Maggie". Hendrickson had been employed forthe past six The 1900 Ohio census indicates that John's fa. years. The Woodmen's band joined the funeral ther and mother «ere born in Germany. procession at the city cemetery. playing the dime. It appears that John Riblet moved to Ft. Hundreds of Friends of the family and city and Pierce around 1906 when he was 23. Little is county officials stood with bared heads as the known of his life before 1906 though the last words were spoken and the body consigned d' �emucrat reported in his 1915 to the grave." obituary. that "at an early age he enlisted in the Wilbur and Marion Hendrickson had one regular army and also served in the navy." son, Wilbur. Jr., who was nine years old when John Riblet married a local girl. Madge his father was killed. The slain jailer also was Emily Bot, in Ft. Pierce sometime after 1910. survived by two sisters..Lirs. Mary Henry of Madge was from a prominent family as her Redlands. Cal., and Mrs. Rose Buck of Cleve- grandfather, Alexander Bell. was reputed to be land. Ohio. Two uncles. U.D. Hendrickson of the "first white child born in Hamilton County. Palm Beach and Alvin Hendrickson of Key West. FL. in 18'_7" and was a captain in the Seminole attended the funeral. Indian War, Alexander Bell became one of the Wilbur W. Hendrickson. Jr.. who was 9 First settlers in 1=t. Pierce when he moved his when his father was killed in 1915. died at the family "near the mouth of Taylor Creek" in age of 53 in 1959 in Jacksonville. FL. after a 1871. His orange: grove plantation was eventu- career as an electrical engineer. He was buried ally bought by w hat was later Standard Grow- bv the side of his father in the Miami City Cam- ers. etery on Nov. 18. 1959. A large (3 feet by 8 feet) monument reads: WILBUR W. HENDRICKSON SEPT. 12. 1870 - JUNE 2. 1915 The stone monument marks the location of the graves of the father and son. Since the large marker for the father is rather new. it would ap- pear that the son had the monument erected be- fore his death. The Hendrickson monument is located near the front of the cemetery (on N.E. 2nd Ave.) just a few feet to the right of the cen- tral pathway. Wilbur Hendrickson. Jr.. was also survived by his wife. `Sts. Olive H. Hendrickson of Jacksonville and a daughter (the granddaugh- ter of Wilbur. Sr.). Mrs. Paul J. (Donna) Cato of Charlotte. N.C. In 1995 Wilbur Hendrickson, Sr., Was sur- vived by a granddaughter. three great grandchil- dren, and eight great, great grandchildren. The granddaughter. Donna Cato. 64. and her husband Paul J. Cato lived in Charlotte. N.C. Their old- est daughter. Mrs. P. Lynn (Shawn) Watkins. 39, also lived in Charlotte with her four children (Heidi Lynn. 12. Nathan Paul. 10. Emily Beth. S. and Erin Elizabeth. 61. Jeffrey Scott Cato (and his wife Roxy) lived in Birmingham. AL. with Angela Scott, 15. Christopher Paul Cato (and his wife Donna) lived in Burlington. NC. with their three children. Robin. 20. Jamie Lauren. 16, and Ryan Christopher. 14. The name oflt'ilburW. Hendrickson is in- scribed (West Wall. Panel 56. Line 8) on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Wash- ington. D.C. His name is also inscribed on a stone "wall" in the lobby of the ,4fetro-Dade Police headquarters building and is read each May at the Police Memorial Service in Tropi- cal Park in :k(iami. The Cato family was not aware of the •'fame" of Wilbur Hendrickson. Sr.. until located (after a mo year search) and con- tacted by Dr. Wilbanks in Sept. of 1993. Also. the family now has a picture of their famous grandfather and plans to visit Washington. D.C.. to see his name on the National Law Enforce- ment Memorial. John Rhinehart Riblet wasbom on Dec. '8. 1883. in Paulding County. Ohio. John was the oldest child of David Riblet and blaggie Year- ling Riblet and was raised in Paulding with hitt Madge Emily Bell was born in 1882. the second child of James S. and Emily Lagow Bell. James S. Bell was "keeper of the House of Ref- uge" (a forerunner to the Coast Guard in that sailors were rescued and housed) and was also the justice of the peace. a job which largely in- volved handling brawls among railroad construc- tion workers. Her mother. Emily Belt. authored a book. about her life in Ft. Pierce from 1876 to 1898. Madge was still single in 1910 (according to the 1910census) and must have married John Riblet shortly after that date. Riblet worked for the railroad while in Ft, Pierce as indicated by his membership in the Brother- hood of Railroad Trainmen. John and Madge Emily Riblet moved to Miami in 1912 when John began working for the railroad. By 1915 he had joined the Miami Police Department where he was one of only 18 officers in 1915. Mayor John *,A'. Watson described Riblet as "courteous... affable_ especiall} polite to women who were often stalled at the comer of avenue 1 and Twelfth street with their baby car- riages during the heavy traffic period." The body of John Riblet was taken by W.H. Combs funeral home and shipped to Ft. Pierce for burial. The body was accompanied by Mi- ami Police Officers McDade. Nleridelh. Dusick and Starling. The funeral was held in the First Baptist Church of Ft. Pier.e on the morning of June 4 with the service being conducted by Rev. S.W. King. Rev. King told the audience that John Riblet's "last act of duty was one of great brav- ery" in that "lie had ample opportunity to shoot the fleeing outlaw- from the rear, but preferred to risk his own life in trying to capture the des- perado rather than shoot him down in such a manner." Burial was in (what is now) the Riverview Memorial Park which is adjacent to U.S. I in downtown Ft. Pierce. The land for the cemetery was donated b% frank Bell. the brother of Mad3c Emily Bell's grandfather. The St Lucie Cour, Tibune reported that "impressive ceremonies were conducted at the :rave" by the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. The Secretary of the union "delivered the address at the grave." The four foot -rave marker at the crest of the hill on the left side of the cemetep rear ti: JOHN R. RIBLET her daughter Mae Dean Castleman Barker o" true and wildly exageeratingthewholemat- DEC. 28. 1883. JUNE 2. 1915 Newark, OH) include numerous great grandchild ft MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT dren named 1365wengerand McDanieis in and aster. they thod ta triple R llingthere thevery The RIL[dLng reported on June around Cecil. Bryan, and Napoleon. OH. Nettie next week (e.g.. the Hendrickson/RibleV Iola Riblet Perl's descendants (through hersons 10. 1915, that John Riblet's parent-% "received a mi Heral copy of the Miad containing a full Ashley Richard. Willard and Robert and daughter Mar. Ft. Pierce into inhi that paled the tragedy of include re� be ac• count of the killing of their son," ,Mone or the garet) numerous great grandchildren careful what kind of tatements Bet made. Hamad Carnahn. Johnston, and Jones fancily in Ohio attended the funeral. around neighbors, (Ft. Pier LN Paulding and Newark. OH. Jodie 2. _,•w& fi/I 1/f915) The Herald reported that efforts were un- derw•ay 10 see that the S i.000 reward for the cap- .McDaniels. of Antwerp. OH. is the great. great grandchild SOURCES: 1 i Ida May. r lune lure of Bob Ashler for robbing the Stuart bank went to the widowof John Riblet, Mavor Watson of 3.•1,5.6.7.10. I ?. ! 8, 1915. Nov. 3, 1924, Dec. 16. In 1993 Dr. Wilbanks found a niece of 1923. Oct:: 3. Dec. 12. 1949. April 26. 1960. wrote to the Sheriff of µ'est Palm Beach to de- Madge Emily Bell Riblet. Mrs. J.N. (`lae) Hiers, March i:43' [970. July 15. 1985: 4Uami %.fe.�te_ 87. living in Miami. She was the daughter June terming if the reward was still good and requested that it be turned over to Riblet's widow. The of lroMlis. 3.4.5.6 & 7. 1915: M ' ' 1; ws, Clara E. Bell Tubbs (Madge's sister) who died Oct. 3. 1949. Sept. 3. 1981: palm aeach Timac, mayor also announced that he would recommend to the city council at its next session " in Nliami in 1963 at the age of 76. Mot was 6 Oct. 21. 1933: St. Lucie Count___ " + T om• June +ears old when Officer John Riblet was killed 4,11. 1915: Ft. Pierce Ntij Jana d. Ju[r i0, that linan- tial assistance" be given to the "widow and child T� years ago in 1915. She remembered John 1915 ; May 7 Riblet vaguely but knew his wife and son uite i e of the dead policeman" to enable them "to ger along in comfort" for an "indefinite a . Nov.j15, "ell. q Jana �. 1915. \o 15. 1959. p. 72: Tampa Tribune. June 3. 1915: vn period,"y.name The mayor did mention that the widow iller is Q01joi 8�04c&n and ` w June 10. muchbetterknown than his murder victims. 1915: would receive some benefits from the Brother- hood of Railroad Trainmen and recommended Pauld' ( p: rnr Many news articles and one book has been writ- 4 ��"� `an. June 0. 1915, June I0. 1 that the widow and child of Riblet "be taken care ten about the infamous Ashleygang. There is o nid � ' Nov.�'v'10. 1966: ��i: even a restaurant ("Ti a Ashley Place") of indefinitely."On June 3 the �(iami City Coun- Cil upon petition by "50 of the leading business named after the gang in the historic district in Stuart. Record of Pauldling County C apt Ohio Ge - The men of the city" ~Dred to pa} the funeral expenses restaurant is located at the restored site of nealogical"Society: Criminsl lug the bank robbed by the Ashley gang in 1915. j$gfi.193Q by Paull ofRibletandtocontinue Ki monthly salaryiS25) Sargis George (a doctoral dis- Unfortunately. few visitors realize that the indetinitel} to his widow. Also, the Fs: -levee grave serration)• Ann Arbor: University NiicraFlms of one of Bob Ashley's victims (and the first international. 1975: h ,\eu-s reported on July 30 that Ribiet's wido%% received acheck forS100 Miami officer killed in the line of dung) lies un- by Hix C. Stuart, StuaLrt St.pLuci�ie p �ing. 928: recognized only 20 miles up the in as the reward from a Baltimore Insurance Co. for the capture of Bob Ashley. The had road the ;Metro -Dade Police Departraent t;n v..; .,r Riverview cemetery in Ft. Pierce. Apparently the n t � ; q t ' p• 47• v P reward been issued by the Stuart Bank after a 54.500 murdereris lionized and memorialized while the by Emile L Bel[, n,d. police officer victims are forgotten. neer tfe i FSI robbery bp• the Ashie yang. newspaper y e The news a er credited illayor John W, Matson Ft. col (serialized in 11 columns b} Charles S. Sliley in rles On June 5, 1915, the business men of Mi- the L; w in 1979: Never l_et of Pierce with facilitating the check to Mrs. Riblet. ami wrote to the secretary of the'Carnegie hero Thgm See Ytiy Cry b+ Edna Buchanan, titw fund" to have the name of the murdered York: John Riblet was survived by a wife. Madge police- Random House. 1992. pp. 110- 1 13: 1910 man placed upon the honor roll. Emily Riblet. 33. and one son. Edward (or Merle), 3. The EL- ign noted that Mrs. \twNaw, census of 5r. Lucie County: 1900 Ohio census: George A. Paddock. as secretary of the 1910 FL census of St. Lucie County: family Riblet stayed fora few week, in Ft. Pierce at the home of herpurents. Mr. and.\Irs. J.S. Bell. She Chamber of Commerce. wrote to the records provided by Carl Yearling of Pay ne. OH: Carnegie people last night. explaining hou Mae Dean explaining Paulding. OH: and 5lurea- then apparently returned to Miami with her son. the policeman scorned to shoot the des- ret Johnston of Newark, OH: Interviews with perado in the back and was in turn killed Edward. Edward died in 1928 at the age of 16, He was shot in the foot in a hunting Mary Linehan of Boynton Beach. FL. Olive by him, and he believes the governors of Hendrickson of Winter Haven. FL. and Donna accident. "developed lockjaw." and died of blood poison- the fund will make an award to the widow. Cato of Charlotte. `C. t MinMi ACWnWlik. 615115) ing. Relatives of,blrs. Riblet report that she was However, the Herald reported on June 18 #5 ALLEN BUTLER HENDERSON "deathly afraid of guns" after her husband was that the Carnegie Fund rejected the request #6 since WILLI.ANI Z. HENDE RSON killed and "for many years would not let Ed use the criteria for the award involved the saving of #7 CHARLES R. WILLIAIIS one.' a life and required that the hero not bt a "profes- Metro -Dade Police Department The Miami Fleto reported that Edward's sional" (e.g.. a police officer). Three members of Dade posse shot & killed on both +ties returned r+� R. Pierce for burial but The name of John Rhinehart Ribblet Imis- Sept. 16. 1916 there is no record of his burial in RiverviewMe- spelled) is inscribed t \Ves(Wall. Panel 23. Line morial Park (where his father was buried). 1) on the National Law Enforcement Memorial THE EVENT Madge Emily Riblet died in 1949 at the age of in 67 and was buried in Miami Memorial Park in is Washington. D.C. A plaque bearing his name F= tr members of the "Rice gang" commit - in the lobby of the Miami Police Department "the the Bell family plot (her brother John H. Bell where lined in Miami in 19.39). Relatives say His ted first bank robber% in the history of Dade his name is read in a service each 1vlay. Coun(C' when they robbed the Bank of Home• ,Madge name is also read each Ma; at the Police stead on Sept. 15, 1916. The bandits fled south was "destroyed"by the violent deaths of her hus- Memorial Service in Tropical Park ininto band and her only child and "never recovered." .Nliami. the Everglades, and 31 hours after the bank - No photograph of Officer John Riblet has John Riblet's father. David. died in 1934 at been robber, shot and killed three deputized mem- found. However. descendants of Ribiet's hers of Dade County Sheriff ban Hardie's posse the age of 77. and was buried in the Lehman siblings in Ohio did send the author a picture of that them. The cemetery in Payne. pursued three became the sec - Ohio. His mother, %Ialgarer the officer's mother. Maggie. Also. a picture of ond. third and fourth pose members to be killed Riblet. died in 1944 at the ace of 85 and was his wife in 1896 (at age 141 in Ft. Pierce was in Dade history folio++ing Rheu \icGrrgur in buried beside her husband. John': brother. Ralph in Lurie published -Qrtrait of•5t. r'r,,,�ty FL, 1395. Two weeks later, tw o of the four members Riblet. 80. w as buried in the fainily plot in 1966. by Lucille Riley Rights in 199.1. The Ft. Pierce of the Rice sank were killed on the west coast of in 1995. there were direct no w descendants newspaper also noted that eawere of John R. Riblet since his only child died in Nliami newspapers had a lot �r Chokoloskee Isncharaes+of 1928. However, there are numerous descendants of his sisters -Nettie Yula Riblet Per] Miami ror trial onFlorida to say returned o rob about Fl. Pierce and its wild methods when bery and murder. ` and Ida May Riblet Castleman. !da 41ay's descendants ( from Sheriff (Dan) Carleton was shot (on Mav The Homestead bank robber and murder 22. 1915) telling many things that were not of three members of the posse generated more i.�. )G0 England in 1949 at the age of 33: Charlotte liams Fust Brown, a daughter who died in 0 at the age of 41: his father-in-law. Theodore Charles "Dad" Seifert. a baker for 22 years with Fuchs Baking Co. in Homestead, who died in 1943 at the age of 80: and his mother-in-law. Fannie Elizabeth Seifert, uho died in 1949 at the ace of 77. Charles Williams' fourth child. Jewell Wil- liams Sellers, who died in 1966 at the age of 53. is buried beside her husband. Ernest B. Sellers. in an unmarked grave in a plot adjoining the plot where Charles Williams is buried. Her son. Burke Sellers. 58. still resided in Nliami in 1995 and is the only grandchild of Charles R. Williams. Sell- ers was due to retire in late 1996 after 32 vears as a Metro -Dade fireman and planned to move from Dade Count\-. Burke Sellers' two daughters. Dana Jewell Corsett. 24. of Dothan. AL. and Brenda Lee Sell- er:. 22. of Miami are the only zreat grandchildren of Charles R. Williams. Michael Corsetli, 5. the son of Robert and Dana Jewell Corsetti is the grew great. grandchild of the slain posse member. One of the survivors of the ambush that took the lives of the Henderson brothers and Charles Williams was Will Anderson, 38. In 1911 Will .Anderson founded .Anderson's Cor- ner. a trading post at what is now S.W. 232 St. and 157 Ave. The store was the only source of supplies south of Cutler for homesteaders in South Dade and operated as a store until the mid -30's. Will Anderson and his family lived on the second floor. It was restored in 1984 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1995 this location housed the Har- vest House Restaurant, Will Anderson died in 1961 at the age of 83. In 1991. Det. Tom Swartz of the Homestead Police Department gave Dr. %kilbanks newspa- per accounts of the killing of the Henderson brothers and Charles R. Williams by the Rice gang. Wilbanks undertook additional research and wrote a narrative of the 1916 triple -murder. He gave the narrative to the Metro -Dade Police Department and suggested that the three posse members be added to Metro's list of officers killed in the line of duty. That action Was taken in 1991 and the names Allen Butler Henderson. William Z. Henderson and Charles R. Williams were read for the first time in 1992 at the Dade County Police Memorial in Tropical Park. Their names are inscribed on a stone "wall" in the Lobb) of the Metro -Dade Police headquarters building, Also. in 1991 the names ofAllen Henderson OVest Wall. Panel 49. Line 181. William Z. Henderson (West Wall. Panel 58. Line 18), and Charles R. Williams (East Wall. Panel 10. Line 1 S ) w ere inscribed on the National Law Enforce- ment Memorial in Washington. D.C.. a)ong with the I3.S 1.1 officers across the U.S. killed in the line of duty from 179-1-1995. On May 15. 1996 (during Police Memo rial Week). services were held at the Riverside Memorial Park cemetery in Tequesia and at the Woolawn Park cemetery in Miami to dedicate i grave markers for the previously unmarked graves of Charles Williams and William and s .Allen Henderson. The markers. purchased by s the Police Officers Assistance Trust (P.O.A.T.). read: s CHARLES R. WILLIAMS 1870-1916 KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY DADE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE WILLIAM Z. AND ALLEN BUTLER HENDERSON 1877-1916 1865-1916 KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY DADE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE the speeder would be caught by Croff and would be in court tomorrow to pay a 529.85 fine. The Cadillac hit Croff's motorcycle and the motorcycle "disappeared" under the front of the Cadillac. The crash caused Tibbitts to hit the right curb and crash into a telephone pole. throwing him from his motorcycle. Tibbitts got up expecting to walk toward the Cadillac but saw that it had not stopped but, if anything. had picked up speed as it continued down the street dragging Croff and his motorcycle under the Families of the slain officers attended the car. dedication services which included a police honor guard. SOURCES: Miami Herald. Sept. 16-26.29-30. Oct. 1.3.5.7.. 1916. Jan. 7.9.14.16.27.29.3 1. Feb. 1.6.79.13-18. 28, 1917, April 16, 1992: Mian1 Daily Metropolis. Sept. 16, 18-23: 25, 29-30. Oct. 2-4. 6-7: New York Times. Sept. 18. 1916. p. 8: Ntgim-Dade Police DepartMent: t50Year� QLLaw Enforcement, 1836-1986. pp. 46-47: 1910 census for Dade County, FL.; FL Dept. of Corrections records. -of inmates Frank Rice (#12990) and Hugh Alderman (# 12991); Cracker TaIes_of__Okeechobee by Lawrence E. Will: Okeechobee Catfishing by Lawrence E. Will; Lake Okeechobee: We115pdng of the F.verg)gd by Alfred Jackson and Kathryn Abbey Hanna: Villages of South Dade (p. 22 1) by Jean Taylor: Genealogical research by Alice McAvoy: Inter- views with Alice McAvoy, Glenn Simmons and Burke Sellers. #8 Fit .KANGELb:CR0FF Miami Poi ce Department Killed by drunk driver on May 22. 1921 THE EVENT Rookie Miami motorcycle officer Frank Croff. 28, became the second City of Miami of- ficer to be killed in the line of duty when he was struck and killed by a drunk driver shortly after midnight on Sunday. May 22. 1921. Croff was pinned with his motorcycle under a Cadillac for two blocks before the speeding car hit another vehicle, injuring three others, and stopped. The driver was charged with second degree murder. Motorcycle officers MelvilleA. Tibbitts and Frank Croff had been to Buena Vista and were riding their police motorcycles south toward downtown Miami on N.E. 2nd Ave. (Biscayne Drive) at a slow speed because it was dark and the pavement was slick from a recent rain. Tibbitts was riding near the right curb with Croff riding close to him on his left as the two ap- proached N.E. 2nd Ave. and 22nd St. (Biscayne Drive and Colorado). Suddenly a large Cadillac. came speeding up to them from behind without waming (Le., honking) and both motorcycles moved slightly more to the right to allow it to pass. Witnesses later estimated that the Cadillac was traveling at a rate of at least 50 miles per hour -a very unusual speed in 1931 ---on a wet and dark downtow n street. Several people saw the big Cadillac speed - ng south on Biscayne Drive before it struck the in and then the car. Police Commis- ioner J.K. Fink was traveling north on the same tree[ and first saw and waved at Officer Croff on his motorcycle. He then saw the Cadillac peeding past him and thought to himself that Tibbidi drew his police automatic and fired seven shots at the "thing machine."Tibbitts then jumped into a car driven by a passing motorist and continued pursuit of the Cadillac which was swerving from side to side as it sped down the street. A witness who saw the Cadillac pass him said "sparks were spitting from the Cadillac and the machine was suer ing from one side of the street to the other." The Cadillac continued for about 500 feet (two blocks) with Croff and the motorcycle pinned underneath. Witnesses said they saw Croff "trying to shove his machine away from the car' as it sped down the street. The Cadillac crashed head-on into a north- bound car, a Nash. on N.E. 2nd Ave. between 22nd St. and 21 st St. i about 500 feet from where the motorcycle had been hit at 217th St.). The driver of the Nash had :gen the speeding car com- ing from two blocks aw av and pulled to the right curb and stopped to avoid being hit by the speed- ing and swerving Cadillac. The occupants tried to get out of the `ash before the crash and two had succeeded. The other three were thrown from the car onto the lawn of the residence of Joe Byrd (a Miami policeman) by the impact as the Cadillac hit the Nash head-on. The Nash was knocked a distance of 50 feet. When Officer Tibbitts arrived on the scene he found William P. McCarthy, 40, appearing dazed. sitting in his Cadillac. Croff and his mo- torcycle were found "tightly- wedged under the car." A crowd quickly gathered at the sound of the crash and several men helped officers Tibbitts and Byrd lift the Cadillac and support it in the raised position by means of two "heave timbers" Frani; A. Croff. Ci:y of Miami. 1921. 16 feet in length while the "mangled -04y of Croff was removed from underneath the car. Croff groaned and said. "Oh. my God." when they started to take him from under the front axle of the car. Tibbitts said that he thought Croff died before they suc- ceeded in getting him from under the ma- chine. The policeman's body was pointing in the direction the car was headed and his body from the waist up was clear of the mo- torcycle and the car. t 4liami Herald, 51241 211 Croff died "about a minute" after he was removed from under the Cadillac. His body was laid on the porch of Officer Byrd's home while Constable Charles Strothman "impaneled a coroner's jury on the spot," Dr. E.K. Jaudon. who examined Croff's body at the scene at the request of the coroner's jury, testified that Croff "died as a result of a broken neck and intemal injuries." The members of the coroner's jury in- spected the wreck and followed the tracks of the motorcycle to the point of impact 500 feet away. On .bfay 23, after its final session in the office of Judge George Okell, the jury returned a verdict of second degree murder against McCarthy de- claring that he "feloniously and maliciously" caused the death of Croff. Judge Okell bound the case over to the grand jury. McCarthy continued to sit in the car, ap- pearing "to be stunned." as the crowd of men lifted the car off Croff's body. After Croff's body was removed from under the car and laid on Byrd's porch. Tibbitts returned to the Cadillac and took McCarthy into custody. The officer later testified that he could not smell liquor on McCarthy's breath and could not testify that he had been drinking but also said that McCanhy had "acted very strangely, as if he were dazed." Other witnesses at the scene said that 1leCarthy appeared to be drunk and witnesses at the jail said that he was drunk when booked into the jail. Tibbitts brought 4lcCarthy to the police sta- tion and on the way NleCarthv asked the officer if Croff were dead. "When Tibbitts said yes. the prisoner said that he was sorry." McCarthy was booked at the police station on a charge of mur- der and then was taken to the county jail. A second man. Foster Sloan, "talked his way" into being arrested at the scene as he was heard by someone to say that he had been riding with McCarthy in the Cadillac but had jumped out after the Cadillac hit the motorcycle and be- fore it hit the Nash. No witness was found to confirm this "confession" but Sloan was taken into custody pending an inquest and grand jury inyes[igation. Sloan was a former Miami policeman and was known to be a friend of McCanhy's. He and 1,IcCaahv had often been seen riding together in the Cadillac. Also, on occasion. Sloan had been seen riding with Mrs. McCarthy looking for her husband. who was kno%vn to have a "drinking problem." Sloan had walked up to a police officer at the scene and volunteered his help. At the scene he tolyl one official that he , had been in the Cadillac with McCarthy. THE PERPETR-ITOR William R McCarthy. 40, had been recently emplo}ed as a salesman for the Drake Lumber Company but had left that position tines earlier. Police said he had gotten into troub ,e- eently by posing as a federal prohibition agent. He had served during World War I in the naval intelligence service in Nliami. The only otherin- formation given in the newspapers about McCarthy was that he was the owner of a boat. the "Mice." ,McCarthy was charged with second degree murder and held in the Dade County jail under 535.000 bond while Sloan was charged with ac- cessory before the fact and held in jail under a S 15,000 bond. The bonds were set by Judge ff. Pierre Branning. Neither man could make bail and thus both were held until indicted by the Dade grand jury on Nfay 25. The trial was first scheduled fortune 1.. the next term of the court, but defense attorneys G.A. Worley and NI.S. Bobst sought and obtained con- tinuances from Judge Tom Norfleet of the county criminal court of record because one or both at- torneys were out of town and because witnesses forthe defense were "not present within thejuds- diction of the court."The request forcontinuances were opposed by county solicitor Fred W. Pine and by Ban A. Riley, "a special prosecutor repre- senting the policemen of the city." The case was -set for first day of the August term. In 1995 no record of the outcome of the second degree murdercharge against McCarthy could be found. The FL Dept. of Corrections has no record of McCarthy being sent to prison but he may have been convicted and given proba- tion or a county jail sentence. THE OFFICER Frank Angelo Croff was born on Feb. 27, 1893, in Genoa, Italy. His father. Francis Croff, and his mother. Louise Tavela Croff, were both born in Italy and immigrated to the U.S. in 1900. The 1920 Dade census indicates that Frank be- came a naturalized citizen in 1914. Little else is known of Croff's background other than that he served in the army during- 'World uringWorld War I (he was stationed in a training camp and did not go overseas). He worked as a chauf- feur in NYC prior to his move to tiliami around 1918 (the first year his name appears in the City Directory). He married Marie Antoinette and his children were born in NYC. Cross first worked as a chauffeur in Miami (for "Miami Ice" in 1918 and for "East Coast Lumber & Supply" in 1919) and then by 1921 as a machinist before joining the Miami Police Department in 1920. a few months before he was killed. He was also a duty sergeant with Com- pany B. First Regiment. of the Florida National guard. Croff seems to have had a reputation in Miami as an athlete. Croff was an all-around athlete, and was an old-time baseball plaverand an ama- teur boxerof great skill. He was a member of the Miami Advertisers' Club team of the Dade County Amateur League. Miami Herald. 5/23/1921 } Funeral services were held on Wednesdav, 1 lay 25, at the chapel of the King Undertaking Company at 452 W. Fla -ler St. His daughter, .ueille, who was 6 at the time. told a national 'V audience in 1936. that her father was "so %igled" that he could not be dressed in his oliee uniform but was laid in the coffin with an American flag draped over his body. The Rev. Father O'Sullivan officiated at the service. The funeral cortege consisted of a large number of policemen in uniform as well as the entire membership of Company B of the National Guard and proceeded down Flaeler St. and then along N.E. Second Ave, to the tiliami City Ce m. etery..at the graveside service a -combined po- lice and military funeral" was held. A militan salute was fired over the grave :end a bugler from company B played taps. %lembers of the police departgnent raised money for a floral wreath of roser5rrhd ferns with the initials '•NI.P.D." which was laid on the casket. Croff was killed during the tenure of Raymond F. Dillon. Miami's fourth police chief. who served from 1917-1931. Dillon had been a "native of Miami since its early days" and was elected Police Chief on Nov. 1. 1917. He was removed from office by the new City Manager after Miami moved to a Citv Commission/City Manager form of goyemment with a charter re- vision that abolished the elected position of Po- lice Chief in 1921. The Department had only 40 officers in mid -1921. Croff's grave is in the Miami City Cem- etery at 1800 N.E. 2nd Ave. He is buried beside Richard Roy Marler, the third Miami officer to be killed in the line of duty (on Nov, 28, 1921 � in what appear to be twin graves. The two graves are marked by identical 3 -foot stone markers and brick "fences" tracin? the _oraved(e. Croff's marker reads: FRANK CROFF FEB. 27. 1393. SLAY 23. 1921 GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Frank Croff was survived by his wife. Nfarie; three children. Lucille. 6: Frank. d, and Matilda.'_': and his mother. Louis Tavella Croff. Marie Croff Faxon Hall. 71, was killed in an automobile accident nearAndyton n. FL, on Aui,.: 27, 1966. She was buried at Flaeler Memorial Cemetery next to her second husband. Jack Faxon. Her obituary in the %liami Herald, re- ported: Mrs. Hall. a retired seamstress. for- merly owned Marie and Ethel's Dreg; Shop in The Seybold Arcade. She also worked at Field's Dress Shop. She was a Miami resi- dent for 43 years and the widow of F.A. Croff. the second Miami police officer to die in the line of duty. Croff was shot in 142 1. She was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church send St. Amhony's Guild. Surkiyors include her husband. a son. Frank F. Croff: too daughters..Nln. Lucille Croff Ling and Mrs. \Iatilda Webb: a brother. John Antoinette: eight eirandehil- dren and three great grandchildren, all of Miami. Miami Held. 8/29/19661 Lucille Croft- Lin_ had too children, Gin- ger and John. Frank Croff. Jr., had two sons. Wil- liam and Robert. Nlatilda Croft Webb had four children. Howard. Lucille. Kirk. and 'lar. Lou. Lucille Croff Ling.. S. died in 1994 in Den- ver where >he had live) for several %tan kk ith her daughter. Ginger Jones. Fier son. Jahn Ling. lived in Montgomery AL. The only suryiyine daughter of Frank Croff. Matilda Croff Webb. 74, liked in Crossville. TN. in 1995 as did her son. Kirk Webb. fow•ard Webb lived in Arizona and Lucille Webb became the third Miami officer to be killed in 'erkins in Rising Sun, MD. a line of dui}: The memory of Frank Croff is kept alive by One newspaper account stated that around ;i grandchildren. I 1 great grandchildren and 5 6:00PM on that Mondac evening the sheriff's ,,real, great grandchildren. Three of the grandchil- office was notified ]ren (1lifliam Croff. 44. and Robert Croff, 40, of that a strange negro had been found Hobe Sound. and Mary Lou Webb Jacobson of robbing a colored tenant dwelling and was Key Largo) still resided in FL in 1995. armed with a double-barrelled shotgun. One of Frank Croff's granddaughters in with which he had shot the owner of the 1995 was Ginger Ling Jones. 48. who followed dwelling in the face. seriously wounding in her grandfather's footsteps as a Miami police him. Another negro was shot in the arm. officer. Ginger Broussard (her married name tMia mi News, 11/29/1921) while a Miami officer) served the MPD for 16 There were also rumors that the fugitive +ears ( from 1970 to 1988) and rose to Sgt. of negro was the same person who had recently she robbery division. She achieved national pub- killed Deputy Sheriff Douglas of Okeechobee licity for her work through a 10 minute segment County at Okeechobee City when the deputy and 'In a 1956 national TV show ("Fast Cope") and his son went to arrest the man. Further, the a personal story in Good Hous., -Keeping. The sheriff's office was told that the fleeing robber Fast Copy segment mentioned the 1921 line of intended to barricade himself in the Deering duty death of her grandfather. Frank Croff. In Estate +east of the Dixie Highway to Biscayne 1995. Ginger Jones worked its an investigator Bay between E. 42nd St. R E 36th St.) and re - with the Medical Examiner's Office in Denver. sist arrest. CO. It should be noted that research conducted ,Melville A. Tibbitts. the officer who was by the author in 1995 indicates that the rumors injured in the accident that killed Officer Croff, of the killing of Sheriff Douglas of Okeechobee remained with the Miami Police Department mo- County were untrue. There is no record of a sher- torcycle squad for at least 30 more years. in iff being killed in Okeechobee County in 1931. Sept. -Oct. of 1995 the South Florida Historical The Jacksonville FL Times -Union may have Museum hosted an Exhibit on Police and Crimi- been more accurate when it reported that the nal Justice in Miami that displayed two photo- Negro fugitive was being sought for the shoot - graphs of Miami motorcycle squads that included ing and wounding of two other Negroes. Melville Tibbitts. The 8 -man 1924 squad was Special Deputy Sheriff Morrison. the su- commanded by Sgt. Laurie Wever, who was perin(enden(of the Deering Estate, also received killed in the line of duty in 1921. The 22 -man the report of the robbery and was further told 1940 motorcycle squad was commanded by that the robber/killer had entered the Deering Capt. Melville Tibbits and included Officer Estate armed with a shotgun. Morrison called Wesley Thompson who was killed in the line of the sheriff's office and asked for help. In the dune in 1941. Capt. Tibbitts' brother was a mem- meantime he posted two men in the grounds to ber of the Enola Gay flight crew that dropped keep a lookout for the fugitive. the first atomic bomb on Japan in 1945. Sheriff Louis A. Allen met with the partici- Frank Angelo Croff's name is inscribed pants in the manhunt in nearby Magnolia Park. i East � al1. Panel 29, Line 10) on the National just south of the Deering Estate. The posse was Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington. told that the man they were looking for was a D.C.. and his name is read each May at the Po- "bad nigger": that he was armed with a shotgun: lice ?Memorial Service in Tropical Park in Mi- and that they "should not take any chances on ami. Croff is also memorialized by a plaque bear- going into the estate and to be careful." The Sht r- ine his name in the lobby of the Miami Police iff believed that it was too dark on the grounds Department. to conduct a search for the gunman and decided to place deputies on guard around the estate to SOURCES: Miami Herald. May 33.25.26. June prevent the fugitive from leaving until daylight 15.25. 1931. Aug. 29. 1966: Mlami Daily Me- when a search could be made. Sheriff Allen as - polis. May 23.25,26. June 15.24. 1921: death signed Deputy James Flood and Det, Jack Adams certificate of Frank Angelo Croff: Criminal Jus- to go to the north of the estate on Dixie Highway Lice in Miami: 1896-1930, a dissertation by Paul "to head the nieger off." (Sliami Vew�. ] 1/30/31) Sargis George, 1975. 1920 Census of Dade The perimeter force was apparently un - Count,. FL: Miami City Directories, 1918- aware that Officer darter and Clarence 1921: .Fast Copy" TV show. 12/2611986; in- Portier. a black man who knew the fugitive. terviews with Dorothy Croff and Ginger had been posted as lookouts inside the estate. Broussard Jones. Marler and Portier hid themselves in a "clump of heavy bushes beside the road... and almost ^--ter R #9 I�1WXh 9Y MARLER up against the rock fence surrounding the es - Miami Police Department tate.' Marler and Portier both "squatted Shot & killed on Nov. 28. 1931 down" behind the bushes with Portier a few feet in front of Marler. THE EVE,VT Marler and Portier were in their lookout Rookie Miami Police Officer Richard Roy positions for approximately 45 minutes when Marler. 34. was -shot and killed by accident by a the} heard the sound of an approaching auto. Made County deputy sheriff around 8:00PM on mobile on Dixie Highway. The auto was driven Slonday. Nov. 28. 1921. during a manhunt for by Deputy Flood with Det. Adams in the pas• to armed robber and suspected killer who was senger seat..A reporter for the Miami Flerald. 'running amuck" with a shotgun. Marler. who H.B. Slavin, was in the rear seat. As the auto had been a police officer for only three months. passed the comer of E. 42nd St. and Dixie High- Richard Ray Mar/et: Miami Policr Deparlme)11. 1921 way, reporter Martin shouted to Flood that he ..saw something move in the bushes on the right side of the road:" The car backed up a few feet as Deputy Flood turned the spotlight on the bushes. At this point the two deputies claimed to have seen a black man (who turned out to be Clarence Portier, the lookout posted with Marler) who fit the description of the fuzr gitive and called upon him to stop and put up his hands. Deputy Flood said that he fired first (with a .32 caliber revolver)—while still in the car—and "reached over Adams and fired at right angles from the car to scare the negro." Deputy Adams later testified that he did not fire his weapon until the black man began to run into the bushes. Adams said that while still in the automobile he "fired one shot in the direc- tion die man was going toward one of the bushes. He must have been running in the direction of Marler although 1 did not see any white man and did not know one was there." He said that he did not see Marler until he came toward the car af- ter the second shot. The shot fired by Deputy Adams from a .38 caliber revolver missed Portier and hit Marler who was still squatting in the bushes by the rock fence. After the second shot. Marler stood up and began walking the approximately 12 feet toward the deputies—who had now jumped out of the auto --with "his hands held at his side, near the stomach." Nlarler was say- ing. "Save me. save me. I'm a policeman." Flood responded. "My God. what are you do- in_e here"" At that point Marler reached Deputy Flood and attempted to grab the deputy by the neck to hold himself up. But Marler at 210 lbs. and 6'1 " was too big and he slumped to the ground. Portier approached and helped ,Adams cam' Marler to the car which deputy Flood had backed up to a point near them. An autopsy found that the .38 caliber bullet had entered Mader's "side about 10 inches under the right arm and emerged on the left side after penetrating the lower end of the heart." Adams testified later that he kept rub- bing klarler's hand, and tried to keep him alive as the deputies sped to Cit% Hospital. When they arrived at the hospital9111113 ran inside and got a stretcher and he and another man carried the wounded officer inside. Unfor- tunately. Marler died just as he was carried into the hospital. Nurses at the hospital found the bullet. "which was a lead ball." in the inside lin- ing of his uniform, OfFicerNfarler's wife arrived with friends at the hospital at about 9:30PNI "but on account of her hysterical condition was not allowed to see the body of her husband." Deputy Adams was overcome with emo- tion after Marler died and "could scarcely talk about" the shooting. 'I can hardly bear to think about it,' he said. 'Nfarier was one of the finest men I the spotlight turned on a man in uni. ever knew. He always had a smile for me form, who had both hands in the air. Then a when I passed' (referring to the time when second shot rang out. I am sure it was the the dead officer was a traffic policeman at second shot that hit the man... and that there East Flagler street and Second avenue. (y[L was no cause for firing it, as the man who. ami News, 11/29/1921) ever he was had his hands in the air and Deputy Sheriff M.H. Rolfe, who was an the had clearly surrendered if he was wanted scene shortly after the shooting, drove to ,Lfag- for anything. I could see his brass buttons nolia Park, the command post for the manhunt, from where I was when the second shot rang and notified Sheriff Allen of the shooting of out, It seemed first that the negro was in Marler. The Sheriff "hastened to a garage in front of him and would have received the Buena Vista. where he tailed for several physi- shot if the policeman had not stepped to the cians to go to the hospital and drove to the hos- front. apparently to explain what he was pital himself." Deputy Rolfe returned to the doing there. (Miami News, l 1/29/1921) Deering Estate to continue the search for the fu- Mr. George Sacre said that he accompanied gitive. the deputies and the fatally wounded Marler in Deputy Adams recognized Marler as the the car on the way to the hospital and smelled two had been friends since Marler joined the whiskey on the breath of the two deputies. His police department inAugustofthatyear. He later wife also testified that she smelled whiskey on testified that "there are just two sad and sorry their breath at the scene of the shooting. - people because of this and those are his wife and The Miami Herald reporter who was riding myself." with the two deputies did not see the shooting as he dove to the bottom of the car at the first sound of gunfire. The reporterdid testify, however, that he had told others that it looked as if Marler "didn't have a chance" and that "they had shot too quick." Also. Clarence Portier, the lookout. also testified that Marler was standing up when the second shot was fired, Mrs. Sacre had testi- fied that Marler was so visible in the spotlight before the second shot that she could see the brass buttons on his uniform. The headline of the .L- a w on Nov. 29 was "Policeman Shot in Full Glare." Attorney Clinton Price represented Det. Jack Adams at the inquest while Attorney Scott appears from the news articles to have repre- sented the state. After hearing all witnesses the jury deliberated forone hourand then announced its verdict at 6:20PM on Wednesday. Nov. 30. Thejury ruled that Deputy.�dams "had kw nol- edge" that police officers mi!ht be inside the estate. "should not have discharged his revolver," and that "there was to a certain extent careless- ness in shooting." The coroner's jury also rec- ommended that the grand jur., investigate the shooting. The grand jury for the November term of circuit court was reconvened by Judge H. Pierre Branning for Dec. I to consider the killing of Officer Marter. On Dec. l theyrand jury heard testimony from Ms. Sacre and other witnesses and visited the scene of the shooting. An extensive search of the %liami Herald for several days after the grandjury met on Dec. I did not locate any mention of the results of the grand jury investigation. A search of court records for 1921 at the Dade County .archives went to the corner to investigate. Sha was a� 200 feet from the shouting scene and as she arrived at the place where she had heard the shooting that she saw a po- liceman with a helmet on his head standing in the bright glare of a spotlight and that he was saying 'Don't shoo[.' About that time she said she heard a second shot and saw the policeman fall and heard him say. 'Save me, save me.' iinderclose questioning the witness became soexcited that Justice Okell excused her. (Miami Heratd. 11/30/1921) The Nfipi News quoted .1vIrs. Sacre as say- ing: THE PERPETRATOR Deputy Sheriff and Detective Jack G. Adams, 30, fired the shot that killed Miami Po- lice Officer Robert Roy Marler. Both the Miami Herald and the Mimi News gave accounts by other witnesses that differed substantially from the accounts of the shooting by the deputies. Those same witnesses testified at an inquest be- fore a coroner's jury that first met on Tuesday. Nov. 29, the day after the shooting. The coroner's jury was summoned by Constable Charles Strothman and Justice of the Peace George M. Okell "as coroner ex -officio." The hearing was adjourned on Tuesday until 3:30PNI on Wednes- day at the Deering Estate so that witnesses could re-enact the shooting at the scene of the tragedy. The witnesses disagreed as to whether the two shots were tired at about the same time or whether 30 seconds or longer passed between the shuts: whether the first shot was fired before or after the black man began to run: whether Mader was clearly seen by the spotlight before the second and fatal shot: whether ,4larler was shot while squatting in the bushes or as he stood in the spotlight: whether one or several warn- ings (to halt) were given by the deputies: whether "larler pleaded, "Don't Shoot," before the sec- ond ,hot: and whether the deputies "smelled of whiskey" at the scene of the shooting, The witness (other than the deputies and Portiere with the best view of the shooting --and whose testimony most contradicted the depu- ties—was Mrs. George Sarre who testified to the coroner's jury that she lived across the street from the shouting scene and heard a gunshot and also failed to locate any mention of the disposi- tion of this cast. Thus the disposition of the charges against Det. Adams is unknown. Det, Jack Adams took his own life 15 vears atter the tragic shooting of Marler. He had left the Sheriff's office and was employed as a bailbondsman. On Feb. 19, 1936, Adam,, then ay. obtained from the Coral Gables Police the sun his wife had used to kill herself on Jan. 19. m -i. and went to visit her crave at Miami `te- modal Park one last time. A short time later he was r4 -4d Ir -mile from the cemetery with a _unsF ro the head and the revolver in his right hand. The two suicides left two orphaned chil- dren. Jack G. Adams. Jr., and ,Mary Adams. 3. THE OFFICER Richard Roy 4larler's death certificate filed in Miami indicated that he was born in Missouri on Jan. 7. 1337, to Sion W. Marler and abQorth Whalen Marler (who were both born in Tennes- see f, His exact place of birth (coun(y) is unknown though an extensive, but fruitless, searchofcen- sus indexes at the Mormon Geneological Library in Salt Lake City was conducted, Likewise. no listing of his siblings was located. .Newspaper accounts at his death indicated that Richard Roy ,Marler worked in his youth for several railroads and apparently first came to Florida to work as a locomotive engineer on the Florida East Coast Railroad. He was a mem- ber of the Brotherhood of Locomotion Engi- neers. The 1920 U.S. Census listed Richard Rol and his new wife, Clara Louise, in Beaumont, TX, where he probably worked for the railroad. His father. Sian Marler, and Fred T. Marler(per- haps a cousin). 25, and his wife Pearl Work Marler. 18, and their son Frederick. I, also lived in Beaumont at this time. Richard Roy ivfarler. 32, married Clara Louise Vaughan. 20. on Oct. 28. 1919. in Jefferson County (Beaumont) Texas. W.S. Parker. the Pastor of tEie First Baptist Church in nearby.Nome. TX. performed the marriage cer- emony. Clara was also bom in MO as indicated by the censuses of 1900 (MO) and 1920 (TX;. She was the daughter of George S. and Alva Vaughan who are listed in the 1900 N10 census as residents of the Van Horn Township in Carrollton County along with their children Aueustina, 15. George, I.I. Elliott. 11. Quincy. 9. Bertha. 7. Sally, 6. Wilbur. -I. Clarence. 2, and Clara. I. George S. Vauuhan. 30, was also listed in Carrollton County. MO, in the 1880 census -7d lived with his parent; Cornelius Vaughm. i. and .1fary Vauehan. ? 1. Richard Roy and Clara Luuise Vaughan Iarler. moved to Orlando later in 1920 and�ihen to %liami in Aug. of 1921. The Sunday before his death R. R. and Clara Louise transferred their ;hurch membership from a Baptist church in Orlando to the Fiat Baptist Church of Miami. Clara was employed at the "Exotic Gardens" in .\Iiami. Richard Roy Marler joined the Miaini Po - ;i;: Department on Au__ust 22. 19:1. Officer Marler was tint assigned to direct traffic at East Fiagler St. and Second Ave. (there were no (fit - ti; lights in 1921 and thus many downtown in- terseetions had to be manned by a police ofticem He was later transferred to parrot duty in Buena uta. He was on duty in Buena Vista the evenims 1 9PA - of Feb. 28 when he was assigned to duty as Failed to find anyone with knowledge of Robert lookout at the Deering Estate. WROV or Clara ]Marler. Perhaps, Gaza. at 22. re - The Miami Police Department was com- married and had children? Since any siblings of prised of 40 officers in Nov. of 1921 and was Robert Roy `larler are unknown, no descendants headed by Howard Leslie Quicg who had been of this officer's family have been found. appointed Chief on August I5. 1921. Pay for The name of Richard Roy Marler is in - police officers ranged from 52.700 per ,year for scribed (East Wall, Panel 21. Line 6) on the Na - Chief Quigg to 51.500 for nein officers, tional Law- Enforcement Memorial in Washing - Physically R.R. Marler was a large man ton. D.C. A plaque bearing his name is in the (61" and 210 tbs.) and was described by the lobby of the Miami Police Department where Miami Herald as "a perfect specimen of physi- his name is read each May in a Departmental cal manhood."The Herald also stated that Marler ceremony. His name is read each May at the was one of the most popular members Dade Police 4lemorial Service in Tropical Park. of the force, and was a man of exception- ally good character. He had many friends SOURCES: Miami Weraid, Nov. 29,30. Dec. here. (Miami Herald. 11/29/1921) 1.2.3. 1931. Feb. 20. 1936: Miami News, Nov. The body of Robert Roy Marler lay in state 29.30: Dec. 1.2. 1921. Jacksonville FL Times - in the parlor of King Undertaking in the early Nov. 29. 1921: death certificate of Rich - hours of Nov. 30. The body was "viewed by sev. and Roy Marler: ust'c 'n ' eral hundred friends of the dead policeman ._The 1896-1930. a dissertation by Paul Sargis George, funeral was conducted in the same location with 1975: Miami City Directory, 1921-1925, Beau - the Rev. J.L. White of the First Baptist Church mont. TX. City Directory, 1923. officiating. "Many handsome floral tributes were banked about the steel gray casket." The police. #10 CHARLES D. BRYANT fire and sheriff's departments sent "offerings" Homestead Town Marshal and "an individual offering" was received from Shot & killed on June 15, 1923 Det. Jack Adams with a card "on which 'Sin- cere Sympathy' was written." Also. every mem- ber of the police department who was not on duty attended the services. Burial was in the Miami City cemetery (at what is now N.E. 2nd Ave. and 18th St.). The funeral procession to the cemetery was headed by a squad of motorcycle policemen. "Automo- biles filled with flowers preceded the hearse." At the request of Mrs. Marler. the pallbearers were members of the Brotherhood of Locomo- tive Engineers with members of the Miami Po- lice Department acting as honorary pallbearers. The service at graveside was "simple in charac- ter." Marler was buried next to Frank Croff. a Miami police officer killed in the line of duty 6 months earlier. The 3 foot grave markers for Croff and Marler are almost identical (e.g.. each has a brick "fence" marking the grave) and are located just across from the "Jewish Section" of the cemetery. Marler's marker reads simply: B.L.E. R.R. MARLE-R 1887-1921 The letters B.L.E. stand for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Marler had been a rail- road man for several years and a police officer for only three months. Mrs. Marler benefitted from a 53,000 insurance policy with the Broth- erhood of Locomotive Engineers. Officer Marler was survived by his wife. Clara Louise Marler of Miami. and his father. Sion W. Matter of Beaumont. TX. The newspa- pers reported that 4larler also had other Pelatives in Texas and Oklahoma who were notified of his death. Miami city directories do not list Clara Louise Marler after her husband's death in 1921 and thus it appears that she moved away from Miami. Searches of city directories in several other cities (e.e., Beaumont. TX) failed to find out "whatever happened to" Clara Marler. News- paper articles by Dr. Wilbanks were published in local newspapers in Texas and Missouri but THE EVENT Homestead "Town Marshal" (Police Chief) Charles D. Bryant, 47, was shot and killed in a struggle with a black male in the "negro quarter of Homestead" shortly before 2.00PM on June 15. 1923. ("The position of town marshal be- came police chief when Homestead became a city in 1925.") Two black men and a black woman were lynched by mobs in retribution for the killing. On Friday. June 15, 1923, around I:00PM Marshal Bryant and his 15 year old son, Fletcher. went to the black section of Homestead to a "two- story ram -shackle frame building" that stood just across the railroad tracks about 600 feet from the Dixie Highway. The ground floor contained a store. restaurant, barber shop and shoe shine parlor. The second floor was comprised of sev- eral rooms that were rented out. The elder Bryant had refused to tell his son the purpose of the trip to the rooming house but there were several possible theories. The marshal's wife (and Fletcher's mother) had died a week earlier from an operation and it appears that the marshal may have gone in part to ask a black woman who lived in the boarding house to come and cook for the family. Also living in the same boarding house was a black male, William (Grey Eye) Simmons, who was well known to police as a gambler, rum- runner, "trouble -maker" and "bad negro". There is some indication that the marshal may have been tipped that Simmons had illegal liquor or stolen goods in his room leading to the marshal's decision to investigate. The Homestta¢ News Le der suggested that Bryant went to the room- ing house "in quest of thieves and bootleggers" and in particular to recover a valuable suitcase that had been stolen from the Homestead iNter- cantile Co. Fletcher seems to have accompanied his father so that he could "hitch up a wagon and return with a load of wood." Upon arriving at the boarding house the marshal went inside while his son went 50 feet further down the street to a Ott where the marshal kept a mule and wagon. The son warned his father "to be careful about a big wad of bills he had in his pocket, but he only laughed." Fletcher expected his father to go to the jail after leaving the rooming house and to meet him later when he returned home with the wood. Upon arriving at the barn a thunderstorm came up and it rained so hard that Fletcher stayed at the barn for 30 minutes and decided the weather was too bad to haul the wood. He re- turned to tho-rPorning house and seeing that his father's Ford automobile was still there, feared that something was wrong, He went up the stairs and opened the door to find his father lying on the floor just inside the door with several bullet wounds in his body. The marshal's shirt was on fire (apparently from shots being fired so close to his body) and Fletcher put out the fire with his hands. He turned the body over to see if his father was alive and realized that he was dead. The young boy then ran out to get help. re- turning in a few minutes with his uncle, A.O. Cain. One account retold by the )ia[gi .HCrald suggested that Fletcher saw Simmons flee the murder scene in the Ford truck but this account seems to contradict an earlier Herald account. The story as to how the marshal was shot came largely from an "immense" elderly "negress." Mary Cuzzins. who was the landlady of the rooming house.. According to the Miami Herald the landlady said that she admitted the marshal to the rooming house and that he went upstairs to see Simmons. At one point the two came down stairs together but then returned to Simmons' room. She then heard a "scuffle" up- stairs and saw both nten emerge from the room "locked in each other's arms" as they struggled for "possession of Bryant's revolver." The two men then fell down the stairs where it is believed that the marshal broke his arm. Simmons gained possession of the revolver and fired several times at the marshal. Five bullet wounds were found on his body. The fatal wound was probably the one to his right chest. He was also shot twice in the back and in both hands. The five shots came at close range and, appar- ently, as Bryant lay helpless on the floor. Sheriff Louis A. Allen of Miami, who in- vestigated the case, later found a stash of stolen goods in Simmons' room and theorized that Mar- shal Bryant had questioned Simmons closely about stolen goods to the point that Simmons became angry and attacked the officer. The two struggled for the marshal's gun and fell out of the room and down the stairs to a landing half- way down the stairs where Simmons evidently -ained control of the gun and shot the marshal several times. Both the marshal and Simrnpns were large men but the marshal "was slightly crippled, and walked with a cane." The sounds of gunfire were apparently not heard by others because of the heavy rain. Following the shooting Simmons went back to his room and "changed his shirt. which was bloody. and put on a pair of overalls." He then went outside and stole a Ford truck (which had the key in the ignition). owned by a dry cleaning Firm, and drove away. In his haste to flee he evi- dent.• ran into something and damaged a wheel. His trackers later followed the tire tracks with one wobbly wheel. E the account suggesting that Fletcher saw Simmons tier. Unfortunately. the mob tried, con- victed and executed Gaines without his being given the opportunity to present his defense in a court of law. The Homestead News. Lggder on June 22 stated that the inquest into the death of the mar- shal made no recommendation to the grand jury "but it is felt that body will take some action when it meets, as there are a number of points not clear yet." There was still the matter of the alleged involvement of the white man, E.S. Anderson, being held in jail in Miami for safe- keeping. and the third black man allegedly im- plicated by Simmons in his deathbed confession. THE OFFICER Charles D. Bryant. 47, was born at Ft. Gaines. Georgia. on June 13. 1376. He came to Homestead from Blakeley. GA, in 1919 "where he had made a reputation for himself as a de- fender of justice. He had been almost fatally wounded several times." Bryant had previously served as a deputy sheriff of Dade County for a little more than a year before assuming the position of Homestead town marshal two years before his death. At some points Bryant was described in newspa- per articles as the Chief of Police of Homestead and thus Town 4larshal and Chief of Police seemed to be the same post. While a deputy sheriff. Bryant made a large number of arrests for liquor violations in the southern part of the county. In the days when Charlie Bryant, the slain marshal, and Charlie Graham, his close friend, were deputies in this part of the county, it was said that they caught more bootleggers and moonshiners than did the rest of the county force put together. Jus- tice of the Peace Strickland says that he had to work overtime to keep up with their ac- tivities. One Sunday morning at four o - clock he was awakened by the two depu- ties who had caught four of the 'biggest' and mostelusive bootleggers in the county. (Homestead News Leader, 612111923) Charles Bryant's wife, Ruby Hobbs Bryant, 3.1. had died from an operation one week earlibr and was buried on June 9. Thus the killing of Marshal Bryant left three children as orphans. The surviving children were Fletcher. 15. Aileen. 17. and Lois, 13. After her father's death. Aileen went to live with her aunt. ivlrs. A.O. Cain, the sister of Mrs. Bryant, while Fletcher and Lois were to live with fir, and Mrs. Will Bryant, the marshal's brother. The oldest daughter "suffered a collapse" upon hearing of her father's death and was under the care of a physician. Fletcher indicated that he was thinking up plans whereby he can sup- port himself and his two orphaned sisters... I don't know what I am going to do... but if I can I will keep up our little home. I am working at night as operator in the moving picture theater. and 1 may be able to get something to do in the daytime. 1 expect my uncles in Georgia to come down here as soon as they hear my father has been killed." (4liami erald. 611611923) Marshal Bryant's funeral was described by the Miami Herald as "the largest evereondueted in Dade county" with 2.000 persons in at0 dance. Services were held on Sunday. June 17. 1923. at the First Baptist Church in Homestead with burial. arranged through King Undenak- in, Co., at the Palms Memorial Cemetery in Naranja. The procession following the hearse from the church to the burial site was -'fully a mile and a half in length, comprising automo- biles bearing residents from virtually every sec- tion of the county." Flowers sent by the marshal's "hosts of friends titled two automobile car- loads."' Rev. C.N. Walker, pastor of the First Bap- tist Church "gave a review of Marshal Bryant's life" and preached the short sermon. Four other clergymen were present on the platform during the services. "Nearly 500 persons were jammed in the church building and the lobby... hundreds more sought vantage points to witness the ser- vices." At 4:3013M at the conclusion of the church services the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan "as- sumed charge of the funeral" as 300 klansmert and kamelias (the women's auxiliary of the KKK) formed an automobile procession and pre- ceded the hearse. Hundreds of other automobiles fell into line after the hearse. Reaching the cemetery the klansmen left their cars and lined up single file in a double line, facing each other 10 feet apart, throuuh which lane the pallbearers bore the casket. Flowers which filled two automobiles to capacity, tokens of respect and tribute from the marshal's host of friends. were carried through the lane to the grave. Fol- lowing brief, simple services the klan and kamelia formed a ereat circle round the grave. Five members of the Homestead klan stepped from the circle and placed a blan- ket wreath of flowers on the casket. Then. 10 members of the Miami elan. bearing a large cross of white roses lettered with red roses "K. K. K." approached and laid their floral tribute on the bier. Eight kamelias placed a blanket wreath on the casket. (ML gaii Herald. 611311923) At the conclusion of the elan rites Rev. Homer E. Sala of the First Christian Church con- ducted services at the grave. Rev. Sala said that "the Marshal had died as a martyr for the cause of justice. just as did our overseas men in the late war." As the "casket was lowered into its ;rave. the entire assemblage of 2.000 persons. their heads bared. bowed." The marshal's three children were in attendance at the services. The clear implication of the above.is that Marshal Bryant was a member of the KKK. It should be noted that 1923 was a peak year for the KKK in South Florida and throughout the South. A similar account of KKK involvement in the burial of a slain officer is given in the case of Miami policeman Laurie Wever. killed in 1925. On Saturday. June 22. a special session of the town council passed a resolution ordering the payment of the funeral expenses (5635.79) of Marshal Bryant from the town treasury. In 1995, a two foot stone monument in the "old section" of Palms Memorial Cemetery in Varanja marks the graves of Charles and Ruby Bryant. The marker reads: BRYANT CHARLIE RUBY 1376-1923 1337-1923 When William F. Brantley became the:ec- ond Homestead Police Chief to be killed in 1951. the Redland District ;tiews reported that Fletcher. then 44. was employed at the "city light and water plant" in Homestead. Newspaper account., of the Brantley killing mentioned that Aileen. then a6if was Mrs. Jack Wilkinson of Claxton. Geo, ta. and Lois, then 42, was Mrs. Lois Durham of Miami Beach. Walter Fletcher Bryant. 64. died on Jule 3. 1973. His obituary in the ,Miami Herald reported that after the death of both of his parents in 1933. Fletcher "sought employment at 1.1 and became the youngest manager of the Seminole Theater in Homestead." He served as a Sgt. in the U.S. Army in World War 11 and was assistant super- intendent of the Homestead Light and Water Plant for 30 years before his retirement in 1967. In 1993 one son of Fletcher Bryant, Walter Bryant. 43. lived in Homestead and was a Capt. with the Dade County Fire Department sAirRes- cue unit at the Tamiami Airport. Fletcher's other son. Edward. 33, lived in Charlotte. N. Carolina. Lois Bryant Fernandez. who had no chil- dren. died on April 16. 1983. and was buried beside her husband, Ernest Femandez. who died in 1973. Both are buried in the Bryant family plot at Palm Memorial (Fletcher was buried in another location at the same cemetery). In 1995. 41rs. Jack t Aileen) Wilkinson. 35. lived in Claxton, GA. Herchildren (the grandchildren of Charles D. Bryant) were Charles Wilkinson of Statesboro. GA. and Ctrs. Hubert Wells of Claxton, GA. Charles D. Bryant's name is inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington. D.C. (West Wall. Panel 9. Line 2). His name is read each May at the Dade County Police Memorial in Tropical Park. SOURCES:is ra A. June 16. 17 &. IS. 1931 July -t. 1973. April 10. 1936. Dec. 28. 1992: Miami News -Metropolis. June 16. IS A 19: HomesteadV wLeader, June 31.23.19'_+. July 27, 1993: Redland Distdct,tiews, \larch 21, 1953. Criminal Justice in Miami: 1396-1930. a doctoral dissertation by Paul S. George. Ann .arbor: Xerox University Microfilms. 1975.. p. 193: Annual Rt un of Hun st--ad Poljt;,- partmenj. 1990. i,'ilig}es ur Snuth Dade b% Jean Taylor, 19S5. p. 186. and interview with Jean Taylor. #11 SC.T, LAURIE LAFAYETTE WFVER " ,Miami Police Department Shot & killed on `larch la. 1925 THE EVENT Sgt. Laurie Wever. 34. a four-year veteran of the Miami Police Department ane! commander of the motorcycle division. was shot and killed on March 15. 192'5, by two armed robbers. He was the fourth Miami police officer to be killed in the line of duty. LVIiami was a city in crisis in 1925. The real estate boom was at its peak and along with the annexation of 37 square miles of"suburban cum. munities" led to a population increase of 6r (to 350.0(.10) in two years and a police fore crease of 100% (to 120 officers) in one y r. Traffic was almost at a standstill in 1925 even though electric traffic lights were installed in 19'4 to handle the more than 25.0W automo- biles in the city. The city was plagued by a crime ware of unprecedented proportions. The murder rate in 1925-1926 (of 106 per 100.000) was triple the rate of 1934 and three times higher than the (later) peak rate (of 35.0) in 1980. Crime. espe- cially murder, was at a peak throughout the state due perhaps to instability caused by the popula- tion boom. A Miami grand jury report of Feb.. 1925. criticized Dade's law enforcement prompt- ing an offer from the Ku Klux Klan. riding a crest of popularity, to assist in policing the city. A similar offer by the Klan had been accepted by the St. Petersburg police force.. (Criminal Justice in Miami... , p. 1201 Miami Police Chief Leslie Quigg and Mi- ami city officials turned down the offer but the KKK continued to parade openly in the city. For several weeks before March 25. 1925. the Miami Police Department had been on the lookout for two men who were believed to have perpetrated house-breakings. safe-crackings. and armed robberies in Miami and vicinity. Descrip- tions of the men (from victims) were circulated among the police force including the informa- tion that the gang was known to travel in an Essex automobile with Penn. or Ohio license plates. Around 2:OOAM on the morning of Sun- day. March 15, 1925. the police got a call indi- cating that some men were breaking into a gas station at N.W. Seventh Ave. and Eighth Street. Sgt. Laurie Wever was at the police station at Ke Lime the call came in and left alone on his motorcycle to respond to the B & E call. Chief Qui-- had indicated that he wanted motorcycle officers to make calls in pairs but there was no one present at the station to accompany him and thus he left alone to investigate the break-in. While on his way to the B & Er call. Wever saw an automobile that fit the description of the vehicle driven by the wanted men and decided to pursue the car. He stopped the car and made a cursory search of the two men. Walter C. Valiton. 18, and John Naugle, 19, and the car. He found enough evidence in the trunk (i.e., burclary tools) to demand that the men and the car accompany him to the police station for further investiga- tion. However. when the two suspects got back into their car they "put on speed and tried to es- cape." Valiton later said that he attempted to flee because he was afraid that stolen goods in the car would result in their being identified as the robbers the police were seeking. Weyer. on his motorcycle.. quickly overtook them and again called on them to stop. but this time Valiton leaned from [he driver's seat and fired four times at the of- ficer. (Miami Daily News. 3/28/1925) The shootint' occurred at'_:12AM. Valiton fired two .25 -caliber steel jacketed bulle[s from an automatic pistol he had hidden under the front seat of the Essex. One bullet struck Sgt. Weyer in the ri-ht side. just above his belt, and the other struck him in the richt le- near the top of his boot. Another bullet tore a hole in the gasoline 12 tank of the motorcycle while a fourth struck the® Pratt. with the aid of several others who had rear fender and the tire. The autopsy would later rushed from the hotel when the shots were fired. reveal that the fatal wound assisted Wever to the lobby of the hotel "inhere entered the right side ofWever's hods, he was made as comfortable as possible on a grazed the edge of the liver and ranged divan." Weyer "muttered incoherently" some. downward and inward, penetrating the Thing further about highwaymen and then at - walls of the stomach, cut blood vessels that tempted to give the witnesses the license num. supply the stomach, penetrated the small her of the auto. `Fever. "in a last feeble effort intestine and left kidney, and passed out enunciated in choking tones the numbers 4701." from left to right. Wever died of internal He then lapsed into unconsciousness as police hemorrhage. (kliami_Herald. 3/16/1925[ arrived on the scene. The shooting took place at 252 `AV, Sec- The wounded officer was taken to Jackson and Street in front of the Savoy Hotel. Albert Memorial,,, 6spi(al in critical condition. He was Pratt. a guest in the hotel. heard four shots from able to talk briet1% with Chief Quigg at the hos- the lobby and ran to the front door to see i from pital but died of his wounds at 4k20AM. His wife 50 feet away) an auto stop suddenly and two rnen of I I dears uas brought to the hospital by a peer rearward toward a fallen officer and then memberof the motorcycle squad and "kissed her speed off to the north. Pratt saw an officer. ap- husband goodb\e jus[ before he died." parently injured. act off his motorcycle and ran to the officer and grasped him as he was about THE PERPETRATORS to fall. Sgt. Wever. gasping for breath. said. "I've Almost immediately every police officer in been shot. For God's sake help me. Call the po- South Florida a as notified to be on the lookout lice department." He then "blurted out the word. for two men in an automobile who would prob- highwaymen."' ably attempt to escape north on the Dixie High- LutrrieL never. Cin•uf.Vianir. 1y25. V way. Almost the entire Nliumi Police Dement and numerous volunteers immediately became involved in a massive manhunt. Every road lead- ing out of 4liami and all bridges were guarded and the entire county was searched for autos fit- ting the description of the wanted men. Police officers throughout Florida were alerted. Police learned later that a roadblock at Ft. Lauderdale had forced Valiton and Naugle to abandon their plans to flee north. A total of 9 suspects (including men in Tampa. Jacksonville. and St. Augustine) were arrested but eventually released after investiga- tions determined those arrested were the wrong men. Suspicion at one point shifted to four mem- bers of a robbery gang under arrest in Tampa as the police there found evidence that the gang had been in Miami on the day of the Wever shoot- ing. Miami police believed the gang arrested in Tampa had perpetrated a "spectacular' home invasion robbery in Nliami two weeks before. The case was solved on ,March 18 (the day of Wever's funeral) when the Nliami police ar- rested Valiton and Naugle at a secluded shack two miles west of Fulford -by -the -Sea (now North ,Miami Beach). The tip that led to their arrest was provided by Bernard Henry who met Valiton (who was first identified by his alias. William W. Fox) and Naugle shortly after their arrival in Miami from Ohio in the fall of 1934. The tipster worked at Pecot's garage in Lemon City and met Valiton and Naugle in Jan. of [9225 at the garage. Henry, noting the Ohio license tag on the Essex auto driven by Valiton and Naugle, indicated that he too was from Ohio. This comment led to a conversation and an ac- quaintance which lasted until Wever was killed. Walter Valiton and his cousin, Cleo Butler. 16, had arrived in Miami in Jan. from Toledo. Ohio, and had evidently joined with Naugle. whom they met in Miami shortly after their ar- rival. for a series of burglaries and robberies. Naugle had been in Miami for eight months. Butler returned to Ohio by March 15 and thus the robbery gang was reduced to two. Valiton was apparently from a wealthy fam- i[y as news accounts made several references to the "privileged boy -one-bad," to Walter Valiton's frequent (leisure) trips to Florida, to his expensive clothing, and to the prominent "out-of-town" lawyers hired by the family. Mi- ami newspapers published photos of Valiton's parents and suggested they were a "prominent" family from Toledo. However, the depiction of the Valiton fam- ily as wealthy and prominent may have been ..media hype" as the articles about the murder in the Toledo Blade do not suggest that the family was anything but "ordinary" and the 1935 To- ledo city directory indicates that Lewis Valiton was only a ",salesman." Walter, at 18, was the youngest child of Lewis and Pearl Valiton and had three younger sisters. Catheryn Louise. Geraldine. and Nancy. The news coverage of the Wever murder. the search for the killers, and the trial was quite extensive as three local daily newspapers (The ,Miami Herald, the �NUami Daily dews and the ,Miami -.Tribune) and an unnamed weekly ap- peared to compete for coverage of the case al- most every day for two months. The newspa- pers ran numerous pictures of the handsome Valiton and referred to the two men as the dit boys" and the "bandit sheiks". The Vows suggested that the case was 4liami's ver- sion of the Leopold and Loeb case in Chicago earlier that year. Leopold and Loeb were two wealthy Chicago men (defended by Clarence Darrow) who had been convicted of the "thrill - killing" of a young boy after a sensational trial in Chicano. The Dailv New,; assigned a reporter to the Valiton case who had covered the Leopold/ Loeb trial. The comparison of the Valiton/Nauele trial to Leopold and Loeb was a false analogy as the crimes were not similar and neither the Valitort nor the Naugle families were wealthy. In fact. Walter Valiton's father had to "sell everything" to hire the expensive private lawyers who de- fended Walter in the %liami trial. The unnamed Miami weekly tabloid pub- lished a semi -naked picture of Valiton and a girl- friend allegedly to "show that Valiton was not 'an effeminate. a nit -wit or a 'degenerate'." The defense attomeys claimed that the naked photo w•as "damaging" and used it to bolster their case for a change of venue. The Tribune published numerous pictures of the funeral including pic- tures of the hooded men and women of the KKK at the funeral and at the burial site. Valiton and Buderdrove a car From Toledo. Ohio, to Daytona Beach. FL, and then replaced it with a more luxurious Essex which they stole in Daytona (as it turned out from the brother of Miami Police Chief Qui,g). Upon arrival in kli- ami, the two Ohio boys met John Naugle and the three began a crime spree lasting tw•o months. They lived in a shack near Fulford where they kept all the stolen goods and spent their days "reading magazines of adventure and sex, or playing cards." At night they partied and com- mitted burglaries and robberies. Butler retumed to Ohio sometime before March 15. Walter Valiton would later claim that he "strayed from right living" when he began spending much of his time reading the detective magazines. Then came a time when I began to read - detective and 'wild west' stories.A change seemed to come over me, I began to long for action. for some of the things that had never interested me before. (Miami pally Nztivs.3I-5/ 19_25 ) Valiton's mother also blamed his criminal behavior on detective magazines and said that she "shrew out every detective story I could rind" when she beean to rind them in her son's room in Toledo. Valiton also claimed that he began to drink alcohol for the first time in Miami and that the shooting of Sgt. Wever was due to the fact that his "mind was drink -befuddled". Shortly afterWever was killed. Vati(on and Naugle "crashed" at the tipster's tent in a tourist camp in Lemon City. Albert Goubeaux, one of Henry's friends, gave the two killers a ride to their home in Fulford. During the ride the two told Goubeaux of their role in the µ'ever shoot• ing and even showed him their cache of stolen loot and their Essex auto which had been "ditched" in the mud 8 miles out in the Ever- glades, The killers promised Goubeaux they would give him the ditched Essex if he would help them get out of trouble and bring groceries to the shack. Goubeaux also said that Valiton and Naugle threatened to kill him if he did not ac - ceps their "offer". Nevertheless. Goubeaux tole Henry of the killer's confession and Henry told his boss who went to police with the informa• tion. After police verified the existence of the cache and the ditched Essex. fourteen htavils armed police officers, led by Chief Quieg. con- verved on the shack occupied by the t% -.o killer, at 4:30A1e1 on March 13. "Chief Quigg drove his auto through the underbrush to the irons of the shack. then flashed his headlights and a spot lightdiiectly on the house." Other officers broke dctylnrt{te door and "dashed into the room re- volvers and tlashliehts in hand." Valiton and Naugle were asleep in the front room of the hou<e and wereeaptured before they could resist. When police asked Naugle. "aid you kill Wever.'" he responded. "No. I didn't. he did" (pointing to Valiton). Naugle also claimed that he pleaded with Valiton not to kill Wever before the shoot ing. The police found that the shack had been wired with dynamite sothat if the door was opened the dynamite would be ignited by a spark from several dry batteries. The circuit was disconnected when the men were in the house. and in their absence the men would close the circuit leaving a death trap to any intruder. (Miami Herald. 31191 1925) Two truckloads of stolen property were hauled away from the shack including a large quantity of perfume. soaps. and other article. sold in drug stores. Police believe the two men had robbed several drug stores in the past few months. Police also found burglar and safe- cracking tools in the shack and suggested that the evidence would help close numerous bur. glaries and robberies in the Nliami area. The news of the "buried treasure" at the Fulford shack led a horde of looters to descend upon the bandits' hideout. Treasure hunters. seeking to find loot possibly hidden by the boy bandits. ha%c stampeded to Fulford. According to Chief Quigg the ground has been mined and cross -cut to a distance of more than all feet from the shack. Anotheraftemtathofthe capture -of the bandits is the theft of their stolen furniture from their shack by other thieves. tNiami Daily News. 313111925 ) Valiton confessed to the police that he w•a< the person who killed Wever and both Valiton and Naugle confessed to numerous burglarie, and robberies. Police found the revoker. with which Valiton admitted killing Wever. under the pillow where he had been sleeping. The neo ad- mit(ed to acriminal lifestyle as indicated helot+: Money came easy for Foy ti.e.. Valiton) and Naugle. and it went just as eas- ily as itcame. according to their admission> to the police. Cards. liquor. women and the races claimed their money, which the% ob- tained by the strong arm method... I l Iext taken from a safe).. was squandered on the races, pool games and other forms of bet- ting.0-liami Her; Uc.3119119'5) The two boys also claimed that lhe\ started theircriminal career because "they wanted to pct a 'kick out of life"' and went "reckle5sk from one adventure to another until they lost all moral G 0 perspectiye." This interview led the media ami. The embarrassed attorney admitted the*at refer to the boys "thrill when the Sgt. pulled up alongside the car to as -killers" and con( threatening words but claimed that was before demand that the driver pull over. Naugle claimed uted to the Leopold and Loeb comparison. he had heard both sides of the case. that Wever was not threatening Valiton but that The two confessed that they had loot from The change of venue was denied by Judge Valiton knew that the stolen car and s(L)len loot a drug store which they had just burglarized in H.F. Atkinson but the trial was continued until in the car would result in his arrest if he went to their auto when overtaken b% Sgt. Wever. Valiton May 12 to give attorneys time to prepare a de- the police station as directed by the Obiter. in declared that he "did not want to be taken to jail fense and to allow the families of both defen- short. Naugle testified that Valiton shot the Sgt. and shot in a frenzy of fear. He said he had been dants to travel to Miami. Shortly before the in order to escape. Naugle claimed that he begged drinking." scheduled May 12 trial, the prosecution severed Valiton not to shoot the officer but [hat the kil ler Valiton and ,Naugle were taken to the county the trials of the two defendants but did not an- ignored his pleas. jail early on the morning of March 18 and faced pounce whether Naugle would testify against Cleo Butter also "turned state's a+idence" swift justice. A preliminary hearing was held in Valiton. and testifij.d against his cousin and crime part• the jail later in the morning by Justice of the The Valiton family (from Toledo, Ohio) and ner. Waltert'Vraliton. The Tribune reported that Peace HAV Penny and the tw o were refused bail. the Naugle family arrived on the same train on Butler "hurled the charge of 'thief' in the face At this point Valiton admitted he had told police March 27 to visit their sons and to hire attor- of the young defendant' by telling of the crime that he had shot Wever but told Justice Penne, net's. Miami newspapers stated that the Naugle th spree of the gang before e murder of «ever, that the confession w•as eiven under duress. The family came from Jacksonville but the Toledo Valiton's attomey claimed that his confes- grandjury was assembled to consider the charges Blade claimed that both boys were from Toledo cion was coerced and that his client was ".tabbed. and the two killers were indicted before noon on and that W.F. Naugle. John Naugle's father. tray- blackjacked and choked by police" before he the day of their arrest, eled on the same train with the Valiton family to save in and told officials "what (hey a anted to The police feared mob action against the Miami. A temporary attorney had been assigned hear." Defense attorneys presented testimony two confessed killers of Sgt. Wever and thus to defend the two boys pending the arrival of that the two boys had been badly beaten when decided to secretly get them out of town. A crowd the parents. they arrived at the jail. A jail warden "reluc- of 400 to 500 gathered in front of the jail on the Valiton had tried to keep his arrest a secret tantly" testified that the boys had been "badly morning of the arrest leading the jail warden from his parents as he was embarrassed by his battered up" when they arrived at the jail and (Graham) to "arm himself with tear -bombs or predicament. Ironically, his mother, concerned that he had to lock Valiton away from the police hand grenades to ward off possible attack." Jus- about his being away from home and falling into and threaten "to kill anybody who started any- tice Penny later testified that the preliminan temptation, had sent him a newspaper clipping thing" again. hearing was held inside the jail due to his fear from the Toledo Blade telling of the arrest of However. Valiton's claim that he was not that the boys might be lynched by the crowd another Ohio boy. William Fox, for the murder involved in any of the robberies and burglaries outside the jail if authorities attempted to hold of a Miami police officer. She did not know that was contradicted by Naugle and b% the stolen the hearing in the courthouse. Fox was actually her son and that the name of roods (from Miami robberies and burglaries) The next morning, deputy sheriffs. posing William Fox was his alias. found at the shack in Fulford and doubtless hun as garbage collectors, tricked the crowd milling During this period Mrs. Valiton went un- his credibility with the jury, around outside the jail, by placing Valiton and announced to the Weyer home to beg Sgt. The defense also tried to lay the blame for Naugle inside covered garbage cans and plat- Wever's wife to urge authorities to "let her boy the murder on the easy availability of liquor in ing the cans on a departing garbage truck. The go." The Wever family threw her out of the Miami. Walter Valiton's father suggested to the two prisoners were taken to Jacksonville until house. Toledo Blade that the lack of enforcement of li- their trial. Six hours later the milling crowd was The jury selection process took 3 days (May quor laws in Miami were as responsible for the told that the prisoners were gone. 12-]4) and required a jury panel of 330 men. murder as his son. The county jail in 1925 was overcrowded The actual trial took two days (May 15 & 16). If violations of this law are permitted t at more than double its capacity) due to the State Attorney J.H. Swink prosecuted the case and violations of this lain lead to ether vio- boom and the outlawing by the Legislature (in with the assistance of "volunteers" John P. Cations who is to blame. the violater or the 1923) of the convict lease system. Officials had Gramling, the former state attorney. and Fred W. state? I wonder if one law- should be en - reason to fear for the security of their prisoners Pine, county solicitor. Several prominent Miami forced any more than another'' ( oledo as Jailer Wilbur Hendrickson and Miami Police attorneys had volunteered their services "in an Blade. 312511925). Officer John Riblet had been killed in a failed effort to end what some have declared a crime The jury received the charge of Judge A.J. jail break attempt in 1915. Four months after wave". Moman Pruiett of Oklahoma City, who Rose on Saturday. ,Ivlay 16, at I:30PM and re - Weyer was killed. jail officials "ambushed" es- claimed to have "tried more than 800 murder turned its verdict just before midnight. The jury caping prisoners. killing two. when they learned cases." was hired by the Valiton family to de- deliberated eight hours before convicting Valiton of a planned jail break by the Ashley Gang fend theirson and was assisted by ex -Judge H.M. of first degree murder (he was not tried for the which was involved in the 1915 attempted jail Carr of Oklahoma City. The Naugle family re- other crimes). The jury did, however. recommend break). The jailer, seven deputies and six Ntiami tained C.E. Farrington of Ft. Lauderdale. "one mercy which meant that the death penalty sought Police officers were indicted for the "ambush". of the best known criminal lawyers in South by the state was precluded as a senten:e by the After five dans in the Duval County jail in Florida." to represent their son. judge. The jury may have recommended mercy Jacksonville. Valiton and Naugle were returned The state apparently "shocked" the defense due to the youth (18 years old) of Valkon or by Ccs Miami ton March 33). to face trial and were by calling Naugle to the stand to testify against the sight of his distraught parents in the coun- arraiened. Defense attorneys sought a change of Valiton.-The defense asked the judge to rule that room during the trial. %enue given the hostility in the community that any "deal" with Naugle (i.e.. immunity or a re- The judge, defendant and famil%. and ,the led city officials to send the two defendants to duction of charges for testifying) should be an- spectators were apparently surprised by thejury's Jacksonville for safekeeping againstfpossible nounced to the jury but the judge refused to so recommendation of mercy. When the terdict was mob action. However. the prosecution argued rule. Defense attorney Pruiett attacked Naugle's read. Valiton's "face lighted up in a smile. he :hat the temporary removal of the defendants was attorneys (" advocating the whipping post for threw back his head in relief' and grasped the on]% a "precaution" and that there was no e\ i- them") and the prosecution for the "deal" and hands of his parents. The overflc crowd dente of hostility in the community. told the jury that Valiton was a "lily-white Puri- "gasped" at the verdict. However. the defense claimed that numer- tan beside Naugle" and said Naugle had "lied On May 10, 1925. Judge Rose sentenced esus local citizens had e.\pressed hostility toward like a mangy dog.- Valiton to life in prison "at hard labor." The [he defendants and produced one jail official who Valiton took the stand in his own defense judge's comments at sentencing suggested Cha[ said he heard Valiton's defense attorney (before and claimed that he shot Sgt. Wever in self -de- he disagreed with the jury's recommendation for he was appointed to the case) threaten harm to fense when the officer pulled out his gun and a life (vs, death) sentence but indicated that he he defendants when he said he would be "a threatened to shoot hien. However. Naugle testi- was bound by the jury's majority vote. Judge hirsting for their blood" if they returned to .% i. fled that Valiton shot Wever from the driver's Rose told Valiton that he commiued a' -,:reel and f !3 unprovoked murder ofan officer in the 0arge of his duty." The family decided not to appeal the case as they believed a retrial would be held in Miami and would result in the same verdict. Valiton was also a suspect (but never tried) in the attempted murder of Nliami Police motor- cycle officer ,.Milton Carr on July 28. 1924. Carr and another motorcycle officer stopped two men driving an Essex and Carr placed the two men in the back seat and attempted to drive them to the police station. The two men hit Carr on the head. knocked him unconscious. and threw him from the car. Carr was not expected to survive his severe wounds but did recover. Walter C. Valiton served 15 years on his life sentence before his parole on July 7. 1940. at the age of 33. He was paroled after 15 years despite three escapes from Raiford and one from ..Camp I ". Valiton's first escape came on July 20. 1925 -three months atter the slaying -- when he unlocked the door of a prison van with a hairpin and fled with several other prisoners. He was recaptured a week later. still in Florida. He walked away from a prison base- ball Some Nov. 11. the same year, and was recaptured in Tampa. On his return. he re- solved himself into a "model prisoner' and soon became chief assistant in the prison hospital. A Daily News reporter visiting the prison last ,year found Valiton in charge of the hospital. occupying a room of his own and found him praised by prison officials. I Miami Herald. July 7, 1933) Prison records indicate that Valiton was re- captured after 5 days in 1925. after 9 days a sec- ond time in 1925. after 13 days in 1933 and at - ter 4 days in 1935. The 1933 escape made front page news in the Miami Herald as Valiton es- caped with another Dade cop -killer. Howard Beek. who was serving a life term for the 1928 killing; of Miami Beach officer David Bearden. The Miami l lora d reported that Valiton's I year sentence was actually quite severe as the average prisoner serving a life term served 8 years and Valiton in 1940 hadserved 15 and was the "oldest inmate of Raiford prison in years of incarceration. It appears that Walter Valiton would have been released earlier from prison had not oppo- sition been voiced to such an early release from Miami. In 19336 Judge lien C. Willard told prison officials that he opposed the pardon of Valiton when the killer of Sin. Wever appeared on a list of pardon applicants sent to him. Miami police officers also circulated a petition opposing Valiton's pardon and sent the petition to the "state pardon board." Members of the Wever family also sent letters to FL Gov. Alfred R Cone op- posing the parole of Valiton. An editorial in the Miami Dailv News ex- pressed strong opposition to the parole and ridi- culed the pardon board's recommendation: But by all. odds the most farcical ex- cuse the pardon board gave for its treatment of Valiton was that he had already served 1; years of his sentence and had been noted for his good behavior in prison. Good be- havior? Why. he escaped from prison no Mess than three times. If a convict who is constantly escaping and beingreeapd is making a record forgood behavior. ng challee y;oah Webster to rise up ot f his grave and eat his hat. (Daily v w . 71.11 19-10) Opposition to Valiton's release may have delayed his release from 1936 to 19-10 but ap- parently the protest.,; in 19.10 fell on deaf ears. The publicity in Toledo about the Valiton/ Wevercase forced the Valiton family to relocate to Ft. Wayne. IN. W'aiter's father made several trips to FL during the 13 year incarceration to visit his son and worked ie.g., writing letters to the Governor. parole board. etc.) to free his son from prison. His mother kept a daily diary which indicated her heartbreak at her son being in prison and her loneliness during her husband's many trips to FL. Walter Valiton's family was quite religious and was heartbroken at the "troubles" of their wayward son. When Walter Valiton was released on pa- role in 1940 he was allowed to live Iwhile still under FL parole) in Ft. Wayne, IN. to be close to his family, Walter worked for several years at a General Electric plant and was discharged from parole supervision on Sept. 18. 1945. at the age of 38. During this time Walter Valiton married and his only child. a son. was born, However. the prison record of Walter Valiton did not end in 045. He was convicted of sodomy (for sex with a minor) and sent to the Michigan City Prison in Indiana in the late 1940's. The re -imprisonment of Walter Valiton "broke the heart" of his father who died i in 19501 during his son's (second) prison term. «alter Valiton was released from prison in the early 1950's but was later returned to prison on a pa- role violation. iThe Indiana Dept. of Corrections records are incomplete for the 1940's and 1950's and thus exact dates are not available.) Walter Valiton eventually was -rehabili- tated" (or at least remained free of convictions) and owned and operated several apartments in Ft. Wayne, IN. until his death in 1979 at the age of 72. He lived 39 years after his release from the FL prison. His obituary in the Fr. Wayne Jour: pal -Gazette indicated that he was "self-em- ployed" at his death. Walter Valiton was buried in Greenlawn Memorial Park in Ft. Wayne in the family- plot next to his father and sister. His son. 50. still lived in Indiana in 1995 and indicated that he had spent much of his early life trying to "live down" the reputation of his father and "walked the straight and narrow" to prove to those in his community that he was "not like his father." The son. %%ho suffered a lifetime under the criminal shadow of his father. expressed sympathy forthe family of Laurie Weyer and wished that he could communicate that sympathy to Wever's family. The state dropped the murdercharge against Naugle in return for his testimonv against Valiton but did announce that he would be tried on a charge of "accessory after the fact" and on rob- bery charges for the crime spree with Valiton. Naugle's case was transferred from the circuit court to the criminal .ourt of record. No court record could 1�e found with respect to `augle's case but the Miami Herald IJuly 17, 19::) later reported that he was given a fire -year sentence and served part of that term before being given clemency by the state pardon board. Oddly. the State Department of Corrections has no record of Naugle's serving time in a FL prison. No mention is made in the newspapers as to whether charges against Cleo Butter were dropped in return for his testimony against Valiton. A search of court records failed to find any record of the final disposition for Butler. Also, the FL Dept. of Corrections has no record that he was incarcerated in 192-i-26. THE OFFICER Latuie Lafayette Wever. t4, was bum in Barton, FL. of July 4. 1891, to Newton Miles and Germ2+-tc Wevgr. Laurie wag the second of (ourchildmn i Miles. Laurie. Frartldin, and Doris) and moved to S. FL with Ns parents in 1904. The Wever family operated a farm inGoulds(jusewestofU.S. t)wheretheym%e oranges and grapefMirs. Laurie attended school in Miami and ways took an active interest in athletics and waN prominent in such contests when in both gram- mar and high school." He may have attended Miami H.S. but no record of his attendance or graduation could be found from 1906-1909. After leaving school Weyer worked in Nli- ami for the Florida East Coast Railway as "an engineer forone of the provision boats." He later became a machinist and gas engine repairman for the Loften and Elwig Machine Shop. At the age of 20. Wever moved to Bridgeport. C.N. for a brief time and worked as a foreman in a "roll- ing mill" (steel plant). He served four %ears in the coast guard at Ft. Warren. NIA. and then worked in Sayannah.GA, as an engineer. He also spent a ,year in British Honduras and for a brief time worked in New Orleans. Wever returned to Bridgeport and married a Bridgeport girl. Theresa Scheitinger. The couple's two children. Doris and Lois Audrey. were born in Bridgeport in 1917 and 1919. Laurie and Theresa Wever owned a bus line in Bridge- port and seemed financially secure for life. How- ever. one of their drivers had an accident and "lawyers came in and took everythin* the couple owned. The couple borrowed money to straighten out their financial affairs and movers to Miami in late 1919 when Doris was 2 and Lois, eight months old. Laurie Weyer. 3U. joined the Miami Polite Department on August 23.192 M, as a patrolman. He soon became a motorcycle officer and two nears later was made sergeant and commander of the squad of 20, Offieer MelvilleTibbius. who %% as injured in the motorcycle accident that killed Officer Frank Croff in 19' 1, was also member of Sgt, Wever's squad. Wever's wife said that her husband's command of the motorcycle unit "made him as happy as if he had inherited a for- tune." Wever's oldest daughter. Doris. also was thrilled with her father's job as he usually took her to Northside Elementary School on his po- lice motorcycle and the otherchildren wcre quite impressed by that. Sett. Wever often brought members of the unit home (at 652 N.W. 23rd St.) for dinner Wever typically worked six days a week from 3:30AM until ifl:MPM. The ni;ht before his murder. Weyer took the night off to be w ith his wife of l l vears--it was his first time oft in months. An undated Elerald article around the time of Wever's death indicated that the a%era_e salary of `liami policemen was S 150 a month. Laurie Wever was also a member of Com- transplanted to the Southern city of Miami haveher members of the police force. fellow pany B. 120th Infantry• of the National Guar eservations about Southern culture and theVansmen and soldiers with whom he had Newspaper accounts indicate that Wever serxe KKK? Did he confide those reservations to his bravely fought in the World War. united with in W.W, I. family, including his oldest daughter. Janet. who Sergeant Weyer's family and friends in the last Sgt. Laurie Wever was buried on March 18, in 1993 became the C.S. Attorney General? rites." 1925. in one of the most spectacular processions Henry Reno was later friends with Chester Laurie Wever. 34, was survived by his w ife. and funerals ever seen in Miami. The funeral. Peterson, a technician in the Dade County crime Theresa. 34: his daughters Doris. 8, and Lois. 6 arranged by W.H. Combs Funeral Home, was lab, who married Laurie Weyer's widow in 1935. of Miami; his father. Newton Miles Weer: two held at The First Baptist Church at the comer of Henry and Janet Wood Reno also knew Theresa brothers. Franklin Wever and Miles We,,cr: a First Ave, and Fifth St. to accommodate the 5.000 Weyer as she became a matron in the cityjail in sister. Doris Wever. all of Goulds; and a brother. persons who attended the service for the popu- 1928 before marrying Peterson. Perhaps the Heyward Weyer of Johnstown. PA. lar Miami officer. Wever funeral, described by the Herald as the Community support for Sgt. Wever wa: Special seating arrangements were made biggest in Dade County history. was sometimes also seen in t.W fact that the mortgage i51»OOi for delegations from the Miami Police Depart- discussed among these friends, on the Wever home was paid off by communis ment, the American Legion. and the Ku Klux Dr. John A. Wray delivered the eulogy and contributions and additional funds (totalling o%ar Klan. The KKK delegation (in full white uni- blamed the "fluid poison that men drink from 511,000) were raised for .1rs. Wever and her firms with hoods and masks) passed the casket flasks' for" releasing the murderous Frenzy" that children. The fund was placed in the "Dade Se- as they entered "with upraised right hands" and killed Set. Wever. Wray cautioned against "law•. curity Bank" with trustees appointed to tak: a "retired to the seals in the center." The body was lessness" against "the slayers" but also called yearly altow•ance" from the fund for the care of placed in a mahogany casket and "at either end for "swift retribution". Rev. Wray compared "the the widow and two children. The Miami_Trib tine of the casket stood a Knight of the Ku Klux Klan. life of Sgt. Wever to that of Christ who Cave up on ,larch 21, 1925. reported that total contribu- keeping a silent vigil over the form of his de- his blood for an ideal and for the sake of duty as tions for all sources for the widow's fund reached paned brother." he saw it." 515.000 (Lois remembers a figure closer to Newspaper accounts that Sgt. Wever was a At the conclusion of the eulogy a delega- $30.000). member of the KKK are confirmed by the tion from the Kamelia. the women's auxiliary of Substantial contributions to the widow's officer's daughters who reported that both their the KKK. marched past the bier placing a white fund came from "winter visitors" and from banks father and mother were members of the KKK. carnation in the casket. The KKK women were in Indianapolis and Sioux City. The Tribune also The girls were told as children that the organi- "scarcely distinguishable from the men in the reported that the Essex coach driven by the kill- nation supported "law and order" and was simi- similarity of their garb." The choir and the ers would be turned over to Wever's widow for lar to vigilante groups which handled problems Kamelia sang a hymn to close the service. the car would be sold with the proceeds given to that "the law couldn't get to" (such as punishing At the conclusion of the service. the KKK [he widow) if the owner of the car could net be wife beaters). Their memory of the KKK from served (with police officers) asadouble line lead- located. (The family never received the car but the 1930-s is as a social organization and Doris ing from the church to the hearse. The funeral funds from its sale might have been part of the had pictures of a KKK circus and Christmas procession passed through the streets of Miami widow's fund.) party that they attended. Neither daughter had as large crowds on both sides of the street The Tribune reported on March 20. 1925. any recollection of violence by the KKK and watched silently as the procession moved down that the widow's fund would be placed in a bank remember their father and mother as non-vio- N.E. First Ave. and out Flagler to Woodiawn and overseen by trustees. lent persons who supported "law and order." Cemetery. "Nearly all stores and shops along the Provisions would be made by the trust- It should be remembered that in 1925 the route. and many elsewhere were closed." The ees. under the chief's plan, for the care of KKK was considered by most white residents procession included motorcycle squadrons and Mrs. Wever and her two children byavearl% as a respected "community organization". The police and firemen from Miami and Miami allowance during her lifetime. The residue Klan reached its peak of popularity in the U.S. Beach: delegations from the American Legion. of the fund would go to the children after in 1935 as indicated by the fact that on Aug. 8, the Boy Scouts. the Woodman of the World, the her death. ("vrimi u e. 3/20/1925 1925. 30.000 klansmen paraded in full uniform Ku Klux Klan and the women's auxiliary of the Unfortunately, the Dade Security Bank in Washington. D.C. KKK ("The Ku Klux Klan was led by the ex- failed during the Depression (around 19291 and The above statement of the Wever daugh- alted cyclops while the Kamelia was headed by the widow's pension ended. However. the fam- ters' perception of the KKK in 1925 is not meant Mrs. Dunworth.") ily did have the home at 54-4 N.W. 43rd St. gi%cn to deny that the KKK was a violent hate group Prominent in the procession was a flatbed to them by the bank. In addition. the widow re- but only to suggest that the Wever family's per- truck which carried the motorcycle the sergeant ceived 5.1.000 from a life insurance police held ception of the KKK in 1925 was different from rode on the night he was killed. On the side of by her husband. Set. Wever's daughter. Doris the view today. It should be noted that both the motorcycle was a placard with the words. Fisher. believes that the financial help described daughters had photographs depicting KKK in- "He died for your protection." by Miami newspapers and the Police Department volvement in their father's funeral and burial and At the grave. a circle of blue-clad in 1925 was exaggerated as she remembers her allowed Dr. Wilbunks to copy the photographs. brother officers formed a cordon about the mother attempting to raise she and her siste- on They were aware that mangy• would judge the gave and (he principal mourners while be- a meager S60 a month check. Weverfamih harshly because of the photographs hind them stood a wider circle of white- also. 56.000 in reward money was raised and yet decided to make them public for the sake abed klansmen. Several thousand heard the in three days by the community. The reward ol'histon. chants of the Klan ceremonial. the final money was later split between three men who One also wonders how the young rookie volleys fired by an infantry and American provided tips that led to the capture of the ,w o crime reporter for the Miami Herald reacted to Legion detail, and. as dusk lensthened the fugitives. the involvement of the KKK in the faneral. shadows of the gravestones, the notes of a Laurie Wever's widow. Theresa. worked as Henry Reno. 24, began work as the atiaw's bugle in taps... (Mmami Daily ti w•s. 3/191 a "matron" forihe Police Department from 192S- :rime reporter in August of 1924. The Wever 1925) 1935. Lois reports that her mother was the first iuneral was probably the first of as many as 40 The graveside service included a "touch- matron hired by the Miami Police Department "line of dui)-" police funerals that he covered ing address" by the "exalted cyclops" of the and worked at the cit} jail attending to and (ran.- fur the Herald from 1924 to 1966. a period of 42 KKK. the burning of a" iery cross." and a mili- purlins; female arrestees and female inmate.. ti ears. Certainly the Wever funeral was not the tart' salute by Company B. l.'-Oth Infamn of the Theresa "ever remarried in 1935 and quit %%ork- ist Dade police funeral with KKK involvement National Guard. The Miami ligo noted that ing, is newspaper accounts of the death of yliami "never in the history of %•liami have such beau- Her husband. Chester A. Peterson, was a ?fficerSamuel D. Hicks in 1936suggest he was tiful wreaths in such profusion and variety fingerprint and ballistics expert with the Dade ven a KKK funeral. marked a grave as those seen at Wever's grave County crime lab until his retirement in 1949. Did Henry Reno. born in Denmark. and that day. The burial service was "impressive as He was well known in law enforcement circles 1 for the invention of a camera for ballistest- ing. The couple then moved to the FL Keys (to Tavernier) where Chester died in 1959. Theresa Wever Peterson remained in the FL Keys until her death on March 3, 1963, at the age of 72. Theresa Wever Peterson was buried beside her (first) husband at Woodlawn Cemetery in (what is now) Little Havana, Two of Laurie Wever's brothers are also buried in the same plot. Franklin Wever was kilted in a construction ac- cident while helping build the Fleetwood Hotel on Miami Beach in 1926. Miles Wever died in 1940. Doris Wever married a man named Sanger for Songer) who worked for the N- hami Herald for many years, The family plot is in section 5 at Woodlawn near the driveway and is marked by a 3 foot tall marker that reads simply, "Wever." Laurie Waver's (flat) grave marker reads: LAURIE L. WEVER 1891-1935 Around 1930 Theresa Wever and her two daughters attending the unveiling of a plaque at City Hall listing Laurie Weverand the other Mi- ami police officers killed in the line of duty. No one at the current Miami Police Department has ever seen that plaque and it apparently has been lost. Laurie Waver's daughter, Lois, 15, married Ray O. Woodward in 1934. Woodward was bom in Miami in 1913 and was a professional boxer fur several years, fighting in FL, NY, OH and NJ. He later worked for 30 years for Cornelius Electric in Miami. Lois and Ray Woodward re- tired to Tavernier in the FL Keys in 1963 and moved into the house built there by her mother and Chester Peterson. Ray Woodward died in 1989 after 55 years of marriage to Lois Wever, In 1995, Lois Wever Woodward, 76. still lived in Tavernier. Doris Waver graduated from Edison H.S. in 1935 and was a member of the prestigious Edison Cadeues (adrill team). She went throueh training to be a nurse at Jackson Memorial Hos- pital before her 1937 marriage to Alfred Greenberg. a race horse owner and trainer. In 1954 Doris married Douglas Fisher who had been a jockey at Hialeah when the track opened in 1925 and later worked the starting gates at Tropical and Gulfstream. Douglas and Doris Fisher worked the racetrack circuit in the 1940's. 1950'1 and 1960's spending the winters in S. FL and the rest of the year in NY. MD. NJ. `H. and OH. The couple had no children and later re- tired to Hallandale where Douglas died in 1987. In 1995. Doris Wever Fisher. 78. still lived in Hallandale. Laurie Wever had numerous descendants (through Lois) living. in S. FL in 1995. Laurie Wever's two grandchildren (Laurie Maureen Woodward Brady. 59, of Pembroke Pines and Chester Aubrey Woodward, 55, of Deerfield Beach) lived in S. FL. as did theirchildren {Joann Brady Dewey. 40: Joseph Clifford Brady. 38: Laurie (named after her great grandfather. Sgt. Laurie Wever) June Brady. 36: Janice Lynn Bradv, 31: Jay Kevin Brady. 29: Lainie Wuodward, 29: and Angie Woodward Daar. 26. Finally, Laurie Wever's descendants in 1995 in- cluded 6 great, great. grandchildren. all living in S. FL. Donald Wever of Warrenton. VA. hasx- rensive family tree of the Wavers, includinSt of the descendants of Laurie Wever, In 1995. Blake Wever, a grand nephew of Sgt. Laurie Wever was a K-9 officer with the Homestead Police Department. The name of Laurie L. Wever is inscribed (East Wall, Panel 13. Line 14) on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington. D.C. A plaque bearing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Department where his name is read in a departmental service each ,bray and in the countywide Dade Police Mernorial Ser- vice held each May in Tropical Park. SOURCES: Miami Herald,.larch 16.17,18.19, Nlav 11,I3.14.16.17. 19.21.12, Nov, 23,25,26. 19_5. July 7. 1933. Sept. 11, 1936. June 17, 1940, Aug. 14, 1967; Miami Daily News, March 16.1 7.18.19,20,21.22,23. 24.25.26.27. 28.29.30.31. April '_. 1925: Miami Tribune, March 16.18,19. 20,21.18.30, April 2. May 1.1.15.16, 13.19. 1925. Aug. W. 1936: Toledo RLqk..larch,2-1.25.28.31. April 1. May 15,18, 1925. Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette. Dec. 12, 1943, March 12, 1950. Feb. 9. 1979: Criminal Justice in Miami: 1896-1930. a dissertation by Paul S. George. Ann Arbor: University Microfilms, 1976: Murder in Miami: An ;Iysjs of Homi- cide -Patterns and Trends in Dade County CAL ami} Floridil, 1917-1983 by William Wifbanks. Lanham. N.Y.: University Press of America. 1934: death certificate of Laurie L. Wever: Dade County court file of Walter C. Valiton: FL Dept. of Corrections records of Walter C. Valiton (#1632): Polk's Greater Miami City Directory, Toledo City Directory: interviews with Lois Audrev Wever Woodward, Doris Wever Fisher, Laurie.Maureen Brady and Walter Valiton's son. 1 5 ONE WIN C BKS Miami Police Department Hit by auto while directing traffic. Feb. 16. 1926 THE EVEiVT Miami PoliceOfflcerJohn D.,,larch banks. 66. was killed on Feb. 16. 1926. when he was struck by "a reckless or incompetent motor car driver" while directing traffic at a downtown Miami intersection. Officer Marchbanks, an 3 year veteran, became the fifth Miami police of- ficer to be killed in the line orduty since 1915. He was the oldest of the 108 Dade law enforce- ment officers killed from 1396-1995.. Marchbanks w as directing traffic at the in- wrsection of E. Fla. -ler St. and Bayshore Dr. on the afternoon of Tuesday. Feb. 16. 1926, when he ":tarred to cross Flagler street. to give sonic instructions to a motorist." At that point an au- tomobile "turned into t Biscayne) Drive" and hit Marchbanks with the front bumper. hlarchbanks was struck below the knees and thrown against the radiator. "The driver. apparently excited, steered the motor car into the telephone pole. crushing Marchbanks." The natally wounded officer was taken in a pri% ate auw to the River View Hospital "where he was placed under the care of two physicians." Mar, hbanks "suffered a broken back and other injuries which caused his death" later that night. The slain officer's wife. Elizabeth, was in Ha- vant "with a delegation attending the Rebecca Assembly" when she was notified of he: 1 husband's death. J THE PERPETRATOR The driver of the automobile which struck- Marchbanks truckMarchbanks was J.L. Smith. 27. who was iivimj at the time at the Bradford Hotel on N.E. Fir:; St. After the accident, Smith -leaped from hi, automobile and fled."Smith laier told police ihac he "left the scene in search of a lawyer" as he was -'afraid he would be jailed," A( 4:30P.N1 Smith showed up at the law offices of Frey! W. Pirte�,ft 215 N.E. FirstAve.A memberof the lati% firm called police ar6:00P1.1 to report chat Smith was in their office. Miami detectives E.W. Paarce and L.H. Haddock arrested Smith at the lawyer's office and took him to police headquarters for ques- tioning. Smith was later taken to the county jail on the order of Chief of Police FI. Leslie Qui_ pending a coroner's inquest to be held the next day. On Thursday, Feb. 13. Justice of the Peace H.W. Penny held an inquest in his offices and ruled that Mirchbanki "met his death throueh reckless driving of an automobile by Smith." Justice Penny "held Smith to the Criminal court on a charge of reckless driving and released him on a S1,000 bond. However. Smith was rear- rested the nest day (Friday) "on a capias war. rant issued by County Solicitor Robert R. Tay- lor, Jr., charging him with manslaughter' and wa_: jailed "in default of a S10.00t) bond." A search of Dada County court record, failed to locate any files for the manslaughter case aeainst I.L. Smith, 27. Thus the disposition of this case is unknown. THE OFFICER - John D. Marchbanks.66. was bom onNov. 9. 1860. in Hall County, GA, to James 1V. and Sophie Eberhart Marchbanks. His father was born on Jan. 2, 1333. in S.C. and his mother in Hall County. Ga, on Jan. S. 184 1, James %V. and Sophie Eberhart married in Hall Countyon Nov. 24. 1359. and John D.. the first of seven chil- dren, was born the next year. The 1330 GAcen- sus listed the children of James W. and Sophie 4larchbanks as: John D., 19: %larsarn E.. 13i Joseph A.. 12: Robert Lee. 10. Ida S.. 7: Tho- mas J., 3; and Benjamin B.. 1. Jahn Marchbanks, 23, married Lucy Jones. 20. in Gainesvile. GA, in 1334. Lucy lone; Marchbanks died in 1895 at the age of 30 and was buried in the Ebethart Fantil. Cemetery near Gainesville. The couple had a .on. David L. Marchbanks born on flay 16. 1892. and a daugh- ter. Agnes (year ter birth unkno%%n), It appears that David L. and Aries Marchbanks were raised by the Eberhan family (_randparenl.) or Luc. Jones' family. John D. Marchbanks. -10, was listed in the 1900 GA census as widowed and as a boarder in a Gainesville residence. ,%Iarriage records in Hall County indicate that John D. Marchbanks mar- ried" ,.Irs. Elizabeth Jones Colbert" (appafentl% a widow) on Feb. 20. 1901. w hen he wits 41 and she was 55. It is unknown whether Da.'id. ). and Agnes then moved in with their father or re- mained with theirgrandparentx. Little else is known about John �, Marchbanks until he and Elizabeth moved from Gainesville. GA. to Miami in 1916 when John was 54. According to the Miami city directory. John was a carpenter from 1916-1917. The cit directory also indicated that David Marchbanks (then 26) was living with his father in Miami in 1917 and working as a carpenter (probably with his father). David L. Marchbanks enlisted in the Army (325th Infantry. Company K) while in Miami and died of spinal meningitis in an Army hospital at Camp Gordon. GA. on April 30. 1918. TheIvJL- aaj Herald reported that his fatter (who had been a Miami policeman for only two months) was called to David's bedside in Geo ria on April 18 and remained there until his son's death on April 30. Marchbanks joined the Miami Police De- partment on Jan. 24. 191 8, at the age of 56. The Mliami Police Chief at that time was R.M. Dillon. Sgt. J.1. Brown recalled that he and \Marchbanks "joined the force the same day. and both were sworn in by Former Miayor J.W. Watson." When Marchbanks became a Miami police officer there were only 30 sworn offic- ers but by the time he was killed there were 352 officers on the force—an increase of 1.007% in just 8 years. The Miami Herald reported that Marchbanks had been assigned to traffic control on Flagler Street for almost all of his 8 -year ten- ure with the department. At times he -was "in charge of parked cars" in the downtown area and was well known among "downtown people" for the cane which he carried that had a "blue crayon in the tip" to keep an "accurate check on parked automobiles." At other times he directed traffic at downtown intersections (there were no traffic lights in 1925). The high visibility job held by Marchbanks led to his being "known to thou- sands of Miamians." It was not unusual to have rather elderly men sere as traffic officers in early Miami. Edward" Uncle Ned" Mussell, became' Miami's first traffic policeman" in 1913 when he was 60 and served until 1921 when he was 68. The Miami Herald, in reporting his death in 1938 stated that "many older Miamians recall how Uncle Ned was knocked about by vehicles dur- ing his first weeks as traffic officer. An editorial in the Feb. 19. 1926. M.[a1D1 Herald praised Marchbanks as a man who was "uniformly courteous in his difficult duties and won the respect of the public whom he served." The editorial added that the slain officer was ..clean and upright." and was a "universal favor- cr ite, quiet and friendly with all with whom he came in contact." Chief Quigg said that Marchbanks was "one of the most loyal in the matter of enforcine the law" and recommended to the city commissioners that they allow Mrs. Marchbanks a pension since she was "well ad- vanced in years and in ill health." J, Mliami's traffic congestion problems dur- ing the 8 years Marchbanks directed traffic in .iowntow n Miami are described by historian Paul C;eorge in his dissertation: This problem reached its climax in 1923.1926 when, with the boom at its peak, Miami contained 25.000 automobiles. In many areas of the city. traffic came to a standstill for long periods. The Miami Police Department... faced with the possibility of a breakdown of the city's transportation network in 1925. shifted a major portion of its emphasis and resources to the problem of traffic control. For the remainder of the decade, therefore. a large percentage of the force was engaged in dealing with the traffic problem. (In 1921) Miami contained 35.000 au- tomobile., and traffic had come to a virtual standstill at many of the city's business streets. This breakdown moved Chief Quigg to lament that -traffic is the most difficult problem for the police.' If land was the tri- umphant symbol of the boom, then the au- tomobile. with its ubiquitous traffic snarls. was its achilles heel. Another factor contributing to the traf- fic snarl was the understaffed police depart- ment. Although the MPD continued to as- sign increasing numbers of police to traffic detail. the number remained inadequate. The overwhelming majority of traffic po- licemen continued to operate downtown. Other sections of Miami remained without traffic supervision. Furthermore, the dramatic increase in automobiles led to the appearance of traf- fic officers at each of the major downtown intersections and bridges. Employing whistles as signal devices, traffic officers operated in alternate hourly shifts between 6:00 A.M. and 10:00 P.M. daily. During each hour away from his 'station.' a traffic policeman worked with the parking detail in enforcing parking regulations. Throughout this period. the MPD in- creased its traffic detail until, at the begin- ning of 1925. three-fourths of the eighty - man force was engaged in traffic operations. By this time the police were eagerly await- in- the installation of traffic 11-hts at each of the busiest downtown intersections. But numerous problems delayed their imple- mentation until spring (4 1925). By then the weekly influx of thousands of specula- tors. many of whom arrived by automobile. had virtually engaged the energetic effort of the police to keep traffic moving. With downtown traffic at a virtual halt for long periods daily, this sector faced the alarm- ing prospect of drowning in a sea of auto- mobiles. (from Criminal Justice in Miami. 1896-1930, by Paul George) The problem was reduced somewhat by a new traffic control plan (involving one-way streets, zones for loading and unloading. and en- forcement of the anti -jaywalking ordinance) implemented in April of 1925. Officer John D. Marchbanks was in downtown Miami during the traffic congestion of the boom years and was the senior officer on the traffic detail. The funeral service for Marchbanks was arranged by W.L. Philbrick Funeral Home where the body lav in state until the 3:00PM ,service on Saturday. Feb. 20. at the Buena Vista Methodist Episcopal Church. John Marchbanks' widow. Elizabeth. 80, was in Havana at the time of his death but returned EoMiami via train from Key West in time for the funeral. The Rev. John MI. Tarboux officiated and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge. of which Mr. Marchbanks was a member, was in charge of the funeral service. On the day of the funeral "the John D. Marchbanks. Cin• of Miami, 1926. entrance to the central police station" was "draped in mourning in tribute to the dead vet- eran." "An escort of 12 motorcycle policemen and 24 patrolmen" escorted the casket from the church to Woodlawn Cemetery. The eight pall- bearers were selected "from the policemen who had served a long period of time with Mr. Mlarchbanks." The Shrincrs of Nlahi Temple con- ducted the services at the grave. A young rookie police reporter. Henri Reno, 24, covered the funeral for the \Miami Herald. It was the second of 40 police line of duty deaths he would cover in the 42 years from 1924-1967. Reno. %vas the father of Janet Reno. who became U.S. Attorney General in 1993. The grave site of Mlarchbanks is ea.ity found at Woodlawm Cemetery in Miami's Little Havana. The grave marker (in section 9 behind the monument to General Lee) reads simply: J.D. NIARCHBANKS 1861.1926 ASLEEP IN JESUS Elizabeth Marchbanks died on May 18. 1939, at the age of 93 and was buried in Woodlawn Park beide her husband. One of Mrs. Colbert's sons is the third grave in the famil% burial plot. Several members of the Colbert fani- i1y are buried in othe, ecdons of Woodla+tin. John D. Mlarchb.:nk.s was survived b% hi. wife. Elizabeth Franc;:. Marchbanks. 80. and a daughter, Mfrs. Agnes Jeffries of Atlanta. Other survivors included three step -sons. John O. and Pierce M. Colbert of Miami. and W.B. Colbert of Greenville. TX: The w idow continued to lit'ts in the Miami home .he 2 -hared with her husband at N.W. 58th St, & N.W. 2nd Ave. until her death 13 years later tin 193a, at age 93. Her obituar indicated that she had i I erandchitdren and 16 great grandchildren. John D. %fur, h^.:nk.' obituary in Mianti newspapers did not mention any of his sibling+ in Georgia. It is unkawwn which. ii' an,6. of hi. brothers and sister. -Margaret. Joseph. Robert Lee. Ida S.. Thoma. J anal Benjamin B.t were still living in 1926 bu::he 1920 census for Hall County. GA. did lis, his brothers, Robert Lee Sfarchbanks. 49: Thomas J. ,&larchbank0 and Ben B. Marchbanks. 40, Robert Lee Marchbanks. died in Hall County in 1928 at the age of 58. John D. Marchbanks' mother, Sophia. died on Dec. 5, 1903, at the age of 61. His fatherdied on ,&larch 15. 1921. at the age of 83. Both are buried in the Eberhart Family Cemetery near Gainesville, GA. James W. Marchbanks married a second time after the death of Sophia as the 1920 census listed James W. Marchbanks. 81, as living in Gainesville with his second wife. Mary. 76. Extensive searches were conducted in the Gainesville. GA, and Atlanta, GA. libraries for records concerning his only surviving child. Agnes 1NtarchbanksJeffries (who lived inAtlanta when her father died). No trace of Agnes was found. It is possible that John Marchbanks has numerous descendants through Agnes Jeffries. Perhaps someday a geneologieal researcher wil I read this narrative and be able to search and rind records of Agnes and her descendants. John D. Marchbanks' name was added to the Miami Police Department's list of officers killed in the line of duty in 1993 after Dr. Wilbanks "discovered" (through Miami gene- alogist Ann McFadden) a newspaper article about his death. It appears that he was on an early (but lost) List of Stain Officers but the reconstructed list in the 1950's omitted the names of'vlarchbanks and Jesse ivlorris. Also. in 1993, a plaque bearing the name of John D. Marchbanks was added to the other plaques of slain officers in the lobby of the Miami Police Department. John D. Marchbanks' name was inscribed (West Wall, Panel 20, Line 19) on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington. D.C. in 1993 (67 years afterhis death). His name is read each May at the memorial service held at Miami Police headquarters and at the countywide Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park. SOURCES: Miami e a d, May 2, 1918. Feb. 17.18, 19.20. 1926. May 19, 1939; (All Feb.. 1936, issues of the Miami Daily y&tetroontis Samuel J. Cullurrtg. Cin' of Allan , 1927. were missing from the microfilmed back is available in libraries); Crirniftm Ju ami: 1396-1930, a dissertation by Paul Sargis George, t975; Miami t 1917: Census of Hail County. 1870. 1880. & 1900; death certificate of John D. Marchbanks: marriage records of James W. and John D. Marchbanks in Gainesville. GA: cemetery records in Gainesville, GA, library: grave mark- ers in Marchbanks family plot in Woodlawn Cemetery. ! .;?A• VA.U.AWAY Miami Police Department Died of injuries from auto accident, Jan. 10. 1927 THE EVENT Miami Police Officer Samuel J. Callaway, 50, became the sixth Miami Police officer killed in the line of duty when he was struck and fa- tally injured by a car while directing traffic on Jan. 7, 1927. He died three days later from his injuries, Officer Callaway was directing traffic on Friday. Jan. 7 at W. Flagler and 12th Ave, when he saw a speeding motorist run a red light. Of- ficer Callaway jumped on the running board of an automobile driven by W.D. Williams and "commandeered" the driver and vehicle to chase the violator. At the intersection of N.W. Fourth St. and Fourth Ave. an automobile driven by Adolph Frank "collided with" Williams' vehicle throw- ing Officer Callaway from the running board to the pavement. It appears that some type of emergency care was rendered by police offic- ers at the scene as the Nfiami_Tribune reported that "his brother police officers provided an emergency operation to relieve the pressure on his brain occasioned by the fall to the pave- ment." The fatally wounded off icer was then taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in a Philbrick ambulance. The physicians at Jackson "held out little hope for his recovery" once he was admit- ted to the hospital. Callaway was diagnosed as having a fractured skull and lived for three days before dying of his injuries at 1:15AM on Mon- day. Jan. 10. 1927. THE PERPETRATOR A coroner's jury empaneled by Dept. Sher- iff J.B. Cone met in the court of justice of the peace HAV. Penny on Tuesday, Jan. 11, and heard testimony concerning the accident. Police inves- tigator, testified that no one ryas at fault for the accident and the jury ruled that the accident was "unavoidable." The jury thus exonerated both Williams and Frank. Neither the :&Miami Herald nor the &iiomi Daily Metropolis makes further mention of the motorist being chased by Officer Callaway and thus it would appear that the identity of the traf- fic violator was not determined. The brief state- ment of the results of the coroner's jury (from the Herald) made no mention of the driver of the speeding car whose violation initiated the chase leading to the officer's death. THE OFFICER Samuel J. Callaway. j0, was born on Jan. 6. 1877, in Dorchester County. &ID. to George W. Callaway and Nancy C. N(oore Callaway Both his parents were also born in Nlarvland. Census records indicate that the family moven From the eastern shore of Maryland (Dorchester County) to Seaford. DEL. by 1880 when Samue! J. was two years old. It would appear that Samuel grew up in the Seaford area since his father wag still listed as living in Sussex County in the 1901) census (his mother apparently died before 1900). The 1880 census indicates that Samuel J. Callaway was the fourth of sir children: Rebecca (born; 1§68). Sarah C. (born 1869), Richard R. (batj el 75), Samuel J.(born 1877). William E. (born 1878), and Frank H. (born 1879). The 1900 census indicates that Samuel J. Callaway. 23. lived in New Haven, CN, w ith his wife. Ella Donnelly Callaway, and three children. Daniel. 8 (born in 1892 when Samuel J. uas only 13). William T. d, and Amos. 2. Since Daniel was born in DE and Wm. T. and Amos in C` it would appear that Samuel & his family lived in CN from at least 1896. A fourth child. EslherA. was bom in 1902 in DE and so it would appear that the Callaway family had returned to DE by 1902. It appears from family records that Samuel J. Callaway was a policeman in, New Haven. CN (probably from 1896-1903) before the family moved back to DE in 1902. However. the New Haven Police Dept, has no record of Samuel J. Callaway as a police officer in the late 1890's. No personnel records for the 1920's are extant for the City of Miami and thus the length of tenure of Samuel Callaway as a Miami police officer is unknown. However, it is likely that ha was hired around 1923 as the City had only 40 officers in 1931 but 312 by the end of 192 (an increase of almost 400% in one year). The 1937 Miami City Directory indicates that Samuel J. Callaway, 50. was single and employed as a Mi- ami police officer. It is unknown whether his wife, Nancy C. Moore Callaway. had died or whether he was divorced. Clearly. Callaway was on the force no later than 1925 as an article in the &. t!ami Herald on May 18, 1925, mentions an incident involving he and Officer Clemons. Officers Callaway and Clemons were patrolling the "negro district" when Clemons shot "Julius Green, ne_ro: ' in the head after Green allegedly "pointed a revolver at Patrolman Callaway." Callaway's body was prepared forburial by W.H. Combs Co. and transported by railroad on Jan. 13 to Bridgeville. Delaware. forburial. The exact location of the Callaway burial site is un- known. The Hardesty Funeral Home in Bridgeville has records indicating that it buried Callaway but did not record the burial site the is not buried in any of the major city cemeteries in Bridgeville or the surrounding area). It is likely that he was buried in some family plot on a farm (common practice in those days). There may have been a local (-liamiI fu- neral service before the body was transported as the Herald indicated that funeral sen ices in Mi- ami were "pending the arrival of a brother tom the North."The brother. William E. Callar.a%. 49. lived in Lincoln City, DEL, and traveled to \Mi- ami to accompany his brother's body back to DEL. Newspapercoverage was quite brief on the death of Samuel Callaway. Both the Miami Her; aWand the &Miami Dady Metropolkcovered the Cal Ia%tav accident in an article that included an- Seaford Leader, March 19, 1993: The Callawav other accident occurring on the same day. T� aAssociation. 1993; death certifi- second accident involved a tourist from Alba cafe of Samuel J. Callaway: records of Hardesty N.Y, who was struck by a car when crossing a Funeral Home in &idgeville, DE: 1880, 1900 downtown street. The M�,tropDlis gave front page and 1910 census records for DE and 1900 cen- coverage to the (later) death of the tourist and sus of CN: Polk's Miami City Directory. 1927. mentioned the death of Officer Callaway only in a brief obituary. The Miami Tribune reported AM .L�MQRR1Si that Callaway was "one of the most popular Miami Police Dept. members" of the police department" at his death. Shot R killed on July 8. 1927 The survivors of Samuel J. Callaway are unknown but if his children were living at the THE EVENT time of the death. they would have been: Daniel Jesse L. Morris. 31, a two year veteran of H. Callaway.: 5: William T. Callaway. 31: Amos the Miami Police Department was shot and killed 11'. Callaway. 29: and Esther A. Callaway (mar- on Friday. July 8. 1927, at 10:35PM in Overtown rind name''). 25. The names and ages of any by a shot -gun wielding man who had "run grandchildren are unknown, amuck" and shot six others, one fatally, before The I S80 census records indicate that—if engaging in a "pitched battle" with police. He all his siblings were living in 1927—Samuel J. became the seventh Miami officer killed in the Callaway was survived by sisters Rebecca (Mrs. line of duty. Emon Clifton). 61; and Sarah C. (Mrs. George Patrolmen Morris and John Holland were Moores. 58: and by brothers Richard R.. 52. sitting in a police car with Det. Leon Sawyer William E. 49. and Frank, 47. It is likely that near a gas station at N.W. 2nd Ave. and 1 I th St. most of his siblings lived in Delaware or the The three policemen were about to go off duty eastern shore of Maryland since census records when they saw a black 'woman run into the gas indicate that his father and brother (William E.) station followed by a black male with a shot - were living in southern Delaware in 1900 ac- gun. The man yelled to the girl, "If you come cording to the census and since Samuel J. back out here, I'll kill every one of you." The Callaway was taken to Delaware for burial. policemen got out of theircar and ran to the cor- Samuel's brother William E. Callaway was 32 ner. in 1900 and was a "watchman in a woolen mill" in New Castle County. DE. according to the 1910 census. William E. and Grace O. Callaway had two daughters, Leona C.. 4. and Gadius G.. I. in 1910. This brother traveled to Miami in 1927 to return his brother`s body "back home" to DE. The Seaford. DE. LeadgE published an ar- ticle in 1993 about Dr. Wilbanks' search for de- scendants of Samuel J. Callaw•av but no descen- dants were found as a result of the article. Also. Wilbanks published an article in 1993 in the Callaway E-arnflvkisociation Joulmol (a publi- cation for Callaw•ays) about his search for Samuel J. Callaw•ay's descendants but this ar- ticle also failed to locate any descendants. No photograph of Samuel J. Callaway was known to exist until Aug, of 1995 when his pho- tograph was found by Miami Police Officer Joe Morris in a set of photos (from the 1920's and 1930's) located in the old PB Abuilding.The pho- tograph had a star pasted at the bottom designat- ing that he was ki Iled in the line of duty. That photo is included in this book, in the 1996 Miami Police Centennial Yearbook and in the data base of the National Law Enforcement Memorial. The name of Samuel J. Callaway (mis- spelled as Callgway) is inscribed (East Wail. Panel 29, Line 10) on the National Law Enforce- ment Memorial in Washington. D.C., along with the names of the 13.814 ]aw enforcemept offic- ers killed in the line of duty in the U.S. from 1794.1995. A plaque bearing his name is on the wall of the lobby of the Miami Police Depart- ment s here his name is read each May in a de- partmental memorial service. His name is also read at the countywide Police Memorial Service held each May in Tropical Park in Miami. SOURCES: Miami Herald, May 18, 1935, Jan. 3,1LE_.i3.14, 1927; Miami Daily -Metropolis. Jan. 3.12. 1927: Miami Triuune. Jan. 10. 1927; Her pursuer, later identified as Charles Lee, saw the policemen when he was about 50 feet away from them and brought his shotgun to his shoulder. Morris fired five times and Holland six, the latter reported. The negro's charge founds its mark. Morris staggered to Hol- land, saying. 'I'm shot' and fell to the side- walk. Detective Sawyer called an ambu- lance, but B.P. White. a traffic officer who had heard the shooting while passing through the neighborhood. helped Morris into a passing automobile. Charles Lee then ran back into the fill- ing station and the officers heard another shot. (Miami Daily trews, 61911927) The two policeman had been "out -gunned" as they were firing at the shot -gun wielding as- sailant with revolvers. The Miami Herald indi- cated that Lee Fired the fatal blast at Morris after being hit first by a bullet fired by one of the of- ficers who opened Fire on Lee when he aimed the shotgun at them. Officer Morris was hit with a "load of buckshot in his right side" and abdo- men. He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospi- tal where he died 40 minutes after being shot. Ten officers were waiting to give blood for a transfusion when ,Morris died. Several other policemen, "mostly reserves." reached the scene and found Charles Lee's wounded wife (the woman seen earlier being chased by Lee into the gas station). Annie. 26, lying on the running board of an automobile at the rear of a house at l6? N.W. I I th Terr. Inside the house they found Charles Lee, the assailant, seriously wounded with gunshots to the head. lying on a bed with a double-barrel shotgun un- der him. One chamber was still loaded. Lee was arrested and taken to Jackson 4temorial Hospi- tal where he died two day's later. Other wounded persons "were found in all Jesse L, Morris. City of Miami, 193 i. pans of the neighborhood." Anthony Lee, 64. the father of Charles Lee. had been mortally wounded by his son and was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital where lie died four hours later. The Miami Dao .!L.X,A noted that shortly before his death he made a "will disposing of the filling station and other property" {likely excluding the son who had just shot him). Four other persons (in addition to Lee's wife and father) were found to have been shot by Lee in the rampage that led to the killing of Officer Morris. Three of the four other wounded were women, and two of the women tone being Annie Lee) were critically wounded. THE PERPETKA TOR Charles Lee. 29, had been shot four times in the head (with one shot reaching the brain) in the shootout with Patrolmen \(orris and Holland and died at 5.00P.%f on Sunda}. July 10. at Jack- son Memorial Hospital. Chief H. Leslie Quigg told reporters that Charles Lee was "known to police as peaceful, but apparently had been crazed by liquor or drugs." A coroner's jury in the court of justice of the peace H.W. Penney met on Monday. July 11. to determine the cause of death of Officer Morris. Anthony Lee and Charles Lee. The jury ruled that Charles Lee's death was ajustitiable homi- cide as he was shot bs the two police officers in self-defence. The\, also ruled that Anthony Lee had been murdered by his son %% ho in turn was fatally wounded b% the policemen. After the shok.itin- of Officer Morris, Chief Quigg announced that he had taken traffic men off several cornea to strengthen the night patrt;+l in Oyertown and Mould "continue to keep a pa- trol of four men in the negro section at night.". The Chief added. however. that the death of Morris was not the fault of a lack of night pa- trolmen in the negro section. as there were two men with Morris at the time the negro was runnim, w ild. and additional forces could not ha%e Mopped him any sooner. The officers in this district work in pairs on the night patrol. kMia ii Daily New s. 6/ 9119271 THE OFFICER Jesse L. Morris. 24, was burn on July 6. 1903, in Stonewall. OK, to John and Rachael Condren Morris. He grew up in Lawrence. OK. whichexisted as a town only from 1907 to 1935. Lawrence was a "company town" as it was com- prised almost totally of employees of the Port- land Cement Plant to limestone quarry s. Jesse's father died when he was only 7 and his mother married his step -father. Vard Freeman, a "pow- der monkey" at the quarry. Jesse was the only child of John and Rachael Morris but he crew up with two half-brothers and (%vo half-sisters. The Depression hit Oklahoma hard and Jesse decided to "try his fortune" elsewhere -- first in California and then in Florida. He moved to Miami from Tulsa. OK, in 1924 at the age of 1 and joined the Miami Police Department in 1935. His brother-in-law. Marvin Faireloth. was also a Miami police officer. Jesse had been an officer for two years at the time of his death. Morris had only recently been discharged from the hospital and returned to work after being se- riously injured from a fall while running after a suspect in the "Negro District." Jesse Morris met and married his wife. Vera Esther Faircloth, in Ntiami when she was 13 and he was 24. Vera had moved to Miami with her family from Adel. GA. five years earlierand had worked as a telephone operator until the time of her husband's death. Officer Morris was survived by his prep nant wife. Vera Esther Morris; his stepratherand mother. Vard and Rachel Freeman: two half-sis- ters. Agnes Freeman. 16. and Clara Freeman. 13; and two half-brothers. Jim Freeman. 13. and Jack Freeman, 6. The Freeman family lived in Okay. Ark. After Jesse's death. Vera Morris and her family moved back to Adel. GA. where she save birth, three months later to a daughter. Jessie' Lee Morris, on Sept. 29, 1927. Vera was to receive benefits from the City of Miami that amounted to half of her husband's salary for one year. Three years after Jesse's death. sera mar- ried Homer Joiner and they had.two children before she died in childbirth in 1934 when Jessie Lee was seven. Jessie Lee livedwith her grand- mother until she was fourteen. w hen her grand- mother died. She then lived with an aunt and uncle until she graduated from high school and was married later that year. In 1995, Jessie Lee Nforris Wise. 67. lived in Jasper. FL. Her husband. Arthur Woodrow Wise. owned and operated Wi.e Drug Stere in Jasper for forty years before his retirement in 1973. Woodrow and Jessie Lee had three dau-h- ters. Bonnie DiCarlo.48. of Ponce Vedra Beach. FL: Judi Klitscher. 46. of Live Oak. FL. and Sue Smith, 41, of Burleson. TX. The three daughters of Woodrow and Jessie Wise had seven children (i.e.. the great grandchildren of Jesse L.Morris). The seven are Andy Smith. 15. and Justin Smith. 11. of Burleson. T.(: Robyn Weise, 29, of Jack- sonville. FL: Stephanie Lee. 23, of Tallahassee. FL: Josh Lee. 21. of Jaspar. FL. and Katy Reid. 11. and Jay Reid. 9, all of Live Oak. FL. Jordan Weise. 2, of Jacksonville. FL, is a _great grand- son of Officer Morris. Also, in 1995. Clara Sydow. 79. the sister of Jesse Moms, still lived in Mineral Springs. AR. Funeral services were conducted on day. July 11, at W.H. Combs Funeral HolWn Miami by Rev. 1. C. Sims. pastor of Riverside Baptist Church. "More than 50 fellow police- men and friends" attended the service as police- men "formed two lines from the chapel entrance and followed the widow, marching in single the and headed by Lt. W.J. McCarthy." A squad of motorcycle policemen escorted the body to the train for transport to Lawrence. OK. for burial. Jesse's brother. Jim Morris, 13. was visiting Mi- ami at the time of his brother's death and ac- companied the body from Miami to OK. Vera. the widow, was unable to make the trip. The body arrived in Lawrence on Thurs- day. July 14. and was taken to the home of Morris' step -father and mother. Mr. and Mrs. Vard Freeman. Services were held in Lawrence at the Freeman home later that week. Morris was buried in the Rosedale cemetery (Section 3-43- 3. «est) outside Lawrence. His grave marker reads: y JESSIE L. MORRIS • JULY 6. 1903 JULY 9. 1937 DIED ON DUTY Jesse's grandmother. Sallie E. Condren. 73. was buried next to Jesse in 1936. Jesse's mother, Rachel Freeman, was buried in Mineral Springs. Ark. in 1943. His wife. Vera, was buried in Lenox. GA, in 1934. A sum of $510 in cash was collected for and given to the widow, Vera Morris. The City Commission also voted to pay the funeral ex- penses and gave Mrs. Ytorris half her husband's salary (of SI 70 monthly) for the next six months. The proposal was sponsored by Mayor E.G. Sewell. The American Legion was "arranging for a benefit performance for Morris' widow in the near future. The widow is said to have been left practically destitute." Chief Quigg recom- mended to the City Commission that the widow --be cared for by the city," On Saturday. July 9, the flag in front of city hall was flown at half staff and the "door to po- lice headquarters was draped in black in defer- ence to Policeman Morris." Jesse L, Morris' name is inscribed on the National Law Enforcement ,4lemorial in Wash. ington. D.C. (on Panel 17, West Wall, Line 13). The memorial is located at the Judiciary Square Metro (subway) station and was dedicated on Oct. 15. 1991. Morris' name is one of 13.314 inscribed on the memorial which includes offic- ers killed since 1794-1995. The Miami Police Department compiled a list of it. officers killed in the line of duty in the 1960's but the list inadvertently left off the name of Jesse L. Morris and John D. Marchbanks. In 1991. Dr. Wm. Wilbanks, of Florida international University. informed the Dept. of the "line of dun'" death of Jesse L.1 forris and his name was placed on a plaque in the lobby of the Miami Police Department. Jesse Lee Morris Wise. 64. unveiled the plaque in a special ceremony on May 12. 1992. She also attended the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park on May l I which (for the first time) included her L'ather's name in its annual roll call of slain officers. The Miami Her- _lJ4 published an article (with picture) on May 11. 1992. telling the story of the discovery the --lost" slain officer and the attendance or hi daughter at the Tropical Park ceremony when her father's name was read for the first time. 6: years ar'ter his death. The P _.-1 HE.aT publisher - an article about and picture of .%Irs. Wise in it, June. 1992. issue. SOURCES: Miami Herald. July 9. it). f l 3: I _ 1927, ,May H. 1992: � 'a a' v News. Jul% & 11. L927: PBA HE June. 1992:-d .QK Weer tiewy. July 31. 1927. Oct. 30. 1991. Erimfnal Justice in Miami: IM- 1930, a disser- tation by Paul S. George. Ann Arbor: Universit% Microfilms. 1976, P. 194: s e . by the Pontotoc County Hlstorica1 and Genea. logical Society. Ada, OK: death certificate o.-- Jesse .Jesse L. D4orri5: Correspondence with Clara Sydow (sister of Jesse Morriss: Jessie Lee Morris Wise and Robert Reese of Ada. OK. #15 ALBERT R. ,JOHNSON Miami Police Department Shot & killed on Sept. 25. 1927 THE EVERT Albert R. Johnson. 40, of the Miami Polic: Department was accidentl-vshot and killed while on duty by a close friend as the two were in the process of shooting, the friend's dog on Sept. 24. 1927. A coroner's inquest declared the shootin tobe accidental and nocharges were tiled again': the friend. Johnson became the eighth Miami officer killed in the line of duty. On Sunday afternoon. Sept. 25. 1927. L.C. Beaches; 22. and his younger brother went tc N.W. 17th Ave. and 20th St.. where Officer Johnson was on duty. Johnson and Beacher were close friends and both owned a dog of the same breed. Beacher wanted Johnson to shoot his sick doe for him and told the Miami Herald. "The dog had been sick and sore for several weeks. had been beating him in our Jarage." Beache.- was also concerned about shooting in the city. limits and knew that the presence of (he ofcic:: would preclude his being charged with an of- fense. Johnson refused the request and indicated that Beacher would have to shoot his ow n do_ but said he would go with him to his house. at 2300 N.W. 22nd Ave.. and be present while the dog was put to sleep. Johnson also sold Beacher that shooting within the city limits would be OK ifan or'ricer were pre�ertt. Upon arrival at Beacher's home. the oftic, r asked Beacher if he had a un and Beacher indi- cated (hat he did and went and got the .32 cah- ber automatic handgun. Johnson then till Beacher to gu into the garage and :huge the d, while he stood "watch" at the garage door. Beacher later reported: 1 went in and shot at the dog and missed him. The ,log jumped at me and i ran for the door yelling. Johnson opened the ;ar;ty-e dour a- t made a grab for it. As I did �o, the resrl .cr went off. Johnsen fell. Sceing that l had Choi him. i ran to him and picked him up. I then trent to the Allapatcandrug store and calk the police station. I left my brother with Johnson. (Miami Hcral.l, 11,r_b/19,'t Ofiicerlohnsonhaddiedinstantly finmone �. 0 0 ,ullet that entered the right temple and "went Alliera. his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. ,ut the back of his head." Beacher. a shippingmpbell Johnson of Carrollton. GA: two sis- _!erk. was questioned by police and released in ters. Mrs. Mollie Laster of Seville. GA, and Mrs. :he custody of his employer. F.G. Railey. the Myrtle Lou Daniell of Carrollton: and seven owner of Railey-Milani Hardware Co. brothers. Robert L. of Atlanta. Ernest S.. Hugh A coroner's inquest was held the next day C.. Walter E.. George S.. and Charles of oefore justice of the peace Henry L. Oppenbom. Carrollton. and John W. of Newman. GA. -he coroners jury ruled that Officer Johnson had In 1995. Johnson's grave is located in the lied an accidental death. Beacher's brother, who Pleasant View Baptist Church cemetery in was standing near the garage door when the Carrollton. GA. His wife Vera. 72, was buried ,hooting occurred, testified that his brother's ac- beside him in 1969 (42 years after her husband's count of the shooting was accurate. 'Testimony death). The marble marker reads: at the inquest also indicated that Johnson and JOHNSON Beacher were close friends and that there was ALBERT R. no motive for Beacher to intentionally shoot the FEB. 5. 1887 officer. SEPT. 25, 1927 It should be noted that an apparently apoc- ryphal account of Johnson's death was published VERA M. in the Miami Herald on April 11. 1976, in an NOV. 1897 article summarizing prior killings of Miami po- JUNE 27. 1969 lice officers. The account was written by reporter Edna Buchanan and claimed that Johnson was "shot with a double-barreled shotgun in an ap- parent ambush near a 79th street bam. No one remembers if the killer was ever caught." Ms. Buchanan was asked several times for her :ourcea for this account but failed to respond to .he repeated requests. Her story clearly contra- licts the newspaper accounts written in 1927. 'HE PERPETRATOR L.C. Beacher. 22. was not charged with any ffense. Newspaper articles' only mention his address. occupation, and friendship with Officer Johnson. THE OFFICER Albert R. Johnson, 40, was born in Carrollton. GA, on Feb. 5, 1887, to Mrs. & Mrs Campbell Johnson. He was raised in Carrollton with seven brothers (Robert L., Charlie, John W.. Hush C.. Ernest S., George S. and Walter E.) and two sisters (Mollie Johnson Laster and Myrtle Lou Johnson Daniell). Albert Johnson married Vera Cole, daugh- ter of Mrs. & Mrs. Gilbert Cole of Carrollton. GA. The couple had no children. Albert and Vera Johnson moved to Miami from Carrollton, GA, in 1925 and he took the oath as a Miami Police Officer on Dec. 2, 1925. During part of his 23 months of service with the Miami Police Department, he was assigned as a "bus checker" at the N.W. First street station. Chief H. Leslie Quigg said that Johnson "had an excellent record and had many friends, both on and off the force." Chief Quigg did acknowl- edge that Officer Johnson was one of several officers who had "recently failed to pass the civil service examination." However, as provided by law. Johnson remained on duty and was given three months "to prepare for a second teif:' Funeral services were held on Tuesday af- ternoon in the Ding Undertaking Co. chapel. Members of the Miami Masonic Lodge, of which 'onson was a member, participated in the ser - ice. A "police escort in charge of W.J. tilcCanhy accompanied the body tof Johnson)... o the Florida East Coast station" on Tuesday !vening. The body was sent to Carrollton. GA. or burial. A "Miami police detail" accompanied he widow on the train trip to Georgia. Albert R.Johnson was survived by his wife, Albert R. Johnson had no direct descendants in 1995 since he and his wife had no children. His seven brothers and sisters were all deceased but in 1995 Mrs. Mary (Ted) Robinson of Carrollton. GA (a niece of Albert R. Johnson) counted 13 nephews and nieces as descendants of her uncle, Albert R. Johnson. Most lived in the Carrollton, GA. area where the slain Miami officer is buried and in the Atlanta area. The name ofA.R. Johnson is inscribed (East Wall. Panel 44, Line 171 on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. A plaque bearing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Department where his name is read each May at a service for Miami officers. His name is also read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical park. SOURCES: Miami Herald. Sept. 26,27,28. 1927; Miami News, Sept. 26.27. 1927; death certificate of A.R. (only initials are given) Johnson; Grave markers cemetery in Carrollton, GA; Polk's Greater Miami CityDirectorv. 1927: Interview with Mary Robinson. AI JA.MY ..lC -1, Miami Police Department Shot & killed on Feb. 3. 1928 THE EVENT Detective Frank Beckham. 29. was shot and killed by a bootlegger near midnight on Friday. Feb. 3. 1928. Beckham had been in pursuit of a "rum laden... truck" and was ambushed when the truck stopped in front of the killer's home. He was the ninth Miami officer killed in the line of duty. The fatal event began when Det. Frank Beckham and Det. J.A. McLendon received a report at the police station that there was a shoot- ing near N.W. Sixth Ct. and 54th St. When they nrrived at the alleged shooting scene around I 1:00PM. they found a car and a truck parked at the corner. The two detectives decided that McLendon would investigate the car while Beckham would investigate the truck. McLendon got out of the police car to question Coney Quarterman. 47. the driver of the car. Quarterman had been arrested one week earlier after a raid at his home in which "100 sacks of liquor" were confiscated. ®But before Officer Beckham could get out of his patrol car the truck "started off'. Beckham shouted. "Stop there, boy. police officers!" But the driver only "accelerated his speed." Beckham followed the truck to the front of the home of Charles E. Haynes. 27, an alleged bootlegger, who lived at 5451 N.W. Sixth Ct. Beckham parked parallel to the truck and saw the driver get out and run into the house. But before the officer could turn off his engine and get out of the car, four shots rang out. "Two loads of buck- shot crashed thrp)1gh the windshield of the po- lice car driva by Beckham and entered the detective's left side and right chest." Beckham was killed instantly. Haynes admitted to the police that he fired the shots that killed Det. Beckham and said that he was hiding in the bushes when Beckham's car stopped at the front of his home. At first po- lice thought that more than one gunman was in- volved as both "double one" buckshot and birdshot had been found in Beckham's body. However, Haynes apparently used a "magazine type shotgun" which could have been loaded with shells of both kinds. Presence of a ".32 cali- ber pistol bullet" in the top of the police car was explained when Haynes admitted that he fired both a pistol and a shotgun. A woman who lived near the shooting said tat the inquest) that she saw Haynes fire "four shots at Beckham, advancing a few steps be- tween each discharge of his shotgun." When the last of the four shots was fired Haynes was close to his victim. Shortly before the shots were fired a witness had heard Beckham shout, "police of- ficer'. (It appears that Beckham was not in uni- form.) Another witness reported seeing the body of Beckham in the seat of the patrol car immedi- ately after the shooting with "his head lying back- ward." Haynes told this witness to "get the hell away from here before you get the same thing," However, by the time police arrived, Beckham's body was "stretched beside the car and a cocked revolver was in the hand of the dead detective." Haynes claimed that he fired in self-defense under the mistaken belief that Beckham was a hijacker who was going to steal his truck filled with illegal liquor. He claimed Albert R. Johnson. Cin' ojMiami. 1927. that "nothing was said or done that wousi- cate to him that Beckham was a detective." Haynes denied that he was the driver of the truck and claimed that he was hiding in the weeds in front of his house awaiting the return of alleged hi- jackers who, he said, had tried to rob him a few minutes earlier... Haynes said he thought Beckham was a hijacker. one of several whom, he says, had been chased away from the house earlier."{Miami Daily j�1_ gws, 2/411928) In fact. it appears that Haynes had consid- erable reason to be afraid. One of his bootleg- ging partners, C.E. Conroy, had been shot through the neck a year earlier by liquor hijack- ers and one hour earlier on the evening of Sept. 25. 1928, shots had been fired into Haynes home by persons he thought to be hijackers. Interior of the Haynes house is badly shattered by bullets and police have learned that some strange men visited the house before arrival of the police car. Haynes in- sists he thought Beckham was driving a hi- jackers' automobile. (.Miami News. 2/61 1928) In fact, the earlier shooting at the Haynes home was what prompted the call to the police station which resulted in the two detectives be- ing sent to check out the report. Haynes' wife, who had called the police after Beckham was shot. later told police that the shooting earlier that evening that led to the police response by the two detectives involved three men who at- tempted to force their way into the Haynes' home saying, "We are the law." She claims she awoke her husband and that several shots were fired and the three men fled. Her testimony appears to have been an attempt to corroborate her husband's story that he feared he was being at- tacked again and that his attacker might again pose as a police officer. It appears that once Haynes realized he had shot a police officer and not a hijacker. he re- moved Beckham's body from the car and placed it on the ground near the car. He also placed Beckham's gun in his hand to make it appear that he had reason to fear the driver of the car. P.B. Gibson. Miami police inspector. measured and photographed the death scene and announced that the body had been removed from its origi- nal position. Police rejected the explanation of Haynes that he shot in self-defense not knowing that Beckham was a police officer. Their investiga- tion indicated that Haynes intended "to kill any- one who should come around" his liquor sup- ply. They conceded, however. that there was no attempt by Haynes to"'get' any partieularmem- ber of the force." Meanwhile, Det. ,IMcLendon had taken a gun from Quarterman and handcuffed and ar- rested him when he heard the four shots from half a block away. The officer and Itis handcuffed prisoner ran the half block to the shooting scene and found silence except for the "purring of the police motor." Det. Beckham was Found dead. Nine g face down near his police car. McLendon than had to "walk several blocks to a telephone before he could summon help." When the ambulance arrived the lights in Haynes' house were turned on and Det. ,McLendon and other officers approached tkft rained both "double -one buckshot" and house. They found Haynes inside along withIW "birdshot". The Cairo IGIOC-ial Mossengerin a wife and mother -in -taw. "Haynes readily admit- story one week after the killing said that the ted the shooting" and was arrested. A search of Miami police were looking for a "mystery man the house turned up several guns and "122 bags in white" who may have fired the birdshot. The of liquor." Several relatives of Haynes and police evidently eventually rejected the "two- Quarterman were held as material witnesses. shooter" theory or could not find sufficient evi- Within minutes several more police offic- dence to charge the second shooter. Haynes fin- ers arrived on the scene as news of the killing of sisted that only he fired at Beckham. Dec. Beckham spread. Acrowd of more than 500 On Feb. 6, Haynes was taken to the Dade observers also gathered around the Haynes County Stockade and held until his trial which house, The mood of the police officers and the beganis gMy y1ay. He was indicted for murder crowd turned ugly and Haynes was severely in the., it'�t degree by the grand jury on Feb. 23. beaten by three Miami police detectives and a Haynes was defended by attorneys Louis Allen civilian. Haynes received "severe injuries in his Harris. J.H. Swink and R.A. Hinchick. The jury face" and was placed under the care of a physi- trial before Judge A.J. Rose ended with a ver- cian at the county stockade. At first. it was dict of guilty of manslaughteron .May 11. 1918. thought that the injury to one eye was so severe Boyd King, the foreman of the jury. wrote to that he might lose sight. Judge Rose on May 14 recommending a lenient City Manager Weldon A. Snow ordered an sentence and said: investigation into the beating and on Feb. 22, The jury in rendering the verdict felt that twoof the detectives were suspended indefinitely the sentence to be imposed should be a light one by Police Chief H. Leslie Quigg while a third and. since the rendering of the verdict.-[ have was suspended for 15 days without pay. One talked with eight others of the jury and we all detective ultimately received a fine in the Crimi- believe that the imposition of the lightest sen - nal court of Record while the other was "acquit- tence allowed by law would be sufficient, and ted for lack of identification." Both detectives we respectfully request that you take this into quit the force and returned to their hometowns consideration in the passing of sentence upon (in Georgia and Notch Carolina). The civilian Haynes. (Letter in court file from foreman Boyd allegedly involved in the beating was never ar- King to Judge Rose) rested. The beating allegations led to the " reor- The jury recommendation for the ganization of the police department." minimum sentence for manslaughter was On Feb. 7. acoroner's inquest was held be- evidently taken seriously by Judge Rose. fore justice of the peace J.E. Tulloss. Haynes did Haynes wassentenced to"three months and not testify but his statement to the police was a number of days, the exact time that he read and entered as testimony. Thecomner'sjury, had been in the county stockade awaiting after deliberating for one hour, bound over the trial."The NI0,3miHCMlalso suggested that case to the Dade County grandjury but did state the judge might have been influenced by that "it is our opinion that the said Charles E. the alleged police misconduct that occurred Haynes thought he was shooting at hijackers'. at the scene of the killing of Der. Beckham Haynes was held in the Dade County stockade when Haynes was allegedly beaten by two pending the outcome of the grandjury's investi- police officers and a citizen. gation. A few weeks after the trial. Haynes left with The grand jury investigation began on Feb, his wife and two small children for Garden City. 15 under the direction of Judge A.J. Rose and Long Island. New York, to engage in a • passen- continued for five days. Vernon Hawthorne. the tier flying service." However. onAugust 9. 1923. state attorney (who in 1933 prosecuted Guiseppe just 3 months after being released from jail. Zangara for the attempted murder of President- Charles Haynes was killed in an airplane crash Elect Franklin D. Roosevelt). presented more in Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada. Haynes. the than twelve witnesses to the grand jury. On Feb. pilot, and a passenger were killed and five pas - 23 the grand jury indicted Haynes for first de- sengers were injured in the crash. The "amphib- gree murder. ion plane" piloted by Haynes "fell 500 feet to the rocks near Beaumaria." The plane was used THE PERPETRATOR Charles E. Haynes. 27. "formerly of Te.eas," was described by a newspaper headline as an "Air Rum Runner" and as a well known aviator. from Baltimore. 1Id.. and Brunswick. N.L. who brought a monoplane to Miami in March. 1926. Po- lice found records showing he carried on large liquor operations with airplanes and boats and used radiograms to rush his busi- ness messages. (Ndiami Dailyti4ws. 2161 1928) The police also arrested C.E. Conroy. a bootlegger colleague of Havnes. along with Haynes wife, Helen. 28. and her mother. 60. However. after the police investigation and in- quest all except Haynes were released. The ini- tial police investigation suggested that there may have been two gunmen as Beckham's body con - for sightseeing around the lake and "had just taken off... when it fell, landing on huge boul- ders and crumpling like match%%ood.- Haynes' body was returned to Miami for burial, THE OFFICER James Franklin Beckham w as bouton Sept. 7. 1898, in Georgia, to Nathaniel M. and Annie L. Beckham. His father was described in the ,-IjaMi Heraldas a "prominent farmer. near Thomasville." He enlisted in the U.S. Armv in Thomasville. GA. and "served overseas %s ith the 5Ist artilierv' for IS months during World Wir 1. He retumed to Grady Count%-. GA t near Caifo). after the war. Frank Beckham married Allie iota Cassels (born June 10. 1901), the dau_:hter of Thomas Samuel and Carrie Estella Collins Cassels in Grady County. In 1923 Beckham and his „ife +g 1 S { 43 moved to Miami where he worked as a plat before joining the police department in 1924, Frank Beckham joined the Miami Police Department in the early 1920's and was soon promoted to detective. He u as described as "one of the most beloved and efficient members of the Miami police department" who "figured in several examples of extraordinary police work" (e.g., he was one of the detectives who captured three "bandits" who were caught with a "stolen auto loaded with stolen rifles and guns"). After making detective, he was assigned to the auto theft division. "It was through his keenness and alertness that many stolen automobiles were re- covered by the department." Funeral arrangements were made by Philbrick's Funeral Home. Funeral services were held on Monday. Feb. 6. at the White Temple (Methodist) Church with more than 500 persons in attendance. Services were conducted by Rev, R.N. Merrill, pastorof the White Temple Church. Members of the American Legion (where Beckham was a member) and of the police de- partment served as pall bearers. A "profusion" of flowers decorated the church as friends of Beckham had given more than $50 for this pur- pose. On Monday night the body was transported by train to Cairo, GA (15 miles from Thomasville), for burial. Ten Miami police of- ficers escorted the body and the Beckham fam- ily to Georgia. Six of the officers were from Beckham's auto theft division and four were motorcycle officers. This gesture of respect on the part of the Miami police department made a very deep impression on the many friends of the slain officer. (Cairo %Iessenger, Feb. .10, 1928) Evidently, Frank Beckham had a premoni- tion of his death a week earlier as he told his wife, "if anything happens to me, have my body sent to Cairo and buried on your lot." Funeral services were also held in Thomasville on Feb. 7 with burial in the Big Creek Baptist Church cemetery near Coolidge. GA. Frank Beckham was buried at the side of his younger brother, Billie Nathaniel, who died in 1916. Beckham's father (in 1942) and mother (in 1944) were bur- ied beside their two sons. Beckham's grave marker reads; JAMES FRANK BECKHAM SEPT. 7. 1898 FEB. 3. 19228 For some strange reason Justice of the Peace J.E. Tulloss indicated on Beckham's death cer- tificate that his death was due to a "justifiable homicide" though his killer. Haypes, was con- victed of manslaughter. This is even !note strange in that it was justice Tulloss who bound Haynes over to trial after he presided at a coroner's in- quest into Beckham's death. James Franklin Beckham. 29, was survived by his wife Allie V. Beckham, and three daugh- ters. Louise, 7, Myrtice 5. and Foy. 3. The ME ,ami 17aily News established a fund for Beckham's widow and children. Within four days. $870 had been collected. Proof of the slain detective's popular- ity with all classes of Miamians came when a man who preferred to be known just as "a n bootlegger," gave a check for 550. "I'm not asking any favors for this: I just want to help the widow. You can come over and raid me anytime," he told police. (Miami DaiLv Ucws, 214/1928) On Feb. 6 a check for 32.000, "the first settlement of a major life insurance policy un- der the group insurance plan inaugurated for all city employees... with the Metropolitan Life In- surance Company." was sent to Beckham's widow. Mrs. Beckham received $100 a month from the City of Miami for several years. Allie Beckham Lett (she later remarried) remained in Miami (at 328 N.W. 29th St.) until 1954 when she moved to Hollywood, FL. She died on March 15, 1986, at the age of 84 in Naples. FL, and was buried in Southern Memorial Park in N. Miami. One of Beckham's daughters, Myrtice Beckham Ryle, 71, lived in Gainesville, FL, in 1995. Foy Beckham Bardinelli, 53, died in Mi- ami in 1977 and Louise Beckham Nelson died in Gainesville in 1991. James Franklin Beckham had three daughters, 8 grandchildren (Frank, Rudy, & Anthony Bardinelli & Eric Meerheim. all of Georgia; James Richard Ryle, Helen Vir- ginia Walker, and Byron Kingsley Nelson, all of Gainesville. FL; and John Tolman Nelson of Naples, FL); 8 great grand children, and 2 great, great grandchildren (Melanie Kristen Haygood. 12, and Sara Elizabeth Haygood, 6, of Jackson- ville). Foy's first husband, Rufus Bardinelli, was a police officer in N. Miami from 1948-1970 and their son (the grandson of Frank Beckham), Rudy, was a deputy sheriff with the White County Sheriff's office in Cleveland. GA, in 1995. James Franklin Beckham's name is in- scribed on the National Law Enforcement Me- morial in Washington, D.C. (on Panel 4, East Wall, Line 2). The Memorial is located at the Judiciary Square Metro (subway) station and was dedicated by President Bush on Oct. 15, 1991. A plaque bearing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Department and his name is read each May in a service there for Miami officers. His name is also read each May at the Dade County Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park. SOURCES: Miami Lierald. Feb. 4.5.6,7,8,16,23.24, Aug. 10,16. 1928; Miami gw , Feb. 4.6.7.8.15,23, 1928; Ciro (Georgia) ,\�L Feb. 10, 1928; Dade County Crimi- nal Court Case #2 (1928); death certificate of James Franklin Beckham; birth and death records from Roddenbery Memorial Library in Cairo, Georgia; Interviews with Myrtice Beckham Ryle and Foy Beckham Bardinelli. #17 DAVID CECIL BEARDEN Miami Beach Police DepartmAugustus S McCann. City of Miami, 1928.ent Shot & fatally injured on March 19. 1928 THE EVEN' David C. Bearden, 24, became the first Miami Beach police officer killed in the line of duty when he was shot and fatally injured by two suspected auto thieves just before daybreak on March 19. 1928.Officer Bearden, though fa- tally wounded (he died a day later), shot both of Frank Beckham, City of Miami, 1928. his attackers, killing one and wounding the other. The City of Miami Beach proclaimed Bearden a hero and pledged that his sacrifice would never be forgotten. Miami Beach "passed a flowery resolution vowing the city would never forget his (Bearden's) 'unselfish devotion'." The resolu- tion passed by the City Council praised Bearden for his supreme sacrifice... thus placing be- fore his fellow citizens for all the changing years to come, the shining example of his heroism and a quality of courage that would bring glory to any community... (Officer Bearden) has written his name deeply upon the hearts of his associates and the citizenry of this city... his noble deed will not be in vain but will live on in the memory and the lives of all... a lifted torch to point the way... as long as men and woman and happy children gather here at Miami Beach... as long a bravery and unselfish devotion to human society receive the hom- age of grateful hearts, we shall remember what David C. Bearden did here with grate- ful recognition. His memory will be as in- spiring as the light upon the mountains or as the sunshine on the sea. ( i a d, 3/12/1984) However, memory fades and the City of Miami Beach did forget the heroism of David Bearden. Fifty-six years later on March 12, 1984, when Miami Beach Officer Donald Kramer was killed. city officials declared that Kramer was the first Beach officer to die in the line of duty in the history of the city. Edna Buchanan, the Pulitzer Prize winning crime re- porter for the Miami Herald, reminded the city of Bearden's heroic action in a March 12. 1984, article in the IL4uAU. Buchanan described the heroic actions of David Bearden who had "fought a pre -dawn gun battle with desperados and died a hero" but was forgotten by the city he died to protect. The David Bearden case personifies the title of this book (FQreotten Heroes) more than any of the other 108 Dade officers killed in the line of duly from 1895-1995. He was clearly a hero SOURCES: Miami Herald, Dec. 26,27. * THE PERPETRATOR 1928,1an. 13. 1929:May 18, 1995:fly The newspapers gave little information \._'ews. Dec. 26,29. 1928, 'v' about the perpetrator. Doe W.B. Wilson. He was Gables, Dec. 28. 1928; W a negro male of unknown age who had been M. Dec. 27, 1928. Jan. 4, 1929, Sept. 12. 1946, jailed temporarily pending an examination for Aug. 3, 1950; Chinook LWA1_Obierver, Dec. 7, insanity. He had been arrested the day before 1973, May 4, 1993: Records of FL Office of upon complaint of B.J. McBride. Executive CIemency for Herman Brantley Dove negro. 541 N.W. Twelfth street. McBride (no. 20227): death certificate of Francis Cvril said Wilson hadcome to his home the night Guest: Records of Wadena County Historical before saying that a gang of negroes was Society. MaryLu McClure, Director; Funeral after him. McBride gave him lodging for Records of Philbrick Funeral Home at U. of Mi- the night, and Tuesday morning learned ami; grave markers in Wadena, MN, cemetery: from Wilson's neighbors that he had been and interview with and family records main- missing for nearly two weeks and was be- tained by Kathryn Jane Guest Woodruff. lieved to be searching for his wife, who had left him. He then talked with Wilson and bo itnN YAWS decided that Wilson was insane, he reported ,Miami Police Department to Lieutenant Connelly. Wilson was in the Shot on April 24. 1929 (died April 25. 1929) city jail, pending the preparation of "inqui- sition for insanity" papers. (Mig[ni Hg[alcl, THE EVENT Miami police officer Sid Crews, 44. an eight-year veteran. was shot with his own gun inside the city jail by a "crazed Negro" on April 25. 1929. Crews died the next day while his as- sailant, who was shot by another police officer, died later the same day. He became the I I th City of Miami officer killed in the line afduty. Officer Crews had worked as a "wagon driver' (transporting prisoners to the city jail) for two years on the night shift, from 11:00PM to 7:OOAM. Around 2:15AM on Wednesday. April 25. 1929, Crews and Lonnie Godbee. the "police riot motor car chauffeur," entered the "negro section of the Miami city jail to kill rats with air rifles. Several inmates had com- plained about the rats. Crews and Godbee were followed by Miami Detective John M. Driggers while C.H. Belcher, jailer, "stood at the door with the keys." Both Crews and Godbee were armed with air rifles but, contrary to jail regulations. Crews also had his police revolver in a holster. Crews shot a rat with his air rifle but the wounded rat then ran under a table. As Crews stooped to look under the table, an inmate, Doe W.B. Wilson. who was apparently sleeping on the table, grabbed the officer's revolver from -its holster and started shooting. The first shot, aimed toward the door. narrowly missed Belcher. Two subsequent bullets struck Crews. Before the crazed negro could fire a third shot Driggers drew his weapon and fired twice from behind a post. ( e a , 4/25/1929) Detective Driggers... was in another tier of cells... (and) ran into the corridor and shot the negro in the head after seeing Crews lying on the floor and Wilson stand- ing over him, gun in hand. (MiaM' Daily ew .4/2511929) One bullet shattered Crews right arm while a second lodged in his right hip. Wilson had been shot in the head. Both were rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital. Crews died at 5:00AM the following day (April 25). The gunshot wound to the hip had injured the abdominal organs. "Com- plications, including general poisoning" result- ing from the abdominal wound. caused his death. The death certificate indicated that Crews died of hemorrhage and shock. Wilson died at 2:OOPM the some day (April 24). 50 4/25/1929) Wilson was shot in the head and killed by Miami Det. John Driggers. A coroner's jury un- der the direction of justice of the peace Warren L. Newcomb, ruled on April 24 that Driggers' shooting of Wilson was justifiable. . The Miami Daily News reported that "tes- timony from policemen who attested Wilson Tuesday afternoon" and from "negroes who had known him" proved to the satisfaction of the coroner's jury "that the negro was mentally de- ranged" and had grabbed Crews' pistol and be- gun firing wildly. Det. John M. Driggers, who shot and killed Wilson, was still with the Miami Police Depart- ment in 1935 when his brother and fellow Mi- ami officer, William M. Driggers, 39, died in Jackson Memorial Hospital following an opera- tion for appendicitis. The brothers were natives of Sopchoppy. FL. A police investigation was conducted to determine why Crews had violated jail policy by entering the cell block with his pistol. There were standingorders against weapons in the cell block. THE OFFICER Sidney Clarence Crews was bom Aug. 12, 1885, in Baker County, FL. He was one of 1 I children. His family seemed to have deep roots in Florida as the officer's death certificate indi- cates that his father. Roger C. Crews. and his mother, Mary Thompson Crews, were both born in BakerCounty. FL, (west of Duval County and south of the FUGA state line). Sidney Crews married Creassie Taylor of BakerCounty and the couple had seven children. Crews had little formal education as was true of many rural Floridians of that day. While in Baker County, Crews worked in a saw mill, as a car- penter, and cut crass -ties for the railroad. He was affiliated with the Woodmen of the World in Lake Butler. Crews moved his family to Miami in 1921 from Baker County and joined the police force shortly after his arrival. He was encouraged to come to Miami and become a police officer by his brother. Walt, who had been a Miami officer for four years and by a relative. Miami Capt. Hardie Bryant, Crews was 36 when he became a Miami police officer. Officer Crews wore badge #7 and was first signed to patrol the "Negro, District" and after years was transferred to the city jail. At 6'2" d220 lbs.. Sidney Crews was quite capable of handling any unruly inmates. Funeral services for Crews were held in Miami on Friday. April 26. at the 1Y.H. Combs Funeral Home. More than 50 uniformed police- men led by Miami Police Chief Guy C. Reeve attended theservices as did 100 friends and rela- tives. The;'services were marked by simplicity and included no music or hymns." The Rev. R.N. Ward. pastor of the First Congregational Church. "paid a bri'Ctnbute" to Crews. Pallbearers were members of the Miami Police Department's night shift. At the conclusion of the service an escort of members of the night shift "marched beside the hearse from the W.H. Combs Funeral Home to the Florida East Coast railway station." The body was sent by train to Sanderson (Baker County). FL, for burial. The widow was accom- panied to Sanderson by Margaret Doane. ma. tron at the city jail. Sidney Crews is buried in Swift Creek Cemetery (also called the Mt. Zion Cemetery) in Union County on Highway 11231.5 miles north of Lake Butler. A service was held at the gravesite for relatives and friends of the Crews family. In 1995, a three foot stone monument marks the. grave and reads: FATHER SIDNEY C. CREWS BORN AUG. 12. 1885 DIED APRIL 25. 1929 Sid Crews was survived by his wife Creassie and seven children: Eula. 20. Harper Lee, 18, Ranzo, 15, Lloyd, 11. Emily, I0, Loyie Sidney' Crews. C- kv of Miami, 1929. Ruth. 8, and Alva. 5 (the only child born in NliW surveillance at the Postal Telegraph Company Isle Jester was placed in an ambulance to Jack - ami ). Sidney's brother. Walt. remained on CW office at 45 E. Flagler. At 2:OOPM on Saturday son Memorial Hospital but died on the way. He `liami force until retirement in the 1940's. Detectives Jester and Roy A. Hancock relieved had been shot three times, once in the chest be. Crews' widow, Creassie, died on Feb. 17. 1934, other detectives at the telegraph office stake -out. low his heart. once in his left groin and once in and is buried beside her husband in Swift Creek At 4:OOPM Jester and Hancock were in the rear the left atm. "shattering his arm." Death was Cemetery. Four of Sidney and Creassie's chil- of the office when one of the female clerks came caused by "pulmonary hemorrhage caused by the dren are also buried in the family plot. back and told them that a man had just come in chest wound." The City Commission voted on April 26 to and asked for a telegram for"Frank Beck."Jester Hanson (i.e.. Kometic) was rushed to pay hospital and funeral expenses for Officer told Hancock that he would cover the back door Victoria Hospital with bullet wounds in his head, Crews. "The widow also will receive 51.500 and confront the suspect in the store while right shoulder and arm. However, he died on the from the group insurance to which Policeman Hancock would try to circle around and corer way to the hospital. Zalutsky, though shot twice Crews had subscribed." In addition police offtc- the front door of the telegraph office by exiting in the leg. (bade a temporary escape. Hancock ers. friends and citizens had donated 5775 by the rear door and going through the Red Cross was not hitrgy any of the more than 20 shots April 27 to a fund for the widow and seven chil- drug store next door to E. Flagler St. fired in the 15 seconds of the "downtown dren. Mrs. Crews, who moved back to Baker Unfortunately. this spontaneous plan didn't shootout." Fred Hurst. an agent for the vacant County with her younger children, received two- work as the suspect, later identified as Leo hotel building. who had been showing prospec- thirds of her husband's salary as a death benefit Zalutsky. 21, spotted Jester following the girl tive renters the building, was also on the stair - until she died in 1934. Harper Lee Crews re- back into the office and walked out without tvait- way during the shootout but miraculously was mained in Miami where he had his own ice de- ing for the telegram. The detectives did not know not hit. livery business (H.L. Crews Ice Company) for that the second suspect. later identified as An- While Hancock rushed to the bottom of the almost 50 years until his retirement (in 1977) to thony Hanson (alias Anthony Kometic). 21. was stairs to attend to Jester. Zalutsky ran to the third Lake City, waiting outside the telegraph office, that both floor, broke through a screen window, slid down In 1995, two children of Sidney Crews were men were armed, and that both had decided that a drain pipe to the street, walked through a drug stilt living. Lloyd Crews. 75. lived in Jackson- if either were arrested the other would "shoot it store, and into the street. He rushed to the room ville, FL: and Loyie Ruth Addis, 74, lived in out with the cops." he and Hanson had rented at N.E. 13th St. and Greenville. S.C. Harper Lee Crews died in 1994 Det. Hancock hurried through the crowded Biscayne Blvd. He changed out of his bloody in Lake City at the age of 82. Also in 1995, drug store to E. Flagler and as he reached the clothes and picked up another revolver (from Sidney Crews had four great grandchildren (two sidewalk he saw Jester following two men down among the six handguns the two men had with lived in Miami and two in Naples). the sidewalk. Hancock saw Jester grab Hanson them) and more ammunition. He had someone The name of "Sid Crews" is inscribed (East by the shoulder in front of 53 E. Flagler (now call him a taxi and when the taxi driver. Frank Wall. Panel 61, Line 10) on the National Law the Seybold Building). Det. Hancock said that Murrhee. arrived he offered him $100 to "take Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. A the man "twisted, trying to get loose," and pulled him out of the citv." plaque bearing his name is the lobby of the Mi- Jester into the doorway at 53 E. Flaglerwith him. The taxi traveled north on Biscayne Blvd. ami Police Departmentand his name is read each Hancock hurried to the hotel entrance and saw to 79th St. where -I_alutsky asked the driver to May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Zalutsky running up the stairs (the stairway led stop as the pain in his leg was becoming unbear- Tropical Park. to the Seminole Hotel). able. He asked the driver to find out about the I started after him and called to him to "next plane north." The driver told him no plane SOURCES: Miami -Herald. April 24.25.26.27, stop. He fired down at me and I returned was due to leave heading north until the next 1929. Sept. 11, 1935: Miami Daily News. April the fire as I ran up the steps. On the land- day. Zalutsky also complained that the taxi was 25. 1929. Baker CountyErsss. May 3. 1929. ing, half way up. I stopped and took delib- too slow and told the driver to find a faster taxi death certificate of Sid C. Crews. genealogical erate aim and fired again. Zalutsky fell while he waited at his rented room at 13th and information from Alice is Williams of the Baker against the banister as if wounded. Biscayne until dark. County Historical Society. and interview with Just then I looked around and down at But by this time the police dragnet was Harper Lee Crews and correspondence from Jester and as I did I heard Jester cry out and closing in. A radio alarm went out to all Loyie Crews Addis. grab himself in the chest. He and Kometic cars about the shooting and the escape of had been exchanging shots. After Jester had the fugitive killer. #21 ROBERT LEE JESTER been wounded, Kometic started up the steps Riot cars converged around the block, Miami Police Department toward me. He fired as he came and a bul- in the center of the business district, halted - Shot & killed on Nov. 12. 1933 let hit the wall a few inches from my head. traffic and police and deputy sheriffs be - I figured that my ammunition was about gan a systematic search. (Miami News. 111 THE EVENT Miami Police Detective Robert Lee Jester. 40. a 10 -year veteran of the Department. was shot and killed in downtown Miami at 4:OOPM on Saturday. Nov. 18. 1933. in a shootout be- tween two Miami detectives and two bank rob- bers. He became the I2th Miami officer killed in the line of duty. The day before the "downtown shootout" Miami police were notified by the state police in Reading. PA. that two men wanted there for bank robbery had left Texas and were on their way to Florida. The two fugitives were described as armed and dangerous and as gamblers who would likely be found near gambling establish- ments. At 6:45PM the same day (Friday. Nov. 17). Miami detectives received an updated mes- sage from PA that the two fugitives were thought to be in Miami and would soon be at the down- town telegraph office to receive a telegraph from PA addressed to "Frank Beck." Miami detectives set up a round-the-clock out. I fired once as he kept coming up ana then aimed right for his head. and fired. 1 fired again and he dropped. hurried down to Jester who was lean- ing back in a corner of the vestibule. I grabbed him and let him down on the floor. By that time a half dozen uniformed men had arrived. (Miami Rem, I , 1 1/ 1 911 933) One terrified witness to the shootout was Fred Hurst, assistant manager of the Seminole Hotel. He was on the stairway when the two fu- gitives broke away from the two officers and fled through the hotel entrance up the stairs. "Mr. Hurst was between the fire of the bandits and officers but was not hurt." One of the first persons to reach Jester was Dade State Attorney N. Vernon Hawthorne who was crossing Flagler Street with his wife and their small daughter at the time of the shooting. Hawthorne handed the child to his wife and ran to the doorway. He reached Jester as Hancock came down the stairs. I Yl t Y.3.)) The shootout had caused a panic in down- town Miami as hundreds of people, including the District Attorney and his wife and child, had been nearby shopping. The shooting threw "a throng of Saturday afternoon shoppers into an uproar" as hundreds ran to the scene while" hun- dreds of others ran for cover." The ensuing po- lice roadblocks and frantic search and the �un- dreds who gathered at the scene caused a tttaffic jam "for hours for blocks around." The police had discovered the address of the fugitives through a car salesman and rushed to check it out. Almost simultaneously. the taxi driver (now that he had been paid the 5100 upfront) went to police to report the suspicious behavior of Zalutsky and gave them the address. Police converged on the scene and caught the fugitive as he walked out of the building where his room was located. Zalutsky was armed with a revolver and art automatic pistol but offered no resistance. However. distraught at being cap - 51. tured and facing years in prison, he pleaded wit}t his captors to let him "make a run for it" so they could shoot him and end his misery. The offic- ers did not comply and instead took him to the Dade County jail. While in the Dade County jail Zalutsky was quite talkative and readily admitted that he and Hanson committed two robberies in PA. He also told detectives about their cross-country trip in which they spent most of the 56,500 taken in the robberies. Sheriff D.C. Coleman "placed a spe- cial guard over the wounded bandit because his statements after the capture led officers to be- lieve he might attempt suicide." THE PERPETRATORS On Nov. 22 a coroner's jury under the di- rection of Judge Thomas S. Ferguson ruled that Hanson had been killed justifiably by Det. Hancock and that Jester had been killed by Hanson and Zalutsky. Zalutsky was indicted for first degree mur- der and for felony murder by the grand jury. The police received a telegram from Governor Dave Sholtz congratulating them on the capture of the killers and urging that "speedy justice be meted out". The Governor's request was granted as the trial began on Dec. 4 (only two weeks after the murder) and lasted for only three days. State Attorney Hawthorne (who had received world- wide notoriety the year before when he pros- ecuted Guiseppe Zanaara for the attempted mur- der of President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt) and Henry M. Jones prosecuted the case before Judge H.F. Atkinson. The court appointed Henry R. Carr and Roger Edward Davis to defend Zalutsky. The two defense attorneys were paid only $50 from the state between them for their work (times were hard!). The state presented the testimony of Det, Hancock and Fred Hurst who were eyewitnesses to the shootout. They testified that Zalutsky fired the first shot of the shootout and that he fired several times. The state did not attempt to prove via ballistics that Zalutsky fired any of the shots that kilted Jester as under the law of felony mur- der. Zalutsky was responsible for any death that occurred regardless of his actions at the scene. (Tire police never found the gun used by Zalutsky at the scene and.thus could not match his weapon with bullets found in the body of Jester or at the scene.). The defense made numerous motions (for a change of venue, to throw out evidence seized at the rented room, etc.) and cross-examined the state witnesses vigorously but presented no wit- nesses (Zalutsky did not testify). Instead the de- fense attacked the concept of felony murder and claimed that Zalutsky did not fire his weapon at the scene. On Dec, 6 the jury returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree after deliber- ating for 2 & 112 hours. The jury did, however, recommend mercy, perhaps because of the youth of Zalutsky and his rather pitiful appearance (he had a deformed left eye and a wounded leg). Also. his mother, Anna Zalutsky of Allentown. PA. was present each day at the tri a[ and appeared distraught. On Dec. 7 Judge Atkinson sentenced Leo Zalutsky to life in prison "at hard labor." The recommendation of mercy by the jury precluded the judge from giving the defendant the death penalty but the judge could have imposed the harsher penalty of life while "consigned to soli- tary confinement." He was admitted to Raiford on Dec. 30. 1933. However, Leo Zalutsky did not spend the rest of his life in prison. He eventually escaped from prison four times. He was at large only one day after his first escape from Raiford on Au- gust 30, 1937. Frank Matey, posing as Zalutsky's brother, came to Raiford for a visit. Zalutsky scaled a fence and fled in a car with Matey. "Shots were fired at a prison guard who at- tempted to halt the escape." Zalutsky and Matey were captured 24 hours later in Valdosta. GA. Matey was charged with attempted murder and aiding a prison escape. Zalutsky's second escape (from a prison camp on April 5, 1938) led to over 6 years of freedom. He was arrested in Denver on a charge of robbery and kidnapping and was ordered re- turned to Raiford. But he escaped several days later from a jail at Lau renceberg, TN. where he was kept overnight on the return trip to Raiford. He was arrested again in Philadelphia on a rob- bery charge but escaped from the jail there. He was eventually captured in PA and was commit- ted to the Eastern State penitentiary. Upon be- ing paroled from the PA prison, he was ordered back to Raiford to finish his life term. But on May 14, 1945, Zalutsky escaped again—this time from a Raiford work crew— and was at large for two years until his capture by police at a railroad work camp in Warren. Ohio, on March 13, 1947. After the third escape from a FL prison, the prison Superintendent re- quested the help of the FBI in locating Zalutsky. A federal warrant was issued on Dec. 5, 1946, charging unlawful flight from Florida to avoid confinement for a murder conviction. The po- lice had received a tip that a man employed at the camp for six days had been carrying a con- cealed weapon. Zalutsky admitted his identity after his arrest and was returned to Raiford on March 26, 1947. Zalutsky escaped again from Raiford on Sept. 3, 1951, in a "daring" escape. Zalutsky and another inmate flung lighted gasoline bombs at tower guards in the prison. In the resulting con- fusion, the convicts cut their way through a heavy wire fence. Once outside they barged into the home of Dr. H.J. Kunera, the prison den- tist, and ordered his wife, the mother of two children, to drive them from the area in her car. (jJiaMLHerald, 8!6/1952) Zalutsky remained free for over a year be- fore his recapture on Sept. 19, 1952. The fugi- tive killer was placed on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted Liston Aug. 5, 1952, and was described in the Miami Herald as the "half -blind escaped convict" who shot Officer Jester. Remarkably --given his horrific prison record—Zalutsky was paroled just six years later (on Dec. 30, 1958) at the age of 46. 25 years after being sentenced to a life term. He was dis- charged from parole on March 12. 1969. at the age of 55. Anthony Hanson, 21, and Leo Zalutsky, 21. had met in the PA state reformatory at Collingswood. The newspapers said little of the Robert L !ester. Cin• of Miami. 1933. priorrecord of Hanson but rather extensive cov- crage was given to the "life ofcrime" of Zalutsky since he survived the shootout and talked freely to detectives (and apparently to reporters) after being arrested. Zalutsky clairned to have begun his life of crime in Allentown, PA, at the age of 12 when he quit school after the sixth grade. He said he was first sent to reform school for the burglary of seven stores. He was sent to inform school again in 1930. got out in three months and was sent back again for breaking parole and served 14 months. Niairii _Daily -Me , 1111911933) Zalutsky was released the third and last time from reform school only eight months before the murder of Officer Jester. There is no indication that he was involved in anything other than prop- erty crime before his last release from reform school. It appears that Hanson and Zalutsky met again "on the streets' and decided to form a rob- bery team. They robbed a bank in Schnecksville. PA. of S6.500 on Oct. 24, 1933, and committed a payroll robbery in Allentown, PA. before de- ciding to flee the state. After the two robberies the two fugitives wenton a cross country flight and spending spree to Chicago, Denver, Salina. KS. Houston, Dal- las. Jacksonville and Miami. By the time the two reached Miarni Hanson had a little under 51.000 and Zalutsky under 5600. They spent the rest. Zalutsky said they bought a lot of nCu clothes. We never sent any clothes to the laundry, but threw them away when we changed. And we tipped big too... he pointed to a fancy sport coat which he wore and which he said was made for him in Miami. (Miami Elrr ld. 11119/1933) Zalutsky and Hanson went to John's Stu- dio at 237 N.8, First Ave. and had several pho. tographs made the day before the shootout. The fugitives showed the photographer "large rolls of money" and paid to have the pictures devel- oped. She indicated that Zalutsky was "sensi- tive about a deformity of his left eye and posed for all of the pictures of himself so that this e%e t S� r -n e t V E.) t? wound not show." The pictures were turned o to the police, with some appearing in the a and the Daily News. The two clearly came to Miami to engage in criminal activity. Police found an "arsenal" of six guns and a "large quantity of ammuni- tion" in a suitcase in their room along with dis- guises (perhaps for a robbery). Hanson was a native of Northampton. PA. where his father and mother lived. His body was shipped to that city by the Gautier Funeral Home in Miami. Zalutsky said that he was born in New Jersey and that his father was a railroad laborer. His mother and brother attended the trial in Mi- ami. THE OFFICER Robert Lee Jester was born in Richland. GA. on Nov. 26, 1892, to William W. and Dolly R. Chambliss Jester. Robert Lee was the second of four brothers ( William T, bom in 1882; Henry C., born 1886; Robert Lee, born 1892: and A.D., born in 1898). During World War I he served in the U.S. Navy on the U.S.S. Tillman, a sub - chaser. where he served as a "listener". He was a member of the American Legion in Miami. It appears that Robert Jester met and mar- ried his wife. Marcella Elsie Jester. in Miami as city directories listed him as single in 1925-26 and married in 1930-1933. Elsie came to Miami in 1925 from Patchogue, N.Y. A search of Mi- ami marriage records failed to locate any record of their marriage and thus her maiden name is unknown. Robert Jester joined the Miami Police De- partment in 1923 and was promoted to detective in 1925. Jester was one of the detectives who captured the "Twentieth Street Killers." four negroes, three of whom were electrocuted and the fourth given life. Eleven murders were cleared with their arrest." (Miamm Herald. 1111911933) The above quote from the Herald is only partially true. Det. Jester was one of the investi- gators on the case but newspaper articles indi- cate that only three of the gang were convicted and only two Willie Green. 17. and Arthur Wil- liams. 19. were executed. The gang committed at least four murders during robberies in the area of Twentieth St. in the fall of 1925. Green and Williams were convicted and executed in 1926 for the murder of George Atiam. a Syrian grocer who lived above his store at 520 N.W. Twenti- eth St. Henry Reno, the father of U.S. Attorney General. Janet Reno. "typewrote' Williams' con- fession and testified at trial that the confession was not coerced. Jester was not one of the de- tectives present at the confession. Det. Jester appears to have been temporarily demoted in March. 1933, as the Miam*-H reported that Jester and another detective were "ordered back in uniform' in what was described as a departmental "shakeup" at the end of the tourist season. Four officers %% ho "had been de- tectives during the winter months were named to take their places." The store noted that Jester's salary was cut by the demotion from S150 a month to S 1.10 a month. However. seven months later Jester appears to have regained his rank as detective as news reports at the time of his death refer to him as Det. Jester. Funeral services for Jester were conducted *own as the Good Samaritan because he was on Nov. 21 at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in hit by a car on the Dolphin Expressway after he Coconut Grove with Rev. Benjamin W. Soper, stopped to help a motorist, Trudeau's sister. Judy rector. officiating. The body lay in state at the Rescigno, was told the "story" of Jester (e.g.. W.L. Philbrick Funeral Home before the funeral his lack of descendants and his unvisited grave) and "hundreds of Miamians viewed the body" and "adopted" the gravesite near that of her there before the services. Honorary pallbearers brother. Now on her frequent visits to her were members of the Miami Police Department's brother's grave, she also lays flowers at Jester's detective bureau. The cortege from the church to Woodlawn grave. Det. Hancock remained with the Miami Park cemetery included color -bearers from the Police Depanment for 19 years and worked with American Legion and the U.S.S. Tillman. Mili- his new paArSr. Det. Charles Papy. for 17 ,years. tart' services were held at the grave site by mem- The Miami±olir.PR..NewS announced Hancock's bens of Jester's crew on the U.S.S. Tillman. All retirement in its March, 1952, issue and de - off -duty Miami police officers attended the fu- scribed his career with Det. Jester. In 1995. Mi- neral as did many officers from other depart- ami resident Charles Papy, 93, who retired from ments in Dade and Broward counties and "mem- the Miami Police Department in 1958. still re- bers of five Miami fire companies." membered the "downtown shootout" that led to Robert Lee Jester was survived by his wife, the death of Det. Jester. Elsie, and three brothers. William and A.D. of Robert Lee Jester's name is inscribed on Arlington. GA, and Henry of Bainbridge. GA. the National Law Enforcement Memorial in The widow was to receive 5150 a month for the Washington, D.C. (on Panel 41. East Wall, Line first year and $75 a month thereafter from the 12).-A plaque bearing his name is in the lobby "police and firemen pension fund". In addition, of the Miami Police Department and his name is the Miami Police Department and the Capitol read each May at the Dadc Police Memorial Ser - Theater staged a benefit feature movie and vices in Tropical Park. vaudeville night at the Capito] Theater with pro- ceeds going to the widow. SOURCES: Mi,'lJ]11-139MW, March 31, Nov. Chief of Detectives L.O. Scarboro went to 19,20,21.23. 1933, March 14, 1947, Aug. 6. the widow's home to notify her of the murder. 1952, Aug. 17, 1958, April 11, 1976; Miami Mrs. Jester was feeding chickens in the Daily New i, Nov. 19.23, Dec. 4.5.6.7, 1933. yard of her home when Chief Scarboro went Aug. 31. 1937, May 9, 1938; Miami Police there to inform her of her husband's death. News, March, 1952; death certificate of Robert She ran into the house and to a bathroom. Lee Jester, Dade County court file of Leonard Chief Scarboro said. He followed her in Joseph Zalutsky (#337); FL Dept. of Corrections time to knock a revolver, which she was records of Leonard Joseph Zalutsky (inmate aiming at her forehead, from her hands. (Miami Herald, 1111911933) #25927); tom' 1924-1954; and interviews with Mary Alice Det. Jester's grave can be easily found to- Jester Inghram and Charles Papy. day at Woodlawn Cemetery in Little Havana. A three foot tall monument reading "Jester" is at20$NZ1d:IYlREjlt the southeast corner of section 4, just across from Miami Police Department the northwest corner of the Mausoleum. His (flat) Fatally injured in motorcycle accident. March grave marker beside the monument reads: 31, 1933 ROBERT LEE JESTER 1892-1933 No direct descendants of Robert Lee Jester were living in 1995 as he and his wife. Marcella Elsie Jester, had no children. Elsie lived in Mi- ami until her death at the age of 58 on Aug. 16. 1958. and was survived by her sister Mrs. Genevieve Minard of Orange City. FL. Accord- ing to city directories. Elsie Jester worked as a nurse in Miami until at least 1950. She was bur- ied in Woodlawn beside her husband though no marker currently marks her grave. Robert Jester does have descendants through two of his brothers. His niece, Mary Alice Jester Inghram (daughter of A.D.) lived in Gainesville, GA, in 1995. Her son. Dennis Ross Inghram lived in Sanford. FL, and her daughter. Leslie Lynn Inghram Busino lived in Lawrenceville, GA. with her children, Beverly Elaine Busino. 6, and Philip Roth Busino. 5. The grave of Det. Jester went unrecognized and "unvisited" for many years since he had no direct descendants and none of the descendants of his relatives lived in Dade County. However. in 1995 Dade County Corrections Dept. Officer Leonard Trudeau was killed in the line of duty and buried only 50 feet from Jester. Trudeau, was THE EVENT John Brubaker, 29, a five-year veteran of the Miami Police Department, was fatally injured on March 29. 1933, when his motorcycle was hit by a car as he and another motorcycle officer were rushing to answer a burglary call. He died two days later of a fractured skull and internal injuries. Officer Brubaker became the 13th Mi- ami officer killed in the line of duty. Motorcycle officers Brubaker and C.E. Campbell were enroute to a burglary call (from N.W. 2nd St. and 35th Ave.) on Wednesday night. March 29, 1933, when a car driven by Carroll N. Phillips, 18, of Miami, collided with Brubaker's motorcycle at W. Flagler St. and 16th Ave. Phillips, who was turning north into 16th Ave., said he saw Officer Campbell. who was riding ahead of Brubaker, but that he did not see Brubaker. Officer Brubaker was "catapulted into the air' by the collision. He suffered a "basal frac- ture of his skull," shattered bones in his left ankle and lower left leg. and suffered internal injuries. He was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he died two days later (Friday. March 31. 1933). Neither the driver or his two passengers were injured. The LLIiaMm Dam ly New reported onI. 1933, that Brubaker was the fourth trafficfality of the month (March, 1933) in Miami. In addition 87 persons were injured in 154 accidents. Officer Brubaker had been involved in a prior fatal accident on Feb. 6, 1933, when his motorcycle struck a 33 year-old woman who was crossing S.W. 22nd St, at 24th Ave. On that oc- casion Brubaker was bruised when he was thrown from his motorcycle by the impact. THE PERPETRATOR Shortly after the accident, Carroll N. Phillips, 18, (of 829 N.W. 23rd Ave.) was ar- rested on charges of reckless driving and was "at liberty pending the coroner's investigation." The inquest was scheduled for Monday, Apri13. On April 3, a coroner's jury under Justice of the Peace Thomas S. Ferguson exonerated Phillips. The jury heard Officer Campbell tes- tify that he and Brubaker were both traveling at about 50 miles per hour on their motorcycles as they rushed to answer the burglary call. Phillips testified that he was moving at only 5 miles per hour when he turned into 16th Ave, and did not see Brubaker's motorcycle. The jury held that the accident was "unavoidable." THE OFFICER John 1. Brubaker was born on July 29,1903, in Glenn Campbell, PA (Indiana County) to David F. and Alice Raney Brubaker. He was raised with two sisters. Valetta and Mary Ruth. Brubaker. 20, joined theArmy on Nov. 16, 1923, at Harrisburg, PA, Army records indicate that he was a chauffeur and musician before join- ing the army and served in the "Service Com- pany" of the 29th Infantry. Military records in- dicated that he was 5'9" and had "blue eyes, brown hair, and a ruddy complexion," His fam- ily recalls that while in the army he played a trombone in theArmy Band at Ft. Benning, GA. He was discharged (as a private first class) from Ft. Benning on Oct. 27, 1925. Shortlybefore his discharge from theArmy. John Brubaker matric0daide Caldwell, on May 2, 1925. They met in a movie theater and were engaged two weeks later. Mattie later told her daughter that her father was quite handsome and that "all the girls chased him" when he played in his band at dances. The couple moved to Miami after Jahn was discharged (1925). Three of iviattie's sisters also moved ro Miami around the same time. John was employed for several years as a musician. His band, "The Nine Forty Niners" played at sev- eral of the large hotels in 4liami. A friend encouraged him tojoin the Miami Police Department since the Depression was im- minent and police jobs provided more security. The change in occupation proved to be wise as Brubaker's daughter remembers that her father "was the only man in the family who worked during the depression." John Brubaker joined the ;Miami Police Department in 1928 at the age of 23. John and tiMattie Brubaker's first child. Mary Ann, was born on Dec. 8, 1928, in Miami. A second child, John David. was born on May 8, 1931. Mary Ann remembers that the children would await their father's daily return from work 54 and would "hear his motor coming" and ru meet him as he arrived an his police motorc He always had a brown paper bag his motorcycle. He brought jelly beans, bananas, peanuts and all our favorite things. He took me everywhere with him... He took me to Sunday School. I was Daddy's little girl. (letter from Mary Ann Brubaker Reeves. 9P-6/1992) Funeral services for John I. Brubaker were held on Monday, April 3, 1933. in the ,4lilstead Funeral Home by Rev. Livingston Munro and Rev. H. L. Pearson of the Methodist Church. "Scores of persons, including many fellow of- ficers," attended the service. Pallbearers were ;Miami motorcycle officers. Burial was at Woodlawn Park Cemetery. An inswmental quar- tet from the. Mahi Shrine band played at the graveside services. rohn Brubaker was survived by his wife. Mattie Caldwell Brubaker and two children. Mary Ann, 4, and John David, 2. Mrs. Brubaker was pregnant with a third child (Roy) at the time of her husband's death. Roy Bryant Brubaker was born on Oct. 12, 1933 (2 & 1/2 months after his father's death). Officer Brubaker was also survived by his parents Mrs. and Mrs. David F. Brubaker of Mahaffey, PA; two sisters, Mrs. Valetta Penny and Miss Mary Ruth Brubaker. Black crepe and a wreath draped the door of police headquarters yesterday as fellow officers mourned his loss. He had an excellent record as an officer and many friends on the force as well as outside head- quarters... the police and firemen's pension board will meet next week to provide for the widow and the children. (Miami Her- , 4/1/1933) The Officer's widow, Mattie Brubaker, re- ceived a pension from the City of Miami (from the "police and firemen's pension board") for 54 years. Initially, she received S50 for her and S 10 for each of her children—until the children reached the age of 18. The widow's stipend was increased several times over the 54 year period. In 1977 Mattie Brubaker moved from Miami to Dothan, AL. In 1984 she was moved to a nurs- ing home in Bainbridge. GA. where she died on March 27, 1987 (at the age of 87). Brubaker is buried in section 22 of Woodlawn cemetery in what is now Little Ha- vana.. His grave marker reads: JOHN T. BRUBAKER 1903-1933 He is buried beside his son, John David. and his widow. Mattie 1M. Brubaker (1900-1987 ). Little John David Brubaker, 9, and a playmate drowned on June 16, 1940, in Biscayne Bay at the foot of McFarland Ave. Four Miami police- men were pallbearers at his funeral at the Silver Bluff Methodist Church on June 18, 1933. In 1995, John Brubaker's daughter, Mary Ann Brubaker Reeves, 67, lived in Dothan. AL, and his son. Roy B. Brubaker. 62, lived in Mi- ami. FL. Roy joined the ivliami Police Dept, on Jan. 9, 1956, and graduated with the 34th Re- cruit Class (pictured on the 3rd floor of the M.P.D.) on March 31. 1956 (23 years after his father's death). Like his father. he was a motor- cycle officer for a number of years. He retired from the M.P.D. in 1979. John L Brubaker, Ciry of Miand. 1933. John Brubaker is survived by four grand. children (Steven Reeves, 42, of Hollywood, FL; Garrett Purkey, 23. of Dothan, AL; Roy Brubaker, Jr, 36, of Rest Palm Beach, FL; and Gail Brubaker -De La Garza, 35,of Miami); three great grandchildren (Steven Reeves, Jr., 22. of Miami, Sebastian Purkey. 4, and Slade Purkey. 3. of Dothan, AL) and one great. ;real grand. child (Rick Reeves. 4. of Miami). Mattie Brubaker's obituary in the %fame Herald on ivlarch 29. I937 (which did not men- tion thatshe was the widow of Officer Brubaker). stated that she was survised by "4 grandchildren. 3 great-grandchildren,-' sisters, Hughie Willis of Dothan, Ala. & Millic B. Collins of Miami. & many nieces and nephews:' John Brubaker's name is inscribed on the National Law finforcerrent Memorial in Wash- ington. D.C. (on West Wall. Panel 22, Line 15). A plaque bearing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Department and his name is read each May at a service at that location and at the Dade County Police Memorial Service inTropi- cal Park. SOURCES: MamLHe_Gtld. March 30. April 1.4. 1933. June 17, 1940. March 29. 1987: &ljami Views. April I. 1933: Military records of John 1 Brubaker (ti6077974r. death certificate of John 1. Brubaker. 41,P.D. Personnel records of Roy B. Brubaker; records at Houston -Love Memo- rial Library in Dothan. AL: grave markers in Woodlawn Memorial Pik. and interviews with & letter from 4fary .-ern Brubaker Reeves and interviews with Roy B. Brubaker and Gail Brubaker -De La Garza. } #23 JOHN EDWWARD DICKSON assistant Constable. Distrct 2 Shot & killed on Dec. _'-. 1933 THE EVENT John Edward Dickson. 41, a Constable's assistant, was shot and killed on Christmas Eve of 1933 when he attempted to serve an "order of dispossession" at a horse in Miami. Constable Charles Fulwood Dillon Has also shot and seri• ously injured by the homeowner. The Dade County grand jury refused to indict the m fio shot Dillon and killed Dickson. Around 2:40AXI on Sunday, Dec. ?4, 933, Constable Dillon and two assistants. Dickson and Robert Bullock. "a soda dispenser," went to the home of Reedy Brown Corker. 51, "negro, of 1735 N.W. Second court" to find out why an order of dispossession served on Corker on Fri- day "had not been complied with." The three "happened to be in the neighborhood in connec- tion with the killing earlier in the night of an- other man, a negro." Constable Charles Dillon "was the brother of Joe Dillon, former assistant county solicitor. and of Raymond Dillon, former Miami police chief." Dickson had been his assistant for sev- eral months. According to Dillon. Dickson went to the rearof the house while he and Bullock remained at the front. The Constable said he "called to Corker, giving his identity, and the negro an- swered, refusing to admit them." Dickson then knocked on the rear door and after a few sec- onds Dillon and Bullock heard a shot from the rear of the house. They ran to the back of the house and "saw Dickson stagger from the back porch and fall on the ground, his flashlight still buming and his pistol, unfired, in his hand." Dickson had been shot in the heart, Dickson "staggered off the rear porch and half -way to the front before he collapsed. dead." Dillon then saw Corker run from the back door in an apparent attempt to escape and fired one shot from his pistol at the fleeing figure. He then sent Bullock to summon an ambulance and then ran over to where Corker fell. He "stooped over" Dickson. Hearing the sound of movement from the negro's direction, he said he rose from his knees just in time to avoid being struck in the head by a second load of shot from Corker's shotgun. The charge struck him in the thighs. from which 55 shot were re- moved at Jackson ]vlemorial hospital. (ML - ami Herald. 11/25/19'33) Two other negroes, "attracted by the shoot- ing, took Dillon to the hospital." Corker surrendered a half hour after the John E. Dickson. ,Miami Constable, 1933. shooting at N.W. Third Ave, and 16(h St. t lice Chief S.D. McCreary and Det. E. Melchen. He had not been wounded. He was taken to the Dade County jail pending an inquest into Dickson's death to be set by Peace Justice Thomas S. Ferguson. Constable Dillon was taken to Jackson0yle- morial Hospital where doctors found that his "left leg above the knee suffered more than 50 shot- gun wounds and several shots penetrated his right leg." The attending physicians first feared that his left leg would have to be amputated. How- ever, the leg was not amputated and he recov- ered. THE PERPETRATOR Reedy Brown Corker, 51, was listed in the 1927-1934 Miami City Directory with his wife Albertha and a Lewis Corker (perhaps a son or brother). The Corker family lived at 1735 N.W. 2nd Ct. in 1933 when Brown shot Constable Dickson. From 1931-1933 the family lived at 313 N.W. 17th St. and thus it would appear that Corker was renting the home where the shoot- ing occurred and was being evicted for failure to pay rent. The 1927-28 City Directories listed Reedy Brown Corker's occupation as "grocer" while Lewis Corker was an "auto mechanic." The 1931-34 directories listed Reedy Brown Corker as a "laborer." Corker was charged with first degree mur- der. He told the arresting officers that he "warned Dillon and his aides not to come into the house because on a previous occasion they had beaten him. He also claimed that Dickson had "forced the rear door' to his home before he fired the first shot. Corker also claimed that he only shot at Dillon after Dillon shot at him. A coroner's jury held that Corker was re- sponsible for Dickson's death and found that Dickson "was shot when at the back door of the negro's house." Constable Dillon, shot in both legs, had recovered by this time and had been released from Jackson Memorial Hospital. The Dade County Grand Jury under the di- rection of N. Vernon Hawthorne, state attorney. considered the case against Corker on Jan. 19, 1934, and returned "no true bill" exonerating the killer of Constable Dickson. No news article appeared after the grand jury decision but on the last day of the grand jury investigation, the Re- ,•tJ.d reported that the constables had attempted to evict Corker for nonpayment of rent. A notice of ejectment had been served. but the three- day limit had not expired when the visit was made." 0,liami Herald, 1/19/1934) The grand jurors, under foreman Robert Grant. heard testimony from Dillon and Bulloch and from "Albertha Corker and Ernestine Norwood, negroes."The City Directory indicates that Albertha Corker was Reedy Brown Corker's wife. The failure of the all -whits grand jury to indict a black man for killing one law enforce- ment officer and seriously wounding another in 1933 is puzzling. Perhaps the jurors believed Corker when he said that he feared the officers were there to beat him. Or perhaps this is an ex- ample of the unpopularity of evictions during the Depression, especially when the eviction was attempted on Christmas Eve. The case is similar in some ways to the Frank Beckham case in 1928 where a jury con- victed a homeowner of manslaughter rather than murder (and then recommended mercy in the sentencing) for killing a man (Beckham) at his home whom he believed was going to hijack his liquor truck. Apparently Dade citizens in this period truly believed that a man's home was his castle and had little sympathy for anyone who "invaded" that castle. THE QFFICER �O& Edward Dickson, 41, was bom on August 9, 1892, in Rockledge, FL, to James E. Edward and Hattie Hall Dickson. His father was bom in Quincy, FL, and his mother in Valdosta. GA. John was one of five children but only two (John and his older brother, Homer) were living in 1900 (according to the census). John's father died at age 36 in 1899 of yel- low fever when John was only 7. His mother. Hattie, who was 29 at the time of her husband's death, was the sole support of John and his older brother. Miami city directories indicate that she was a "clerk" and "saleslady" at various Miami department stores through the 1930's. The Dickson family moved to the Miami area around 1895 from Rockledge, FL. Titus John Edward Dickson was a Miami resident for 38 years making him one of the earliest residents of the city. Miami High School yearbooks have no listing for John Dickson and thus there is no record if (or where) he attended high school. John Dickson was a veteran of World War I and apparently returned to ,Miami after the Great War. Miami city directories indicated his occupation from 1918 to 1933 as "cigars," "clerk," "clerk at grocery store," "real estate." and "salesman." On March 31, 1915, John Dickson married Blanche Dawson, the daughterof Lemuel B. and Dora Dawson. The Dawson family arrived in Miami in 1914 and -their daughter. Blanche. worked as a "trimmer" at a hat company before her marriage. The couple lived at 761 N.W. Ist St. (in what is now Little Havana) as did his mother, Hattie. Daughters Harriette and Caroline were bom in 1918 and 1920. John E. and Blanche divorced sometime in the 1920's and Harriette and Caroline went to S.C. to live with their mother. Dickson ran against Dillon for constable in district 2 (downtown Miami and as far north as 27th SO in the June primaries in 1932 and was defeated by only 20 votes 0.093 to 1.0731. The Herald listed the candidate as John E. Dison (rather than Dickson). Newspapers reported that Dickson "had been associated with Dillon for several months as an assistant" before the fatal shooting. John Dickson's death certificate listed his occupation as "deputy constable." Funeral services were held onTuesday Dec. 26 at the Gautier Funeral Home with the Rev. G.1. Hiller of Trinity Episcopal Church officiat- ing. Harriette and Caroline returned to %liami for their father's funeral and then returned to S.C. Burial was in the ,Miami Cit} Cemetery ar N.E. Second Ave, and 18 St. In 1995 the Dickson family plot is clearly seen from the sidewalk on N.E. Second Ave. as a three foot tall Woodmen of the World monument for John Dickson's fa- ther faces the street and reads. -James E. Dickson. 1863-1899. Camp No. 30.1iiami.� A marker also indicates the grave of Homer Dickson. John's brother, who died in 1970 at the age of 80. Unfortunately-. no marker locate: the exact location of John Dickson's grave but cem- etery records indicate he is buried in the family plot. John Dickson ..as survived by two daugh- ters. Harriette. 15, and Caroline. I?: his mother. Mfrs. James E. ( Hattie H. i Dickson: and a brother. Homer Dickson. all of Miami. Homer Dickson provided financial support for his brother's two ,Daughters after John's death. - Harriette Dickson. 19. married John Paul Hunter on Sept. 4. 1937. and lived in Coral Gables (at 650 Escobar Are. i with her two:hil- dren until the 1970'x. Her husband was the owner .if Griffin Rooting. Caroline moved to Califor- nia. She had no children and died in Ca in 1'493 at the age of 73. John Dickson's mother. Hattie. died on Sept. 15. 1953. in Miami at the nee �,if S:. The Mlami 1Jerald published a lengthy obituary on Homer Dickson. 79. on Jan. 30. 1970. indicating that he had attended "Miami public schools:' worked briefly for the Florida East Coast Railway. and "was on the first train to pull into Miami." He eventually operated his ,yen investment banking firm in Nfiami until 194-f when he moved to Quincy "where he cross- bred Brahmins and IN'hiie Faces to establish a Braford line." His ranching partner was John «'. Campbell. who later became a S. Dade tomato grower. Homer Dickson returned to Miami in 1950 after his retirement. His wife. Susan Bernice. "a Miami voice and piano reacher." died on Aue. 7. 1953, at the age of 60. Hattie. Homer and Su- san are all buried in the Dickson family plot in the Miami City Cemetery. Homer's son, Jay ms (the nephew of John Edward Dickson). lived in Pembroke Pines un- til his death in 1983. Jayms' widow. Shirlee Dickson, lived in Pembroke Pines in 1995 and her daughter. Lori Petruccelli. lived in Ft. Lau. derdale. Also in 1995. Homer and Shirlee's two sons lived out of state ( Brad Dickson in TX and `lar: Dickson in CA). In 1995. Martha Reav Dillon \ oodward. 73, the ,youngest daughter of Constable Charles Dillon lived in Lake Butler. His only son. Charles F. Dillon. Jr., was a medical doctor in Orlando for many years. John Edward Dickson's line of duty death was missing from the Dade List of Slain Offic- ers until 1992 when an article about his death was discovered by Ann McFadden of the Dade County Genealogical Society. She notified Dr. \Vilbanksof herdiscovery and he researched the case and requested that Dickson's name be added to the list of names read each NIay at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park. On .Nfay 11. 1993-60 years after his death -John E. Dickson's name was read for the first'time at the Dade Police Memorial. %Vilbanks also submitted Dickson's name to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C.. and in 1994. the name or3uhn Edward Dickson was inscribed ( East Wall, Panel 55. Line 19) on the memorial along with the 13.814 officers killed from 1794-1995. In July of 1993. after several monthsof ge- ;6 nealogical research, Dr. %V:ibanks "found Officer Nichulx "sax caught beticeen the rri Haette Hunter. 75, living in liusiungion Bear mbulance and the autontuhile of �Irs. Devine" CA. and infornied her that h. r f thcr'x name had and was "crushed,% He "recoked a multiple Iruc- been added to the Dade list -+f s!4;!. officers and Lure of both legs. a possible skull frdelure and to the National Law Enfonrnicni .Llemorial. internal injuries_" Nichols and Hundbern werc Members of the Dickson fancily hope to visit the rushed to St. Francis Hospital by Sc(. P.R. Shunt National and Dade memorials in the tuiure. and Officer Fred 11'illianis %%N;had hcen at the SOURCES: Miami j-[er�ld. Dec. _'5'6.37 1933. .scene. TheauendinL physician at St. Francis Hit,. Jan. 19. 1934. Jan. 30. 1970: •' y News. pital said Nichols was in critical condition and Dec. 35 '6.28. 19: 3: Criminal Court Case #338 held out lisle hope for his recu. ory "because of tFf. vs. Reedy Brown Corker): Official Direc- the interval,injuries." One repo" .aid that hos. 19rY Of MY of Miami. 19(1.1: Polk's.%fiami City pital staff4ere" fearful he L.uufd not live through Director.. 1917-1965: Death cer iticateofJohn the night." His treatment included at least tU'p Edward Dickson: Dade County marriage blood transfusions. Later medical bulletins said records: 1890 census of Dade County. Precinct that "his back was believed broken- and that "his '% Miami Chy,CemMn. Burial; 1396-199(): legs were so badly- shattered he could not be grave markers at .Miami City Cemetery: and in- turned over for \-r►y s."Nichols died ut 9: IaP�I terviews with Shirlee Dickson and Harriette on Tuesday. Feb. 4. 1936. approximately 9() Dickson Hunter. hours after the fatal accident. Officer Handberry, a 1"o -tear veteran of #2$ WILLL NI LAWRENCE NICHOLS the Depanmeni. watt standing in front of the Miami Beach Police Department ambulance and vcax "hurled several feet by it Hit by auto IFeb. i k and died on Feb. 4, 1936 when it was forced forward suddenly by the im- paet of the Devine automubite" He cuffs -ed a THE EVENT Miami Beach Officer William Lawrence "Nick." Nichols. 53. a I I -year veteran who had sensed the Department "longer than any other man on the force." was fatally injured in a "double automobile collision" on the "count+• causeway" (now McArthur Causew•ay1 on Feb. 1. 1936.Officer Nichols died three days later on Tuesday. Feb. 4. The woman who caused the accident was charged with drunk driving and manslaughterand became the only woman in the history of Dade County (from 1395-1995) to be charged with the killing of a Dade police officer. Nichols became the second Miami Beach officer to be killed in the line of duty (the first was David Bearden in 1928). At 2:30AM on Saturday. Feb. 1. 1936, a collision occurred on the causeway just "west of the Star Island bridge" at the "Palm Island entrance to the causeway." The collision was between a jitney and an automobile driven by John G. Harlan. "assistant general counsel of the United States Treaeury Department." Newspa- per reports indicate that Harlan "collided head- on" with the jitney when (according to the jit- ney driver) he "drove without lights on the ..gone side of the causeway". A later police report in- dicated that Harlan had "turned east off the Palm Island road onto the sarong side or the cause%%a% and ran headlong into the jitney." Officers Nichols and Earl D. Handberrv.'_9. and two other policemen were on the :cane di- recting traffic and helping the Five injured iitne% passengers into a (parked) Nicely Funeral Name ambulance "for removal to the hospital" when an automobile: driven by yirs. James R. (Pearl) Devine crashed into the ambulance. The second collision occurred about 15 minutes after the first accident. Police reports said that said the auivniobile driven by Devine "was approaching at about 40 miles an hour "directly toward the crowd" but "frantic signals" by police " flushli_hts and .shistles" did not "prevent the heavy Lincoln sedan from charging into the ambulance." Nichols was thrown over the top of the ambu- lance. broken leg and broken arm and internal injuries and was in critical condition forsevcnil days but e+•entuallyreeosercd.tOflicerHandtr:rn se �ed the Miami Beach Police Dept. until 19435 wnhen he retired on a disability pension. He died in 1978.1 The tine passengers in the jitney acre treated for"cut+arid bruises"at St. Francis Hos- pital. Miami Beach Police Chief H.V. Yocum or- dered a crackdo.vn on traffic violators as a re- sult of the critical injuries to two of his police- men and injuries to five other persons in the double accident. The headline in the Feb. 4. 1936. 1,�r jai Herald said that "\Banti Beach Judge Jails Six Motorists: Speeders Are Sentenced in Result of Campaign Against Careless Drivers." THE PERPETR-1 TOR .\Irs. James R. iPearl) Devine. 32. a'vi�i• for from Baltimore." was arrested on charges of drunk driving. reckless driving and causing an accident. One newspaper reported that police at the scene said .`sirs. De%ine w;is drunk and that tM iwn L Nichols..11iund 6rau Ii. ly+h. "other occupants of the car began to throw bottles after the impact." One of them, Mrs. Eleanor Lamb. 20 Lakeside drive. Lake Worth. was being held yesterday under 5200 bond, as a material witness. Police said they believed there were two men in the Devine car who es- caped in the confusion. (Miami Tribune. J 211936) A picture of the Lincoln sedan crashed into the ambulance appeared in the hMj Tribune on Feb. 2. Mrs. Devine was held in the county jail until Feb. 4 when she was released on a 52.500 cash bond. However. on Feb. 5 she was rearrested and returned to the jail and held without bond until a coroner's inquest on Feb. 6. Peace Justice Ralph C. Pole conducted the inquest. Mrs. Devine's passenger. Mrs. Eleanor Lamb, testified that Mrs. Devine had not been drinking but Nirs. Devine did not take the stand. The coroner's jury ruled that "officer Nichols met hisdeath through an accident caused by .%,Irs. Devine due to her negligence and carelessness on Feb. I." Justice Cole then charged Mrs. Devine with manslaughter. Bond was set at S10.000. Fier attorneys Bart A. Riiey and J. Aron Abbott, waived the preliminary hearing and she was bound over to Criminal court. On Feb. 7. Circuit Judge H.F. Atkinson re- duced ,firs. Devine's bond from $10.000 to 56.500 and she bonded out of jail. The trial was held on March 17-19. 1936 (six weeks after Nichols death), in Criminal Court before Judge Ben C. Willard. The trial apparently turned on the testimony of a prosecution witness who was on the scene after the First collision and testified that, in his opinion, the death of Nichols was "caused by failure of Miami Beach police offic- ers to properly control traffic" following the first collision. The witness testified that he urged Sgt. K.R. Short and other policemen to "signal for traffic to halt only a few minutes before 4lrs. Devine's car crashed into the rear of the arnbu- lance." The witness also testified that several mo- torists "were forced to apply their emergency brakes to avoid running into the jitney. Police officers at the scene testified that after the first accident "there was a lane through which Mrs. Devine could have driven" and that she was "in- toxicated." Defense attorneys Bart A. Riley and 1. Aaron Abbott argued that Mrs. Devine "had not taken a drink that night" and that the acci- dent was caused by the failure of police to warn approaching drivers of the first wreck. Mrs. Lamb. the passenger in the Devine automobile. testified that "although there were liquor bottles and cups in the car, the drinking was not partici- pated in by Mrs. Devine." The L, liami Herald reported that Lktrs. Devine took the witness stand but that "she was not cross-examined by Albert D. Hubbard and Glenn O. 4lincer. assistant county solicitors in charge of the prosecution for the state." Mrs. Devine testified that she "did not see the group of people and the automobile until it was too late to stop her car' and did not see any "warning signals." She also stated that her vision was "ob- scured by atmospheric conditions." A six -man jury deliberated only two hours before acquitting Mrs. Devine of manslaughter. The'am' ld reported that John A Harlan, the U.S. Treasury official whose car hit the jitney to begin the double accident. "left the scene of the accident before arrival of the police and so apparently was not present when Mrs. Devine's car hit the jitney injuring the two po- licemen. However. Harlan did appear at the po- lice station the next morning. But then checked out of his Miami Beach hotel on Feb. 4 thus "Constable James Hickland was unable to serve him with a subpoena to appear at the inquest." The 'liami_Daily Mews reported that a warrant charging "reckless driving, resulting in an acci- dent" was tiled against Harlan but later reported that the warrant "was withdrawn without being served." It is unclear from newspaper accounts whether Harland had also been drunk when he hit the jitney. The fact that he fled the scene of such a serious accident might suggest that he feared police would find that he was drunk. The Daily New said that the accident occurred "as late revellers were making their way home early yesterday" (Saturday). THE OFFICER William Lawrence "Nick" Nichols. was born on June 1. 1882, in Charleston. S.C. A search of records in the Charleston. S.C.. library failed to locate any information on the family of Nichols. According to the Miami Qaily News. Of- ficer Nichols joined the Miami Beach Police Department in 1924 when he moved to lvliami from Charleston. S.C. (However. a Miami Her - RW article indicated that Nichols had moved to ,4liami Beach from Richmond. VA. where he had been a police officer.) T1te Hr,[ajd reported that Nichols "had served as a police officer for 20 years in Savannah. Charleston and Miami Beach." His death certificate indicated that he had been a police officer for a total of 30 years. As a Miami Beach officer. he wore badge No. 1. Personnel records of the Savannah Police Dept. indicate that Nichols became a Savannah police officeron Dec. 1, 19l 1 (when he was 28). and served until Jan. 22, 1915. He was tired by the Mayor for neglect of duty {being in an ofJ: limits restaurant for one hour). The record also indicates that he was, at 28. 6'1" and 173 lbs.. and was a "brakeman" before becoming a Sa- vannah police officer. Funeral services for William L. Nichols were handled by the Niceley Funeral Home and were held on Thursday, Feb. 6, at St. Patrick's Church in ,btiami Beach at 10:30A.%1. At 9:30A'v1 "his fellow officers had met at the police station to pay a last tribute to their companion." Nichols "was given full police honors at the funeral in St. Patrick's Church" officiated by Rev. W. Barry. Nichols was buried in full uniform with badge no. 1. Pallbearers were all members of the Mi- ami Beach Police Department. Ten Miami Beach police motorcycles led the procession from the church on Miami Beach to Miami where they were "joined by a Miami police escorton the way to Woodlaw•n Park Cem- etery" (in what is now Little Havana r. The grave marker of William Nichols is still easily visible in 1995 in Woodlawn Park. A 4 foot stone monu- ment (near the west fence) has the likeness of a police badge and reads: t%,IIA&II BEACH POLICE NI "NICK" NICHOLS The grave marker below the stone monu. ment reads simply: W.L. NICHOLS 1377-1936 Vick Nichols was buried beside his infant grandson. William Lawrence Nichols. Jr.. who drowned otrluly 4. 1935. at the age of 2. His wife. Hannah, was buried beside him after her death on April 23. 1964. On Feb. 5 the 4liami Beach City Council passed a resolution "commending Nichots' record and expressed sympathy for his family." However, the city did not provide a pension for Nirs. Nichols as the pension ,vstem did not be- gin until 1944. Councilman Yal C. Cleory ree. ommended that police start "using red flares when investigating an accident to caution other motorists to slow down or stop." Miami Beach Municipal Court Judge Daniel P. Galen recessed "police court" on Wednesday and Thursday "on account of the death of the veteran policeman. A newspaper obituary reported that: Patrolman Nichols is survived by the widow. Mrs. Hannah Nichols. Miami Beach. one daughter. tlrs. Thelma A. Casey. Savannah. GA: one son. Bert C. Nichols, Miami Beach: two brothers. John H. and Herbert L., both of Charleston. S.C.: one sister. ,4trs. Gertrude Mitchell. Sayan- nah. GA. three grandchildren. Jack and Deane Nichols. Charleston, and Catherine Casey. Savannah. (%,,Iigmi Daily News. J 5136) Personnel records of the Savannah. GA. Police Dept, indicated that Officer Nichols was married in 1911 and had fourehildren. Thus two of his four children may have died by 1936. Records at the Chatham County Library in Savannah. GA. indicate that Officer Nichol's daughter. Mrs. Thelma A. Casey of Savannah. was married to Eugene P. Casey and had three children at the time of her husband's death on June 11. 1975.'rhe three were Catherine C. Jack- son of Savannah and Eugene Roy Casey and Patrick Harold Casey of Stone Mountain. GA. Catherine Jackson was listed in the Savannah city- directory until 1930. Thelma and Eugene Casey had 9 grandchildren ithe;reat grundchil- dren of Officer Nichols) in 19'5. Officer Nichols' w•idou. Hannah Nichol:. died in 1964 in Hialeah at the age of 92. Her obituary in the'vliami Herm %%a_s only three line. and made no mention of her famous police of- ficer husband who died in 1936. The offtter', son who survived him in 1936 was Bertram Charles,Nichols. He appear` to have disappeared from Miami Beach city directories after 1936. However, the author was able to locate one son of Bertram Charles Nichols. John C. Nichols. who was born on June 26. 1936. four month: after his grandfather's death. In 1995. John Nichols. 59, lived in Radcliff. KY, and was re- tired after 32 years of military service in the Armv and 1,tarines. Officer Wm. L.,Nichols was survived in 1995 by three great grandchildren (John E. Nichols. Jr.. 35. of Birmingham. AL: Acindia McGorvey, 37. of Columbus. GA: and 0 Catherine Mae Epperson. 33, of Louisv& and six great grandchildren through John I Nichols. his grandson via his son. Bertrat Charles Nichols. The City of iVfiami Beach and the Nliarr Beach Police Department apparently forgot th line of duty deaths of William L. Nichols an Robert Boyle (also killed in an accident in 193 as in 1984 the city and the department announce that Donald Kramer had become the first 41iam Beach officer ever killed in the line of duty. A article by Edna Buchanan in the Miami Herat shortly after the Kramer killing reminded Mi ami Beach of the murder of Miami Beach of - ricer David Bearden in 1928 whose name had been forgotten by the Department and the City. In June of 1992, Larry Wiggins of the Dade_News-Lender. discovered an article in th 1936 ,Miami Herald about the death of 1vliami Beach Officer Robert Boyle which mentioned the death seven months earlier of Officer W.L. Nichols. He contacted Dr. Wm. Wilbanks about his discovery of two officers that were not on the Dade List of Slain Officers. Wilbanks re- searched the two cases and notified Miami Beach, Dade County and the National Law En- forcement Memorial of the two "missing" cases. The Miami Hgrald's Neighbors section for Miami Beach on Feb. 11, 1993, ran a front page picture of Dr. Wilbanks at the grave of "Nick" Nichols in Woodlawn Cemetery along with a briefstory about the line of duty death of Nichols and asked readers who knew the whereabouts of Nichol's descendants tocontact Dr. Wilbanks. A reader tip led to the "discovery" of Nichol's grandson, John Edwin "Nick" Nichols, 57, in Radcliff. KY, and hisdaughter-in-law, Edith Mae Webb, in Winter Haven. FL. John Nichols vis- ited S, FL in 1993 and was taken to Wm. Nichols' grave by Dr. Wilbanks and was briefed on his famous grandfather. The Miami Beach FOP lodge is named af- ter Officer W.L. Nichols and his housed in the back of the Miami Beach Police Athletic League Building on I Ith St. between the east fence of the football field/track and the Flamingo Park Tennis Courts. The Lodge had no picture of its namesake until one was provided by Nichols's grandson. John Nichols, in 1993. A plaque bear- ing Nick Nichols' picture was placed on the wall of the lodge. In 1993 the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical included ---for the first time ---the names of William L. Nichols and Robert Boyle. Miami Beach now recognizes that six—not three --of its officers have been killed in the line of duty. A plague bearing the name of both of- ficers was placed in the lobby of the ,Miami Beach Police Depurtment in 1994. The name of William Nichols is inscribed (on West Wall. Panel 15, Line 15) on the National Law Enforce- ment Memorial in Washington. D.C.. The me- morial. dedicated in 1991. is located in a public park above the Judiciary Square Metro (subwav) Station. SOURCES: 41iHerald. Feb. 2.-4.5,6.7. March 18.19.20. 1936. Feb. it. 1993: Miami Daily News. Feb. 2.3.5,6.7. March 18, 19. 1936: �ikliami Tribune. Feb. 2.4.5.1936-. Criminal Court of Record Case #4100 (FL vs. ,NIrs. Pearl Devine): death certificate of William Lewis 58 Nichols: and interviews with John Nichol Edith Mae Webb. X25 SV , U D CICS Mia"mt PPb`tfc�bepa men Killed by drunk driver, Aug. 9. 1936 6) THE EVENT d �Nfiami PoliceOffrcerSamuel D. Hicks, 43. i an I [-year veteran. was killed by a drunk driver n on Sunday night. Aug. 9, 1936. hicks was hit d and killed by a two -ton truck driven by a drunk - driver as he and another officer were standing by the roadside examining a car they had just d chased and stopped by shooting out the tires. This car was also driven by a drunk driver. Thus Of - South (icer Hicks was killed by a drunk driver while e investigating a separate drunk driving incident. Officer Hicks became the 14th Miami officer killed in the line of duty. It appears that drunk driving and fatal traf- fic accidents were quite frequent in Miami at this time period. An article in the Miami Daily NCws on Aug. 13. 1936, indicated that Miami was fourth in the nation in percapita traffic fatalities (after Camden, NJ: Nashville. TN; and Rich- mond, VA). It also appears from this case that drunk driving was a serious problem in that both the car and the truck involved in this incident were driven by drivers who were drunk. Also, the Miami Daily News on Aug. 12. 1936, reported that the ,Miami Police Department was offering free taxi services via its patrol cars to anyone who was drunk and didn't want to drive. The newspaper suggested that no other city in the country offered such a service. Clearly, this rather drastic step was taken as one approach to a very serious problem. It should also be noted that this case marks the third Dade County police officer killed by a drunk driver in a 15 -year period. The other two were Frank Croff of the Miami Police Depart- ment in 1921 and Cy Guest of the Coral Gables Police Department in 1928. Patrolmen Hicks and Raleigh Hill were on "special Sunday night patrol duty" around 9:30PM and, according to the Mhmi Tribune. were "working overtime without pay... under orders from Safety Director Andrew J. Kavanaugh and Police Chieflohn B. Rowland." The newspaper further reported that Hicks was assigned to patrol duty from 7.00AM to 100PyI daily but "was forced to take an extra two hours patrol duty in the negro section every Saturday and Sunday nighl." He was "preparing to go off duty" when the fatal incident occurred. Ironically. the City would later claim that it was not required to pay any pension to Officer Hicks since he was working as an unpaid "vol- unteer" when he was killed. The family got a small amount of money from the PBA but no government benefits. The incident began when a caroccupied by rive negroes sped past the two officers and "failed to stop at their command." The officers gave chase and "tired several shots at the car before they were able to overtake it." The pur. sued carstapped at the comerof N.W. First Ave. and 17th St. after a "wild three -block chase." Officer Hicks's gunfire had punctured the rear tires of the car and forced it to stop. The driver. ..who was apparently drunk." jumped out and Samuel D. Hicks. Ciry oj,iliami, 1936. escaped but the four passengers remained with the car. One of the passengers, "Fletcher Parker. 25. negro, was found slumped in the seat, a bul. let wound in his neck." He had been wounded with Hicks' pistol and was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital and listed in serious condi- tion. Police later learned that the car stopped by Officers Hicks and Hill was stolen and an- nounced a search for the escaped driver of the car. "a former negro service station employee." On Aug. 20,1936, police arrested "Nick Howard. 23, negro," for auto theft after determining that he was the driver of the car stopped by Officer Hicks. Police determined that the car "had been stolen from the Redland Motor Co.'s used car lot.' The two officers had finished searching the "bullet -ridden" automobile and had placed the four passengers under arrest but were still stand- ing in the street by the stolen auto when the "t%%o- ton lumber truck driver by Heanon Aarons. 25. "lurched" around the corner at a high rate of speed. The two officers saw the speeding truck heading for them and "waved flashlights as the truck bore down on them." They then tried to leap from the path of Aarons' truck. Officer Hill was able to Qct out of the path of the truck but Officer Hicks, w ho had attempted to "dash to the rear of his police parol car' was "struck down before he could gain safety." He " «as thrown to the pavement and a rear %0eel passed over his head." Officer Hicks was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital where "despite blood transfusions and desperate efforts of phy- sicians." he died of head injuries an hour later (IO:27P;M). The truck was so heavy and traveling so fast (later estimated at 50 mph) that it "skidded nearly 50 feet with locked wheels before it came to a stop." Aarons. the driver. was so drunk he "staggered" and "was unable to walk" and was arrested at the scene by officers in a radio patrol car that had arrived at the scene earlier to trans- port the men in the first car tojail. He was "pro- nounced drunk" at police headquarters by Dr. Y.B. Keating, police physician. Homicide Det. k.N. Clark would later tell the coroner's jury that Aarons was still "staggering drunkAfte he attempted to question him in the city hours after the fatal crash. Det. Clark took a statement from Aaron the following day since he was • too intoxicate to make a statement Sunday night." Aarons was held in jail on an open charge pending the coroner's inquest. His two passengers, a step- son and daughter, were "held in city jail for in- vestigation, pending the inquest." The Hicks case received more coverage in Miami newspapers than any other "traffic" kill- ing of an officer. The "gunplay" involved and the "double drunk driver' factor probably played some part in the increased coverage but it also appears that the presence in 1936 of three Mi- ami newspapers (the J�(j, Da jy (Yews. and TJX) led to something akin to a newspaper war. The ldb ung was a tabloid and featured sen- sational headlines and pictures of violence. The Hicks case made page one of the Tribune for three days with bold headlines on two days ("Auto Speeder Kills Cop" and "Suspects Mur- der in Hicks Death") and a picture of Hicks on the third day. THE PERPETRATOR HeanonAarons of Miami was described in newspaper articles as "a Negro" who was 39 years old (or perhaps 25 years old as stated in other articles). No other information was given in local newspapers about Aarons. An inquest was held before justice of the peace Thomas S. Ferguson on Wednesday. Au- gust 12. Several witnesses presented testimony to the coroner's jury which ruled that Aaron's actions were "criminally negligent." He was charged with manslaughter and bond was set at S5,000. He could not raise the bond and thus was detained in jail. A search of court records at the Dade County archives failed to discover the out- come of Aaron's trial for manslaughter and there was no mention of the trial in local newspapers after Aug. 13. The FL Department of Correc- tions has no record of Aarons being admitted to the prison system in 1933 or 193.4. Nick Howard. 23, the driver of the chased and stopped car was also apparently drunk, but escaped on foot. The Daily (Yews reported on Aug. 21 that Howard had been arrested by two Miami detectives as he worked at a filling sta- tion at N.E. Second Ave. and 19th St. He was held on a 5-4.000 bond on a charge of auto theft. The outcome of his case is not known (i.e.. no court record could be found). THE OFFICER Samuel D. Hicks, 48, was born on Jan. 2. 1338. in Ashford. AL (in Houston County in the southeast corner of the state). His father, Louis H. Hicks. and his mother, Mary ,4loore Hicks. were also born in Ashford. AL. Samuel Hicks was the 3rd of 6 children. His two olderbrothers were Ambus (born on July 31. 1881) and Walton. According to the 1910 census, the younger sib- lings of Samuel D. Hicks. 20. were Luke ,M.. 19; Charles M.. 16; and Thomas J. Little is known of the "early years" of Samuel Hicks except that family members re- port that he worked for the railroad in AL as a young man. LAarriage records in Houston County. AL, indicate that Samuel Hicks, 19, n married Gussie Wimberly, 15, on Aug. 1 1. 1910. o at the home the bride's family (Mr. &Ctrs. N.E. Wimberly). The 1910 census indicates that their Aarons son. Louis H., 1, was born in AL. A second son. d Homer Lee Hicks, was born in 1915. Both bovs were born while the family lived in Dothan. AL. Samuel Hicks. 36. moved his family to Miami in 1924 and joined the Miami Police Department in 1925 at a time when the Depart- ment was expanding rapidly. The force grew from 40 men to 350 men between 1931-19'_'5 as the city was experiencing the real estate boom. Officer Hicks was among the three-fourths of the force that was assigned to traffic duty in downtown Miami as traffic lights were not in- stalled until the spring of 1925 and traffic was ..at a virtual halt for long periods daily" as the city "faced the alarming prospect of drowning in a sea of automobiles." Officer Hicks had been assigned to the "negro district" during most of his I I years with the department. He evidently had something of rald a reputation in that.area as the Hesaid that he was known as the "nemesis of dark town law- breakers." One white woman who refused to give her name went to the police station and said she had overheard fournegroes plotting Hicks' death three weeks earlier, According to her story. one man suggested Hicks be stabbed, another that he be shot and a third that they run him over with a car since the latter method would only result in manslaughter if they were caught. Both the lead homicide detective and the police chief "discounted" the woman's story. However. Po- lice Chief John 0. Rowland did admit that Hicks' "life had been threatened a number of times by negroes." Funeral services were held on Aug. 12 at the Joseph P. McGhan Funeral Home. Rev. Bennett William Palmer. pastor of the Highland Park Methodist Church, officiated. The same six Miami police officers who served as pallbearers at the funeral of Hicks' wife a month earlier also served as pallbearers for his funeral. More than 250 persons attended the services. A group of 16 Ku Klux Klan mem- bers attended in their robes besides scores of policemen and other law enforcement officers. (Miami Herald, B/13/1936) Descendants of Samuel Hicks indicate that he was a member of the KKK as they have his Klan card as well as his police badge. The Hicks funeral in 1936 was the last (known) Dade po- lice funeral with KKK ceremonies. Two earlier police funerals. those of Nliami policeman Laurie Wever in 1925 and Homestead marshal Charles D. Bryant in 1923, involved active participation by the KKK. Wever was a member of the Klan and it is probable that Bryant was also a mem- ber given (he KKK ceremony at his funeral and the popularity of the Klan in the 1920's. How- ever. it appears that the KKK was involved only in the Hicks funeral and not in the burial service as occurred in the Wever and Bryant cases. Burial was in Graceland Ivlemorial Park. 4420 S.W. 8th St.. in Miami. Six Miami police officers served as pallbearers. His grave marker reads simply: SAMUEL D. HICKS JAN. 2. 1988 - AUG. 9. 1936 A replica of a Miami Police Department badge is also on the marker with badge #411 and the words, ",4liami Police Department." Samuel D. Hicks was survived by his sons, Louis H. Hicks. 25, and Homer Lee Hicks. 21. both of iVliami. The Officer's wife, Gussie L. Hicks. 4.4, had died three months earlier (on June 26. 1936). Samuel and Gussie Hicks are buried side by side at Graceland. The Njam' Herald also reported that a wreath _ hung above the entrance to the head. q6 building and fellow officers last night prepared to add Hicks' name to the honor roil as the fourteenth member of the department killed in line of duty since 1913. (,Miami Herald, 8/11/1936) The statement above indicating that Hicks was the 14th City of Miami officer killed in the line of duty suggested to Dr. Wm. Wilbanks or FIU that two Nliami officers on this earlier (lost( list were missing on the 1991 list since Hicks was only the 12th Miami officer killed on the 1991 list. Wilbanks. realizing that two of Miami's slain officers were "lost." launched a search for the two missing officers in old Miami newspa- pers and eventually "found" J.D. ,NIarchbanks (1926) and Jesse L. Morris (1937) who were added to the current list in 1992. In 1995, &R- ami Officer Joe Morris found photographs of both Marchbanks and ,Morris at the old P.B.A. building and each had a star pasted on the pho- tograph indicating that their deaths were listed in the 1930's as being in the "line of duty." Louis and Homer Hicks were appointed ad- ministrators of Samuel Hicks estate by County Judge W.F. Blanton. The estate consisted of 52.000 in life insurance and $100 in personal effects. On Aug. 25. 1936, Louis and Homer Hicks filed aS50.000 damage suit in circuit court against the Reliable Supply Company. owner of the truck driven by Heanor Aarons. Pat Cannon, the attorney for the plaintiffs, alleged that Aarons was on company business at the time his truck struck Hicks. However, the family laterdropped the suit at the advice of attorneys after the com- pany that owned the truck was sold. Louis Henry Hicks followed in his Father's foot -steps as a police officer working (in the 1940's and 1950's for the City of Miami. Opa- loeka and the Dade County Road Patrol (later Metro -Dade Police). He patrolled the Venetian Causeway on a motorcycle while working for the County Road Patrol. Officer Louis Hicks died in 1961. His brother Homer Lee Hicks owned and operated Hicks Plumbing in the 1940's and 1950's out of his home at ?g; N.W. 29th St. Homer died in 1954. Both Hick. htjvs died on their mother's birthday (`ov. 25t and arc buried in Graceland near their father and mother. In 1995. Samuel Hicks wassurvived by Iwo daughters-in-law (Elizabeth B. Carew. 83. of Ft. Lauderdale, and Gynell Childree. 77. of Pensacola). Louis' son (and grandson of Samuel D. Hicks). Burwell Samuel Hicks, 57. still lived in Miami in 1995, as did three of his four chil- dren. Burwell Samuel Hicks. Ir., 38; David Lee Hicks. 34. and Frances Stark. 33. A daughter. Patricia Sturber. 37. lived in Gainesville. These fourchildren of Burwell Hicks had Live children [Michelle Sterba. 19, Megan Sterba. 7, and `lichael Sterba, 5. of Gainesville. FL, and Kerry Lee Stark, 14. and Tracy Stark. 10, of `liatnir. These five are the great. great, grandchildrenl scene by Dr. A. Lustgarten. a passenger in the OfticerSamuel D. Hicks. car that hit Bos le and the father of the driver. Officer Samuel D. Hicks also had numer- Boyle was then taken by a W.H. Combs antbu- ous descendants through his son Hamer Lee lance to St. Francis hospital. Doctor: at the hos- Hicks. In 1995, Homer's youngest daughter. pital "held scant hope of Boyle's recover." Joann Hicks Jones, 57, lived in Pensacola as did "\less Bm le and intimate friends n ere sum- herchildren (Timothy Ray Jones. 35. Mark Alan maned to his bedside �honh• before midni;hl," Janes. 33. and Elizabeth :Marie DeRise). Homer's Howes er. Sun. Bole never regained conscious- uldest daughter. Jam Lee Hicks Dempsey, 59, ness and diad at 5:-;_ A.%1 the following morn - lived in )fest Palm Beach as did her daughters. ing. The death certificate listed the cause of death Sandra Lee Shofner. 35, and Diane Marie as "multiple fracture of skull." Sirman. 31. These grand -daughters of Homer Lee Hicks had three children, Michael Shofner. THE PERPETR.4TOR 9. and Wendy Shofner. 4. and Matthew Justin The driver of the Nash Coupe. Edward L. Simians, 6. Lustgarten. 29. an attomev, was arrested at the Samuel Hicks' brother. Ambus Hicks scene and charged with reckless driving result- s [8141-19721. and mane other more distant de- ing in an accident. He was taken to the "Miami scendants of the Hicks family of Houston Beach iail." County. AL. are buried in the Friendship Primi- On Nlonda%. Aug. 31, a hearing was held tine Baptist Cemetery. two miles south of before Justice ofthe Peace Ralph C. Polc. At the Ashford. AL. The Hicks name is the most cont- conclusion of the hearing. Justice Pole ordered mon name in that cemetery according to Homer Lustgarten held on a manslaughtercharge under \lceksof the Houston County Geneological So- a 510.000 bond. However. Circuit Court Judge Gigot'. Paul D. Barns reduced the bond to S1.000 after Samuel D. Hicks' name is inscribed on the Lustgarten's attorney: Ernest Roberts of the law National Law Enforcement Memorial in Wash- firm of Pine and Giblin. "brought a habeas cor- ington. D,C. (on Panel 24. East Wall. Line 12). pus seeking a reduction" in bond. The state was His name is read each ;~lay at the Police Memo- represented by assistant state attorney Joseph rias Service in Tropical Park in Miami. He is also Otto. memorialized by a plaque bearing his name in the lobby of the N iami Police Department. SOURCES: Miami Herald. Aug. 10.11.12.13. 1936: Mia m -L_ -Da i1v Newa. Aug. 10. 12.13.14.19,21.22,26. 1936: Miami Tribune. Aug. 10.1 1.13. 1936: death certificate of Samuel D. Hicks: CdVninal JustiCe by Paul S. George (a dissertation. 1975): 1910 census records of Houston County. AL. from Homer kteeks of Houston County (ALi Geneological Society: grave marker of Samuel D. Hicks: and interviews with Burwell Samuel Hicks, Elizabeth Carew, Joann Jones, and Gynell Childree, #26 ROBERT BOYLE Miami Beach Police Department Killed in motorcycle accident on Aug. 31, 1936 THE EVENT Sgt. Robert Boyle. 30, a two-year veteran of the \iiami Beach Police Department was fa- tally injured in a motorcycle accident that oc- curred while he was on duty on Aug. 30. 193'6, He died approximately 9 hours later (on Aug. 311. Ser. Boyle became the second Miami Beach officer to be killed in a traffic accident in 1936 and the third officer to be killed in the line of duty in the history of the Department. Sgt. Boyle was on patrol on his police mo - tore\ cle on Sunday night. Aug. 30. 1936. when he was hit by a Nash Coupe driven byf Edward L. Lustgarten. 29, at the corner of Washington Ave. and 15th St. Lustgarten was turning north into Washington Ave. from 15th St. when his au- tomobile collided with Boyle', motorcycle which was -traveling in the same direction." Bovle was "hurled" 33 feet from his motorcycle by the impact of the collision. landing against a street curb. Officer Boyle suffered a fractured skull and was Given "first aid treatment" treatment at the t�0 On Friday, Sept. 4. Justice of the Peace Cole bound Lustgarten aver to Criminal Court on a manslaughter warrant saying that the defendant drove the auto "un law fufly.carelessly. recklessly, and with culpable negligence:' Lustgarten's at- torneys waived a preliminary hearing on the manslaughter charge. Earlier on that Friday, a coroner's jury at an inquest conducted by Jus- tice Pole found Lustgarten guilty of criminal negligence and bound him over to Criminal count' We rind Robert Boyle met his death due to the criminal negligence of Edward Lustgarten. driver of the automobile which caused the accident at Fifteenth street and Washington avenue. Miami Beaeh.August 30. 1936. (,Miami Herald.9l5/1936) Lustgarten was free on bail pending trial. The trial was first scheduled for Jan. but was postponed until August. On Monday. Aug. 2. Criminal Court Judge Ben C. Nkillard dismissed the eharees against Lustgarten "upon the mo- tion of Albert D. Hubbard, assistant county so- licitor." The court file includes a handwritten note by Prosecutor Hubbard that said. "upon investi- goation. my opinion is a conviction could not be sustained.. THE OFFICER Robert Boyle. 30. was born on Nov. 4. 1905, in Camden. Ni. to Robert Boyle. Sr.. and Jane Hickland Boyle (born 1334). His fatherwas born in Virginia and his mother in Ireland in 1579. Robert Boyle gree up in Camden. The 1920 census lists Robert. 14. as residing with his mother and stepfather. Walter L. Ifinne% (bum 1535 t. The fantil% lis ed for several years with Robert's maternal grandmother. Mary Hickland (born 13531 in Camden. There is no record as to where Robert Boyle was educated but it was likely in Camden or Woodbury. a small town in Gloucester County 10 miles south of the center of downtown amden. An obituary in Uig Evening News. and r st o v DcmoQraL of Woodbury ted that Boyle "conducted a restaurant" in Woodbury and played football with the Woodbury DeMolay team. The obituary stated that Boyle was well-known in Woodbury and that many residents of that city "visited hie bier" the day of his funeral. The Miami Herald reported that Boyle had placed "professional football" in the Philadel- phia area but the Woodbury newspaper account was likely more accurate in describing his foot- ball experierjce. A check with the records at the Pro Footbalf Hall of Fame in Canton. OH. found no record of Boyle having played professional football for any of the "pro" teams in the Phila- delphia area in the 1920's. However, the De4lolay (A Masonic orga- nization) team may have been quite popular as the headlines in the Woodbury newspaper de- scribed Boyle as a "former 14odbur• athlete" suggesting that he was well known in that town for his athletic prowess. His athletic prowess must have been post-H.S. as yearbooks for Woodbury H.S. do not include his name. Bob Boakes of the Gloucester County Historical So- ciety recalled in 1995 that the Woodbury DeMolay team was a semi -pro [cam comprised of over 50 young men and that the team played local teams from the Camden and Woodbury area. Robert Boyle appears to have married Laura Redfield sometime in the early 1920'x. Their son. Robert Boyle. Jr.. I I months old, died in Camden on Feb. 23. 1926, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. There is a record of Robert and Laura Boyle living in Haddon -.Heights (Camden County) in 1931 while Robes worked for the bus company in Woodbury (Gloucester County). In the 1920's Boyle worked for seven years as a police officer in New Jersey. Miami news- papers reported that Bovlc had worked for the "State highway police of New Jersey." However. the New Jersey State archives have no record of Boyle's employment in that agency from 1926- 1934. The Miami newspapers may have been re- fening to a state police agency other than the state highway police (such as \lotor Vehicle In- spectionl which had statewide enforcement au- thority. Records in N .J. indicate that Boyle worked as a road inspector for the Gloucester County Public Services Dept. in 1931. to 1934, Robert Boyle, 29, and his wife. Laura. 23. moved from the Camden/ %oodbury area of New Jersel to Miami Beach. Robert's uncle. James Hickland was a constable on %Ii - ami Beach at this time and likely helped Robert get a job with the Miami Beach Police Depart- ment. Boyle joined the \liami Beach Police De- partment in Dec. of 1934 and was promoted to Sgt, a month before his fatal accident. lie and his wife, Laura Redfield Boyle. (the couple had no living children t lived at 1323 Collins Ave, on Nliami Beach. \Iiami Beach Municipal Court tis a: sus- pended on `Ionduy to show respect for S ----t. Boyle's death and the "\liami Beach police head- quarters was a place of mourning as fellow of- ficers paid respect;- to their second officer killed in seven months. The \liami Beach Cite Coun- cil passed the following resolution: Citv directories for Miami indicatI Laura Boyle continued to live in Miami a ,t through 1939. Extensive research in the Camden area by the author during trips in 1993 and 1995 (and a search of local records by the Camden County and Gloucester County Historical Soci- eties) failed to find any record of a Laura Redfield Eiyin�, in the Cantden area before her marriage to Robert Boyle and also no record of her having moved back to Camden after 1939 (when she may have left Miami). However. on Sept. 13. 1995. the Qlguste County _�l e in Woodbury. N.J.--at the sug- gestion of Dr. Wilbanks-published a column on Robert Boyle, the Forgotten Hero from Woodbury and his "lost" widow. The widow's niece. Laura Starr. read the column and contacted Dr. Wilbanks informing him that Laura Boyle had returned to the New Jersey area around 1940 and had remarried twice Land been widowed three time:). Laura had no other children (other than her deceased son with Robert Boyle). She retired in 1970 atter working for 39 years with the tele- phone company in New Jersey. Laura Redfield (Boyle) `anni fumed 89 on Dec. 9. 1995. and lived in Philadelphia. She provided some infor- mation for this narrative but could not remem- ber much from her early life with Robert Boyle. Robert Boyle's uncle. James Hick-land. was a Constable for Miami Beach from 1936-19.10 and appears (from city directories) to have re- mained in Miami until his death. at age 63. on April 22. 1956. His wife. Catherine. was listed as the widow of James in the 1957 city directory but was not listed in the 1953 directory. She died in Miami on Aug. 11. 1961. at the age of 69. Both James and Catherine Hickland are buried in Flagler Memorial Park in Miami. Albert 1. Wickland. the son of James and Catherine Hickland and the first cousin of Rob- ert Bo}Ie. is buried beside his parents. Al Hickland,.% as an 'All-Southern" football player (ackle)atthe U.ofFLin 1936(the year ofRob- ert Boyle'.., death i. He also played on the U. Of FL basketball team captained by George Smashers i later U.S. Senator from FL). Albert J. Hickland was latera Sgt. and Det. with the DadeCoumy Sheriff's Office before his death in Miami on June 27. 1959. at the ace of 44. Albert married Dorothylane Witter., iof Ross G. Witter, Construction Co.1. Dorothy Witters Hickland died in 1974 and wwL survived by two suns. Michael B. Hickland and Albert J. Hickland of Miami. These t%ta descendants of Constable Hickland appear to be the most direct "desccn• dants" of Sgt. Robert Boyle. The City of MiamiBeachand the Miami Beach Police Department apparently forgot the line of duty deaths of Robert Boyle and William L. Nichols (also killed in 19361 a, in 1984 both announced that Donald Kramer had become the first Miami Beach officer ever killedih the line or duty. An article by Edna Buchanan in the LE ami Herald .honk after the Kramer killing re- minded Miami Beach that Officer David Bearden. murdered in 1918. ss as actually- the firs Beach officer killed. In June of 1992. Larry Wiggins ofthe5-oig jade Ne%%s-Leata. discovered an article in the 1936 &_104nii Heraldabout the death,., ofOfficers Bovle and William L. Nichols who were both 62 killed in trtfTic.ac, idents in 1936. tKggins coo tacted Dr. William «i(banks about his discov- ery of two officer- that were not on the Dade List of Slain Office-. W'ilbanks researched the two cases and notified Miami Beach. Dade County and the National Law Enforcement Nle- morial of the toou "missing" cases. Robert Boyle was truly a "forgotten hero" as the title orthis book implies, He is buried in a (never visited i _rave in far awav Camden. N.J.: he lett no direct descendants: and his line ofduty death was rorgotten by Miami Beach. However. In 1993. the Dade Police S1emo- rial Service in Tropical Park included the names of William L. Nichols and Robert Boyle for the first time. Miami Beach now recognizes that six -not three ---of its officers have been killed in the line of duty. A plaque bearing the names or both officers is displayed in the lobby or the Miami Beach Police Department. Also. in 1993. the National Law Enforce- ment Memorial in Washington. D.C.. added the names of Robert Bayle (West Wall. Panel 30. Line 19) and William Lawrence Nichols ( West Wall. Panel 15. Line 15) to the memorial wall at the Judiciary Square Metro ( subway) Station. Fi- nally. Robert Boyle will be remembered! SOURCES: Miami Herald. Aug. 31. Sept. 1.3.3.5. 1936. Jan. ?0. Aug. 3.1937: fie X Ng&.. Aug. 3 I.Sept. 1.4. 1936: Miami Tribune. Aug. 31. Sept. 1?.3. 1936: Camden. \J. Cou- rier Post. Sept. 4. 1936: The Evening ti_ews_and Qloueester CountX_Demot:rat. Sept. 5. 1936. Miami Beach City Resolution #3668. Sept, 2. 1936: Criminal Court of Records Case #4526 (FL vs. Edward Lustgarten): death certificate of Robert Boyle: records of Miami Beach Elk's Club #1601: Camden. NJ. cemetery records for Evergreen Cemetery: 1936 U. Of FL Yearbook - interviews with Laura Boyle Nanni. Laura Starr. and Edith Hoelle and Bob Boakes of Gloucester County Historical Society. #27 HOMER COLLINS BARTON Coral Gables Police Department Shot & killed on June 6. 1938 THE EVENT Sgt. Homer Collins Barron. 37. an I I -year veteran of the Coral Gables Police Department. was shot and killed as he stood on a from porch in Coconut Grove on June 6. 1938. The killer. alternately described a: insane and "crazv drunk.- shot Sgt. Barton with a showun from inside a house across the street and was executed ui Florida State Prison in 1941. Newspaper coverage of the Barton case µa, .,pane since local newspapers were focused on the kidnapping: of 5 -year old Skee_ie Cash in Princeton (near Homestead). The boy was kid- napped on May 28 and his body was not round until June 9. The crime and search for the kid• napperlkiller received more local (and some na- tional and international) coverage than any Dade crime of the pre -World War II era leaving little %pace to coyer the killing of Officer Barton. Skeegie Cash',; killer. Franklin McCall was ex- ecuted 2 & 112 years before Barton's killer. Just after noun on Mondav, June 6. 1933. Sgt. Collins Barton went to 3771 Oak Ave. in Miami (just across the line separating Coral Gables from Miami) with an arrest warrant for Horace Canady. 20. for "strong-arming a negro woman Sunday night in Coral Gables." Sgt. Barton and fellow officer and friend. O.H. Coleman. were on duty together on that day and. since it was close to lunch, decided to flip a coin to see who would go to lunch and who nuuld Nene the warrant. Barton lost the coin flip and went to serve the warrant. Barton was accompanied by Officer C.P. Ditsler who went io "cover the rcardoor" chile Barton,sioM on the front steps of the "negro shanty"Alking to a woman %rho lived there. A shot .unexpectedly rang out' and Barton fell. Immediately after the shot was fired. Ditsler "rounded the house on the run. lifted the d+im.! Barton into the squad car and raced to the nearby Univemity Hospital:' Barton died in the hospital "several min- utes" after his arrival. He had been hit with welve buckshot from one round fired from a shotgun and was struck "in the back. the ,hor piercing both arms. both eon. his head and his back.' A radio alert sent Miami officers W.S. Scott and Harry Bushman to the scene. They were attracted to the house di- rectly across the street from where Barton was struck. by the sound of falling glass. smashing furniture and a blaring radio. Scott. pistol in hand. entered this house, while Bushman co%ercd the back door. Scott saw a negro conceal a shotgun barrel -the rest of the weapon was in shat- tered pieces on the floor -and advance to- ward him with uplifted hands. The negro, identified by police as Frizell AAcLaren. 32. said to Scott: "I'm ready." Scott moved to replace his gun in it: holster. and the negro tunged, graspin_t the patrolman around his neck. The mo men Fought. the scuffle is rrom Bush- man by the amplified sounds from the ra- dio. Then Sergeant (Loui� A.) Allen came on the scene. unaware of what had gone before. He peered in the side window. searching for the man named in his traffic warrant, and beheld the tussle. Entering the building. he choked McLaren and thus treed Scott. The ne_!ro insanck fought on kicking and biting. as Allen. Scott and Bushman soui:ht to handcuff him. Detectives C.C. Papy and Wesley Shanah.injoined and .uh- ducd the squirming negro by ovrappirr_ him with a length of telephone \%ire. (\u m' jam. 6/7/1938) Y' The police investigation that followed con- clusively proved that Barton was killed by a shot- aun tired from McLuren's house. The hole in the screen door was just the right size for the barrel of the shotgun and the ;hors taken from the house across the street were consistent ooith a trajectory from the house across the street. "Wadding from the shotgun was round un (he ticksr of the McLaren house." The police also determined that McLaren shot at Barton "without provocation" and that he had no connection with Horace Canad-v. the man across the street being sought by Sgt. 4 Homer C. Barron. Coral Gables. 1938. Baron. Police also believed the woman Sgt Barton was talking to at the time he was sho was truthful in saying she did not know who o why he was shot. There was also no evident that McLaren knew Barton. It appeared that McLaren was either -crazy or "crazy drunk" and for some reason stuck th 'howun through a hole in the screen door an tired one blast at the police officer on the steps of the house across the street. Further indication that McLaren was crazy was given in the �• The house occupied by McLaren's brothers. Hiram and John. and taken over by him without their knowledge as they were absent. was a %wrack. Virtually every pant of glass, had been smashed. furniture broken to bits and plaster beaten from the walls. (1, Rami Herald. 6!1/15118) The headline in the June 7 Herald article said. "Crazed Negro Kills Officer." and reported that McLaren was -said to have been twice an asy lura instate." However. the June 9 Herald re- ported that State Attorney G.A. Worley's inves- tigation "revealed no previous history of insan- ity'... and had never been a patient in an insane a,%lum. as first reported... "According to other neroes." McLaren had a reputation for "crazy spells" and was often r:try drunk" or"in stupor%as the result of heavy drinking," One witness at the inquest said that McLaren "newerdrew a sober breath in his life." THE PERPETRATOR Frizell McLaren. 3_'. was rim taken to Mi- ami police headquarters and was then taken per- sonally by Chief H. LeslieQuigg toJaekson Me- nwriai Hospital for treatment of head wounds. Upon release from the P -1H. McL:tri6 was taken to the Dade County jail. Several hours later he %tat returned to the hospital furan X-ray exami- nation which -showed he had not suffered a skull fracture." He was then returned to the jail. A curuner's inquest was held on Monday. June 13. before Peace Justice O.B. Sutton. "The hearing. at which 34 persons testified. lasted four and a half hours" and resulted in murder charges against Me Laren. McLaren was indicted by the carding to the.tiami_Herald offered no derense N -other than a plea of innocence." The case was concluded today with unexpected speed nhen defense attorneys offered no testimon% but gained the advan- tage of making the opening and closing ar- guments. (Miami Daily News. 6/12/1933) Banon's widow -virtually collapsed" dur- ing the prosecutor's closing: argument (evidently t when he showed Barton's bloody clothing to the r jury) and "had to be escorted from the court- room. room." The jury deliberated only 34 minutes on Tuesday. July 12. 1938. before finding McLaren e guilty of first degree murder. Since the jury did d not recommend mere. the death sentence was % automatic and :.McLaren ►was sentenced to death by Judge Arthur Gomez on Friday. July 15. Sen- B&_- en - j y tenting was originally scheduled far Wednesday but was continued to Friday when The defense Fled a motion for a new trial. r The 1rliami_Herald reported on June 17. 1910. that McLaren and three other men under death sentences applied forclemency before the State Pardon Board. The appeal was unsuccess- ful and McLaren became the tint of five men executed from Dade County for killing a police officer. The others were B%rdl Hudgins, executed in 1943 for the 1941 killing of FHP trooper Paul Daniel: George Anderson and Percy Armbrister. executed in 1956 for the 195; killing of Metro - Dade Officer Edward Fritz. and Norman J. Mackiewiez. executed in 1961 ror the 1957 kill- ing of Bal Harbour Sgt. Robert J. Staab. ,McClaren became the _'_'nd person executed in the history of Dade County- and the 13th Dade County man to be executed by state authorities after the state took titer executions from the counties in 1914. The il.liilmi,Dail%\ews reported that ,.McLaren and three other sten %were executed in Florida's electric chair i in a total of 35 minutes) on the same day. The executioner "for the first time in the state's histor% wore a (yellow) hood to conceal his identity." Before 1941 state law required that county sheriffs "throw the switch" but a new law gave the task orexecution to the "first assistant engineer of (he prison." Frizell McLaren was the last of the four to be executed. McLaren and two other, "protested their inns%- cenee to the end." THE OFFICER Homer Collins Barton. 37. was burn on May 23. 1901. in Birmingham.AL.to Elisha and Sallie F_:tstes Barton. The family had deep route Collins Barton ["Fat.:'). Righ(Tackle. Thev call frim "Fats:' but he is all muscle and five yards wide. xx'hen it came time for the line toheld he %%ass al%%ay%there. Good on passln, the ball and breaking up short end runs: also a three -►car own and will be on deck fornext year. t The 101cohi. 192 1) The Barton family has found -Lewcral me- chanical engineering paper+ written by Collin: in 1933-1934 indicating that he had advanced training in engineering at the "high school" %►hen he was 33. it appears that the high school was more of a Combination high sihotil and techni- cal orjunior college. Around the at e of '__. Collins %%ant into the barbecue restaurant business with his brother Ravmond for4 %-Cars until he and t%woAL friend. (named Bishop and RP Brasher) mowed to FL. Shortly after their arrival in Miami in 1927 all three were hired by the Coral Gables Police De- partment. Collins was hired on May 10. 1927. and ►qac given badge #43. The three %%erc among the first police officers hired by the ne%% city (es- tablished in 19_51, On Dee. ?S. W-18. Officer Barton .en ed a -s pallbearer for fellow officer. Cyril Guest. %%ho %was. the tint Coral Gables ufticer killed in the line of duty.Ten %ears IaterOffie,r Barton %%ould become the second Coral Gables officer killed on duty. Ne%%s stories and piettires indicate that Baran spent se%eral %ear: as a motor:kcle of- ficer and was acfiwe in police pistol :hooting contest:. [His widow still has Trophies he won as a police marksman. I Barton %was promoted to sergeant in 1937. The officer's future t%ife. Helen Penn%packer. casae to Coral Gables in 191.1 at the age of 26 from Lorain. Ohio. %% here %he %%a% a registered nurse. She %%as % i%itinc her sister and broihcr-in-law. Ruth and Cal Friend. %%hen .he met the :;rev -haired. ">un -tanned Coral Gables officer." Collins Barton and Helen Pennypacker were married on March 12. 1934. in Ft. Lauder- daleby a judge w hu was a friend of Collins. The couple': daughter. Laura May. was Nun un St. Valentine%; d i%. 1435. The %-car 193,3 was also marked by an ear- lier attack ou Banun. The Miami Ditdw \e%%. reported ton Saturday. April 1. I t)33. that PaV01- man Barton had answered a pro" ter call at 4:30AM that day. He )found an ;anted "negro crouching underneath bushes in the vard of a home at .Alesiu A%e. and Saliedo Sl." Barton disarmed the prowler and a search "failed w re- veal an% tither weapon.". ! 1 .. 9 l9 7 63 Dade County Grand Jure on a charge oft in that state as Barton'.; death certificate indi- degree murder an June '9. 1933. His trial bego cater that both his father (1;366) and hi: mother on Monday. July 11. 1938. (one month after the t 13701 were bum in Alabama. He was the third death of Barton) and lasted only two dayi, of five children as Charlie Raymund Barton was The ivlcl.aren trial marked the first ewer use 4 years older: Ruby Barton. ? years older. Fred in a Dade Circuit Court trial or "stereopticon Ross Barton.4 years younger: and Allie Barton. photographs." in other curds. the photographs 6 years younger. of the scene were "thrown on a screen in front Collins _grew up in Jefferson County (just of the jurors hearing the case." Prosecutor G.A. north of Birniingliam and arilund Tarrant. AU Worley "pointed out the :client features of the and attended the Jefferson Count► High School enlarged pictures. thus a%oiding the customary in Bu; les. AL. Thr school annual indicates that circulation in the jury box of photographs." Dr. Coliiox µaa president of one "section" of his J.E. Birch told of removing shotgun slugs from freshrn5n class. ►was in the literary society as a the policeman's back and two Miami policemen sophomore and played on the fovLhalt team fur told of the struggle to arrest.%IcLaren. fourytai-, His football picture caption as a jun. Rollo Karkeet defended McLaren but ac- for read: Homer C. Barron. Coral Gables. 1938. Baron. Police also believed the woman Sgt Barton was talking to at the time he was sho was truthful in saying she did not know who o why he was shot. There was also no evident that McLaren knew Barton. It appeared that McLaren was either -crazy or "crazy drunk" and for some reason stuck th 'howun through a hole in the screen door an tired one blast at the police officer on the steps of the house across the street. Further indication that McLaren was crazy was given in the �• The house occupied by McLaren's brothers. Hiram and John. and taken over by him without their knowledge as they were absent. was a %wrack. Virtually every pant of glass, had been smashed. furniture broken to bits and plaster beaten from the walls. (1, Rami Herald. 6!1/15118) The headline in the June 7 Herald article said. "Crazed Negro Kills Officer." and reported that McLaren was -said to have been twice an asy lura instate." However. the June 9 Herald re- ported that State Attorney G.A. Worley's inves- tigation "revealed no previous history of insan- ity'... and had never been a patient in an insane a,%lum. as first reported... "According to other neroes." McLaren had a reputation for "crazy spells" and was often r:try drunk" or"in stupor%as the result of heavy drinking," One witness at the inquest said that McLaren "newerdrew a sober breath in his life." THE PERPETRATOR Frizell McLaren. 3_'. was rim taken to Mi- ami police headquarters and was then taken per- sonally by Chief H. LeslieQuigg toJaekson Me- nwriai Hospital for treatment of head wounds. Upon release from the P -1H. McL:tri6 was taken to the Dade County jail. Several hours later he %tat returned to the hospital furan X-ray exami- nation which -showed he had not suffered a skull fracture." He was then returned to the jail. A curuner's inquest was held on Monday. June 13. before Peace Justice O.B. Sutton. "The hearing. at which 34 persons testified. lasted four and a half hours" and resulted in murder charges against Me Laren. McLaren was indicted by the carding to the.tiami_Herald offered no derense N -other than a plea of innocence." The case was concluded today with unexpected speed nhen defense attorneys offered no testimon% but gained the advan- tage of making the opening and closing ar- guments. (Miami Daily News. 6/12/1933) Banon's widow -virtually collapsed" dur- ing the prosecutor's closing: argument (evidently t when he showed Barton's bloody clothing to the r jury) and "had to be escorted from the court- room. room." The jury deliberated only 34 minutes on Tuesday. July 12. 1938. before finding McLaren e guilty of first degree murder. Since the jury did d not recommend mere. the death sentence was % automatic and :.McLaren ►was sentenced to death by Judge Arthur Gomez on Friday. July 15. Sen- B&_- en - j y tenting was originally scheduled far Wednesday but was continued to Friday when The defense Fled a motion for a new trial. r The 1rliami_Herald reported on June 17. 1910. that McLaren and three other men under death sentences applied forclemency before the State Pardon Board. The appeal was unsuccess- ful and McLaren became the tint of five men executed from Dade County for killing a police officer. The others were B%rdl Hudgins, executed in 1943 for the 1941 killing of FHP trooper Paul Daniel: George Anderson and Percy Armbrister. executed in 1956 for the 195; killing of Metro - Dade Officer Edward Fritz. and Norman J. Mackiewiez. executed in 1961 ror the 1957 kill- ing of Bal Harbour Sgt. Robert J. Staab. ,McClaren became the _'_'nd person executed in the history of Dade County- and the 13th Dade County man to be executed by state authorities after the state took titer executions from the counties in 1914. The il.liilmi,Dail%\ews reported that ,.McLaren and three other sten %were executed in Florida's electric chair i in a total of 35 minutes) on the same day. The executioner "for the first time in the state's histor% wore a (yellow) hood to conceal his identity." Before 1941 state law required that county sheriffs "throw the switch" but a new law gave the task orexecution to the "first assistant engineer of (he prison." Frizell McLaren was the last of the four to be executed. McLaren and two other, "protested their inns%- cenee to the end." THE OFFICER Homer Collins Barton. 37. was burn on May 23. 1901. in Birmingham.AL.to Elisha and Sallie F_:tstes Barton. The family had deep route Collins Barton ["Fat.:'). Righ(Tackle. Thev call frim "Fats:' but he is all muscle and five yards wide. xx'hen it came time for the line toheld he %%ass al%%ay%there. Good on passln, the ball and breaking up short end runs: also a three -►car own and will be on deck fornext year. t The 101cohi. 192 1) The Barton family has found -Lewcral me- chanical engineering paper+ written by Collin: in 1933-1934 indicating that he had advanced training in engineering at the "high school" %►hen he was 33. it appears that the high school was more of a Combination high sihotil and techni- cal orjunior college. Around the at e of '__. Collins %%ant into the barbecue restaurant business with his brother Ravmond for4 %-Cars until he and t%woAL friend. (named Bishop and RP Brasher) mowed to FL. Shortly after their arrival in Miami in 1927 all three were hired by the Coral Gables Police De- partment. Collins was hired on May 10. 1927. and ►qac given badge #43. The three %%erc among the first police officers hired by the ne%% city (es- tablished in 19_51, On Dee. ?S. W-18. Officer Barton .en ed a -s pallbearer for fellow officer. Cyril Guest. %%ho %was. the tint Coral Gables ufticer killed in the line of duty.Ten %ears IaterOffie,r Barton %%ould become the second Coral Gables officer killed on duty. Ne%%s stories and piettires indicate that Baran spent se%eral %ear: as a motor:kcle of- ficer and was acfiwe in police pistol :hooting contest:. [His widow still has Trophies he won as a police marksman. I Barton %was promoted to sergeant in 1937. The officer's future t%ife. Helen Penn%packer. casae to Coral Gables in 191.1 at the age of 26 from Lorain. Ohio. %% here %he %%a% a registered nurse. She %%as % i%itinc her sister and broihcr-in-law. Ruth and Cal Friend. %%hen .he met the :;rev -haired. ">un -tanned Coral Gables officer." Collins Barton and Helen Pennypacker were married on March 12. 1934. in Ft. Lauder- daleby a judge w hu was a friend of Collins. The couple': daughter. Laura May. was Nun un St. Valentine%; d i%. 1435. The %-car 193,3 was also marked by an ear- lier attack ou Banun. The Miami Ditdw \e%%. reported ton Saturday. April 1. I t)33. that PaV01- man Barton had answered a pro" ter call at 4:30AM that day. He )found an ;anted "negro crouching underneath bushes in the vard of a home at .Alesiu A%e. and Saliedo Sl." Barton disarmed the prowler and a search "failed w re- veal an% tither weapon.". ! 1 .. 9 l9 7 63 11 Barton then placed the suspect in his 1 (1943): his mother. Sallie Barton (1940): and 10 Blake Alan Anderson. 26. of Oakridge. Karin and car and proceeded to the police station. At brother. Charlie R. Barton (1944). (husband) Dwayne Barrett are both attorneys. versify Drive and Salzedo, four blocks from the While in Birmingham, the Coral Gables Scott Barton Anderson and his wife Teresa have site of the arrest. the suspect "whipped out" a delegation of police officers paid a visit to that three children (the great grandchildren of Sgt. "penknife" and stabbed Banon six times in the city's Police Chief with a picture of the meeting Barton): Brooke Ashley. 3: Braden Riley, I: and face, appearing in the Birminebam News on June 11. Bailey Catherine. 1 month. Barton struggled with the prisoner as It is interesting to note that one member of the Edward Riley Anderson. Laura May's ex - the auto continued to move, finally running delegation was W.G. Kimbrough who served as husband, was Chief Justice of the TN State Su - into the curbing and coming to a stop. The Chief of the Coral Gables Police Department preme Court in 1995. Laura May Barton Ander. car's door opened and the men rolled out from 1945 to 1975. Barton's partners. O.H. son was employed by the Oak Ridge school sys- into the street. Coleman and C.P. Ditsler, were also members tem from 1978-1995 and in 1995 was an admin - A moment's freedom let Barton reach of the delegation. istrative ds stant andphysical education teacher his pistol. but the negro grasped the barrel Collins Barton was survived by his wife, at Woodliind Elementary. and turned the muzzle away. The fight con- Helen. 31. a daughter, Laura May. 3: his par- Each year the Coral Gables Police Depart- tinued for a few moments, until the negro, ents. Elisha and Sallie Barton of Binningham. ment holds a service in ,biay to honor Homer apparently weakening. released his hold on Ah: two brothers Charlie Raymond Barton and Collins Barton and its six other officers killed in the pistol and began to run. Fred Ross Barton of Birmingham: and two sis- the line of duty. A plaque bearing the name of Barton fired six shots. He reported that ters. Mrs. A.E. (Ruby) Pass and Allie Barton of each of the officers is on the -wall of the lobby of the negro cried out after the first shot. but Birmingham. the Coral Gables Police Station. Barton's name continued to run. (Miami Daily. ws. 4111 The Herald indicated that Cor.,LGables-at --is also read each May at the Dade Police Memo - 1933) the time had no pension system for police offic- rias Service in Tropical Park and his name is in - The Miami Herald reported the next day ers (or any city employees) and that the widow scribed (West Wall. Panel 64. Line 2) on the that bloodhounds had "failed to trail" the fugi- and daughter of S -t. Barton "would receive no National Law Enforcement Memorial in Wash - live who stabbed Barton. The officer drove him- benefits unless voted' by the city commission." ington. D.C. self to the Cora] Gables clinic where his wounds One city official planned to urge the city com- The story of the life and death of Sgt. Barton (to the chest, face, right hand and the throat) were mission at its June 7 meeting to adopt a pension was included in Dr. Wilbanks' book, Forgotten not found to be serious due to "the shortness of plan for all municipal workers.Thecommission- Heroes: Police Officer$ Kiilod in Fora] Gables the knile's blade:' ers had pledged adoption of such a benefit pro- and South L41am',_Flodda. 1928-199:1. Copies Funeral services were held in both Miami gram during the 1937 election but had not ful- were mailed to the Barton family shortly before and Birmingham. AL. On Tuesday, June 7. 1938, filled its promise at the time of Barton's death. police memorial week in May of 1995. services in Miami were held at the W.L. Philbrick Sgt. Barton's widow told reporters that she Funeral Home Chapel at 660 west Flagler St. would go back to work as a registered nurse. SOURCES: Magi 119111d, April 1.2. 1933. Rev. Leslie J. Barnett of the Coral Gables Con- Helen Barton did go back to work as a (private June 7.8.9.11,14, July 11.13.13,16. 1938, Oct. gregational Church and Rev. Father Thomas duty) nurse in Coral Gables after her husband's 7, 1941: Miami Daily News. June 6.7.29. July Comber of the Catholic Church of the Little death. She did receive a workman's compensa- 10,13.13. 1938, Oct. 6. 1941.13irmingham Post. Flower in Coral Gables conducted the service. tion check of S75 per month for a time after her June 9, 1938. Birmingham News. June 9.10,11 Six Coral Gables police officers (including W.G. husband's death but that was the extent of her 1938. death certificate of HomerCollins Barton. Kimbrough. O.H. Coleman. C.P. Ditsler, and F.P. death benefits. Dade court file of Frizell McLaren (435995): Brasher) served as pallbearers. "More than 200 However. Mrs. Barton had difficulty find- Records at Forest Hill Cemetery. Birmingham. persons attended." with a "majority" of these ing competent and reliable babysitters to keep AL: and interviews with Helen Barton. Laura being her child while she worked and thus Laura May Anderson and Alfie Barton. law enforcement officers of Dade had to live with relatives for several years, She county communities who at some time had first lived with an aunt in Chardon. OH. then 40 PATRICK-11RO VEL•LSALDWRN ridden a motorcycle side by side with with an uncle in Corinth. MS. and finally with Miami Ponce Dept. Barton. been his partner in a patrol car to her Aunt Ruby Pass and her husband and four Killed in on -duty traffic accident. March 29. answer midnight alarms or competed with children in Birmingham. AL. 1940 him in pistol matches. (Miami Herald. 6181 Helen Banon served as an Army nurse from 1938) 19.13-1946 and upon discharge moved to Oak THE EVENT The next day a uniformed honor guard of Ridge. TN, with her 11 -year old daughter and Miami Police Officer Patrick Howell seven Coral Gables police officers and "a num- worked at the Oak Ridge Hospital for ten years. Baldwin. 34, was killed instantly when he ap- ber of Coral Gables residents" escorted the cas- She later worked at the United Mine Workers parently fell asleep at the wheel and his police ket by automobile to Birmingham for services Hospital in Wheelwright. KY, cruiser leaped a curb and hit a pole at 5:15AM and burial there. A funeral service for the Ala- Laura May Barton graduated from the U. on Friday. March 29, 1940. The accident oc- bama family and friends of Collins Barton was of Chattanooga in 1957 with a degree in health curred on N.W. 36th St. between 5th and 61h arranged by Dillon Funeral Home and held at and physical education and taught for four years avenues. Officer Baldwin became the 15th 4li- the "Thing -Fifth Avenue Baptist Church" in Bir- at William Jennings Bryan Elementary School ami officer killed in the line of duty. minghatn on Thursday. June 9. Rev. G.C. Walker in N. Miami. In 1958 Helen Barton moved to Departmental policy assigned motorcycle officiated with six of the Coral Gables police Miami to be near her daughter and worked as, a officers to patrol cars in rainy weather and thus officers sewing as pallbearers. One of the pall- nurse at the Miami Hean Institute until her re- motorcycle officer Baldwin was in a pa.Vi car bearers was W.G. Kimbrough who later became tirement in 1973. In the summer of 1961 Laura rather than on a motorcycle for his night tour of Chief of Police in Coral Gables. Hdiiorary pall- moved back to Oak Ridge and Helen returned to duty beginning on Thursday evening. March 28. bearers were members of Jefferson County High Oak Ridge after her retirement in 1973. Normally, two officers were assigned to acruiser School class of 1923. The memory of Homer Collins Barton is but Baldwin's partner. John Thomas. had been Burial was in Forest Hill Cemetery (Sec- kept alive through his family and descendants, excused because of a business iriptoOkeechobee tion 191 which in 1995 was located at 431 60th In 1995. Collins Barton's widow, Helen, 88. lived City. St. N. ( just off Highway 59 .North at the Airport in Oak Ridge. TN, with her daughter. Mrs. Laura Harvey Dickey of Miami. acivilian witness. Blvd. exit) in Birmingham. B} 1995. Collins Anderson. 60. Laura's four children—and thus reported passing Baldwin's cruiser just before Barton's. gra%e marker had disappeared but the Homer Barton's grandchildren—were Colin the crash and said that the "car was going slow famih plot is still clearly seen in the cemetery (named after her grandfather. "Collins" Barton) at the time, but as he was passing [he motor was marked by a 3 fool tall monument reading. Renee Anderson, 32. of Marietta. GA. Karin suddenly raced." Police investigators believe it "Banon." Others of his family who are buried Leigh Anderson Barren. 30, of Nashville: Scott was at that moment that the officer's foot went in the family plot are his father. Elisha Barton Barton Anderson, 29. of Augustus. GA. and down on the accelerator as he fell asleep. The j witness rushed back at the sound of the crash and found Baldwin dead with a broken neck. The death certificate indicated that his head and body were "crushed." The police belief that Baldwin had fallen asleep was so well substantiated that an an- nouncement was made that an inquest would not be conducted. Investigators learned that Baldwin had recently purchased the "the now deserted Silver Slipper club building" on N.W. 14th St. near 22nd Ave, and, before going to work each night, had been spending long daylight hours re- modeling the building into a home for his wife, three children and mother. An hour before the fatal crash, officer Baldwin stopped at a barbe- cue stand and over a cup of coffee told the pro- prietor he was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open. THE PERPETRATOR There was no perpetrator in this case as it involved a fatal automobile accident involving no other vehicle. However, since the death oc- curred while on duty the Miami Police Depart- ment lists it along with other officers killed in the line of duty. THE OFFICER Patrick Howell Baldwin was born on May 21,1906. in Laurens, S.C, to Powell Hill Baldwin and Mary Ida Compton Baldwin. His mother was born in Laurens. S.C., on Dec. 14, 1877. Patrick grew up in Richland, S.C. and Macon, GA. The Baldwin family moved to Miami in 1925 when Patrick was 19. Patrick Baldwin was one of three brothers in the Miami Police Department. He and Sgt. Gerald E. Baldwin and Officer Judson "Duddy" W. Baldwin were natives of Laurens. S.C. and came to Miami from Macon, GA. Capt, of De- tectives Gerald Baldwin retired in 1952 after serving the MPD for 27 years (1925-1952). At the end of his career he was assistant to Police Chief Walter Headley. He died in 1972 at the age of 71. Det. Sgt. Judson Baldwin served as a Miami officer from 1939-1955 and died in Mi- ami in 1988 at the age of 72. From city directories it appears that Patrick Patrick H. Baldwin, City of Miami. 1940. Oidwin first worked as a clerk (at "Swift Broth- ers") upon arriving in Miami at the age of 19. He was single upon arrival but married Pearl Rackley in 1928 when he was 22 and she was 20. Pearl was born in Sarfis, GA, on Oct. 9, 1908. Three children were born to the couple: Patrick Crawford (born on Sept. 16, 1929); Robert Lee (born on Jan. 11, I930) and Mary Beverly (born on Oct. 11, 1933). Patrick Baldwin joined the Miami Police Department on Dec. 4. 1925, when the city and the department were experiencing phenomenal growth due to the land and population boom. At the beginning of 1925 the Miami Police Depart- ment consisted of only 80 men but increased to a force of 352 men within four years (1926). His brother Gerald also joined the Dept. in 1925. Officer Baldwin, like 75% of the 80 man force in 1925, was assigned to traffic control. Traffic lights were not introduced until the spring of 1925 and thus many officers were assigned to direct traffic at major intersections. Historian Paul George says that "downtown traffic was at a virtual halt" for long periods of time and the city was "drowning in a sea of automobiles." Most of Baldwin's 15 years with the MPD were spent with the motorcycle unit. Patrick Baldwin was nationally known for his marksmanship. He had "tied one and broken one world's pistol mark" while representing the Miami Police Department at national meets." The building he was remodeling into a home was to include a private pistol range for he and his friends. Baldwin had been active with the pistol team since its organization and shot daily with the team in the "Flamingo meet" the week of his death. Though undoubtedly weary from remod- eling, pistol shooting, and night duty. Baldwin requested no time off the week of his death. Officer Baldwin was survived by his wife, Pearl A. Rackley Baldwin and his children, Patrick Crawford, 11, Robert Lee, 10, and Mary Beverly, 6; his mother, Mary Ida Baldwin, 63; and his brothers Miami Police Officers Gerald Baldwin, 39, and Judson Baldwin, 24, His mother's three sisters (Aleve. Lubelle, and Mar- garet (Mrs. Franklin Langbehn) also lived in Miami at the time of his death in 1940. His widow was scheduled to receive $80 a month under a new pension plan. Fellow offic- ers, with the approval of Chief H. Leslie Quigg, sponsored a fund to liquidate the mortgage on officer Baldwin's recently purchased home. More than $3,500 was raised. Funeral arrangements were made by Gautier Funeral Home and services were held on Monday. April I, at the Shenandoah Presby- terian Church with Rev. Daniel Iverson, the pas- tor and Rev. John R Prevatt, pastor of the Church of Christ, officiating. Burial was at Woodlawn cemetery. Six fellow Miami officers served as pallbearers. Baldwin's grave is in section 27 (the far southwest corner) of Woodlawn cemetery in what is now Little Havana. The grave marker reads: PATRICK H. BALDWIN 1906-1940 SOMETIME WE'LL UNDERSTAND The marker also includes the symbol of a police badge with the words, "Miami Motor Po- fi His mother, Mary Ida Baldwin, died in l nd is also buried in Woodlawn but not in same plot as her son. His father drowned in Jan. of 1931. Pearl A. Baldwin was listed in Polk's Qjcatgras "widow of Patrick. nurse" until 1943 at [lie home at 1444 N.W. 30 St. she had shared with Officer Baldwin. In 1944 Pearl married Jack Salsbury of Wisner. NB, who was in the U.S. Air Force. They moved to various air bases around the, U.S. and over- seas. A daughtev, ;acquelin F. Salsbury, was bom in 1945. ',rw In 1995 Patrick Baldwin's widow, Pearl, 86, was living in Atlanta. The descendants of Patrick and Pearl Baldwin in 1995 included two of his three children: Robert Lee Baldwin, 63, of Salina. KS; and Mary Beverly Terilli, 60, of At- lanta. The Officer's oldest son, Patrick Crawford Baldwin. became a Miami police officer and served the department from 1950-1953. He later worked in Miami until the early 1980's with a private security firm. He died on April 26, 1988. in Topeka, KS. His children were Pamela Trukositz and Patrick Baldwin. Robert Lee Baldwin retired from military service and was involved for many years in min- istry work to the Lakota Sioux Indian tribe in South Dakota. In 1995 Robert Lee (and wife. Edna) Baldwin, 64, lived in Salina, KS. Hischil- dren were Laurie Ann Cooper, 35, of Salina KS. Sandra Lynn Hickey, 29, of Salina. KS. and Rob- ert (Randy) Baldwin. 28, of Marina, CA. The grandchildren of Officer Patrick Baldwin from his son, Robert Lee, are Paul Cooper, 13, Eric Cooper, 11, Bryan Cooper, 10,.Keith Cooper, 8. Brett Cooper, 7, and Jarah Cooper, 3, of Salina. KS; Michael Hickey. 3, of Salina. KS; and Samantha Verdusco Baldwin, 4, of Marina. CA. In 1995. Mary Beverly Baldwin Terilli was an RN with the American Red Cross Disaster Ser- vice in Atlanta. She was bom in Miami on Oct. 11, 1933, and graduated from nursing school at Jackson Memorial Hospital in 1954. Her chil- dren were Deborah Ann Terilli Wouk, 40, of At- lanta, a teacher in the Gwinnet County Schools; Michael Roland Terilli, 37, of Groton, CN, of the U.S. Navy Submarine Service; Christopher Patrick Terilli, 32, of Atlanta, a bank manager. and Timothy Baldwin Terilli, 30, orAtlanta. GA. who works for a computer cable company. Her grandchildren (and thus great grandchildren of Officer Patrick Baldwin) are Peter Wouk. 16. Tia Wouk, 12, and Joseph Wouk. 7, of Atlanta. GA; and Alicia and StaceyT'erilli, 16, andS=Terilli. 14, of Groton, CC. The great-grandchildren of Officer Baldwin include Kelli Westgate. 19, and Kris Westgate. 16, of Panama City. FL, and Pamela Susan Trukositz, 40, of Panama City, FL, and Patrick Howell Baldwin, Ill, of Orlando. Baldwin's name is inscribed (East Wall. Panel 44, Line 2) on the National Law Enforce- ment Memorial in Washington, D.C. A plaque bearing his name is in the lobby of the Sliami Police Department and his name is read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park. SOURCES: Miami Herald, March 30. 1940; March 31, 1940.Feb. 11. 1993: Miami Nees. 65 April 1 1940; death cerci fixate of Patrick Howell Baldwin; ,&t.P.D. Personnel records cjfttrick. Gerald. and Judson Baldwin. in Miami_ 14%-t - a dissertation by Paul S. George. 1975; pc k_s Greater �roi City Di- rgctory: and interviews with and/or letters from Edith S. Baldwin. Pearl Salsbury, Mary Beverly Terrilli. and Bob Baldwin. #29 WFS JQ- YFRANK-TH,ONMON Miami Police Dept. """ `'` Struck and killed by wire during auto chase on Sept. 18. 1941 THE EVENT Miami motorcycle officer Wesley Frank Thompson, 40, was struck and killed by apower line being strung across a Miami street by Florida Power & Light on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 18. 1941. He was the 16th Miami officer killed in the line of duty. Officer Thompson. a seven-year veteran. was traveling about 50 miles per hour while chas- ing a speeding motorist on S.W. Third Ave. when he was struck across the forehead by a "heavy capper wire" being strung across S.W. Third Ave. between 2 I st Rd. and 22nd Rd. The incident was described by IWC' tpLEgr1jd reporter Henry O. Reno, father of former Dade State Attorney (and current U.S. Attorney General) Janet Reno: The speeding motorcycle continued on after its rider was knocked unconscious. ca- reening south in Third avenue to Twenty. secondroad, where it struck a light sran- dard, throwing Thompson 75 feet into the yard of a home... R.H, Crandall, 1829 V.W. Eleventh street, was the driver of the car that yanked the wire away from the work- men and into the air. Anchored to a pole at one end and to stringing machinery at the other, the wire flew up just high enough to catch the speed• ing officer. witnesses said. A first aid crew from the fire depart- ment administered artificial respiration and a doctor injected adrenalin, but the officer was pronounced dead at the scene, and the body was turned over to the Gautier Fu- neral Home. (Miami Herald.9/19/1941) An investigation conducted by C.,N. Grimshawe, special investigator for the city at- tomey, determined that the power line was caught on the muffler bolt of the speeding car and was stretched tight in the path of OfficerThompson's motorcycle. X-rays indicated no signs of gross fractures. in Thompson's head or neck while an autopsy, according to Dr. E.C. Thomas. county physician. -'revealed fractures of the bones be- hind the eyes and resulting in brain hemor- rhages." Investigator Grimshawe threatened (o sub- poena members of the Florida Power & Light crew after failing to receive adequate statements in initial interviews, Grimshawe indicated that his initial investigation indicated some negli- Vence on the part of power company employ- ees. A coroner's inquest was also held by Peace Justice O.B. Sutton. The investigations revealed that R.H. Crandall, a city construction foreman, drove the car that resulted in the wire being raised from the ground. Men on each side of the street stood 66 on the line and motioned for Crandall t�s over it. Crandall said he heard no sound of the wire dragging, nor did he hear anyone shout to him. He was at a standstill in file middle of the parkway when he felt a vibration in his car. Crandall told the investigator that he got out to investigate and was told that Th- ompson had struck the tight wire which had caught on a bolt of the car's muffler as he passed over it. (,Wham' Herald. 9/3011941) THE PERPETRATOR The "speeding motorist" was never caught and it appears that Crandall. the city worker. whose car accidently raised the wire. was not considered at fault. Initially, the FPL supervisor at the scene was under investigation but evidently no charges were filed. It appears from newspa- per accounts that two separate cars (one driven by the speeding motorist and one driven by Crandall) were involved but it is unclear why the FPL workers did not see the speeding mo- torist being chased by the police motorcycle and thus stop Crandall from passing over the wire. A search of newspapers and court records failed to locate any mention of the scheduled coroner's inquest under Peace Justice Sutton. Thus the outcome of the inquest is unknown. THE OFFICER Wesley Frank Thompson was born in Cuyahoga Falls. Ohio, on March 13. 1901. the oldest child of John W. Thompson and Lillie Schaeffer His father was bom in Lima (Stark County), OH. on Oct. 12. 1330, and his mother in Akron (Summit County). OH. in 1384. Wesley grow up in Akron. Ohio., with his younger sister. Mabel. and younger brothers Wilbur L. and Donald 0. According to Miami newspaper accounts in 1941 at his death. Wesley Thompson joined the U.S. Coast Guard after graduating from H.S. He served on the Coast Guard Cutter Mojave during World War 1. However. his son. John Wesley Thompson, recalls that Thompson served in the L.S. Army during World War I and was stationed at Camp Sheridan near.foritgomery,AL. He met his first wife while stationed at Camp Sheridan and their son remembers long letters that he wrote to her from France during World War I. In 1917 Wesley's grandparents moved from Ohio to Frostproof, FL (in Polk County near Bartow) with their five sons (including Juhn W.. Wesley's ratheri. Wesley decided to move to FL to join his extended family shortly after he was discharged from the Cuast Guard. Shortly after arriving in FL. Wesley Thompson married and had six children. W'eslev and his I first) wife sepa- rated in the early 1930's and she returned to GA with the six children. In 1933 Was lev Thompson, 3 ?, met Leona "Lea" Dorothy Baker. 20. of Highland Lakes. FL, when both worked at the Citrus Packing House in Frostproof. Leona and her family had moved to FL in 1937 from Pinebush. `•Y. (where Leona was born on March 4. 1913). The couple married on Dec. 25. 1934, and moved to 1.iiami where Wesley worked as a service inspeetorwith FL Motor Lines. While in Miami. Thompson was a member of the American Legion. VFW_ and Odd Fellows. Wesley Thompson joined the 4liami Police Department in 1935. at the age of 34. "Oath records" indicate that he was tint sworn in s. a temporary officer on Dec. 4. 1935, but became a permanent officer after a second oath on April 19. 1937. He served sir years as a 1,liami po- liceman and wore badge no. 46. He was a mo- torcycle officer for his entire tenure except when he worked temporary desk duty when recover- ing from his "several accidents." Officer Thompson was survived by his wife. Leona D. Thompson, 23. and their daugh. ter. Le� p..nna ("Joyce"). 5, and son, Wesley Frank (` Tbnftny"). 3, all of Nliami. by his mother. Mrs. Lillie Thompson, 62. of Frostproof. AL: a sister. Mrs. ,Mabel Williams. 40. of Tampa and two brothers, Donald O.. 27, of Frostproof and Wilbur L., 30, of Miami. He was also survived by three sons and three daughters from his first marriage. Thompson was "one of the most popular members of the Miami police force" whose per- sonnel file contained numerous letters of com- mendation for his courtesy. He also received " 10 merits" in Jan. of 1937 for "single-handedly cap- turing two thieves, who had snatched a woman's purse." The officer was also known for his abil- ity as a wood worker and specialized in making gavels and fishing rods. He hadpresented Mayor C.H. Reeder with a handmade wooden gavel which the mayor said. after leamins of Officer Thompson's death. he would keep as a memento and never use again. Officer Thompson had only returned to motorcycle duty a month before his fatal acci- dent "following a back injury suffered in a mo- torcycle crash in January, 1939, which forced him to remain off duty for several months." He retumed to motorcycle duty at his own request. 114esle}• F: Thonipsan. Cir}• of Mkoni. 194/. The body of Wesley Frank Tho n lay in state at the Gautier Funeral Home be ore the funeral service which was held on Monday. Sept. 22, at the Shenandoah Presbyterian Church at 2150 S.W. 8th St. by Rev. Daniel Iverson. Rev. Iverson was the founding minister of the Shenandoah Church (established in 1927). Two of Wesley Thompson's sons from the first mar- riage traveled from out of state to Miami for the funeral. LeonaThompson. Wesley's widow, gave one his father's service revolver and the other his nightstick as a remembrance. Burial was in the American Legion section of Woodlawn Memorial Park cemetery. The Dade County Guard of Honor, "composed of men representing all American Legion posts in Dade County." stood at attention at the gravesite services while the members of the crew of the coast guard cutter Mojave fired the last salute. Thompson's grave is easily found in sec- tion 9 of Woodlawn cemetery in what is today Little Havana. He is buried in a military section. 20 yards southeast of the war memorial statute. The grave marker reads simply: WESLEY F. THOMPSON 1941, WW I No other family member is buried beside him. The grave marker was' apparently placed on Thompson's grave in the 1950's by a veter- ans' organization as the grave was initially un- marked. In 1995 the name of Wesley Frank Thomp- son is still well known in Frostproof. FL. as there are numerous Thompsons still living in that city who are descendants of the five Thompson broth- ers who moved there in 1920. Wesley's young- est brother. Donald O. Thompson. 81. lived in Frostproof on Thompson Ave, (named after the family).The Frostproof Historical Museum con- tains numerous artifacts related to the Thomp- son family. The Silver Hill Cemetery in Frostproof is the burial site of Wesley's father (1929) and mother (1965) and numerous other Thompsons. Leona D. Thompson remained in Miami for 42 years after the death of her police officer hus- band. Forsix years she worked as a bookkeeper forthecombined businesses of Marvel Construc- tion Co. and Smitty's Cabinet Shop and raised her two children "on a very small pension from the police department." In 1947 Leona married the owner of Marvel Construction. Walter L. Smith. From 19.47-1983 the family lived at 1791 NAV. 16th St. The family also included Janet Lee Smith (from Walter's first marriage). Walter Smith adopted Wesley Frank when he was 14. Leona Joyce Thompson graduated from Jack- son H.S. in 1953 and Wesley Frank Smith gradu- ated from the same H.S. in 1956. Leona (Thompson) Smith, widowed a sec- ond time in 1981. moved to Crescent City, FL., where she lived in 1995 at the age of 82. Leona Joyce Thompson, the daughter of Wesley and Leona. lived in Dade until 1984. Her three sons. Richard Lee Helmer. Ronald Dee Helmer and Ravmond Cee Helmer were all born (in 1958. 1961. and 1963) and raised in Dade . Joyce Th- ompson Helmer (then Bishop) spent 32 years with Sun Bank where she was a V.P. and Branch `tanager of the West Dade Office. Widowed twice. she moved to Crescent City in 198.3 and married Charles Lvdick in 1987. In 1995Aftee Thompson Lydick. 59, lived in CrescedWy, FL. Joyce's sons (the grandchildren of Officer Wesley Thompson) also lived in FL in 1995. Richard Helmer. 37, and his wife Shari lived in interlachen. FL, with their fivechildren; Ronald Helmer. 34. a Chier Pettv Officer in the U.S. Navy and his wife. Connie. have a son a daugh- ter; Raymond Helmer, 32. and his wife. Eugenia. lived in Palatka with their four daughters. In 1995. Wesley Thompson's son. Wesley Frank Smith (formerly Thompson), 57, still lived in Miami. He apparently inherited his father's ability to work with wood as he is a carpenter and an expert cabinet-maker and makes decora- tive inlaid wood designs. His son. Thomas Jef- frey Smith. 33. and his four sons (the great grand- children of Officer Wesley Frank Thompson) lived in Lake Charles. LA, in 1995. and his daughter. Julie Ann Smith Rogers, 32, lived in Clarksville. TN. with her step -son. Thus Officer Wesley Thompson had 15 great grandchildren from Joyce and Wesley Frank ('"Pommy"). Officer Wesley Thompson's six children from his first marriage had little contact with their father after 1935. However, in 1993, one son. John Wesley Thompson, 71. of League City, TX, visited Miami to learn more about his fatherand attended the Dade Police Memorial. Shortly be- fore his death in 194 t, OfficerThompson talked with his son and indicated that he was thinking about joining the Army again in 1941. as a World War I "retread". He was proud that his son was serving as a Sgt, in the Army. He would have been more proud to learn that this son eventu- ally retired as an Army Colonel and that his grandson. John Wesley Thompson, Jr., attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Two persons related to Wesley Thompson later became officers with the Miami Police Department. Lonnie Thompson, a cousin of Wesley's, served the department in the 1950's and Harold William "Hill" Bishop, a step -son of Wesley's daughter Leona Joyce, was with the motorcycle unit of the Dept. in 1995. The name of Wesley Frank Thompson is inscribed (East %ValL Panel 35, Line 12) on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Wash- ington, D.C. A plaque bearing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Department where his name is read each May in a Departmental memorial service. His name is also read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park. A beautirul 3 rl. wide photograph of the 21 members of Wesley Thompson's Miami Police Department motorcycle unit in 1938 was donated to the Miami Police Department and the South FL Historical ,4luseum by Wesley (Thompson) Smith. The picture, on display in 1995 at the Historical Museum of S. Florida's' Men in Blue" Exhibit. served as another memorial to the life and death of Officer Wesley Thompson. The photograph was also featured in an historical exhibit in the lobby of the Miami Police Dept. in 1996 tocelebrate the 100th anniversary of the city. SOURCES: Miami H_ rr1W, Sept, 19,20,21.22 1941. Miami News. Sept. 19,22, 1941; death certificate of Wesley Frank Thompson: Polk .Miami City Direc=!!� 1935-1976. and inte - views with Leona Thompson Smith. «elle-- Frank Smith. and John Wesley Thompson. #30 LUTHER PAUL DANIEL Florida Highway Patrol Shot & killed on Dec, 5. 1941 THE EVENT Paul Daniel, 32, became the two year-oi,: State Road Patrol's (now the Florida Hizit�ti Pat,rgl�)Vi. rst officer killed in the line of dut% .%he he,�-shot and killed after stopping a speedin vehicle on U.S. I and South Allapattah Dr. or. Dec. 5, 1941. The stony or the killer's capita: wags the front-page headline story in both the -lis ami Herald and the Miami Daily News on Peri Harbor Day. Sunday Dec. 7. 1941. Trooper Daniel was alone on patrol arour14 I1:00PMon Friday. Dec.;. 1941, traveling sou-. on U.S. l from South Miami. There ars LA, views as to how contact between the killer a. the trooper was initiated. The initial police in. vestigation indicated that the killer was already. stopped by the side of the road with a disable-, vehicle when approachedby Daniel. In this sce- nario, the killer walked over to the police car tc talk with Daniel, Aho remained sealed in the police car. When Daniel. radioed in for a chect on the car license. the killer realized that the of- ficer would soon know the car was stolen ars,: shot Daniel as he sat in the police car. This %it%k was supported by the trajectory of the bulle: which entered Daniel's left arm and then wen: downward. The fact that the killer fled in the trooper's vehicle would also suggest that the killer's car had been disabled. However. Ther: was no blood in the patrol car and Daniel's bod% was found on the roadside. The second scenario came from the killer'; confession as he said that he had been speeding south an U.S. I throu,2h the "tittle to%%n o.' Penine" at 80 mph. -when he was spotted b% t'x trooper. The trooper gave chase and when the driver saw that the trooper was gaining on hi,:. he slowed down and pulled off the road juit ce- fore the intersection of U.S. 1 and Soul`: Allapattah Dr. (In 1941 this intersection nas a: a "lonely stretch" of U.S. I but in 1995 it the "Sears comer' of the Cutler Ridge Shopping Center.) The killer's confession indicated the- Trooper Daniel got out or his patrol car and a,. proached the Coupe. He asked the driver far ii - license and walked back to his patrol car to ra- dio in (at 11:1SPM t to the Miami Poli,:;, t`c Coupe's license plate number to set if the %e• hicle was stolen. Threc minutes later 4liami ; c - lice dispatcher RAL Bullock radioed back t. Daniel to tell him that the car was itolen. How - ever. Daniel did not ansµcr as he had been ihot. The trooper was waiting for the radio mes;a_,e and had his foot on the patrol car's running boar.: (with the radio in his hand) when the driker ap- proached him with a gun in hand. Daniel rai>e 4 his hands up just as the driver shot him one Mir ,e in the chest. The killer later told a psychialrist that he "handed his stun to%%ard Daniel Lind that when the patrolman did not take it. but backed aw a% in alarm, 'I shat him'... "'when I get ner%ou> it's hard for me to think."' He also claimed that y .- �� A 0,i ; 35 years in Dade County. Paul's othe ei Grace, joined her sister in 1926. working at Cit rug Grove Elementary School. Paul, then 17, anc his father arrived in Miami on Sept. 17. 1926 just before the big hurricane hit on Sept. 26. Ir 1930 Paul moved to the Florida Keys and me Florence, a native of Key West who was teach. ing school at Key Largo. They were married in 1931 and their son. Billy. was born in 1932 in Key Largo. At one point Paul worked with the State Road Department on the Overseas High- way in the Florida Keys. In 1937 the family moved to Key West as Paul became (at 28) a motorcycle officer with the Key West Police Department. Daniel joined the Florida Highway Patrol on July 1. 1941 (five months before he was killed). He was a member of the Third Recruit School. (July l -Aug. I, 194 1) of the "State Road Patrol". He and his family moved to South ,Miami when he became a trooper. Funeral services were held in both Miami and Key West. On Monday, Dec. 8, services. conducted by Rev. Robert L. Allen of Trinity Methodist Church, were held in Miami in the chapel of the Philbrick Funeral Home. "nirty- five members of the highway patrol, headed by Director J.J. Gilliam frornTallahassee headquar- ters, filed by the uniform -clad body of Daniel at the conclusion of brief services" in Miami. The troopers "formed ranks and stood at rigid salute as the body, followed by the weeping widow" and other members of the family started for Key West. The Miami services were also attended by Sherif D.C. Coleman and "official representa- tives from all Dade county law enforcement agencies." "Ranking officials of Key West and Mon- roe County" then drove north on U.S. I on Tues- day "to meet the funeral party" from Miami and returned the body to Key West for burial. The cortege passed the murderscene on its path south from ivliami to Key West. Services were held in Key West on Tuesday aftemoon at Lopez Fu- neral Home with Rev. A.C. Riviere, pastor the First ,Methodist (Stone) Church, conducting the services. Burial was in the "family plot" at the "city's historic cemetery." Daniel was survived by his wife. Florence; a son. Billy Daniel. 9; his father, Benjamin Franklin Daniel of Miami: a brother, R.C. Daniel of Savannah; and two sisters. Linda (Mrs. Walter) Lee (later Brewer) of Miami and Mrs. G.J. (Grace) Day of Punta Gorda. The Nliacni Daily News reported on Dec. 7 that a constant stream of friends and fellow officers called at the Daniel's home in South Miami during the day on Saturday. The widow was reported to be "crushed with grief"and "was under the minis- tration of friends and relatives." After Paul Daniel's death, Florence and Billy moved to Key West to live with Florence's father (her mother was not living). After her father's death. Florence and Billy moved back to Miami where Florence Davis (she remarried) worked in the office of the Highway Patrol for six veers. She died in 1965 and was buried at the side of Paul Daniel in Key West. The graves of Paul and Florence Daniel are located at the corner of 2nd Ave. and Laurel in the Key West Cemetery. The double grave marker reads: an 0 IN LOVING MEMORY FLORENCE DANIEL DAVIS DEC. 11. 1909 -.NOV. 17. 1965 V.F.W. AUXILIARY LUTHER PAUL DANIEL NOV. 2. 1909 - DEC. 5, 1941 FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL On Sept. 17. 1970, the new FHP station in Kev West was named "The Luther R Daniel Sta- tion" in a ceremony attended by the Daniel fam- ily. In 1995 visitors to Key West can still see the FHP station (adjacent to the Key West Airport) but probably do not notice the small stone marker in the front yard indicating that the building is named after Paul Daniel. In 1995. Paul's son. Bill. 63, still lived in Key West. He worked for the Key West Aque- duct Authority and served as an reserve police officer (40 hours per month at no pay) for the Key West Police for 15 years ending in 1984. Bills three children were Debra Ann Lerner. 39. William Paul Daniel.1r.. 38: and Douglas Daniel, 33. Bill's wife, Carrie. had worke&forthe Dept. of Driver's License in Key West in the FHP building since 1970 (the year the building was named for Paul Daniel). Grace Day. 87. (Paul's sister) still resided in Punta Gorda. Herson, George J. Day, worked for 40 years for the -1Lami_Kerald, retiring in 1989 as a security supervisor. From 1982 to 1989 he was an auxiliary police officer for the City of Miami. working 20 hours a month for S I a year. Linda Nrs. J.F.) Brewer. W. (another sister) still resided in Miami. Her daughter, Annetta McEachern, was a Dade elementary school teacher and her five children all lived in Dade as did her five grandchildren (named Whiddon and Brewer). In 1993 Grace Day. 85, drove from the West coast of FL to attend the Dade Police Me- morial Service and heard her brother's name read for the first time. Paul Daniel's name (though misspelled as Daniell) is inscribed on the National Law En- forcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. (On the East Wall. Panel 16. Line 13). The names of 30 other FL troopers killed between 1941 and 1991 are also inscribed on the walls of the Me- morial. On Dec. 5, 1991, the 50th anniversary of the death of Paul Daniel. the 86th Recruit Class graduated from the FHP Academy in Tallahassee. During the zraduation ceremonv a moment of silence was devoted to the memory of Paul Daniel. A 1991-92 issue of The Florida Trooper I Vol. 6. No. 4) included a five page article by Dr. Wm. Wilbanks (es- sentially the same as this narrative) about the murder of Trooper Paul Daniel to mark the 50 years since his death. SOURCES: Miami Herald. Dec. 6.7.9. 10.11. 1941. Feb. 9.10.11.1 S. July 21. 1942; M.. i- i Daily Ngws. Dec. 6.7. 10. 1 94 1. Feb. 9.10.11.18, July 20. 1942. Aug. 4. 1977; Key Wtst Citizen. Dec. 6.3. 1941: CQnlidential _De_tec_d , May. 1950. pp. 6.32.33. PBA HI;.AT. Dec.. 1991. p. 13.15-19; South_Dade_(Ifomestead) 1, ws Bader. Dec. 6. 1991: Letter from Mrs. Grace Day. Sept, 12, 199 Land interviews with Grace Day. Linda Brewer and Bill Daniel. #311: JOHN11 UXEDGW-6 Miami Police Dept. Shot & killed ort Nov. 1. 1946 THE EVENT Nfiami Police Officer John Milledge. -19. was shot and killed on Nov. 1, 1946. by a single shot from a.22 (:aliber rifle slug while he stood near the entrance of Dorsey Park in Overtown. In 1944 Officer &Iilledge became one of the first five blacl officers hired in Dade County. He became the 17th.viiami officer and the first black officer in the history of Dade County to be killed in the line of duty. His killer was arrested 43 years later and sentenced to time served in pre- trial detention (i.e.. 19 months) and probation. The events leading to the death of Officer Milledge began when several youths tried to climb over the 10 foot concrete wall surround- ing Dorsey Park fat 17th St. acid N.W. Ist Ave.) on Friday evening. Nov. I. 1946. to see a foot- ball game between the segregated black high schools of Gainesville (Lincoln) and Miami (Dorsey). Three of the 19 black Miami police officers were on duty at the game. Officer Milledge chased the "gatecrashers" away (and according to the confession of the "shooter," hit a couple of the boys with his nightstick). The youths then left the area "cursing Milledge over their shoulders." One of the youths was 17 year old Lero} Strachan. "a chubby kid with a bad eye.'" Strachan and the other boys went to one bog's house about three blocks away and got a.22 ri t1e. Leroy and another boy had used the rifle earlier in the day for target practice at Dorsey Park (shooting at cans by the concrete wall around the park). Leroy c.uried the rifle back to Dorsey Park accompanied by the other boys. When the boys got within sight of the park entrance and saw Officer Milledge. Strachan told the other boys to get back and aimed the rifle at the officer and fired one shot while standing in an alley between two Overtown houses. Thr bullet struck Milledge "square in the throat as he stood near the ticket booth at the entrance of the Park." After seeing the officer. fall to the ground as a result of the gunshot, Strachan and the other boys fled. According to local newspapers. another "Negro" officer. James Washington. was in the bleachers when he heard the shot and sag% Milledge fall. He rushed to the fallen officer. sa%� that he was seriously wounded (blood was pour- ing from his neck i. tugged down a passing mo- torist, and transported Milledge to Jackson Me- morial Hospital. Milledge died 20 minutes later at the hospital. -so THE PERPETRATOR A few hours after the shooting. Leros Strachan's mother. Vernell. "put person on a bus to New York City." L.eroy`s natural father worked as a hotel porter in New York City and helped his son rind work as an elevator operator. Lero% eventually married and fathered a daughter and three sons. He became active in the Refuge Temple Church in Harlem and sang in the church choir. He did not appear to be "in hiding' as he made annual visits to Miami to visit his mother. After arriving in New York City in 1946 Strachan worked in the Garment District and as a stock clerk at a stationery store. In the began running a freight elevator in Greenwich Village and worked there for 21 years until his arrest in 1990. Leroy Strachan had no police record before the shooting incident in'vlinmi or during his 43 years (1946-1989) in New York City. He joined the Refuge Temple Church in Harlem in 1950 where he met his wife. Toney. They were mar- ried in 1957 and had three sons. Calvin. 26, Frederick. 25, and Bernard. 24. One of the sons became acorrections ofiicerand anotherbecame a security guard. Within days of Milledge's death ivliami police interviewed witnesses who said a youth nicknamed "Fats" was seen running from the scene of the shooting. "Fats" was the nickname of Leroy Strachan. 17. Leroy "Fats' Strachan was well known in Overtown. His mother played the organ on sundays at Overtown's Temple Baptist Church and cleaned the houses of wealthy Miamians during the week. Leroy at 17 was chubby and blind in one eye. He and his two cousins. Freddy and Hubert. were well known in the community. Strachan's life changed in July of I989 when a Miami woman told police that Strachan killed Officer John Milledge in 1946. Strachan was arrested and confessed. He was held in the New York House of Detention for 19 months (until Septemberof 199 1) while his lawyer. Wil- liam Kunstler. fought extradition. Kunstler, the well-known civil rights attor- ney who represented Strachan in New York City. claimed that the Miami police in 1946 had little interest in finding the killer of a black police officer and that the scant newspaper coverage of the incident indicated little community inter- est in the killing of the black officer. The M'ami A?hn Milledge, City of Miand. 1946, Herald did run stories on the Milledge shoo for four consecutive days but the Yews published only one short article on the shooting. Contrary to Kunstler's view, it does appear that considerable effort was made to investigate the killing of Officer Milledge. The Hemid re- ported that "dozens of persons were being ques- tioned at the negro precinct headquarters and the 18 other negroes on the force all were called on duty to join in the search for the assassins." Fel- low officers and citizens collected SLOW for a reward to identify the assailant. However. some blacks charged that white officers were not in- terested in finding Milledge's killer as they hoped that the escape of the killer and the death of the first black officer would discourage other blacks from joining the police force. Sgt. Raymond T. Tanner, the white officer who commanded the "Negro precinct." was quoted in the erald two days after the shooting as saying that "no specific clue had been turned up" in the Milledge shooting. The Herald also reported Tanner as: expressing the opinion that it was ,.some smart Alec who fired the shot, in- tending to scare but not kill Milledge." Tanner said had it been anyone else on the negro force he might believe the per- son who fired the shot intended to kill the policeman. Every other negro policeman has been threatened with death, Tanner reported. but there had been no such threat against Milledge. Several suspects were picked up Fri- day night and Saturday. None were held. (Miami Herald, 1113/1946) The Herald reported on Nov. 4, 1946, that Tanner "said he had several clues to the identity of the person who fired the fatal shot, but would not divulge any details." The change from "no specific clue" to "several clues" to the identity of the shooter from the Nov. 3 to the Nov. 4 Herald suggests that progress was made early in the investigation. No further mention of the in. vestigation was made in the Herald though a brief mention of the funeral arrangements for John Milledge was made in the ) lg[ald on Nov. 5. The Herald reported that police found wit- nesses who saw two youths running from the scene and "one woman recalled seeing two youths having target practice with a rifle near Dorsey Park" earlier in the day. Some witnesses indicated that "Fats" I Lerov Strachan's nick. name) may have been involved, it is unclear whether Leroy Strachan was simply one of many names the police were "checking out' or whether he was a "prime suspect: The ititiami Daily News, in its only article on the murder, reported that "one 18 -year-old boy. who had been indulg- ing in target practice near Dorsey park earlier in the day. was questioned but later released." That buy may have been Leroy Strachan. However. it is clear that the police never contacted Strachan in NYC though they may have made an unsuc- cessful effort to find him. For 43 years the killing of Officer John Milledge was unsolved. But in July of 1959. Miami police received a call from an eyewit- ness who emerged after years of silence and tele- phoned CrimeStoppers. Mary White. the widow of a friend of Strachan, had promised her hus. band that she would never reveal what she knew. However, after her husband died she felt com- pelled to report what she knew of the 43 -year old police killing in order to "clear her con. science." She told CrimeStoppers that she had seen Strachan (the youth "with the bad running from the 1946 murder scene past her house carrying a rifle. She also said that Strzthan had admitted to friends (e.g.. Ms. White's hus- band) that he killed the police officer. .16tective George Cadavid, a 10 -year vet- eran of the of the City of Miami Police Dept -'s "cold case squad." was assigned the case. Cadavid ran a record check on Leroy Strachan in NYC and found that a Leroy Strachan had applied for an identification card (with a picture) two months earlier. Strachan had no police record in New York. Det. Cadavid got a facsimile of the picture ID card by subpoena and noted that it indicated Strachan had a "bad eye." Detectives Cpdavid and David Bosworth went to New York to locate Strachan, then 6t. but he had apparently been alerted by friends in Miami and NYC that the police were looking for him and avoided the detectives for three days. Cadavid and Bosworth left word that they wanted to talk with Strachan and returned to Miami. The detectives did receive a call from Strachan who agreed to meet them in NYC the next Wednes- day at S:OOP'.vi when he got off work. Strachan met the detectives as scheduled on Jan. 24. 1990, and they took him to the 40th precinct in NYC. Strachan agreed to talk to the detectives without an attorney being present. His "story" (recorded on_a'40-minute audio tape) changed several times during questioning. At first he said he wasn't even in Miami at the time of the shooting, having left two days earlier. Then he admitted he was in the neighborhood and that he heard the shot but didn't know who fireJ. He then said that he saw the rifle but didn't see "ho tired it. Then he said that he knew who tired the shot but that the shooter was now dead. Finally. Strachan admitted that he had fired the .hat. After admitting that he was the shooter. Strachan gave considerable detail on the shoot- ing. He said that he and three other boys were trying to sneak into the football game at Dorsey Park when they were confronted by Officer Milledge. He claimed that Milledge had Neaten one of the boys—but not him—and that the boys then left the scene. However. the bovs we:e an- gry at their treatment by Milledge. While -,t the home of one of the boys (three blocks a•.%a%). Strachan got the rifle he had u+eJ for wr_ei prac- tice earlier in the day and the boys relumed to Dorsey Park. Strachan told the crowd of 10-1? boys to stand back and then fired one shot from the rifle, strikingMilledge in the neck, Strachan said that he and the group of to, - then fled the scene and that he threw the rifle undera house (it was never found). He then lett town the next day for `ew York City. The two tiliami detectives did not arre.t Strachan afterthe taped conf'e%sion as the,. lacked jurisdiction in tiYC, had no warrant. and no cor- roboration forhis story. They returned to Miami to check out details of the confession. The% pre- sented their evidence to assistant state attorney Don Horn, obtained an arrest warrant. and re- turned to NYC on Feb. 15. 1994. with the arrest warrant hoping to arrest Strachan MA&Lplace o employment. However. Strachan had evidently receive word from friends in Miami that he would like) be arrested soon. The detectives' attempt to to care Strachan at work was unsuccessful as co- workers appeared to be "covering" for him Cadavid and Bosworth staked out the building where Strachan was employed and finally spot- ted him outside the building making a telephone tail at a phone booth. Strachan was arrested at that point and the detectives found 56,110 in cash on him along with 5-1.500 in checks. They believed that they had caught Strachan just in time since it appeared that he was preparing to flee. After the arrest (on Feb. 15. 1990) Strachan was taken to the 6th precinct in NYC and then to the Manhattan House of Detention (the "Tombs") to await extradition proceedings. He was charged with first degree murder which has no statute of limitations. Prosecutors at first re- fused to waive the death penalty which made extradition problematic given the age and model citizen status of Strachan and the fact that New York Gov. Mario Cuomo opposed capital pun- ishment. On April 1 I, 1990. Miami prosecutors announced that they would not seek the death penalty and Gov. Cuomo signed cite extradition order. Strnchan's attomeys in NYC fought his ex- tradition to Miami in the state and federal courts. The highest appellate court in New York upheld the extradition order on April 4, 1991, but the case was then appealed to the federal courts. The case was before the U.S. Supreme Court when a plea bargain was reached between Strachan's attorneys and Miami prosecutors. Linder the "deal," Strachan waived extradition and pled guilty to manslaughter with the under- standing that he would not serve addh Qral jail time (he had served 19 months in the New York City jail) but would be required to perform 500 hours of community service for four years (thus a total of 2.000 hours) and be placed on proba- tion for seven years. A similar plea bargain had been reached six months earlier but was retracted by the state when Miami Police Chief Calvin Ross objected to the "no additional jail time" provision of the deal. The final plea bargain (reached with assis- tant state attorneys David Gilbert and Kevin DiGregory) was also attacked by Chief Ross and by Michael Clifton. President of the PBA. Clifton said that the lenient sentence "shocked. sickened THE OFFICER and saddened" the police community in :hat the John Milled4e. 47. was born on rbiav 6. "ruthless execution" was treated like a "misde- 1898. in Bamberg, S. Carolina. to John and meanor murder" and thus was a "bitter pill" for Martha Nabuint Milledge. The 1910 and 1920 law enforcement to swallow and "sent the wrong SC. censuses indicated that his family had deep message." PBA Vice-president Tony Loizzosug- roots in SC as his father (1883) and mother gested that Strachan had been a fugitive for 43 (1884) were both born in S.C. as were their par - years and thus was "thesame as a Nazi warcrimi- ents (probably as slaves since the Civil War nal." ended in 1865). The census also indicated that However, on Sept. 5. 1991. Strachan was John was the third of ten children (Leslie. flown to Miami and the pica bargain was ac- Mezelle. John. Marsha. Pleasant, Nettie May. cepted in court by Judge Ralph Person on Sept. Esther, Rooddy. Emma and Queen). It. 1991. The freed Leroy Strachan returned to John grew up in the Denmark/Bamberg area New York City to live with a son and was to (in Bamber, County just south of Orangeburg) perform his community service with the Refuge and attended elementary school at Voorhees In - Temple Church. dustrial School from I904 to around 1913. When The Miami Herald reported that the ap- established in 1897 (as the Denmark Industrial proval of the deal by '-f lledge*s great -great School), Voorhees Industrial School provided the f niece. Pauline Ray Brown, was "truce t deal's success." The Herold article failed tome d tion that Pauline Ray Brown nevereven met Jo y Milledge; that another Milledge relative, nie - Bertha Jones of Ft. Lauderdale, wanted Stracha to serve at least 15 years; or that Ralph Whit and Edward Kimball (the two living origin black officers) opposed the deal. Many others who were relatives of Joh ,4filledge or who knew him, like Idella Parle (who lived with the Milledge family in (h 1940's) and ,Mayor Robert Ingram of Opa-lock (Milledge's godson) opposed the time serve sentence, And they resented the impression le by the b(LIMj Nerald, NBC's "Real Life With Jane Pauley" and ABC's `20P20" that those close to Milledge agreed with the plea bargain. Clearly, the police and many in the com municy opposed "probation fora cop -killer' an pointed out that Strachan should not have been rewarded with probation just because he had led a clean life since 1946. Critics argued that the sentencing goals of retribution and deterrence would not be -fulfilled by probation. One criticism of sentencing for murder is that sentences for "black -on -black" murders are generally too lenient and reflect a devaluation of black victims. This practice of sentencing le- niency in black -on -black cases was illustrated in the extreme in this most serious of black -on - black murders (i.e.. a "cop killing"). Critics also argued that probation was an inappropriate sen- tence for a premeditated "ambush" killing of a black police officer by a black killer and asked what black -on -black murder would merit harsh treatment if this case merited leniency? It should be noted that H.T. Smith, Strachan's Miami attorney, claimed that Strachan had only tried to scare Milledge when he fired at him and that the shooting was a "reckless ac- cident" and truly did represent a manslaughter, The "accident theory" was first put forward by a Miami police officer. George Allen, white policeman as- signed to the negro precinct, who worked all night an the case, doesn't believe a de- liberate attempt was made to kill Milledge. He said it was possible the shot had been fired "to scare" Milledge. Only re- cently somebody shot at him with a rifle. but missed. ( News. 11/2/1946) However, this view contradicted Strachan's earlier sworn statement to police. he first formal educational opportunities for (r n- black children of Bamberg Countv, Joh 72 Students were taught the basics ce reading, writing, arithmetic, and etique(r n Skills such as brick masonry, carpentry. (r o basic rudiments of agriculture science an a! nursing were also tough[. The enrollmer grew from 14 to 270 in the school's initis n years. (Voorhees College brochure, 1994 r In 1923 Voorhees Industrial School becarm e Voorhees College. an historically black colleg_ a afroated with the Episcopal Church and the d Ufited Negro College Fund. ft John Milledge left Voorhees School arounc h 1913 and was involved in farm work forsevera. years. In 1925, John, 27, married Edna Johnson. 17, of Denmark. The couple moved to 4liam. after the wedding in SC. with the Nliami Cit% d directory first listing them in 1925. John's occu- pation was listed over a 21 -year period (!925- 1946) as "helper," "chauffeur." "laborer." anu finally as "City policeman." The ,Miami Dailti dews reported that "Milledge was chauffeur - yard boy, and body -guard for a Coral Gables at- torney for IS years."Those who rememberJohn Milledge report that he also had his own lawn care business. A son. Leroy Milledge, was adopted by the couple shortly after his birth on March 18. 1925. in Philadelphia. Leroy was the natural son of Edna's brother, Murray Johnson. The boy died in a drowning accident in Etonville near 4laitland in Orange County, FL, on April 19, 1942. at the age of 17. The drowning occurred while Leroy was in boarding school for the 1941.42 academic year at the Hungerford School in Maitland. In 1939 John and Edna Milledge moved into the new Liberty City Housing Project at 14th Ave, and 62nd St. In 1942 Milledge and Ralph White (who also worked with Milledge in his lawn care business) were two of the men selected by James E. Scott to serve as auxiliary police officers for the housing complex. They patrolled the complex for? -3 hours at night and longer on Friday and Saturday nights. Milledge and White were also involved in Civil Defense activities in the black community during World War II. The Civil Defense and auxiliary police ex- perience led to Milledge and White being named two of Miami's first black officers. John ;14lledge was one of the five original black po- lice officers of the'vliami Police Department who were sworn in on Sept. 1. 1944. Miami's all - white police force had lost many of its officers to the armed services during World War If. The "negro" precinct's streets were tilled with gambling and prostitution and black lead- ers were demanding that the police force clean up the community. Representatives of the U.S. Army threatened to withdraw troops from Mi- ami if Miami police could not protect black ser- vicemen who were being victimized by the crimi- nal element in black areas. Overtown tiva; plagued by several gangs that victimized other blacks and by white -on -black police brutality and thus black leaders drew up a list of mature men with ties to the community and asked the city to appoint them to the police department. In a Nov. 6. 1989, article about the first black officers the Miami Herald quoted Dr. Arthur Chapman, a U.M. historian who wrote a doctoral dissertation (ThJ:_Il�st I:the W"k pQlice Force and Court_irt The City of m') on the city's black justice system. Blacks` efforts to join the force had been rebuffed since 1903, but this time chance intervened: A labor scandal forced longtime Police Chief Leslie Quigg to re- sign in Nlay, 1944. "Quigg had swam never to allow a black on the force," Chapman said. Later he ran for City Commission on a platform of stemming the "black menace," so he wasn't very amenable to the change. Quigg was replaced by Charles Nelson. a grizzled New York cop more open to the idea. Nelson and Public Safety Di- rector flan Rosenfelder soon agreed to black appointments, but only after the men were carefully prepared. Three prominent black community leaders --James E. Scott, head of the new Liberty Square housing project, the Rev. John CulmerofSt. Agnes Episcopal Church and dentist Ira C. Davis—nominated can- didates. They then fanned out to inform the five they had been chosen to break the color barrier. (Miami E[e[a1d. 1116/1989) Fearing white outrage at the appointment of black police officers, department and city leaders arranged for the first black officers to be trained in secret at the Liberty Square Recreation Center. James E. Scott stood guard outside while the five recruits "studied criminal investigation. law, first aid, pistol shooting and self-defense with a jovial white sergeant named Raymond Tanner." The five were swam in on Sept. 1. 1941, but were anything but equal to white officers. They were not allowed to arrest whites, rode on bicycles rather than in police cars, were allowed only to patrol the "Negro precinct", and were not allowed to wear their uniforms to the court- house. The police were "housed in a dingy back room just big enough for a desk and a closet, in a back alley off Second Avenue." However, they did wear the same uniforms and received the same pay as white irtiami police officers but, un- like the white officers, the black officers were not under civil service protectidn and received no pension. retirementbencfitsorjob protection. The black community expected the new black officers to be more concerned about the young toughs who "ruled the streets" of Overtown, The officers set out to accomplish their task with what would be viewed in 1995 as illegal tactics. The Miami Herald described how those tactics worked. (Note: the quotation is from 1947 when local newspapers used demeaning terms and language when referring to blacks.) It was a still. sultry night in October. 1944, a month after the Miami negro po- lice force was organized. On N.W. second ave., near Ninth st., a well-dressed negro couple was strolling down the sidewalk. They were forced to halt when they came to a group of hee-hawing, shirt -sleeved young bucks who blocked the way. "Pardon me," said the well-dressed man, "could we get by, please?" The group stopped laughing. and half a dozen pairs of glaring eyes turned on the couple. "So, you wants by," a zootsuited char- acter sneered. "Yeah, they wants by." ano� smirked. Just at that moment a tall. black man in a shiny. blue police uniform planted his ample feet near the group. "Clear the sidewalk!" he ordered, The zoot-suited character turned and looked the cop over. "Haw, haw," he laughed. "Haw, haw, haw," the others took up the chorus. That, probably. was the last time any- one of this group ever laughed in the face of John Milledge, Miami's first negro po- liceman. Before the chorus had time to take a second breath, the six-foot cop, wielding a couple of strands of rawhide looped over the handle end of a nightstick. waded in. In rapid succession he stung the legs of the squealing and frightened youths. They vanished in several directions. That was the beginning of the end of the negro section's toughs who used to block the sidewalks fordecent members of theirrace, and cursed orstruckthem if they appeared not to like this treatment (Mian raahL 112111947) Of the original five black officers, three (Ralph White, Moody Hall and Clyde Lee) served out their time on the force until retire- ment while one (Ed "Tops" Kimball) quit to play baseball with the barnstorming black Yankees. John 44illedge was the fifth --he was killed af- ter two years as a police officer. John Milledge. 49. was survivedby his wife Edna. 39, and by several siblings around Den- mark, SC. Funeral services were arranged by Pharr Funeral Home and were held on Thurs- day. Nov. 7, at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church at N.W. 3rd Ave, and 9th St. Mt. Zion was the larg- est church in the black community and it over- flowed for the funeral forcing many in attendance to stand outside of the church during the service. Ralph White (who with Milledge was one of the five original black officers) recalls that the fu- neral was conducted with full police honors and that many white as well as black officers at- tended. In addition, many Miami city officials attended. Neitherthe Herald nor the Daily Newtcov- ered the funeral. Henry Reno. father of Janet Reno. U.S. Attorney General in 1993, was the police reporter for the Herald from 192.1-1967 but evidently was not assigned to the story. The Suomi Times (Miami's black newspaper) from 1946 is not extant but likelycovered the funeral. Burial was at Lincoln Memorial cemetey at 46 St. and 32 Ave. Unfortunately. since the funeral expenses were not covered by the Mi- ami Police Department and since the family had little money. John Milledge was buried in an unmarked grave. in the late 1940's Edna Milledge had the bodies of John Milledge and Leroy Milledge (drowned in 1943) removed to their native SC. for burial. They were buried at the Capernaum Cemetery three miles from Den- mark. S.C. But again, no grave marker was erected. Edna Milledge received no death benefits or pension from the City of Miami as such ben- efits were not extended to black officers until action taken by the City Commission on Nlarch 11. 1947-4 days after the second black officer. Johnnie Young, was killed in the line of duty. By 1995 noclose relatives of John ,%f illedge survived. His wife Edna remarried (becomin= EdnaTalmadge) and died in Miami on Aug, 32, 1988. at the age of 30. The ,Miami Herald ran only a brief death notice but the'ii91TILTiMe . did publish an obituary that listed her survivors and noted that she was to be buried in her native Denmark,SC. However, no mention was made that she.�tad been the widow of John Slilledge. Mitinti�s first black police officer killed in the line of duty. Edna was buried in the Capemaurn Cemetery between her husband, John, and her nephew and adopted son, Leroy. The closest relatives of John Milledge liv- ing in Dade County in 1995 (Annie Faust. 91. Edna's sister-in-law, and her son, Charles Faust. 74) were all related to Edna Johnson %lilledge. Also in 1995. several -great nephews and nieces lived in SC.. ineluding.loseph Faustof Denmark. SC. Idella Parler. Edna's grand niece lived in Springfield. NIS. Idella lived with the Milledge family during the 1940's and experienced the double tragedy of the deaths of Leroy and John Milledge. One prominent "relative" of John ,Milledge, his godson, Robert Ingram. was the mayor of Opa-locks. in 1995. Ingram's mother. Arimeniha Ingram. lived in the Liberty City Housing Project in the early 1940's and greatly admired John %lilledge. She hoped that her son would.see Milledge as a role model—he did. Robert Ingram decided at an early age that he wanted to become a police officer, partly to rind the person who killed his godfather. In 1959 he began his law enforcement career as a Sliami Police Officer. Mayor Ingram facilitated the publication of Dr. Wilbanks' book (Forgoit Officers Killed in Qjde County, 1946-1995) by a publishing company (Avanti Presse located in his city of Opa-locks. The book includes the story of Slilledge's life and death. John %filledge's name is inscribed tEast Wall. Panel 36. Line 16) on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington. D.C. A plaque bearing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Department and his name is read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park. In March of 1991, the Bomber.- (S.C.) Her- > W ran a Ston about John Milledge iheadlined. "rhe Forgotten Hero'). supplied by Dr. Wilbanks of FIU. The picture accompanying the Ston- was provided by Idella Parler and is the sante picture seen on the first page of this narrative. That pic- ture also is displayed at the Miami Police De- partment. at the Dade Police Academy at Mi- ami -Bade Jr. College (North). and at Voorhees College indicating that %lilledge was an alum- nus of the school. In 1994 %favor Robert Ingram of Opa- locka. Chief Calvin Ross of the Miami Police Department and Miami Officer Charles 1lzllom of the ,4linmi Community Police Benevolent Association arranged to have a marker placed at the grave of John Milledge in Denmark. SC. They wanted to make sure that John %filled,e would be the Remembered Hero rather than the Forgotten Hero. The dedication of the new b ron arker was held in Bamberg. SC.. at the Ylillecave site in Aug. of 1994. and was given front page coverage by the B-amkcg AdverlizarwHerald on Sept. 1. 1994. Miami Officers Robert �M. Ander- son and Martin Garcia of the Miami Police Honor Guard presided over the ceremony and told the audience that the plaque was erected to honor an officer who was not given a "proper policeman's honor burial" in 1946. Several Bamberg city and police officials attended the ceremony as did Milledge's grand -nephew, Jo- seph Faust of Denmark, SC. The grave marker reads: IN MEMORY OF JOHN cMILLEDGE MIAMI POLICE OFFICER KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY 1398-1946 SOURCES: il"_Herald. Nov. 2,3.4.5, 1946. Jan. 21. 1947,Aug. 25, 1988, Nov. 6, 1989.April _'. 13. 1990, April 5.23, Sept. 5.6.7,12, Nov. 17. 1991: Lliami Qnily News. Nov. 2, 1946; tyfiaMl erg. June 4,11, 1971, June 20, 1973: Sept. 17. 1981. Aug. 25. 1988;,$ t�j= (Sunday Maga- zine of D. Luderdale Sm -Sentinel). , Aug. 25. 1991; POA HEAT. June, 1991, Oct., 1991: faitgrg Herold. March 10. 1994: Tht; istory Or the Black Police Force and Courtin 1bg City of_iyliami. a dissertation by Arthur Edward Chapman, 1986; NBC's ',Real Life with Jane Pauley." April 28. 1991. ABC's '•20/20," May 3. 1991: Death certificates of John,Milledge and Leroy ivtilledge; and interviews with Ralph White. George Cadavid, Robert Ingram, Pauline Brown, Charles Faust, Annie Faust, Joseph Faust, and Idella Parler. x.47 �XQV_tjG Miami Police Dept. Shot & killed on March 7. 1947 THE EVENT Miami Police Officer Johnnie Young. 32. was fatally wounded on March 7. 1947. when he was accidently shot while he and another Miami police officer were trying to catch two escaping suspects. Officer Youn- was one of Miami's first black police officers and the sec- ond to be killed in the line of duty. He became the 13th City of Miami officer and the second black officer killed in the lint of duty. Around 9:00PVl on Friday. :March 7. 1947. a white 4liami officer. R.A. %facFarhtnd. was on duty at the "negro precinct" and was accom- panied by three black officers (including Johnnie Young and James Washington) to a call at 400 V.W. Fourth Ave. where thieves were reported to have broken into a fish market (,Mack's Fish and Poultry Shop). Two 16 year old suspects were trapped in- side the store but two other suspects attempted to flee. Officer Washington later recalled: I was the first one out of the car. and ran toward the building... Young ran past me and around the building(. I heard a shot... When I turned the corner Johnny was lay- im, on the -round. He was shot just below the gunbelt. (Article by Robert In mm in appendix of Chapman. p. 224) 74 The shot that killed Officer lroung was by Officer :McFarland who said he "fired a moving figure in the darkness, which turned out to be Youne." Officer Young was struck in the back with the "bullet emerging at the vicinity of the solar plexus." He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hos- piral where he died at 4:17AM (early on the morning of Saturduv. March 3). The officer's wife arrived at the hospital shortly before his death. The death certificate indicated that Of- ficer Young died of a "gunshot wound of abdo. men" due to "internal hemorrhage" and "shock." THE PERPETRATOR Officer R.A. MacFarland was not charged in the accidental shooting of Officer Johnnie Young. Officer's Young's death was likely ruled "excusable" (i.e.. accidental) rather than "justi- fiable" (authorized by law). Newspaper accounts of the shooting and death of OfficerYoung were brief and no mention was made of a coroner's inquest into his death. There was also no men- tion as to the disposition of the case involving the two juvenile suspects captured at the scene. Police officers living in 1995 who knew McFarland in 1947 report that he was devastated by the death of Officer Young. He made an un- successful suicide attempt shortly after the fatal shooting and was transferred from patrol to ju- venile. Shortly thereafterhe retired from the,'Yli- ami Police Department and joined the Nletro- Dade Police Dept. He reached the rank of Cap- tain with ,Miami -Dade before retiring in the 1980's. THE OFFICER Johnnie Young was born July 2, 1914. in Fitzgerald. Georgia. to Charles and Ida Allen Young. His parents were also born in Georgia. Johnnie was the third of four brothers (Allen, Aaron. Johnnie, and Louis Henry) and was raised on a farm near Fitzgerald with three stepbroth- ers John. Milton, and Willie B. Lewis and one step -sister, Lula&lae Lewis. Johnnie and his siblings all attended the Queenland school. a rural school about five miles from Fitzgerald. Johnnie quit school after the 8th grade and worked on his father's farm until he moved to ,Miami in 1934 at the age of 20 tojoin his step -brother. Willie B. Lewis, who had moved to Miami in 1933. Willie B. later became one of the first black officers in the City of Miami and was on the police force when his .step -brother ,way killed. In 1935. at the dee of 21. Johnnie Young married Annie Ruth Hill of Fitzgerald, GA. Both Johnnie and Annie Ruth had several relatives in S. FL and so the couple moved to Miami shortly after their marriage. Their only child. Charles Edward. was born on Oct. 3, 1936, in Miami. Prior to joining the police department on Oct. 25. 1944. Young worked for 9 years clean- ing rail ears for the Florida East Coast Railroad. Young gained "police" experience as a volun- teer patrol officer in the Liberty Square housing project when residents were forced to patrol their own housing area to reduce the crime problem. His fellow volunteer: included John Milledge and Ralph Whire who would later became his fellow- officers with the Miami Police Depart. ment. The first rive black officers ( including John Milledge) in the Miami Police Department were sworn in on Sept. 1. 1944. Young joined the Department in 1945 and was one of the first 10 black officers on the force. The black officers were not allowed to wear their police uniforms in the courthouse and were not allowed to arrest whites. They patrolled only the "negro district - and were supervised by white officers. A month after Officer 4lilledge's death (Dec. 17, 19461. the Miami City Service Board prop9sed that civil service status be granted to black-htficers (white officers were already un- der civil service protection). Final approval for the proposal was given on ,March 11. 1947, four days after Johnnie Young's death. This action ensured Officer's Young's widow a pension from the city. The City and Department had been em- barrassed the year before when no such pension was available to the widow of Officer Milledse. the first black officer killed. B.B. Solomon Funeral Home arranged the funeral service conducted on March 13 in the Antioch Baptist Church of Liberty City at 1899 N.W. 64 St. Rev. O.W. Foster of the Antioch Baptist Church gave the eulogy. Almost all of 22 Negro officers from the ,Miami police force attended the funeral services as did hundreds of other uniformed officers from Miami and other S. FL police agencies. Burial was at the Evergreen Memorial Park at N.W. 31 Ave. and N.W. 43 St. Both the fu- neral and burial included full police (i.e.. mili- tary) honors. Blacks in early Miami were buried in the "colored section" of the Miami City Cemetery (opened in 1897) or in Lincoln Memorial (opened in 1924) or Evergreen Memorial Johnnie Young, City of Miami. 1947. q Frampton P. Wichman. City of Miami, 1948. (opened in 1932). Officer Young's grave marker at Evergreen reads simply: JOHNNIE YOUNG 1914-1947 Johnnie Young was survived by his wife, Annie Ruth Young, 31, and a son, Charles Ed- ward, 10: by brothers, Allen, Aaron and Louis Henry Young of Miami; and a step -brother. Willie B. Lewis, 31, of Miami. Mrs. Young re- ceived a monthly pension from the City of Mi- ami for 6 years. At the time of her husband's death Mrs. Young worked at the Lori Pack Dress Shop on Miami Beach. Mrs. Young never remarried and was still living in ,Miami in 1995 at the age of 79. Before her retirement she worked for over 20 years in the offices of Morris H. Merlin. a ,Miami Beach podiatrist. Johnnie andAnnie Ruth's son, Charles Edward, was 58 in 1995. and worked as a ma- chinist for 23 years for Eastern Air Lines in Mi- ami. Edward's son (the grandson of Johnnie Young), Charles Edward Young, 32, also lived in Miami in 1995. Johnnie Young's name is inscribed (West Wall, Panel 23. Line 10) on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington. D.C. A plaque bearing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Department and his name is read each year at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park. Annie Ruth Young's old picture album in- cluded a 1946 photograph of the first IS Black Otficersof the City of I-liami Police Department. including Johnnie Young. Dr. Wilbanks obtained the help of (former) Miami Obiter Ralph White to identify each of the 18 officers. Acaption with the names of each of the officers and their years of service (provided by the Miami Police Dept.) was added with the final product being donated to the Historical Museum of S. FL where is was displayed in the Viten and Women in Blue" Ex- hibit in 1995. The picture is also displayed at the ,Miami Police Dept. and at the Dade Police Academy at Miami -Dade Jr. College (North). The picture includes John iMilledge. killed in 1946. This narrative about Johnnie Young is also included in Forgotten He ,,u_B1ac Polic Fico s Killed in Dade County. 194_3-1995 fished by Avanti Press of Opa-locka in Dec. of 1995. SOURCES: Miami Herald. Dec. 18. 19.16. March 5.9. 1947. Nov. 6. 1989. July 17. Nov l7. 1991: `liami News. ,March 7.8. 1947: ML - ami Times. June 4.1 i, 1971, Sept. 17.1981: death certificate of Johnnie Young: The History of the Black Polurg EoMgS nd Courtin the City of 1li- ami. a dissertation by Arthur Edward Chapman, 1986: and interviews with Annie Ruth Young. Willie B. Lewis, and Ralph White. #,3 F MI�P.,V1CHMAN; JRA Miami Police Dept. Crushed by a utility pole. Sept. 24. 1948 THE EVENT Frampton P. Wichman. Jr.. 22. was fatally injured on Sept, 20. 1948. when he was struck by a falling iron utility pole. He never regained consciousness and died on Friday. Sept. 24, at 11:05PM at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Wichman became the 19th Miami police officer to die in the line of duty since 1915. The fatal accident occurred at N.E. Second Ave. and Flagler St. on ivlonday. Sept. 20. 1948. A truck struck the utility pole while being backed into a parking space. The pole broke off at its base and struck the officer after bouncing off a parked taxicab. Wichman was talking to the taxi- cab driver when the pole struck him. Sgt. P.M. Denham of the MPD traffic bureau reported that the pole was found to be "rusted half way through. weakened by electrolysis action." The incident was reported by Henry Reno. the father of U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. who was the %IiaMi HeMd's police reporter for 42 years (1924-1967). Reno kept his "office" at Miami police headquarters and knew most of the officers on the force. He covered as many as 40 funerals of Dade officers who died from 1925- 1967. THE PERPETRATOR The driver of the truck. John P. Taylor, 32 of Miami. was not charged. THE OFFICER Frampton Pope Wichman. Jr., was born in Miami on March 24. 1926. to Frampton Pope Wichman. Sr.. and Gav Boxley Wichman. The Wichman family was from Waherboro. SC. His mother's family (Frank & Maggie Boxley) was from Elk Creek, VA. Frampton Wichman. Sr.. married Gay Boxley in Jackson. NC, on Oct. 1. 1923. after they met while she was in training to be a nurse in Richmond, VA. The couple moved to Miami shortly after where their two sons. Frampton. Jr. (1926) and Boxley (1927) were born. Frampton and Boxley attended Miami Edison Elementary School. Andrew Jackson Jr. High School. and graduated from Miami H.S. 1 Frampton in 1943 and Boxlev in 1944). The two Wichman boys were both members of the Greater Miami Boy's Drum and Bugle Corps which made many trips and participated in many parades. On Nov. 30. 1941. � Miami y lw pictured 15 year old Frampton Wichman with his Drum and Bugle Corps carrying the City of Nliami Flat. Frampron's other activities as a vouth included membership in DeMolay. Hl -1t' Club and the mixed chorus at Miami Sr. H.S. Frampton Wichman. Sr. (the slain officer's father). was an insurance adjuster and also worked as a cashier at Hialeah and Gulfsrream racetracks. Gay worked for manv years as a nurse land later supervisor) forthe Dade County Dept. of Health. Frampton Wichman joined the Nawv in 19.33atyrr graduating from H.S. and was in the aviation training program at the U. of Miami before belm-sent fat his request[ to active duty in World War 11. One of his tint as. sienments was to ferry a LCI' (Landing Craft Tank) craft from Pearl Harbor to Iwo limo in preparation for the assault on the Island. The \liami Herald reported that Wichman "Went unscathed through Iwo lima. the bloodiest battle of the Pacific." �Vichman was on a ship off -shore during the battle. He reached the rank of Quar- termaster 21C before his discharge on April 20. 1946. After World War It ended. Frampton Wichman returned to Miami and worked for a short time as a salesman. On June 22. 1946. Frampton Wichman married Vivian Proctor. his "childhood sweetheart:" whom he had met at the First Christian Church where they both attended, Thev both had attended Miami High School. Wichman joined the Miami Police Depart- ment on Aug. 1. 1957. and was given badge nunt- ber 35_', He was one of l_' members of the I I th Recruit Class (pictured on the 3rd floor of the M.P.D.) that graduated on Dec. 13, 1947. He had just completed one yearwith the department when he was killed. Far part of that year he di- rected traffic at N.E.'^_nd Ave. and Flagler St. An article in the March 1. 1948. Mman-1 Herald pictured himchinging from the "wimcrdark blue to the summer w hite shirts." On Dec. 3. 1947: Frampton played for the Miami Police Department football team In a charity football _ame against the Miami Fire De- partment alone with allow police officer Ed- ward Cowart who later became a Dade Circuit Court judge. Both were listed as linemen with Wichman listed at 160 lbs. and Cowan at 190 Ibs. Familv members sugeest that the Depart- ment "fudged" on the player weights as Frampton was closer to ISO lbs. and 6'1 ". The Fire Dept. won the gante. The Oct. 1. 1943, issue of the'ti:tnfl Po- lice \ew•s, was dedicated to Frampton P. Wichman and stated that ie "w as one of the rno,t promising young policemen in the dep:utr.teat." Frampton Wichmin. Jr.. was survived hw his wife. Vivian. 22: hi. parent%. Framphin P. Wichman, Sr.. 59. and Gav Boxley Wichman. -18. of Miami: his brother. Boxley Wichman of Miami. 21: and a half-brother. Bradford G. Wichman. 31, of Collins%ille, IL. Funeral +mice. ++.rt conducted by Dr. Everett S. Smith at the Ben Lanier Funeral HIomc chapel on Sept. 27. The funeral %% as auendcd h. ?5 members of the Miami Police Npirintent and two members of the FL Highway Patrol. Burial was in Flagler ,Memorial Part: at ?01 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Officer Wichinan was given a full vlice funeral with a police mo- torcade leading the mourners from the funeral 73 home to the cemetery. His grave max reads the ,Ltiami pail, _Newt for several da�jh simply: story of the killing and the capture of th�Rlile FRAMPTON P WICHi4tAN. was the subject of articles in three national de - MARCH 24. 1926 - SEPT. 24. 1948 tective magazines. One magazine described the Frampton P, Wichman. Sr., 73, was burie by the side of his son on Jan. 30, 1962. Th officer's mother. Gay, worked as a nurse wit the Dade County Health Department until he retirement in 1972 and then moved to the At lanta area to live with her son, Boxley. Ga, Wichman died in 1982 in Chambleee. GA, a the age of 82. Frampton Wichman's brother, Boxley Wichman, 68, retired in 1982 from 34 years with the U.S. Past Office (in Miami and Atlanta) an in 1995 lived in Winter Haven. FL. Boxley and his wife Edith lived in Miami until 1966. In 1983 Boxley and Edith Wichman sold their retirement property in Cullowhee. NC. to Jack and Ruth Corbett, the parents of Stephen Corbett, the Metro -Dade officer killed in the line of duty in 1983. Also, in 1995, Frampton's two nephews (sons of Boxley and Edith) lived in GA. Tom Wichman, 44, lived in Roswell, GA, with his wife. Yvonne. and son. Ty, 21. Mike Wichman. 42, lived in Dunwoody. GA, with his wife. Cindy. and two sons. Michael, 21. and Nicholas, 13. Vivian Wichman remarried (to Wm. M. Thomas) on Dec. 16. 1949. She had two daugh- ters and a son from her second marriage. In 1995 she and her husband lived in retirement in Duluth. GA. The name of Frampton P. Wichman is in- scribed (East Wall, Panel 54, Line I7) on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Wash- ington, D.C. A plaque bearing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Dept. where his name is read each May at a ceremony at that location. His name is also read each 41ay at the Dade Po- lice Memorial in Tropical Park. SOURCES: �, March I. 19.18. Sept. 21.25, 1948. Feb. 1, 1962; iMiumi_News. Nov. 30. 1941, Sept. 24. 1948; Miami Police lr ew , Oct. 1, 1948: , April 5. 1982: Military record of Frampton Pope Wichman, Jr. (U.S. Navy #550-96-16): death cer- tificate of Frampton P. Wichman, Jr., and Gay Wichman: grave marker of Frampton P. Wichman; and interviews with Boxley Wichman and Vivian Proctor Wichman Thomas. #34 LUTHER T. HARDISON Constable. Coral Gables Shot & killed on Feb. 17, 1951 THE EVENT Luther T. Hardison. 55, the elected con- stable of Coral Gables, was shot and killed near ,lklobile. Alabama, on Saturdav, Feb. 17, 1951. by a prisoner he was transporting by car from Los Angeles to Miami. This case generated per- haps more national publicity than any other kill- ing of a law enforcement officer in the history of Dade County as a manhunt throughout the Southern States was conducted for seven days before the killer was caught in New York City on Feb, 24. 1951. The Hardison killing and manhunt domi- nated the front pages of the � and 76 search for the killeras "one of the greatest man - d hunts the South has known in years." e On Feb. 2. 1951. Harris Mullis, 22. who h had spent most of his life since the age of 10 in r reform school and prison, walked into a police station in Los Angeles and told police that he v was wanted in Coral Gables. FL, for burglary r and auto theft. He added, "I think there is some- thing wrong with me and I want to get i t straight- ened out." h Mullis waived extradition and Los Ange- les police notified authorities in Coral Gables. Luther Hardison, the elected constable of the third district, decided to make the nip to Los Angeles himself. as it would allow him to visit with his 20 year old son, Luther Hardison, Jr., who was in military service in Texas. Hardison left Coral Gables on Feb. 7 in his new light gray 1951 Mercury, two -door sedan (Club Coupe) and arrived in Los Angeles on Feb. 9. He registered for five days at a hotel. When he picked up Mullis he decided not to handcuff him as he told (according to news accounts) the LA police and friends. Phil and Betty Pappas, cafe operators, that he saw no need to handcuff the prisoner. The Los Angeles police and the Pappas couple warned the constable against making the long drive to Florida alone with an uncuffed prisoner but Hardison replied, "I never have trouble with prisoners." Hardison also told the Pappas family: ` "I doubt if the kid could drive very well with handcuffs on, Phil... Ever hear of Father Flanagan?" he asked gently. "He often said there is no such thing as a bad boy, and I agree." '"fake this kid, for example. He slipped once down in Coral Gables, but his con- science got to working overtime and he gave himself up. That's in his favor. With luck and fair treatment he'll make amends and go straight the rest of his life. The worst thing I could possibly do is drag him back in chains"... "i have four children of my own and I'm wise to all tricks. We'll be okay." (Crime Detective, June, 195 1) Hardison "carried his faith in the goodness of youth even further... as he let Mullis 'spell' him at the wheel" on the trip from LA to Miami 0.e„ one would nap while the other drove). The Miami Herald reported that the constable "died because he believed in giving young folks a break" and that Mullis shot the constable "who treated him like a son instead of a criminal." An article in Underworld,-Qgtective said that Hardison "had let his faith as a father overrule his judgment as a law officer." It should be noted that the Hardison family believes the media portrayal of Luther Hardison as naive and lax in security precautions was in- valid and based on the untruthful statements of Hardison's killer. The family points out that Mullis did not have a valid driver's license and that Hardison would never have let Mullis drive his new car without a license. Also, when Hardison visited his son in TX at the halfway point of the trip, he implied that he alone had driven the car from Los Angeles to e San Antonio. The family also believes that tf r "Father Flanigan" quotes (i.e., "there is no suc. thing as a bad boy." etc.) attributed to Hardisor are inaccurate as they had never heard such com- ments from their father and believed that he wa: unlikely to have expressed a philosophy tc strangers that he had never expressed to his ow - family. Hardison had no reason to believe (ha: Mullis was dangerous as he had surrendered him- self in LA, had waived extradition, and the com- pla,ifi t (at the Miami stable) had not indicated thtttfie was dangerous. The constable likely did not know of Mullis' reform school and prison record. The constable and his prisoner left Los Angeles around 1:00PM on Tuesday, Feb. 13. 1951, and stopped overnight in Tucson, Arizona. where Hardison staved in a hotel, and Lkfullis was placed in the county jail. By 4:OOPM the next day (Wednesday). the pair were in San Antonio where the constable stopped to visit his son. Luther T. Hardison. Jr„ who was stationed at Randolph Air Base. The constable telephoned his wife in Coral Gables and both father and son were able to talk with Mrs. Hardison about their visit together and about the constable's antici- pated arrival back in Florida, Father and son and prisoner had dinner to- gether in San Antonio, and then around 7:OOPM the constable placed Mullis in a jail in Seguin. Texas, for the night. Father and son spent the night in a hotel in San Antonio with the father arising at 4:00AM on that Thursday morning to pick up his prisoner in Seguin to continue the trip to Miami. Just after midnight on Friday, Feb. 16, the constable and his prisoner were on Highway 90 between Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Mobile. Alabama. As Mullis neared Florida (according to a later confession). he "had a change of heart" and "regretted the impulse which had caused him to give himself up."'He decided he didn't want to return to Florida. He recalled his years of mis- treatment i -treatment in reform school and prison (to be dis- cussed later) and the mutual hatred he believed existed between himself and the police in Mi- ami. Luther Hardison. Coral Gables Constable, 1951. 60 ricers in 1991 after a request from Dr. W*ks who researched the case. His name is read each Slay at the Dade County Police Memorial Ser- vice in Tropical Park. His name was inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Memorial (West Wall. Panel 39. Line 18) in Washington. D.C.. in 1993. The store of the life and death of Luther Hardison was included in Dr. Wilbanks' 1995 book. PFa=en_Heroes -Police Officers Killed in Coral Gable< and South Miami. 1925-1994. The Coral Gables Police Department Police Memorial Service included Constable Hardison's name on its roll call of slain offic- ers for the first time at its May 18. 1995 ser- vice. SOURCES: Miami Herald. Feb. 18.19.20.2 1,3 3.34.25.26.27. June 28. 1951. June 27. 1992: Miami _ Daily News. Feb. 17.18.20,21,24.25.26. June 28. 1951. Tamp Sundav Tribune (AP wire story), Feb. 18. 1951. Jobile Register, Feb. 19. 1951; Qadne De[ec- ii!:4. July, 1951. "Killer Without Conscience." by Matthew Corwin, pp. 34-35, 56-50: Under- world Mtegtave, September. 1951.-Wanted."by Bennett Wright, pp. 12-15,57-58; Crime Detec- Iiyg. June 1951. "This Gun for Sale." by George Beltz, pp. 8-9.46-49: 102 page transcript of trial of Harris Mullis in Mobile. AL, June 26-27. 1951 i State of Alabama vs. Harris Mullis. Jr.. "No. 12068"); Alabama Dept. of Corrections. inmate file (AIS 113536) of Harris Mullis. Jr.: and in- terviews with Gloria Hardison Gray. Luther T. Hardison, Jr., and Lisa McAllister. s � ��' LiV 1\'D Miami o tee ept. Shot & killed on Feb. 16. 1951 THE EVENT Miami Police officer Leroy LaFleur. 26, a two-year veteran, was shot and killed at 3:OOAM on Friday. Feb. 16. 1951, in a gun battle with a man he had surprised sleeping in a parked truck. The assailant was never captured and became the second of only three Dade cases from 1895- 1995 (of the 108 total) that remain unsolved. (The other two unsolved cases were that of Metro -Dade Jailer Gustav Kaiser in 1895 and Coral Gables Officer Walter Stathers in 1967.) Officer LaFleur became the 20th Miami officer killed in the line of duty. LaFleur and his partner. E.B. Burrell. 32. were "Negro" officers "patrolling in the police "black maria"' (a "paddy" wagon). They stopped to "check for drunks" at the Nasty Man's Cafe at the comer of N.W. Third Ave, and 14th St. Officer Burrell stayed at the wheel while LaFleur went inside. Burrell said he saw LaFleur leave the cafe and walk behind the pol& "wagon" to check out a parked car in the rear of the gas sta- tion on the corner. The Miami News reported that LaFleur intended to "roundup unsavory char- acters" who nightly slept in autos and trucks in the rear of the gas station. Burrel I then heard several shots from across the street and jumped out of the police vehicle. He found LaFleur. badly wounded, sittingon the ground, saying. "I'm shot." He had fallen in an alley near N.W. 3rd Ave, and 14th St. and had two bullet wounds in the chest and one in the 80 thigh. He died shortly after arriving at Jack Memorial Hospital. The dying patrolman said he went to 'shake down' the parked truck for sleeping vagrants and found a Negro stretched across the seat. He called to him, and the vagrant came up shooting. LaFleur said he had pulled the trigger of his gun four times but that two of the shots had 'misfired.' The killer got in at least four shots. Four shells from an auto- matic .25 were found at the scene. Lt. J.T. Griffin. in charge of the Negro precinct. said there was evidence that LaFleur had wounded his attacker. (Miami Herald. 2/17/1951) Officer Burrell and two other Negro police- men. Ernest Hayes and Orange Hayes, who had heard the shots as they patrolled in a squad car nearby. "gave chase as the slayer fled eastward on 14th St. to the FEC tracks and north along the tracks." Det. Neal Coston of the Miami ho- micide bureau and Officer Ernest Hayes called out "wait a minute" to a man (who fit the gen- eral description of the assailant given by LaFleur) as he walked on the tracks. The suspect "wheeled and fired three shots" at the officers. "Ernest Hayes hit the dirt, un- hurt, and pumped two bullets toward the gun- man as he fled north along the railroad right-of- way." An FEC Engineer and a switchman "who saw the Negro as he passed them said he had blood around the neck or shoulder.- The suspect disappeared from view around 16th St. LaFleur was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Richardson's Funeral Home ambu- THE OFFICER lance but was pronounced dead on arrival at Leroy Joseph LaFleur, Sr., 26, was bom on 3:20AM. He had been shot twice in the chest Sept. 24, 1924, in Miami to Joseph and Nora and once in the leg. The weapon used to fatally Smith LaFleur. His father was bom in Haiti but wound Officer LaFleur was a.25 -caliber auto- later moved to the Bahamas and then on to Sli- matic pistol, "the'Saturday NightSpecial' of the ami in 1901. His mother's family was from Key times." West. Joseph LaFleur worked as a gardener in ,Miami for 60 years, until his death in 1969. Leroy was the second of five children (Chris. Leroy. Mabelle. Isadora and Nathaniel) and grew up during the depression years and World War If when times were especially hard for blacks in Miami. Leroy attended Dunbar El- ementary and graduated from Booker T. Wash- ington H.S. in 1941. Those who knew Leroy as a youth remember him ai being a "ladies man" who loved to dress up and socialize. I-aFleur served in the Army in World War If from March 12. 1945, to Oct. 8. 1946. He saw no combat duty as he was an auto mechanic as- signed to the 3073rd QM Refrigeration Co. (S billo- e). Ten of his 19 months in the Army were spent overseas. mostly with the "Army of Occu- pation" in Japan. After World War I1, Leroy returned home to Miami and worked with his father who had a gardening business. He married Thelma Mon- roe of Miami shortly after his return home from the ,army in 1946. Leroy LaRcurjoined the Miami Police De- partment on Jan. 19. 1949. at a time when "col- ored" officers were only allowed to patrol the black areas of Miami. There were 46 black of- ficers working for the City of Miami in 1951 and all worked in the three black precincts tLib- erty City. Overtown, and Coconut Grovel and all were classified as "patrolmen" (rather than ;i rr. Iro Leroy LaFleur, Cray of bfiaoni, 1951. wounds which might have come during the es- cape from the LaFleur scene in 1951. Though the suspect denied involvement in the murder. the detective still sees him as a likely suspect and hopes that he might eventually confess to his role in the LaFleur shooting before his death "to clear his conscience." Upon the suspect's death, the police would be able to extract the bullet from his body to determine if he was wounded in the LaFleur murder. THE PERPETRATOR The perpetrator, a black male. was never caught. Police believe the gunman was wounded by either LaFleur or by Hayes "during a man- hunt for the killer." The Miami Times reported that "practically every policeman on duty at the time of the shooting was ordered on the case" but the killer was not found. The case is still unsolved. News reports indicate that the police were "at a complete loss in attempting to establish a motive." There was some speculation "that the killer was a man wanted by the police for a pre- vious murder." In 1972 the Mlami Herald ran a story about the two unsolved cases (the other being the mur- der of Officer Victor Butler in 197 1) involving Miami police officers killed in the line of duty. Investigators in 1972 indicated that after 21 years "it's a million -to -one chance we'll everget a lead again" on the LaFleur case. However. in 1990, after the Milledge case (1946) was finally closed after 44 years. Miami homicide detectives took another look at the LaFleur case. Det. Confessor Gonzalez found and re -interviewed a 56 -year old man who. at age 17 in 1951, had been a prime suspect in the initial LaFleur investigation. Gonzalez d(scov- ered that the suspect had unexplained bullet as police officers) and were supervised by w officers ('-the Lieutenant -in -charge. his assista . a Sergeant. and five policemen first class who served in a supervisory capacity"). The officers reported to the precinct by ratans of thirteen police call boxes. Readers interested in the limitations placed upon the early black officers after their appoint- ment in 1944 should read the narrative on Of- ficer John Milledge and the 1986 U. of Miami Ph,D. dissertation (The Histon• of the Black police Force and Cour in the City -of Miami) by Dr. Arthur Chapman. For example. black offic- ers in 1951 could not arrest µhires unless they were in the black precincts. And these White prisoners would not be booked at the Precinct but only held un- til White police officers could arrive and transport them to the downtown headquar- ters. (Chapman, p. 55)y' LaFleur was an Armreservist who was recalled to active Army duty- in Sept. of 1950 but was given a "hardship cast' release about a month before his death to rejoin his wife and four children. He lived in Opa-locka (at 2021 Rutland) with his family of six and was a mem- ber of the Church of God. Frances Funeral Home arranged the funeral which was held at the Church of God at 1821 N.W. Second St. in Miami. Leroy Lafleur was given a full police/milhary type funeral with hun- dreds of black civilians attending in addition to hundreds of uniformed police officers (both black and white). Several city and court offi- cials were also in attendance. Burial was on Thursday. Feb. 22 in the Miami City Cemetery at N. Miami Ave. and 17th St. The graveside service was also with full po- lice presence and honars. Leroy Lafleur's grave today is easily found in the Miami City Cemetm on N.E. 2nd Ave, in downtown Miami. He is buried in the military section of the cemetery adjacent to the north fence about 40 graves from the northwest cor- ner of the cemetery. His grave marker reads: LEROY LAFLEUR FLORIDA TECS 3073 QM REFRG CO WORLD WAR II SEPT. 24. 1924 - FEB. 16. 1951 Leroy LaFleur was surived by his wife. Thelma, and four sons. Leroy Joseph. Jr.. 6; Leon William. 4: Lawrence Charles.:: and Larry, 1. On March 6. 1951, Wometco Theatres pre- sented a "giant stage and screen show" featur- ing "white and colored artists" at the Harlem Theatre in Overtown to raise money for the LaFleur family. Such celebrities as Walter Winchell (who served as master of ceremonies). Eddie Cantor. Sugar Ray Robinson. Billy Daniels and the Cotton Club Band appeared on stage at the benefit. Also. a feature movie. "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain." starring Susan Hayward and William Lundigan was shown. More than S11.000 was raised includine checks from Walter Winchell, Mrs. Eddie Cantor. and Josephine Baker. was substantial amount of money as raised by the benefit. Leroy's son. Leon William LaFleur. later reported that the fund provided for the college education of the four sons and that three of the four attended college with the aid of i� the fund. Lawrence graduated from Michigan State and became a public school teacher in N.J. Leroy. Jr., graduated from Wayne State and be- came an employment counselor with General Motors in Detroit. Leon William attended Kent State for one year. The benefit fund and a city pension also built a new house for Thelma Lafleur and she raised all four young sons in that house. The City of Miami also provided a pension to the widow so they she was able to devote all of her time to her growing children. For several years police officers would bring presents to the children at Christmas. Officer Lafleur's widow. Thelma, died in 1971 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Miami. Leroy's father. Joseph Lafleur. 71, was killed in Miami on May 7. 1968. when he re- turned home from church and surprised a bur- glar. His mother. Nora. died in 1987. Both are buried in Miami Memorial Park. In 1995, Isadora Lightbourn, 72, lived in New York and was the only surviving sibling of Leroy Lafleur. In 1995. Leon William Lafleur, 48, the sec- ond son of Leroy Joseph Lafleur, Sr., still lived in Miami and was the pastor of the Miracle City Revival Holiness Sabbath Keeping Church at 6619 N.W. 7th Ave. Leroy Joseph LaFleur, 50. lived in Detroit and worked for General Motors; Laurence Charles LaFleur. 47, taught school in New Jersey; and Larry Lafleur. 45, owned and operated Myrtle Drugs in Nassau, Bahamas. The four sons had 11 children and seven grandchil- dren (the grandchildren and great grandchildren of Officer Leroy LaFleur. Also, in 1995, Leon William Lafleur's three sons (Leon Bruce LaFleur. 28: Levi Aaron Lafleur. 23: and Leonard Allen Lafleur. 18) lived in Miami. Larry LaFleur and his three chil- dren (Larramina. 22; Larry, Jr., 20; and Lana. 16) lived in Nassau, Bahamas. Leroy Joseph Lafleur and his three children (Laurie. 28. Lana. 19; and Leroy Jason. 22) lived in Detroit. Lawrence Charles Lafleur and his two children lived in N.J. In 1995, Leroy LaFleur had seven great grandchildren living in Miami through his son Leon William. Leon Bruce LaFleur's children were Levana. 9; Leah, 7, Leon Jr.. 7: and Lawrence. 3. Levi Aaron LaFleur's children were Shenika, 9: Lionel. 4: and Learron, 2. The name of Leroy LaFleur is inscribed (East Wall. Panel 17. Line 12) on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington. D.C. A plaque bearing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Department where his name is read each May at a Departmental service duff- ing Police Memorial Week. His name is also read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park. This narrative on the life and death of Leroy LaFleur is also included in o Black Police Officers Killed in_IZade CounM 944- 99 , published by Avanti Press of Opa- locka in Dec. of 1995. SOURCES: Miami Herald. Feb. 17,20. 1951. Feb. 20, 1972; Mr igMin ws. Feb. 16,1951, May 8. 1968; Miami Times. Feb. 17. March 3. 1951, June 11. 1971; Sept. 17, 1981'. Ile Miami 3o- lice News. Feb.. 1951. Miami City Cetm&= by the Genealogical Society of Greater Miami; liminal Justice__in &1tami: 1896-193. a dissertation by Paul S. George. 1975:��His�of[�e��c�L c n Court in tjLCity of Miami, a dissertation by Arthur Edward Chapman, 1986: and interviews with Leon William Lafleur and Hazel Rolle. - #3_0* YAVESt' __ARB94T B�` N Miami Police Department Killed in troffic accident. Feb. 28. 1951 THE E47 - James Herbert Brigman, 35, a 12 -year vet- eran of the Miami Police Department, was killed in a traffic accident while on duty on Wednes- day. Feb. 28. 1951. The officer was crushed be- tween his police vehicle and a church after he was struck by anothervehicle. Brigman became the 21 st Miami officer killed in the line of duty. The accident occurred at 4:50PM at N.W. First Pl. and 13th St. at the location of the New Jerusalem Holiness Church of God in Miami when a car driven by Thomas C. McGill. 24. struck Brigman's car causing it to careen out of control. The impact of the collision sprung open the driver's door of Brigman's carand he "clung to it, half in and out of the car. until he was smashed against the side of the church build- ing.' Brigman was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead of a crushed skull. Thomas Ferguson, coroner, signed the death certificate, classifying the death as an accident caused by a crushed skull. THE PERPETRATOR Thomas C. McGill, 24, a "lineman" (prob- ably for Florida Power and Light) of 6238 N. Miami Ave. was held for investigation. E.K. Rawls, an investigator for the accident preven- tion bureau, said he planned to file manslauzh- ter charges against McGill. However, Dade County "court of crimes" records indicate that McGill was only charged with "reckless driv- ing." No record of the final disposition of the case could be found in the county archives. Several people suggested to Officer Brigman's widow, Pearl. that she sue McGill but she refused as she believed the death of her hus- band was accidental and she was concerned for the welfare of McGill who had a small child and whose wife was expecting a second child soon. THE OFFICER James Herbert Brigman. 35, was bom July 29, 1915, in Chesterfield. S.C.. to John J. Brigman and Bertha E. Purvis Brigman. He was one of nine children (six boys and three girls). He attended school through the eighth grade in Chesterfield and then moved to Washington. D.C. where he worked in two restaurants (ane owned by the Manlotts). He moved to Miami in Nov. of 1937 at the age of 22. In 1937 James met Pearl E. Vogel. 20. in Washington. D.C. where both worked. Pearl was born and raised in Jacksonville but worked sum- mers in cities on the east coast and winters in Miami. On Nov. 9. 1937, James Brigman and Pearl Vogel were married in Ft. Lauderdale by Judge Boyd Anderson. Brigman worked for one year for the Public Works Department before 81 joining the Miami Police Department on n„e. 6. 1941, at the age of 26. Police records indicate that he was 5'11 " and 183 lbs. James Brigman toot: a leave from the Po- lice Department in 1942 and joined the Navy. He went through training at the Great Lakes Training Center in Michigan. He became a'_nd class petty officer and worked in the Shore Pa- trol at Virginia Beach. VA. until 1946. Brigman returned to Miami in 1946 and rejoined the Miami Police Department. During most of his tenure with the Dept. he was assigned to the Traffic Safety Bureau. He rode ford & I/ 2 years with fellow offtcerWilliam H. Pumphrey. Other close friends on the police force were Ed- ward Cowart (who later became Chief Judge Cowart). Bob Lewis and Assistant Chief James Youell. Brigman also won several commenda- tions for his marksmanship in pistol shooting. Brigman was a "true sportsman and outdoorsman —an avid fisherman and wild game hunter." Pearl often told her husband that she was a "fisherman's widow" as he spent so much of his time fishing. He was particularly fond of fishing in the FL Keys. James Brigman was also a "Mason/Scottish rice." Funeral services were arranged by Gerhardt Funeral Home and were held on Friday, March 2.195 1. at the Shenandoah Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Daniel Iverson officiating. Rev. Iverson also served as a Miami Police Dept. Chaplain. The service was conducted with full police honors and was attended by a large num- ber of Miami officers in full uniform. The day after the funeral, the body was sent by train to Chesterfield, S.C. (his birthplace i. for burial. Assistant Chief Youell and Officer Bob Lewis accompanied the body to S.C. Brigman was buried in the cemetery at the Shiloh Meth- odist Church, just south of Chesterfield. S.C. (on the N.C.IS.C. state line. 50 miles north of Flo- rence. S,C.) on Highway #102. A graveside ser- vice was held at the cemetery with members of the rather large Brigman family and friends in attendance. James Brigman was buried next to his mother (Bertha E. Purvis Brigman. 1895- 1945). His father. John J. Brigman, 1888-1953), was later buried at his side. James Brieman's grave marker reads: JAMES H. BRIGMAN SOUTH CAROLINA SP2 USNR, WORLD WAR 1I JULY 29. 1915 - FEB. 28. 1951 Officer Brigman was survived by his wife, Pearl. E. Vogel Brigman. 37; and five brothers (John C. of Miami Springs, Donald G. of Cheraw, SC, Bruce of Falls Church. VA. Wil- son. of New Orleans, LA, and Robert of Ches- terfield, SC) and three sisters (Elizgbeth Brigman Teal of Chesterfield, SC, Margie Brigman Parker of Bamberg, SC. and Betty Brigman Vick of Chesterfield. SC. In 1995, Brigman's widow. Mrs. Pearl E. Brigman. 81, still lived in Marathon. FL. and still received a small pension from the 4liami Police Department. She also continued to work as a massage therapist (as she had since 1942) three days a week at her own office to supple- ment her income. She also worked one day a week at Bonefish Towers. Two of James Brigman's brothers were also R2 still living in I995. John C. Brigman resided Miami Springs with his wife and son and was Director of Administrative Services for the Metro -Dade Department of Justice Assistance. Donald G. Brigman resided in Cheraw. S.C. with his wife and four children. One sister, Elizabeth Brigman Teal was retired and lived in Savan- nah, GA. The name of James Herben Brigman is in- scribed (West Wall. panel 23, line 8) on the Na- tional Law Enforcement Memorial in Washing- ton. D.C. A plaque bearing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Department and his name is read at a service at that location each May. His name is also read each May at the Dade Police Memorial in Tropical Park in Miami. SOURCES: Miami Herald. March 1. 1951; Miami Daily News. March 1. 1951; death cer- tificate of James Herbert Brigman: Dade County court cases #11149 and #41186. Feb. 28. 1951; Interviews with Pearl E. Brigman (widow) and John C. Brigman (t*tither); and letter from Of- ficer William Pumphrey. #37 WILLIAM FRANKLIN BRANTLEY Homestead Police Department Shot on March 16. 1952 (died day later) THE EVENT Homestead Police Chief William Franklin ("Frank") Brantley, 38, was shot by a "mad and drunk" man he was attempting to arrest just af- ter midnight on Sunday. March 16,1952. He died 18 hours after being shot and became the sec- ond Homestead chief to be killed in the line duty (the first being chief or "town marshal" Charles Bryant in 1923). Around 1:00PM on Saturday. March 15. Douglas David Carroll, 27. a foreman at a state prison camp in Florida City, was drinking heavily at Bob and Lou's bar in Homestead. Carroll ran into another prison camp employee. Edward Peeples. and the two went to Ted and Beaulah's bar on S. Krome Ave. Carroll spent the S10 he had on a "couple of dozen or so" beers and be- came incensed at a group of Mexicans who were drinking at the other end of the bac Carroll believed that the Mexicans were di- recting jeers and insults at him though he could not understand Spanish and did not know what they were saying. He was particularly incensed at Delftno Barboza, 28. of Raymondsville, TX. a Mexican farm worker. and claimed that Barboza made "motions" at him. Carroll said Barboza "was a smart -aleck... He kept speak- ing the Spanish language and making all kinds of motions. He was making fun of me. I knew. We couldn't understand him." (Miami Herald. 3/1711952) Finally Carroll told Peeples that he was going to "get even with the Mexican." Carroll decided to go to the prison camp and get weap- ons and ammunition so that he could return to the bar and "get even" with Barboza. Peeples accompanied Carroll to his Florida Cit)• home where Mrs. Carroll "was unable to persuade him to abandon his plan for revenge." Upon arrival at the prison camp Carroll asked to be given the key to the medicine chest to get some aspirin for a headache but "instead James H. Brigman. Cin• of Miami. 1951. of aspirin, he took the keys to the gun locker" and removed a.39 COILA.38 Smith -Wesson and a box of bullets. Carroll and Peeples returned to the bar and Carroll sent Peoples into the bar to "tail out" Barboza. However, Mrs. Beaulah Eveland. learn- ing of Carroll's intention from Peeples, went out- side to plead with Carroll not to cause trouble. But at that moment Barboza appeared (in Carroll's words, "came running out-) at the door of the bar and Carroll. who had gotten out of the car, pushed the bar owner aside and "fired four shots into the Mexican's body." The shooting occurred at 12:12AM. (Donald Sullivan. a mem- ber of the Homestead Police Dept. in 1953 said in 1992 that newspaper reports that the shooting occurred after midnight %vera incorrect and that the shooting of Barboza and the Chief occurred around 11:00PM on Saturdav night.) After shooting Barboza. Carroll re -loaded and he and Peeples decided to flee the scene. Thev did not return to the bright yellow state road truck that they had driven to the bar since its color would make them too visible and since it was equipped with a governor limiting the speed to 40 miles per hour. The two then fled across S.E. Second Ave. and attempted to steal a parked car but failed since no key was in the ignition. At this point Richard Biggers, a farmer and former sheriff's deputy. jumped in his car and started to pursue the two fugitives. 'But when he cot up to them. Carroll pointed the gun at him and muttered.'Don't move.' 'I didn't move. either.- said Biggers. 'That gun looked like a cannon."' (%liarn Herald. 3117/195 2) of Miami: a brother. J.M. Stephens. Jr.. 23, A& Burlinson. 26. was "crushed to death benenth the Miami: a stepbrother. Thomas Griffin, 21 1W wheels of his own prowl car" after being hit by Miami. a sister, Rita J. Wilcox. 15. of Miami: a drunk driver on March 8, 1958. The driver of and a grandfather. Alexander M. ,McCormick of the vehicle which hit the patrol car was charged North Carolina. with "manslaughter by drunkenness and negli- Funeral services were held at the Van gence." Officer Burlinson became the 32nd Mi- Or�del's Coral Gables 4lonu3ry on Monday, ami officer killed in the line of duty. Nov. 25. Officer Stephens was given a full po- Burlinson became the fifth Dade law en - [ice funeral with a police motorcade leading from forcement officer to be killed by a drunk driver. the funeral to the burial site at Miami Memorial The earlier victims of intoxicated drivers were Cemetery at 6300 S.W. 77 Ave. (near where he Miami Officer Frank Croff (1931): Coral Gables was killed). Little is known about the funeral Sgt- Cy Guest (1928). Miami Officer Samuel since neither local newspaper provided coyer- Hicks (1936): Miami Beach Officer Win. L. age. The grave marker reads: Nichols (1936). The sixth victim. Miami Officer BILLY HOWARD STEPHENS William Craig. was not killed until 1988. FEBRUARY 26. 1931 Around 3:55 AM on Saturday. Man:h 8, NOVEMBER 23. 1957 1958, Officer John Burlinson was alone on rou- tine patrol in his squad car, a 1956 Chevs•olet. In a strange coincidence, Stephens is btrr- when his vehicle was struck at S.W. 16th Ave. ied next to the grave of Wcst Miami Officer and S.W. 7th St. Burlinson was driving east on Leonard Tribble who was killed in an on -duty S.W. 7th St. when his car was struck on tht: left motorcycle accident on Oct. 18. 1958 (less than rear by a vehicle which ran a stop sign while aNear after Stephens' death). going south on S.W. 16th Ave. A police accident Stephens widow and infant child received report said Burlinson was "in a chase" when his two year's pay ($9,100) from the City of Coral patrol car was struck. Gables under a law adopted in January of 1957. Burlinson's right rear wheel struck a curb Ho%kever, the widow received no social security causing the vehicle to travel backwards and hit as Coral Gables officers were not covered by the a parked vehicle. The police cruiser then contin- system. Ironically, Coral Gables police officers and tied careening backwards out of control and hit firemen were scheduled to vote the week after a palm tree on S.W. 7th St. Burlinson was thrown Stephens death as to whether they wanted social from the vehicle by the impact of the collision security deductions taken from their paychecks. with the tree. The spinning vehicle then ran over Roberta Stephens remarried in 1959 to Robert the officer as he lay on the street and he was Gentc: fa friend of Billy's) and had four additional "crushed to death beneath the wheels of his own (to Sandra Jane) cHdren,In 1995. Robert and Robem prowl car." Genies lived in the FL Keys. Billy Stephens' daugh- Fellow officers said Mr. Burlinson was ter. Sandra Jane Chavez 37, Lived in Planation Key still alive when they arrived on the scene in 1995 with her son. Matthew, 13. but apparently suffering from internal in- J.M. Stephens, 62, lived in Miami in 1995 - juries. He died in route to the hospital. (ML and owned and operated Hydraulic Maintenance ami News. 3/811958) of Miami. Thomas Griffin was killed in 1964. Rita Homicide Det. Mike Gonzalez was on.: of Jeannette Constantino. 46. lived in NV. Palm Beach the first officers on the scene and cradled the in 1995• dying officer in his arms while trying to stop the The name of Billy Howard Stephens is in- blood from pouring out of his mouth. He helped scribed (West Wall, Panel 21, Line 12) on the put Burlinson in the ambulance, National Law Enforcement Memorial in Wash- The patrol car had skidded more than (00 ington. D.C. A plaque bearing his name is on feet as it went through the double spin throwing the wall of the lobby of the Coral Gables Police Burlinson from the car. Miami accident investi- Department where a memorial service is held gator M.E. Gracy said that "a safety belt would and his name read each May. His name is also have saved him." Miami Police Inspector John read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Ser- Webber said that the "idea of safety belts for vice in Tropical Park. Miami patrol cars had been considered and The life and death of Officer Stephens is turned down" since policemen get in and out of included in Dr. Wilbanks' 1995 book, For;otten their cars so often and would never wear them. Lleroes:_Police OfOcars_Killed in C'4ral Gables The officer's death was the 37th traffic fatality and South Miami, Florida. 1928-149.1. His name of the year (in a little more than two months) in is also read each May at the Police Memorial Dade County. Service held at the Coral Gables Police Dept. Burlinson was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at SOURCES: Miami Herald, Nov. 23 24. 1957: 4:17AM. The primary cause of death was a re - Miami ,News. 23,24 25. 1957: Medical Exam- rebral contusion due to a fracture of the skull. iner file (#57-2308-A): Death certificate of Bill• Also, one foot was severed in the accident. Two Howard Stephens, Metro -Dade traffic accident Miami officers made the feared "knock on the report 693269: and interviews with Sandra Jane door" at 5830 S.W. 30th St. around 5:00AM to Cha%ez and JAM. Stephens. tell John and Theresa Burlinson that their only - child had been killed by a drunk driver. #a1_JOHNFTHOMRu LYvSoN n Miami Pul'ice Department Killed in a traffic accident. March S. 1958 THE EVENT Miami Police Officer John Thomas THE PERPETRATOR The driver of the 1948 DeSoto which col- lided with Burlinson's patrol car was Albcn William Jacobs. 44. "a drapery installer," of Miami. Jacobs and the three occupants of his car Blll►• Stephens, Coral Gables, 1957. had evidently been "cruising the bars" and were returning to Jacobs' home (he lived just three blocks from the scene of the accident) when the accident occurred. He was treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital for minor injuries. Jacobs was "held for investigation of man- slaughter' as he "apparently ran through a stop sign at the intersection where the collision oc- curred." The next day he was "charged with man- slaughter by drunkenness and negligence and released on 55,000 bond." Investigator Gracy said that Jacobs "refused to take either a drunkometer or a blood test" but added that "it was obvious Jacobs had been drinking beer shortly before his car ran a stop sign and hit Burlinson's car." The accident re- port indicated that Jacobs was traveling about 25 miles per hour at the time of the collision. On July 2, 1958, Jacobs was convicted of reckless driving (rather than the initial charge of manslaughter by auto) and sentenced by Judge Gene Williams to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay a fine of S150, Failure to pay the fine would subject him to an additional 30 days in jail. The court record does not indicate any revocatiga of driver's license even though Jacobs had refused all sobriety tests at the scene. Ironically, on July 3. 1958, the day after Jacobs was sentenced, the Miami -Herald ran a front page article entitled. "Drinking Drivers Pile Up Half of Deaths." and pointed out that where blood alcohol tests were given 879r of the driv- ,rs were convicted whereas only 64% of drivers A -ere convicted when tests were refused. The irticle also pointed out that citizens with money 'outinel, refused tests and hired lawyers to have lrunk driving charges reduced to reckless driv- ng "so they won't lose their licenses." This ap- John T. Buriinsoa, City of Miami, 1958 pears to be the successful route taken by Jacobs. The article recommended that Florida adopt the "Implied consent" laws in farce in four other states that would provide for the automatic for- feiture of the license when the driver refused to take the sobriety test. THE OFFICER John Thomas Burlinson, 26. was bom on Oct. 18, 1931, in Morristown, New Jersey, to John Herbert and Theresa Burlinson. His father was born in 1901 in England and had been a sea- man and butler before moving to Miami in 1929. He worked for a time as a butler at the Glenn Curtis Estate before meeting and marrying Theresa Looram in Miami in 1930 (he was 29, she was 27). The couple lived only briefly in N.J. and returned to Miami in 1932. John Burlinson, Sr., was an instrument technician at Pan American for 16 years before retirement in 1972. John Burlinson, Jr., attended Coral Gables Elementary and Coral Gables H.S. He joined the Navy at 17 and served four years during the Korean War, mostly as a engine mechanic for aircraft on an aircraft carrier (the Valley Forge). In 1953 John Burlinson married Elaine Chambers of Miami. Elaine was a graduate of Jackson H.S. The couple's two children were both barn in Coral Gables (John Robert in 1954 and Donald Carey in 1958). Upon being discharged from the Navy. John became a member of the 29th Recruit Class at the Police Academy, graduating on May 15, 1953. He worked briefly for the Miami Beach Police Department and the N. Bay Village Po- lice Departments before joining the Miami Po- lice Department in 1955 at the age of 23. He was a three-year veteran of the Miami force'when he was killed. Funeral services for John Burlinson were held on Monday. March 10, at Lithgow's Coral Way Chapel with burial in Miami Memorial Park (adjacent to the Palmetto Expressway between Miller and Sunset Roads). He was given a full ..police funeral" with more than 30 police can leading the procession from the chapel to the cemetery, However, the hjiami Hailld and the Miami News made no mention of the funeral nibble. 25, became the first and only officer (though each carried articles about the accident killed in the line of duty in the history of the city twodays earlier) and did noteven list Burlinson's when he was killed in a traffic accident "while death in its obituaries. The grave marker at Mi- on an errand of mercy" on Oct. 17, 1958. He ami Memorial Park reads: died 12 hours later of a skull fracture and cere- JOHN T. BL'RLINSON bral injuries. FL Around 3:30P,M on Friday. Oct. 17, 1958. AD3 US NAVY OfficerTribble was on S.W. 8th St. when he met OCT. 18. 1931- MARCH 8. 1958 an ambulance (going the other direction) which was taking the victim of a heart attack to Doc - John Thomas Burlinson was survived by his wife. Elaine; two sons, John Robert. 3. and Donald Cary, 2, of Miami; and his parents. Mr. and Mrs. John Herbert Burlinson of Miami. In 1995. John Burlinson's father still lived in the family home at 5830 S.W. 30 St. in Mi- ami. At age 93, he had just completed a 50 year research project that resulted in a book manu- script (fig) on the carved figures on the bows of the Clipper ships which sailed from 1850-1900. The Burlinson family moved to the home on S.W. 30 St. in 1942 when John Tho- mas was IL His mother died Aug, 19. 1973. at the age of 70 and was buried by the side of her son. The family plot includes a space for his fa- ther who will be buried at the eastern end of the plot, toward his beloved birthplace, England. Also in 1995, Elaine Burlinson had remar- ried and still lived in FL. John Robert Burlinson. 41, and his wife, Diana, and four children. Nicole, 19, John Robert. 14, Shawn Hunter. 3, and Haylee Marie, rive months (the grandchil- dren of John Thomas Burlinson), lived in Sanford, FL. Donald Cary Burlinson. 39, the publications photographer at Valencia Commu- nity College in Orlando, and his son. Cory Michael, 6, lived in Orlando. Also, in 1995, former (1955-1977) Miami Officer Dave LaPort helped organize the annual Labor Day reunion of retired'Miami police of- ficers in Ocala. LaPort, completing his l6th year with the Marion County Sheriff's Office, and his wife were close friends of John and Elaine Burlinson before John's death. John T. Burlinson's name is inscribed (Panel 52 -Right -8) on the Memorial Wall of the American Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington. D.C. (East Wall, Panel 59, line 6). A plaque bear- ing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Department where his name is read in a service each May. His name is also read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park. SOURCES: Miami Herald, March 9. July 3. I958; Miami News. March 8, 1958: Medical Examiner record (#58-684-A); death certificate of John Thomas Burlinson; Criminal Court of Records (#3395) case of State vs. Albert Will- iam Jacobs; Accident Repon by Miami Police Dept.: and interviews with John Herbert Burlinson, John Robert Burlinson, Donald Carey Burlinson. and Dave and Mercia LaPort. #142 LEONARD CLAUDETRIBBLE West Miami Police Department Fatally injured in traffic accident on Oct. 17, 1958 THE EVENT West Miami motorcycle officer Leonard tors Hospital; As the ambulance passed him, he turned aroi md'and tried to catch (and pass) [he ambulance so that he could run escort for it to the hospital. He was still behind the ambulance trying to catch up when his motorcycle collided with a car at SAV. 61 st Ave, and S.W. 81h St. The driver of the car. Louis Friedman, 70. heard the siren of the ambulance and pulled over into the outside lane to let the ambulance pass by on the inside lane. As soon as the emergency vehicle passed. he attempted to turn (from the outside lane) into a shopping center on the op- posite side of the street. Friedman said that he did not see or hear the siren of the motorcycle and did not see it approaching rapidly. Tribble was thrown off his motorcycle and "hurled" 145 feet through the air and struck a telephone pole. The motorcycle "careened" an. other 100 feet. "crossed the road and struck a parking meter." The officer was rushed to Doctor's Hospital via an Eastern ambulance and was admitted at 4:05PM with a severe head in- jury and a fractured left leg. He was pronounced dead 11 hours later (at 3:25AM on Oct. 18) by Dr. Figueras. The cause of death was listed as "skull fractures with cerebral hemorrhage and contusions." THE PERPETRATOR Louis Friedman, 70, of Coral Gables was charged with causing an accident by failing to yield the right -or -way to an .emergency vehicle (the motorcycle with siren). In 1995 no court record was available on the 1958 traffic court disposition of the case against Louis Friedman. THE OF'F'ICER Leonard Claude Tribble was bom on April 15, 1933. Winter Haven, FL. to Claude Eugene and Alice M. Nyman Tribble. fie was the oldest of rive children (Leonard, Carolyn. James. Wil- liam, and Barbara}. The Tribble family moved to Atlanta when Leonard was 6 vears old and then to Nliami when he was 9. Leonard attended Glade View Elemen- tary School and Allapattah Jr. H.S. He made a strong impression on his 6th grade teacher at GladeView, Kathnn Beard Floyd, as after his death she wrote a note of sympathy to the Tribtile family. Leonard dropped out of school in the 10th grade due to his father's illness and began work- ing full-time to help support his family. He first worked at the Hamburger Hearth and then for Maule Industries. where his father was a driver. He was a "truck driver' in 1951 (according to his application fora marriage license), Leonard Tribble, 18. married :Margaret A. Frady, 17, in Miami on June 24.1951. The Frady family (Howard H. and Ellie Frady and daugh- ters, Elizabeth and Margaret) moved to Miami in 1942 and lived in the Allapattah area (at 1856 03 father. Earl Lee Johnson, Sr.. was 73 w-heAft Johnson have or are still involved in S. FL ]a- ayments in Liberty City. Around 6:30PM. Harry died on April $, 1975. enforcement. His niece. Kathy Andres. is mar• cClury, 42, was shot in both legs after he re- Johnson was survived by his wife. Mary vied to Officer Steven Andres of the Hialeah sisted a robbery at 1045 N.W. 1st Ct. The two Yvonne. 27. and daughters Jeanene Denise. 4. Police Department and his brother-in-law. Gunmen fled and then around 7:OOPM spotted Patrice Ann. 3, and Yvette Yvonne, 6 months: Emmitt R. Miller, was a former Chief of Police two more collectors at the Liberty Square (Hous. his parents Mrs. 8; Mrs. Earl Lee Johnson. Sr., in Miami Beach. Officer Edward Spisak. 58, still ing) Project getting out of their car. Fisherman of Miami: and two sisters. Mrs. Clifford (Evadna lived in Miami in 1995. He retired from the and Lawrence robbed each man at gunpoint of C.) Bennett of Miami and Mrs. (Yvonne) Lee Metro-Dade Police Department in 1973 after 15 S60 and again fled. Smith of ,Miami. years of service. Officer Ferguson was on his way to another Donald McBride, a representative of the 13i- The name of Earl Lee Johnson is inscribed call when he spotted the 1954 Ford with no lights Luminous Casualty Corp. said that Johnson's (Panel 62-Left-6) on the Memorial Wall of the on at N.W. 67th Ave. He turned on his police family wouldreceiti-e about 58.000 in workmen's American Police Hall of Fame Museum ;u 3801 light and Oylled the car over at 1353 N.W. 67th compensation. Sheriff Tom Kelly indicated that Biscayne Blvd. and on the National L«w En- Ave. FishOrman was driving with Lawrence in officers killed in the line of duty in 1962 received forcement Memorial in Washington. D.C. (West the passenger seat. A witness who lived nearby no lump sum death benefits. PBA President, Wall. Panel 56. Line 16). His name is read each (and who knew Ferguson personally) saw the Charles Maddox, said that the association would May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in officer approach the carand talk briefly with the take up a collection for Johnson's family. Tropical Park in Miami. His name is also in- two men. Ferguson then left the men in the car The Herald reported that Johnson's widow scribed on a stone memorial in the lobby of the and returned to his patrol car with identification was concerned that she could not support her Metro-Dade Police Dept. cards from both men. The officer then used his three children on the 5254-a-month social secu- radio (at 7:08PM) to run a check on the two men rity benefit and joined in an appeal for the pub- SOURCES: Miami Herald, Feb. 1 2.3.4.7.8. and had placed their ID cards in the visor above lic to give to the Earl Johnson Fund. By March March 11, 1962, April 28, 1962, Aug. 8. 1971, the driver's seat of the patrol car. 8. 1962, nearly S19.000 had been collected in April 10, 1975; Miami News, Feb. 1.2.3.6,7, Apparently Fisherman then approached the the Johnson fund. March 8, 1962; Dade County Criminal Court patrol car (with Lawrence remaining in the car) Five weeks after Officer Johnson's death, records forAllen Meltzer 062-757-B). Geoffrey and again engaged Ferguson in conversation as Metro Commissioner James Allen announced Gordon (#62-757-C) and Frank H. Andemin (62- the officer stood beside his patrol car awaiting that he would sponsor a bill. known as the 757-A); FL Dept, of Corrections records for the response to his radio request. Part of the con- "Johnson Bill." before the State Legislature in Allen Meltzer 01006499). Geoffrey Gordon versation may have involved the fact that the April. 1963. session that would provide in- (#006501), and Frank H. Anderson (#005500): Ferguson had arrested Fisherman's wife on a dis- surance protection for the families of police and Dade County Medical Examiner records (#1962- orderly conduct charge a few days earlier and firemen killed in the line of duty. Twoof the three 254A); Metro-Dade County Motor vehicle traf- Fisherman had vowed to "get" Ferguson. attorneys assigned to write the bill were Lt. fic report (€17185-E): Military record of Earl Lee It is likely that the radio alert about two Norman Kassoff of Metro-Dade (who until 1994 Johnson (Service #1385153); and interviews black males being wanted for the 6:30Py1 rob- was the Administrator for the Dade County with Mary Yvonne Johnson and Edward R. bery of,McClury led to panic by Fisherman and Medical Examiner) and FOP attorney, Eugene Spisak. the two engaged in a scuffle that resulted in Fish- Spellman (later a federal judge in Miami), erman taking the Officer's .38 caliber revolver Johnson's widow indicated that sheplanned �� 1�1FIE>�G )N - Eta from its holster and firing five shots into the to go back into nursing to support her family IMV officer's chest at point blank range. The pattern and to send her children through college. She Shot & killed on Nov. 7, 1962 of bullet wounds were "soclose together a man's had completed nursing training at Jackson Me- hand could cover the entire wound." Ferguson mortal Hospital in 1956 while her husband at- THE EVENT fell to the pavement and died "instantly." tended the police academy. Officer Jerre] Eugene Ferguson, 33. a five Fisherman ripped the radio from the panel After the death of her husband. Mary year veteran of the Miami Police Department, and threw it into the back seat and ran to his car. Yvonne Johnson worked part-time as a nurse in was killed on Nov. 7. 1962, when he stopped a Lawrence, who had gotten out of the car when Miami from 1962-1971 at Baptist Hospital and car that, unknown to him, was occupied by two he saw the scuffle, also ran back to the car and South Miami Hospital while the three girls were men on a "holdup rampage." Officer Ferguson the two fled the scene in their Ford. As they fled young and then moved to Gainesville. All three became the 23rd Miami officer killed in the line they hit another car blocking their escape and daughters graduated from Gainesville's Bucholtz of duty and the fourth of eleven black officers threw the officer's gun into the Miami River at H.S. killed in Dade County from 1946-1995. The the Fifth St. bridge (where it was later recov- ln 1995 Mary Yvonne Johnson. 60, was shooter and his companion were both sentenced ered by police). completing her 20th year as a nurse in the emer- to life in prison. The witness who had earlier seen Ferguson aency room at North Regional Medical Center Officer Ferguson wason patrol on Wednes- talking with the driver of the stopped vehicle in Gainesville. Two of her three daurahters. Yvette day evening. Nov. 7, 1962. when he stopped a rushed outside when she heard the shots and saw and Patrice. were also nurses at the same hospi. car in front of 1353 N.W. 67th St. because it was Officer Ferguson lying on the ground and the tal. All three daughters lived in Gainesville. FL, being driven without lights. The two occupants carspeeding away. She alerted other police units in 1995. of the car were well-known to Officer Ferguson of the shooting and provided arriving officers Jeanene Denise Johnson Widner, 37, had as he had arrested the pair in 1958 for robbing with a description of the fleeing vehicle. three children. Chad and Trina (twins), 16, and and pistol whipping a Richmond Heights post- Ferguson's body was found 30 feet from the pa- Julie, 14. Patrice Johnson Boyd. 36, had one man. The two had been convicted (Aug. 23, trol car and he was transported by an F�t.stern daughter. Mandy, 12. Yvette Johnson Demko had 1958) as a result of that crime and received 10- ambulance to Jackson Memorial Hospital but four children. Christina Dampier, K Char Lee year sentences but had been recently paroled was dead on arrival at the hospital. Demko, 5. George John Demko.111.4, and Chris- after 4 years in federal prison. An all-points bulletin initiated a massive topher. I. What Officer Ferguson did not know at the manhunt for the two fleeing cop killers. The Also, in 1995. Dave LaPon. Earl Johnson's time was that the two men, Gerald Lee Fisher- search was facilitated by the witless' descrip- best friend as a youth and the best man at his man. 30, and Willie Edward Lawrence. 30, were tion of the fleeing vehicle and by the iD cards of "edding, was completing his 16th year with the "on a holdup rampage" and had just committed the two men left at the scene on the visor of Marion County Sheriff's Office in Ocala after two holdups that night within the previous 45 Ferguson's police vehicle. 22 years as a Miami Police Officer. He helped minutes and were fleeing (with their lights off) Fisherman and Lawrence drove around and organize the annual reunion of the retired Mi- from the second holdup when he stopped their then walked around for four hours as they tried ami police officers each Labor Day weekend in car. to decide what to do. They then attempted to flee Ocala. Both robberies involved white insurance north to "get out of town" but were spotted by At least two of the family of Earl Lee collectors who had been picking up monthly Miami Shores police officers R.E. Dean and 98 .� '`r�'1W Jerrel! Ferguson, Cin of Miami. 1962. Ralph Oliveraround 11:00PM as they sped north on Biscayne Blvd. After a 20 block chase the officers forced the fugitive's car to the curb. Neither man made any effort to resist though they had two loaded guns on the front seat of the car. The murderof Officer Ferguson led the state president of the FOP to demand 2 -man patrol cars "after dark in populous communities." THE PERPETRATORS Willie Lawrence gave a full confession at 1:30AM which implicated Gerald Fisherman as the triggerman. Fisherman gave a formal con- fession at 4:30PM the next day. A preliminary hearing was held on Nov. 16 before Peace Jus- tice Hugh Duval and a grand jury indicted the two men for first degree murder and armed rob- bery on Nov. 20. Judge Grady L. Crawford de- nied Lawrence's motion for a separate trial on Dec. 13. The Fisherman and Lawrence trial on charges of first degree murder was scheduled for Jan, 7. 1963. but the two pled guilty on Jan. 2 to avoid the death penalty. Gerald Kogan (later a FL Supreme Court Justice) was the assistant state attorney in the case and Harry Prebish and Haney Duval were the defense attorneys. At the sentencing heating on Jan. 7, the state introduced statements by the two defendants admitting that thev had committed several robberies in the weeks preceding Ferguson's murder. The state also produced three page FBI records for each indicating that Fisherman's arrest record went back to 1966 and Lawrence's to 1965. Judge Crawford sentenced both defendants to life in prison. Gerald L. Fisherman was born on May 30. 1932, and was first arrested in 1956 at the age of 24. He was admitted to prison for the murder of Officer Ferguson on Jan, 9, 1963. Fisherman escaped from a Ft. Lauderdale prison camp in April of 1973 but was recaptured 7 weeks later. Fisherman served 15 & 112 years before being paroled on August 29, 1978. His parole was revoked on April 8. 1989, but he was re- leased from prison on parole again on Jan. 5. 1990. In 1995 he was under supervision by the West Palm Beach office of the State Parole Com- mission and is an parole for life (unless disservice to await the hearse from Bain's Funeral charged earlier). Home in Coconut Grove. The eulogy was deliv- Willie Edward Lawrence was bom on Ian. ered by Rev. H.W. Moss of Homestead's New 25. 1932. and was first arrested in 1955 at the Mount Zion Baptist Church (Jerre] Ferguson's age of 23. He was admitted to prison For the mu r- pastor). Police Chief Walter 0. Headley and der of Officer Ferguson an Jan. 9, 1963. On July Sheriff Frank Kelly also spoke briefly. The au - 7. 1972, he was given a 10 year concurrent sen- dience was half white and white black as were fence for a string of robberies he committed while the pallbearers. on weekend furloughs from prison. In 1995. Police Officer Jess Hill stood at the Willie Lawrence was still in prison. He comes microphoneandbe;antosing, 'StealAway up for a parole hearing every two years and his to Jesus.' His voice cracked in the second next parole hearing was scheduled for May of slam and by the third he was sobbing so 1996. He was being kept in prison past his "pre- heavily the spectators joined in to help him sumptive parole release date" under FL Statute finish. (Miami Herald, 11114/1962) 947.18 because of objections to his release. The funeral procession included more than 100 police cars and motorcycles and "backed up THE OFFICER Jerrel Eugene Ferguson. 33. was born on Sept. 1. 1939, in Homestead. FL, to Prince and Lillian Deveaux Ferguson. He was the ninth of nine children. His father was a minister at New Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Homestead from 1945 (when Jerre] was 16) to 1963. Jerrel attended Homestead Elementary School and Goulds Sr. H.S. before transferring to George W. Carver H.S. in Coconut Grove. He graduated as valedictorian of Carver in 1947 and attended Moorehouse College in Atlanta for two years as a pre -dental student. He also attended FLA. & M. Ferguson joined the Army on April 18. 1951. and saw combat duty in the Korean War. He was also stationed stateside as a military po- liceman for two years. His military record indi- cates that he was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the Bronze Service Star, the United Na- tions Service Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge. In Korean he was assigned to Company H of the 71h Cavalry Regiment of the U.S. Army. Ferguson was discharged as a PFC (to reserve status) on April 13. 1953. and returned to Mi- ami. Jerrel developed an interest in a police ca- reer from his army tour as a military policeman and from hearing of the work of his brother. Fred. who was a police officer in Cleveland, OH (and later a deputy constable in District 1 in Miami). Upon his return to Miami in 1953 Jerre[ worked in the Homestead area loading crop dusting planes with spray. Jerrel Ferguson joined the Miami Police Department on Feb, 4. 1957, and was a five-year veteran at the time of his death. He served his entire tenure during a time when black officers were only allowed to patrol black neighborhoods (see the Milledge narrative for a history of the Miami Black police force). The funeral forJerrel E. Ferguson was held on Tuesday. Nov, 13, at the Si. John Institutional Baptist Church at the comer of N.W. 14 St. and 3rd Ave. in Miami. The funeral was covered by Henry Reno (father of Janet Reno, Dade State Attorney from 1978-1993, and U.S. Attorney General from 1993). who was the jV1j,1Lr11 Herald's crime reporter from 1924-1966. Reno reported in the Nov. 9, 1962. Herald that Officer Ferguson had been honored for an earlier arrest of Fisherman and Lawrence that led to theirear- lier incarceration. More than 500 law enforcement officers from Dade County and throughout Florida be- gan arriving as early as 8:30AM for the i 1:00AM traffic from Miami to Perrine' as it proceeded to Paradise Memorial Gardens at 117 Ave. and 156 St. in Richmond Heights for the burial. The grave marker at Paradise Memorial Gardens reads: JERREL E. FERGUSON FLORIDA PFC CO H7 CAVALRY REGT KOREA SEPT. I, 1927 NOV. 7. 1962 Jerre] Eugene Ferguson was survived bvhis parents. Prince and Lillian Ferguson and by three brothers and four sisters. Ferguson wasdivorced and left six young children: Jacquel)n, 14. Wanda, Id: Deborah. 13: Ophelia, 11: Dwight. 7, and Jerrel. Jr., 2. By 1995 several members of the Ferguson family -including his father (in 1966) and mother (in 1975) -were buried at Paradise Gardens. In 1995, four of Jerrel Ferguson's children still lived in Dade Couniy as did his brother. Fred Ferguson, 68. of Carol City, and his sisters. Dolores Duncan. 72. and Ena Bodie, 83. of Florida City. Ferguson's daughter, Jacquelyn Ferguson Ward, 46. lived in Homestead in 1995 as did her six children: Charles Ward. 28: Carla Wallace. 27: Darwin Ward. 25: Ponce Ward. 24: Terrence Ward, 22, and Jose Ward. 11. Jacquelyn's three grandchildren (Shania Wallace. 6: Willie Wallace. 5; and Darnesia Ward. 5) are the great grandchildren of Jerrel Ferguson. Also. in 1995. Wanda Ferguson Noronha. 47, lived in Miami as did her two children. Wavne Alexander Lee. 27. and LaChandra Noronha. 20. Deborah Fereuson Ford. 46. lived in N. Miami Beach as did her son, %'indoh Kurmar Svrmon. 26. Jerrel Ferguson. Jr.. 34, also lived in Miami as did his seven children; Shateka, 17: Lolile, 17. La'Shan. 17: Keisha, 14: Domin- ique, 8: Danielle. 8: and Julisda. 6, Two of Jerre[ Ferguson's children lived outside of Dade County in 1995. Ophelia Ferguson Roberts. 44, lived in Stone Mountain. GA. with her two children. Jason. 17. and Am- ber, 12. Dwight Ferguson. 40. lived in northern FL with his three children. Wanda Ferguson Noronha has been quite active in political activities among survisors of slain police officers. In 1989 she lobbied in Tal- lahassee with the widow's of Scott RaWw and Emilio Miyares for the "Rakow Bill" that would provide longer prison sentences for those con- victed of the murder of police officers. She has also been active in lobbying against the parole c" JA �,� �99 -0 of one of her father's killers (the other was rJW 46 CARLOS S. STUTEVILLE leased in 1978). Metro -Dade Police Dept. In 1988 she testified at a Miami parole hear- Shot & killed on Aug. 23, 1964 ing for Willie Lawrence and in 1989 traveled to Tallahassee to oppose his parole. She also testi fied at his subsequent annual parole hearings• The Miami er ran a story ("Parole for co killer fought") in 1988 about Wanda's filth against the parole of her father's killer. The aW said that Wanda "delivered the speech tha stilled the room" in the 1988 hearing in Miami She told the six -member parole panel: "When I heard that there was going t be a parole hearing for Willie Lawrence. was shaken... 1 fought for over an hour t gain control. When Daddy was killed that night, I died a second death. No one under- stood me as he did. He and I have the same spirit." Noronha said her mother was shot to death when she was 9. "It wasn't until my mother was killed that I knew my father," she said. "He reached out and took my hand and helped me get through.- ""time went by and wegrew up and we aged, but the family splintered... The adhesive unit was broken. Willie Lawrence stole my childhood." (�(j�r . 101 1311988) Miami FOP president Dick Kinne has also made persona( appearances in Tallahassee and Miami to oppose the release of Lawrence. Wanda also attends memorial services in Miami each year for her slain father. Wanda's 20 -year old daughter. LaChandra. wants to fol- low in her grandfather's footsteps and be a po- lice officer. Jerrel E. Ferguson's name is inscribed (Panel 60 -Left -12) on the Memorial Wall of the American Police Hall of Fame at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the National Law En- forcement Memorial in Washington. D.C. (East Wall. Panel 28. Line 14) A plaque bearing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police De- partment and his name is read each May at a service at that location and at the Police Memo- rial Service in Tropical Park in Miami. This narrative on the life and death of Jerre] Ferguson is also included in Forgotten Heroes: 99 44- '. published by Avanti Press of Opa- locka in Dec. of 1995. SOURCES: Miami Herald. Nov. 8.9.14, Dec. 14. 1962. Jan. 3,8, 1963: April 11. 1976. Sept. 16. 1977, Oct. 13,20, 1988: Miami ' ti w . Nov. 8,10.17. Dec. 1, 1962, Jan. 7, 1963. AVdI 16, 1973: Miamj Times. Nov. 10.17. Dec. 1. 1962, Oct. 27, 1988; Mjgmi's Florida Flash. Nov. 10. 1962; News. Nov.t' 1962: Records of Dade County Medical Examiner i#201-3): Military record of Jerrel E. Ferguson OUS-53.063-3.1-3): Homicide Report of City of 61: Miami Police Department (01605death cer- tificate of Jerrel Eugene Ferguson: Criminal Court case file 02099) of Gerald Fisherman and Willie Eduard Lawrence. Nine -page confession of Willie Edward Lawrence: FL Dept. of Cor- rections records of Gerald Fisherman (#007902) and Willie Edward Lawrence (#007903): and interviews with Wanda Ferguson Noronha and Fred Fereuson. THE EVEN' L Metro -Dade police officer Carlos Stuteville, p 28, was shot and killed with his own gun on Sat- urday. Aug. 23. 1964. by a "berserk" 36 -year- old Jamaican at Miami International Airport. His t killer was deported to Jamaica nine months af- ter the murder. The killer. Lloyd Astley Cuff. was a Jamai- can seaman who jumped ship in Detroit on Aug. I 21 and was being returned to Jamaica by the o steamship company which employed him. He was in the custodv Paul Chisenhall, 33, a pri- vate investigator hired as an escort to see that Cuff was placed on board a flight to Jamaica from Miami International -Airport. Chisenhall and Cuff flew into Miami on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 23. and Chisenhall left Cuff at the airport police station, intending to put him on a 3:OOPM Pan American flight to Jamaica. Unfortunately, the flight was delayed and the investigator asked for a Metro police es- cort to take the seaman to the plane. Metro of- ficer Carlos Stuteville was on duty and thus was assigned to provide additional security. Around IO:OOPM Stuteville, Chisenhall and Cuff were waiting in a "detached waiting room near Gate 40" (in Concourse 4) used by interna- tional travelers. Suddenly Cuff started to walk away from his guards when Officer Stuteville ordered him to stop and then "grabbed him by the arm and brought him back." One witness claimed that "the deputy started punching Cuff all over... Cuff didn't try to fight back. He just put up his hands. Then Stuteville grabbed Cuff by the shoulders." At this point the witnesses heard Cuff say; "Shoot me. Why don't you shoot me. Go ahead and shoot me." Witnesses said that Cuff then tripped the officer and the two men fell struggling to the floor. (Stuteville was 5'9" and 200 lbs. while Cuff was described as "stocky".) Cuff grabbed Stuteville's gun (a .38 police special) from its holster and shot him. Witnesses heard a "muffled thud" and saw Stuteville "get up halfway to his feet" and clutch his chest. The fatally wounded officer then said, "Oh my God," and "slumped over Cuff who was on the floor with the gun." News report said Stuteville died "instantly." Two witnesses (airline "flight loaders") ran from the waiting room to the information desk in the lobby at the concourse entrance about 40 feet away and reported that the officer had been shot. Airport police were alerted by phone at 10:07PM. The information desk clerk used the public address system to ask everyone to clear the concourse. The announcement "stampeded passengers in the terminal." Metro Officer Bill Pearson. a 4 -year vet- eran, answered the alarm and in four minutes reached the door of the waiting room. He saw Cuff through the door of the waiting room and shouted. "Stop or I'll shoot. Pearson and Cuff then fired at each other just as Cuff opened fire on Chisenhall, hitting him three times from a distance of only five feet. Chisenhall, hit in the head and in the chest, fell dead to the floor. i "Pearson fired through the doorway, then Cuff darted into the corridor and the two men ex- t Carlos Sture011e. Metro -Dade, 1954. changed wild shots until their revolvers were empty." Pearson was trying to reload, crouch- ing behind a pillar. when Cuff approached him and aimed pointblank but his bullets were expended too although Pearson didn't know it. He wrestled the killer to the floor as other deputies arrived. (Miami Heralderald. 8/ 24/1964) After the shooting ended and Cuff was ar- rested witnesses noted that Chisenhall and Stuteville were lying dead on the floor about 15 yards apart. "Stray bullet holes pierced the walls nearby. Apparently. exactly 12 shots were fired in a matter of minutes. Both revolvers were empty." Cuff was dragged through the crowded lobby and "marched" into the Airport Police headquarters, on the ground floor near the park- ing tot." When all the shooting was over the two air- line employees who had fled from the waiting room after witnessing the shooting of Officer Stuteville were told to get the passengers to wait- ing planes. One led a group past Gate 40. There were two bodies. covered with tablecloths from a terminal restaurant. Most of the pas- sengers looked away. Later the two eyewitnesses said, ..We both know that if we hadn't gotten out of the room. he (Cuff) would've killed us both." (Miami_Herold. 8/24/1963) Paul Chisenhall. 33, had been hired by Ute owners of Cuff's ship, the Elizabeth Schutte, from the Perry Protection Service in Detroit to make sure Cuff left the country. Some newspa- per reports said that Chisenhall was a "Detroit police detective" but a check with the Detroit Police Department in 1991 indicated that Paul Chisenhall had never been a member of the De- troit force and that departmental policy had al- ways bored Detroit officers from working off- duty for private security firms. Perry Protection Service no longer exists so limited information s available on Chisenhall. The ship owners used a "little-known see - ion of the immigration Service's administration Woodlawn Park Cemetery in Little Havana. HoCaptain Bender and a second FHP auxiliary of - grave marker reads simply: ricer. Sgt. Thomas F Ryan, joined a roadblock METRO DEPUTY SHERIFF on the Julia Tuttle Causeway between Miami and CARLOS S. STU'T'EVILLE Miami Beach. The roadblock was setup in Mi - MARCH 5. 1936 -AUG. 22. 1964 ami Beach. 113 mile from the Miami City limits. DIED IN LINE OF DUTY to "restrict causeway traffic because of danger- ous driving conditions in Miami Beach" due to Carlos' widow, Janice Dalev Stuteville. the heavy rain from Hurricane Betsy. The main eventually remarried and died in 1979 at the age task of the roadblock was "turning back sightse- of 39. Carlos' father. John Stuteville. died on ers." The roadblock was being manned by an June 2, 1975. in Miami at the age of 63. His 1975 FHP trooper. three auxiliary troopers (including obituary in the Miami Herald listed his two sur- Bender). and two Miami Beach police officers. viving sons (Carlos' brothers) as William F. At 10:03PM. Bender. 5'9* and 172 lbs.. was Stuteville of Pembroke Pines and Allan R. dressed in his FHP auxiliary uniform. and was Stuteville of Hialeah. standing in the center lane of the three -lane east Also. in 1993. the slain officer's two sons bound side of the Causeway "checking the iden- were both electricians. John Michael Stuteville, tirication" of a vehicle he had stopped. Bender 32. was living temporarily in Miami working to and Trooper Byron Kirkland saw a 1963 Yellow repair Hurricane Andrew damaged homes. Cab Chevrolet approaching them in the inside George Steven Stuteville. 29. lived in Butler. PA, lane and realized that the taxi was not going to Michael had no children while George Steven stop even though the roadblock was marked by had a son (the grandson of Carlos Stuteville). a "blinking yellow light" and the officers "tried Steven, 3. to wave him down with,a red flashlight" Both The name of Carlos Stuteville is inscribed Kirkland and Bander "ran for the median` (be - (Panel 66 -Left -12) on the Memorial Wall of the tween the eastbound and westbound lanes of the American Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3801 Causeway) to avoid the approaching taxi. Biscayne Blvd. in :Miami and on the. National The taxi driver. Thomas C. Conner. 61. of Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington. Miami. apparently saw the two officers at the D.C. (West Wall. Panel 9. Line 13). His name is last minute and applied his brakes, The taxi then read each 4Tay at the Dade Police Memorial Ser- "skidded 173 feet, struck the left rear of the ve- vice in Tropical Park in Miami. His name is also hicle parked in the center lane, and then "glanced in�,:riNd on a stone memorial in the lobby of off and hit Mr. Bender with the left front. knock - Metro -Dade Police headquarters. ing Trooper Bender 28 feet and 7 inches, and skidded to a stop 32 feet later." SOURCES: MjaMj_Herald. Aug. 23. 24. 25. The Florida Traffic Accident Report indi- 1964: Miami News. Aug. 24. 1963: Metro Of- cated that Trooper Bender "skidded out of con - ricer John Murray's interviews with Metro Of- trol on the wet pavement for 173 feet, sideswiped ricer Bill Pearson. Metro -Dade Police person- a parked car. then crashed into the barricade." nel record of Carlos Stuteville: Dade Criminal Trooper Byron Kirkland "managed to leap to Court file (#164-7050 & 64-7452 of May 14. safety. but Bender. of 1-310 NW 87th Ter.. was 1965): Dade County marriage index for 1959. struck." and interviews with Vivian Daley and William Bender was thrown 27 feet by the impact Stuteville. and received compound fractures of both legs, a fractured skull and internal injuries. He was 447 OWEN KARL BENDER rushed to Mr, Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach by Florida Highway Patrol an Eastern ambulance and arrived at the Emer- Killed by carwhile directing traffic. Sept. 8.1965 gency Room at 10:23PM. Bender arrived "in a comatose condition. blood pressure 1401100, THE EVENT Owen Karl Bender. 38, a Captain in the auxiliary corps of the Florida Highway Patrol. was fatally injured when a taxicab struck him a., he directed traffic at a roadblock on the Julia Tuttle Causeway on Sept. 8. 1965. He is the only auxiliary officer of any Dade law enforcement agency ever killed in the line of duty and is the only one of 108 Dada officers killed in the line of duty from 1895-1995 whose name is not in- scribed on the National Law Enforcement Me- morial in Washington. D.C. Captain Owen K. Bender. head of the FL Highway Patrol's 67 -man auxiliary police force. spent the entire day of Wednesday. Sept. 8,1975. supervising, a roadblock in Florida City for the FHP during Hurricane Betsy. Bender had gone home to supper when he was called out again. One of his auxiliar• officers had failed to show up at a roadblock assignment on Miami Beach and Captain Bender volunteered to cover for him. He was still working at 10:00PNI when he was killed. At 6:OOPM on Wednesday. Sept. 8, 1965, 102 pulse 84. and a diagnosis of a fractured skull. fractured right tibia and fibula, and fractured ribs." Bender was pronounced dead two hours later (at 12:02 AM on Sept. 9) by Dr. Ehler of Ivit. Sinai Hospital. Martha Bender was notified of her husband's death by Trooper M.G. Wagner. The death certificate listed his cause of death as an accident caused by "marked cere- bral contusions. skull fractures, and blunt im pact of head." The medical examiner's report also indicated that he had a fracture of both legs, a fracture of the right shoulderand multiple frac- tures of the left ribs. THE PERPETRATOR Thomas Cleverly Conner. 61, of Miami. was not injured in the accident nor were any of his three passengers who were evidently being returned to their rooms at the Fountainbleau Hotel on Miami Beach.All witnessesat the scene gave reports to the accident investigator. An FHP report listed seven driving viola- tions against Conner for the two prior years. He been involved in three accidents and had two Ings for speeding. In addition, his license had been suspended for one month on March 23. 1964. after he had accumulated 12 points in 12 months. A newspaper account suggested that there was some evidence that Conner had been drinking but there was no indication of intoxi- cation in the FHP report. The final FHP accident report by Trooper J.M. Hardyof Homicide Investigation concluded that: ,(?wen K. Bender met his death in an accidental manner directly caused by the negligence of the driver of the 1963 Chevrolet.ThomasCleverly Conner, in fail- ing to have his vehicle under control and by not exercising extreme caution when first seeing the emergency lights. A citation was issued to Thomas Cleverly Conner by Trooper D.P. Kirkland for fail- ing to have his vehicle under control. Cita- tion 086583-8. It is the opinion of this investigating officer that there is insufficient evidence to bring any further charges against Thomas Cleverly Conner. The case was sent to "1P court on Miami Beach under Judge Berkman" but the outcome of the cast is unknown. An interesting "twist" on the accident comes from Owen Bender's sister. June Art man, who recalled in 1995 that she was interviewed by the FBI after the accident and that they were investigating the three passengers from the taxi that hit the trooper. She was told that the three passengers had paid the taxi-driver to "run the blockade" so that they could get back to Miami Beach. Mrs. Artman recalled that the FBI told her that the three were involved in some way in an attempt to kill a man in the federal witness protection program. After the taxi hit Bender the three passengers fled the scene and left the taxi driver alone. THE OFFICER Owen Karl Bender was born on Oct. 1. 1916. in Youngstown. OH. to Elmer C. Bender and Irene Wilson King Bender, His father was Owen Bender. Florida Highway Patrol. 1965. born in PA on Nov. IS. 1383, to Uriah an Bender. His mother was born on Sept. 121# to Charles 41. and Sarah J. King. Census record indicate that Elmer's parents and !renes fathe were also born in PA while franc's mother wa born in England. Marriage records in Armstrong County, PA, indicate that Irene Wilson King, 13 of Kittanning. PA, and Elmer C. Bender. 22. o Jefferson County. PA. married in Kittanning. PA. on March 11, 1903. Elmer and Irene Bender are listed in the 1910 census of Armstrong County, PA, in the city of Kittanning alone with their only child at that time, Paul C. Bender, 3. The Bender family apparently moved from PA to Youngstown. OH. around 1914. The 1910 OH census lists the par- ents and Paul C., 13, King. 8, and Owen K.. 3. The five children of Elmer and lune Bender who lived to be adults were Paul C. (born 1907), King (born 1911). Owen K. (born 1916). June (born 1921 in Baltimore) and Elmer (born 1926 in Baltimore). The Bender family moved to the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore in May of 1921 and moved into a house on Beach Ave. which mem- bers of the family occupied through the mid - 1960's. Owen Bender's father, Elmer. died on Dec. 27.193 1. and was buried in Brookville, PA. in the Bender family plot by his father. He worked from around 1921 until his death in 1931 as a printer at Waverly Press. Owen's mother died (at age 85) on ,Nov. 23. 1964, at the house on Beach Ave. in Hampden (Baltimore). She was buried in the small grave- yard adjoining the St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Hampden which she and other members of the Bender family attended for over 40 years. Owen Bender attended P.S. 55 Elementary School and Robert Pool Jr. H.S. in Hampden. When he graduated from Jr. H.S. in 1935 he was one of two recipients from the entire city of Bal- timore to be awarded a medal by the American Legion "for courage. honor. service. leadership and scholarship." He then attended a vocational school on a scholarship from Waverly Press to leato be a printer and became an apprentice with Waverly Press after graduation. Owen Sender. 21, was first listed in the Baltimore City Directory in 1937 and was de- scribed as a "compositor" at Waverly Press. Ac- cording to the I965 obituary in the Baltimore ��i4.tntn� 5-0. Bender worked at Waverly Press for "many years" (probably over 20 years) and then moved to S. FL. Bender worked in printing his entire working life as that was his (full-time) occupation ar the time of his death in Miami. Owen married Martha Wann of Baltimore around 1941 as the 1942 Baltimore city direc- tory listed Owen as married to A,Iartha. Martha Wann's father. O. Ernest Wann, lived in Balti- more as early as 1916 and, according to city di- rectories. was also a printer. Ernest Wann and Owen Bender (& Owen's father. Elrriec) worked together at Waverly Press. The Benders and the Wanns also lived in the same Baltimore neigh- borhood (Hampden) and were members of St. Mar.'s Episcopal Church at 40th St. and Rolland Ave. On Jan. 4. 1943. Owen Bender, 26. joined the Air Corps in Baltimore. However. he was hospitalized with a "bad heart" for 9 of the 10 months he served and was discharged on Oct. s f a 22, 1943, from Lowry Field in Denver. t . (where he had been hospitalized). s Owen Karl Bender and Martha W. Bender r moved to �Nfiaml in 1959 when Owen was 43. Owen and Martha are listed in the Miami City directory for 1960-1965 with Owen being de- scribed as a printer. At the time of his death he was employed by American Stamp Works of Miami. Thecouple lived at 1110 N.W. 87th Terr. in Miami. Owen Bender was also Vice Commander of the Harvey Seeds American Legion Post ( X29) in Miami. He had joined the 185 Hellenic Post of the American Legion in Baltimore in 1943 and rose to the rank of Vice Commander in the Post. He transferred his membership to the Mi- ami Post in 1959. Shortly after World War 11. the American Legion Post in Miami worked with the FHP to form the Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary com- posed exclusively of members of the American 1 Legion, all veterans of the Armed Services. This organization was jointly sponsored by the Ameri- can Legion and by'the Florida Highway Patrol. Owen Bender was Captain of the Dade County Unit of sixty-seven men at the time of his death. Owen Benderdied three weeks short of his i 49th birthday. Funeral services were held in i Miami at the Carl F. Slade Hialeah -Miami 1 Springs Funeral Home at 800 Palm Ave. in Hi- aleah on Sunday, Sept. 12. The service included a stirring tribute to Owen Bender by James Kytle s Williams of the American Legion. Commander Williams described how the fallen officer had t given "unselfishly of his time, his energy. and o his purse," in volunteer work with the Legion. He closed with the words: ti Farewell,'Owen. Farewell from your g comrades. For your service to the commu- nity we honored you. for your devotion to B your beloved Florida Highway Patrol Aux- at iliary we loved you. foryour sterling integ- o rity we lauded you, as we honored, loved fr and lauded you in life. so will we revere d you in death. (Eulogy by James Kytle Wil- m liams. 9112/1965) The American Legion led the procession to 0 the Miami City Cemetery at N.E. 2nd Ave. and li 18th St. in downtown Miami. The procession D also included many uniformed officers from the in FL Highway Patrol and other S. FL law enforce- ti ment agencies. Hundreds of people lined the to streets from Hialeah to Miami to watch the fu- 19 neral procession. of Captain Owen Bender was given a full po- ili lice funeral with an honor guard. officers in uni- fic form in attendance. a 21 -Sun salute. etc. In 1995. fro Owen's sister. lune Artman. recalled that the the 1965 funeral and burial lasted from 10:00MM until 3:30P.M. p[ Bender's gravesite is in the military sec- the tion of the Miami City Cemetery just across the chi path from the Jewish section. No other(Bender) m family member is buried nearby. The grave un marker reads: the OWEN KARL BENDER ers CPL U.S. ARMY fro WORLD WAR II and OCT. I. 1916 SEPT. 8. 1965 Owen Bender was survived by his wife. Martha Wann Bender, 40: three brothers. Paul C. Bender. 58. of Glenn Burnie, ,4t D. King Bender. 53, of Toronto. Canada, and Eimer Bender, 40, of Pennsylvania; and one sister. June Bender Sarrach. 44, of Wheaton. IL. Martha Bender remarried (to Robert Louis Kerr) on Dec. 9, 1966. in Miami. Her second husband was also a member of the auxiliary unit of the FHP Martha later worked for Claude Pep- per in one of his Congressional campaigns in the late 1960's. Robert and Martha Kerr lied in Hialeahuntil Robert Kerr's death in July of 1980 at the aVof 53. After her(second) husband's death.,�lanha Kerr moved to Tamarac to live with her mother but died 6 months later (Feb. 1 198 1) at the age of 56. Martha Kerr was buried beside her father (O. Earnest Wann) and second husband (Robert Kerr) at Vista Memorial Gardens in Hi- aleah. Her mother. Martha Wann. 83, died in Broward on Nov. 22. 1986, and was also buried n the Wann family plot at Vista Memorial Gar- ens. ar- de n s. Owen and Manha Bender had no children and thus in 1995 Owen Karl Bender had no di- rect descendants. However, three of his siblings were still living in 1995. King Bender, 83. lived n Lakehurst, N.J.:June BenderArtman. 74. lived n Pon Charlotte. FL; and Elmer C. Bender. 70, Ii in AR. Also. Paula Kip Clarke. Owen Iender's niece lived in Jonas Ridge. N.C. Dr. Wilbanks searched for four years for de. cendants of Owen Bender and finally found Owen Bender's sister in November of 1995 af- ar finding a Baltimore Sun obituary on the death f Paul C. Bender in May of 1984. The long search included two trips to Bal - more. June Bender Artman provided a photo- raph of Owen Karl Bender for use in this book and for the FHP). The photograph of Owen ender was added to the "en in Blue" Exhibit the Historical Museum of Southern FL in Nov. f 1995 and was the last .-missing" photograph om the list of Dade officers killed in the line of du after 1916 (four photos of officers were still issing from 1895-1916). The Florida Highway Patrol recognizes wen Bender as one of its officers killed in the rte of duty and his name is read each year at the ade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park Miami. His name was submitted to the Na - nal Law Enforcement Memorial in Washing - n. D.C. (for inscription on its memorial i. in 91. but was rejected since criteria by the Board Directors of the memorial does not allow aux- ary officers. He is the only one of the 103 of- crs killed in the line of duty in Dade Couniy m 1895-1995 whose name is not inscribed on National ,Memorial. The eulogy delivered at Bender's I)i,neral PIC that his memory "will live forever in hearts and minds of his comrades." Perhaps s narrative will contribute to keeping alk a the me of an American patriot µho gave so selfishly to his community. Owen Bender gage ultimate sacrifice as a volunteer. While wh- were fleeing the hurricane or seeking ;hehter m it. he volunteered to work during the storm gave his life during that service. SOURCES: 4fiamjHeold. Sept. 9.11. 1965: ,4v11gM3,ews, Sept. 9,11, 1965: Baltimore Sun. Sept. 11, 1965: Baltiino_m citydi a t of s from 103 1916 to 1956: Miami city directories from ! 1965; Church records of St. Mary's Churc� Baltimore. NID; FHP personnel file of Owen K. Bender. FHP Case MI -65-17; Death certificate of Owen Karl Bender, Florida Traffic Accident Report of 91811965; 19I0 PA (Armstrong County) Census and 1920 OH (Mahoning County) Census: and interviews with Robert E. Craig. June Bender Artman and Paula Bender Clarke. #48 HUGO NIAY BECKE)R Hialeah Police Department Killed in accident enroute to police call. June 25. 1966 THE EVENT Det, Hugo .\tax Becker, Jr„ 30. became the first police officer to die in the line of duty in 41 -year himory of the Hialeah Police Department (organized in 19251 w hen he was killed in a traf- fio accident on June 25. 1966. Emilio Miyares became the second Hialeah officer to die in the line of duty in 1986. At around I0: 15PM, on Saturday. June 25. 1966. Det. Steve Nagel, 35, and Det. Hugo Becker, 30. were traveling. west on Okeechobee Road in response to a police call directing them to serve as a back-up for Metro -Dade officers who had responded to a domestic call. Some wit- nesses said that the police car, a 1966 Chevrolet (Unit #913). was traveling at an excessive speed (up to 80 mph) while other witnesses said that the speed was only normal (approximately 45 mph). The roadway was slick due to a heavy rain which had just stopped and the police cruiser had a right rear tire which was "slick" (i.e., had little or no tread). The other three tires had nor- mal tread. Det. Kagel, the driver. lost control of the police cruiser just after crossing the railroad track., on 2151 St. A mechanic later examined the police car and testified that a driver will sometimes lose control of a car (with one slick tire if traveling on a wet road) if accelerating or going over a hump fi.e., the railroad tracks) which throws the car out of balance. Evidently the car went out of control 6,e.. hydroplaned) as it came off the railroad tracks. An accident investigator suggested that when the driverre-accelerated aftercrossing the tracks. the vehicle lost traction on the incline and went out of control. Det. Nagel may have tried to hit the brakes hard in a "panic skid". The car began to skid sideways and struck a utility pole 709 feet from the railroad tracks between 21st and 23rd streets. Upon impact the driver's door "popped open" throwing Nagel and Becker out of the car through that open door. The police report indi- cated that neitherofficer was wearing a seat belt. It should be noted, however, that the Becker farn- HY rinds it "difficult.., to accept as fact" that THE PERPETRATOR Becker was not wearing a seatbelt. They, note There was no perpetrator in this case. The that Hugo Becker was a "seat belt advocate" and police investigation uncovered no negligence on insisted that all members of the family wear seat the part of Det. Nagel, the driver of the police belts when he drove the family car. The family car. Some witnesses did report that the car was insists that if it was true that Becker was nos traveling at an excessive speed, especially given wearing a seat belt, it was "out of character for the road conditions but others said that the speed him." was not excessive. The cause of the accident appeared to be the faulty right rear tire and the wet road which caused the driver to lose con - County ,Medical Examiner concluded that Nagel rot. A second accident investigator. Dr. John was thrown out of the driver's door first. foleegel, concluded that a piece of rubber found ed lowed quickly through the same door by Becker, Becker's fatal injury (a "penetrating wound at the scene indicated that the right rear tire blew out causing the driver to lose control and the car through the lower lobe of the left ear and into to "fishtail." the upper left neck") was caused by his being Det. Becker had earlier complained to the cut by a piece of chrome stripping that was ex- Dept. that the police cruiser had worn tires and posed in the opening of the driver's door due to expressed coneem for his safety. No action was the caved -in top of the car. This piece of metal "seve th I taken by the department in reponse to the com- r e spina cord from the brain causing instant death." Becker also had a wound on his forehead that resulted from hitting the hom on the steering wheel and a fracture of the right wrist from hitting the shift lever. He died almost in- stantly. As the police car crashed into the power pole the lights in the area went out leaving the crash scene in darkness except forthe headlights of the crashed police cruiser. An electric clock in a nearby house stopped at 10:18PI1 and FPL records indicate power failed at that location at 10:19PM. A witness reported hearing a "loud bang" and seeing "a lot of sparks" and the lights go out - Walter J. Evelyn; 61, who lived at 1155 W. 22nd St., rushed outside to see the police car crashed against a utility pole in his front yard. He saw one man (Becker) lying on his sidewalk 10 feet from the car with a second man (Nagel) cradling his head in his arms and trying to reas- sure him. Evelyn rushed back inside and called the police and then returned to the accident scene in his front yard. Patrol cars quickly arrived on the scene fol- lowed by two Randall-Eastem ambulances. Po- Iice investigators found guns scattered every- where around the accident site and at first thought that a shoot-out had occurred. However, they soon learned that Becker and Nagel had just re- turned from a stake -out at the Old Chesapeake Restaurant and the guns and ammunition were in the car because of that assignment. When rescue workers took over the effort to revive Becker. Nagel got up and staggered around for a moment and then collapsed at the back of the police car. At that point some rescu- ers began attending to Nagel. Before that point. Nagel had kept telling arriving rescuers to "help my Danne' and seemed oblivious to his own condition. Becker and Nagel were taken in sepa- rate ambulances to Hialeah Hospital. Beckerwas pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Nagel was admitted in serious condition. having suffered head injuries. For 23 hours he was in a semi-conscious state and in deep shock. He remained in the hospital for a week and "out of service" for two more weeks. In 1995. Steve Nagel had retired from the Hialeah Police De- partment but his two sons were law enforcement officers in Dade County (Kurt Nagel in Hialeah and Steve Nagel in Miami Beach). After examining Becker's body and the crashed police car, Dr. Joseph Davis, the Dade T plaint. Ihq police tnvesngation concluded that neither the driver (Nagel l nor those in charge of maintaining the vehicle were negligent to the point of cg0iftal misconduct. THE OFFICER Hugo Max Becker. Jr.. was born on Sept. 2. 1935, in Queens. New Mork. He was the only surviving child of Hugo Max and Ann Harris Becker as his 3 -year old sister. Maxine. died of Leukemia when Hugo was only I year old and three other siblings died at orshortly after Binh. Hugo's father died of a heart attack when Hugo was 8 years old and his mother died in an aal. dent in 1963. Hugo Becker graduated from Washington Heights High School in Brooklyn. New York in 1953. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and served for 4 years as a Navy Airedale, serv. ing in the Coral Sea. He was last stationed in Newfoundland. Upon discharge from the service in 1957, Becker returned to'1ew•York.On April 21, 1957, he married Cora Louise 1h'eeks in Ja• maica, NY. Their first child. Ann, was born in 1958 in Queens. Hugo Beckerwas working for a textile mill in I960 when he & his wife and daughter were moved (by the company) to Florida. He joined the Hialeah Police Department on Oct. 1, 1961. and graduated from the "Dade County Police Academy" on May 25, 1962. after a "compre- hensive 16 -week course in law enforcement." In the spring of 1961. the Dade County Grand Jury criticized the practice of Hialeah and other smaller departments trying to train their own officers and recommended that all lair en. forcement officers be trained in a county -wide academy. Becker and five other Hialeah proba- tionary officers became the first Hialeah offic- Hugo Becker, Hialeah. 1966. e:¢. 960 friendliness and humor. He often went ng and boating with his neighbor and fellow police officer. Leland Pluto and his boyhood friend and cousin from PA. Fred Minehart. Stathers graduated from the Police Acad- emy in 1954 afterjoining the Coral Gables Po- lice Dept. in Jan. of 1953. At that time officers attended the academy after an eight-hour shift. Officer Tony Raimondo. %t ho attended the 1954 academy classes with Stathers. remembered him as a "policeman's policeman" who was serious about catching crooks, Ironically, he specialized in catching prowlers. On Thursday, Dec. 21. a funeral service was held at the Branam Funeral Chapel in Home- stead. More than 300 police officers attended the service in what the Homestead newspaper de- scribed as "the largest assemblage of law en- forcement men ever seen here. surpassing eyen that of loved and respected Homestead police chief Walter F. Brantley" i in 1952). The service was conducted by Rev. George E, Dameron of Pinelands Presbyterian Church where Stathers "had been a member and a worker." At least 29 law enforcement agencies were represented in the 60 police cars. 50 motorcycles. and busload of police academy cadets that com- prised the funeral cortege from the Branam Fu- neral Chapel in Homestead to Palms Memorial Cemetery in Naranjo, The Sheriff's Department honor guard of 12 men conducted the military graveside service. Rev. Dameron spoke briefly of the sacrifice of Officer Stathers, At the cemetery over 300 officers stood in ranks fora final salute of tribute as an honor guard escorted the casket to the graveside. Well over 100 floral pieces banked the casket and were arranged in tiers on both sides of the ,rave. The police offic.-Cs widow was con- trolled throughout the ceremony, but she broke down when Sgt. Leland Pluto. a long- time friend of her husband, handed to her the folded American flag that had blanketed the casket. Almost 500 moumers signed the fu- neral register. Many mere unable to get into the funeral home. and stood outside in ranks, waiting respectfully during the fu- neral service. (Homestead %ews- eader. 12/22/1967) The grave marker at Palms Memorial Cem- eter=y in Naranjo. reads: WALTER F. STATHERS OHIO AR 3 USNR WORLD WAR 11 AUG 21 1921 DEC. 19. 1967 Walter Stathers was survived by his wife Ethel. 4[: a son. Wayne Thomas. 19: a sister. Carolyn Black of Mi. Dora. FL: three brothers. George. Earl and Raymond: and a cousin. Fred Minehan of Miami. (Walter's t'atherdied in 1933 and his mother in 1960—both were buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Uniontown. PA., Ethel Stathers received total benefits of S41.000 from life insurance policies provided under state law (which went into effect Oct. 1. 1967), retirement benefits and workmen's com- pensation. Mrs. Stathers received more than 53.000 in gifts sent to the Walter Stathers A at the City National Bank. In honor of Offleer Stathers. the Coral Gables Fraternal Order of Police was renamed the "Fraternal Order of Police Coral Gables. Walter F. Stathers Memorial Lodge No. 7." The Coral Gables City Commission passed a resolu- tion shortly after Stathers' death praising his work and offering condolences to his family. Ethel Stathers remarried in 1974 (to R.S. Hie, ins) but remained in S. FL. In 1995 she lived in Homestead as did her son. Wayne Thomas Stathers. 47. Wayne was a grove supervisor for R.S. Higgins Groves. His daughter (the grand- daughter of Walter Stathers). Angela Michelle Stathers. 13. lived in TN with her mother. Walter's sister. Mrs. John T. (Carolyn) Black lived in ,Mount Dora, FL. The name of Walter F. Stathers is inscribed {Panel 76-iVliddle-12) on the Memorial Wall of the American Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the Na- tional Law Enforcement Memorial (East Wall. Panel 41. Line 3) in Washington. D.C. A plaque beating his name is in the lobby of the Coral Gables Police Department where his name is read each May at a service at that location. Also. his name is read each May at the Dade Police 41e - modal Service in Tropical Park in Miami. The story of the life and death of Walter Stathers is included in Dr. Wilbanks' 1995 book. Forgotten Heroes: Police Officers Killed in South Miami._ 1928J9k-1. His widow was presented with a personal copy of this book at the Coral Gables Police Memorial Service on May 18. 1995. SOURCES: Miami Herald, Dec. 20.21.22. 1967, Jan. 4. 1968. March 16, 1978. Dec. 29, 1987; Miami dews, Dec. 19.20,21.22, 1967. Jan. 19. 1968; Coral Gables Times. Dec. 21. 1967. Jan. 8. Aug. 15. 1968. Dec. 20. 1973: Home- stead News -Lf Dec. 22. 1967: death cer- tificate of Walter F. Stathers: Dade County Medi- cal Examiner records (#2571-A); Coral Gables offense reports: Interview with Ethel Stathers Higgins. QNALD F. MC>�E(�D �tiamt'Porize D ," -WV Shot & killed on stay 7.1969 THE EVENT Ronald McLeod. 30. a9 year veteran of the Miami Police Department. became the 24th `li- anti officer killed in [he line of duty when he was shot and killed by a fleeing armed robber on May 7. 1969. His killer had escaped from prison only three days earlier and—on three other occasions—attempted to kill police officers. He was sentenced to life in prison. At 5:20AM ( "Just before dusk") on Wednes- day. May 17. 1969, aca11 went out over the Miami police radio that an armed holdup was in progress at a bar near the comer of N. Miami Ave. and N.W. I lih St. Motorcycle oRicer McLeod Wass on duty and responded to the radio alert. The armed robbery in progresscall resulted from two robberies of two bars in a one block area. The first robbery was at the Columbia Bar and Grill at 1050 N. bliami Ave. The bartender reported that an armed black man entered the bar through a side door and ordered all 12 cus- tomers to put their wallets on the bar. The bandit then herded the entire group into a small men's room and fled with about 5300 The robber then walked to Willie's Bar and Restaurant at N.W. I Ith St. and N. tiliami Aye. and proceeded to rob the second bar in the same manner. The robber was fleeing the second rob- bery scene on foot when officer McLeod heard the radio call and tante racing up on his motor- cycle.-,., nesses pointed out the direction i west on 13th St.) the fleeing robber had taken and McLeod began his motorcycle pursuit. ,McLeod was told that the holdup man was a black mate wearing broken sunglasses and had a brown cloth money bag stuffed into his waistband. Lt. Jim Reese reported to the Miami Herald that. McLeod had his clasher light and si- ren going and as he wheeled his motor around the corner in pursuit... the patrol- man sighted the suspect who had Mopped and was waiting with his long -barreled. chrome -plated revolver drawn. (The robber) stood on a street corner and waited for the pursuing officer to skid around the intersection of N. Miami Court and N.W. 13th St... he then ran toward the motorcycle as McLeod fought to halt his machine and fired almost within arm's length. (Miami Herald. 51811969) McLeod was shot once at close range in the right cheek with the bullet lodging in his brain. The unconscious and mortally wounded officer fell off his motorcycle and was found lying (with his gun holstered) under his motor- cycle in a pool of blood about 75 feet north of the intersection. McLeod was rushed to theemer- gency ward of Jackson Memorial Hospital ar- riving at 5-.45P,NI in a comatose state. He was "placed on controlled ventilation on a Bird Res- pirator. Skull X -Rays revealed a bullet I%ing in the mid post fossa on the left. No Burger} uas perfontted." McLeod's wife. Donna. 27, was rushed to Jackson to be beside her critically injured hus- band. Before she left for the hospital she told the children that their father was gravely wounded and they "got down and prayed to- gether." A Catholic priest administered the last rites of the church to the officer shortly after 10:00PM. McLeod died just before noon on Thursday. March S. 18 hours after being phot. He never regained consciousness. In a 1981 Nliami_series orarticle, on handguns. ,Miami homicide detective Mike Gonzalez said that the handgun used by Ga% in was the "cheapest. worst gun ever used" in a Miami murder. Gonzalez said: ),I It was an old breaktop Owls Head re- volver, a piece of junk so wobbly that Gay in had to hold it together with two han& to shoot... (later when Gavin) was caught in Memphis. Tenn.. (he was) still in poi<e.- sion of the murder weapon... In the 1950s and 60s... the majorit% of holdups and homicides were committed with just such cheap handguns. They ,sere carried by downtown ,IMiami pawn hops and displayed in the windows beside the binoculars and cameras. (N 'a . New;. 9/ 511931) THE PERPETRATOR Wad "hired a friend to drive him to Ft. Lauder -N when he learned that Gavin had been cap - After shooting the officer, the robber fled dale minutes after McLeod was shot" and caught ed. Gavin had no ID on him when arrested the scene and commandeered a white pickup a bus to Memphis three hours after the murder but did have a room key in his pocket, police truck with two men inside and ordered the driver thus escaping from the massive manhunt. Po- believed the key fit a room somewhere in.Mem. to .hive away at gunpoint. The gunman then lice did not identifyGavinass,the man theysought phis where they might find evidence linking jumped out of the vehicle at the comer of N.W. until five hours afterthe murder and after he had Gavin to the murder of McLeod and othercrintes 15th St. and 2nd Ave. and fled west on foot. Un- already left town. in Miami. However. Gavin refused to tell the fortunately, the truck driver did not report the The manhunt continued throughout officers anything. incident to police until two hours later and by Wednesday night and Thursday but failed to lo- Det. Gonzalez, with the help of Memphis then the "trail was cold," Gavin was supposedly cate the fugitive. Heavily armed officers searched police. began trying the key in doors throughout spotted on downtown Flagler St. near the bus all buildings in areas where Gavin had been spot- the black section of htemphis. Finally, after three station the next day around noon and the "lar,- ted, Busses were stopped and searched and the- days. they; ptrlucky." found the room that tit est manhunt in the history of Miami" was trio- atres and stores were suddenly flooded with po- the key and1he evidence linking Gavin to sev- gcred. lice officers searching for the cop killer. Large eral Miami crimes. The evidence included a About 200 officers in cars and on mo- contingents of the search task force were sent to money bag from a robbery and the red under- torcycles. song: with dogs and some with several false alarms. The size of the search team wear that several witnesses reported seeing rifles. saturated the downtown area between diminished somewhat on Friday but the police Gavin wear (he wore his pants tow, exposing his the bav, the river, the Brickell Ave. Bridge were still receiving tips that the fugitive had been red underwear). and north to 20th Street. sighted. - Gavin was charged with robbery and at - Two armed officers were posted at Two callers to local radio stations even tempted murder but Gov. Buford Ellington every intersection. Stores and theaters were claimed to be Gavin. On Friday, May 9, some- agreed toextradition to Florida and arrangements .earthed, buses were stopped and searched, one claiming to be Gavin called WAME radio were made to transport Gavin by car back to and cabs were ordered not to pick up any and said that he wanted to give himself up Miami after his four-day stay in the hospital. male Negro wearing a blue sports shirt. (ML through Commissioneir Athalie Range but the Gavin had objected to flying and the airlines re - ami News. 51911969) . surrender never took place, The FOP and the fused to carry a prisoner who objects to flying The -search force came from Miami, Metro PBA offered a 35,600 reward for the capture of fearing "he might cause trouble on the plana" and other local departments. The FBI also joined the cop killer. Gavin vowed to Miami detective Mike Gonzalez. the search after a federal fugitive warrant t for The search broadened to several Southern who interviewed him in Memphis. that he would unlawful flight to avoid prosecution) was issued, states and focused on Clarksdale, Mississippi. "make a break on the way back." He kept his Officers had a detailed description of the robber where Gavin had lived for about 5 years before word! fe.e.. a black male. 9'8" or 5'9". between 150- coming to Miami. The fugitive's criminal career On the return car trip beginning July 27 160 lbs., about 22-23 years old with an angular began in Clarksdale where he was first arrested from Memphis to Miami the fugitive escaped face. chin whiskers and two gold front teeth) and for turning in false alarms at age 12 and pro- temporarily. The prisoner, was riding in the back his clothing. Mike Gonzalez, a homicide detec- gressed to a three month jail term for seat of a marked Dade police car as he was be - live for the City of ,Miami Police Department strongarmed robbery at 15. He had numerous ing transported to Miami by two Dade Sheriff's from 1953 to 1990, played a lead role in the in- arrests and three felony convictions (for burglary deputies. Gavin was separated from the two vestigation. and auto theft). deputies in the front seat only by a wire screen City Hall chose to announce a new police The police search team feared that Gavin and was not handcuffed or shackled. He "snaked chief, Bernard Garmire. during the confusion of had escaped from Miami and the massive mart- his arm" under the screen and snatched a gun the manhunt for Gavin. Paul Denham had been hunt (they learned later that Gavin Fled Miami from the holster of one of the deputies as the car acting chief until the appointment of Garmire. 35 minutes afterkilling McLeod). However, they neared Oxford. Alabama. Five hours after the shooting the police also knew that Gavin knew Miami streets well The fugitive forced the officers at gunpoint identified the fugitive as James (Gabby) Gavin. having grown up in the Ovenown area and might to drive him to a farmhouse. ransacked the farm - 22. Police artist Walter Depp made a composite be hiding inside the dragnet area. As a youth. house. and then flagged down a passing auto. sketch from witnesses' descriptions and Lt. Gavin had shined shoes around the bus station, He handcuffed the driver and one of the depu- Charles Shepherd recognized the likeness in- hung out in a pool room up the street, and al- ties. George Busbee, 42, to the back seal of the stantly as that of Gavin. Lt. Shepherd had made ways ate in the nearby Burger King. squad car and took off in the other car with the a trip to Tampa in 1967 to bring Gavin back to The reputation of Gavin (as learned from second deputy. Ernest Ferguson. -N. as hostage. Miami to face a first degree murder charge in officers who knew him) contributed to the feel- (Deputy Ferguson was the first black officer the shooting death of Richard McNair. The ing that the fugitive would be extremely dan- hired by Metro -Dade during the early I950's.) charge was later dropped when two witnesses gerous if cornered. Officer G.R. Angelone, who During a two-hour trip (from 9.50P.�f to near refused to testify. The suspect's file was pulled had arrested Gavin twice as a juvenile and knew midnight). Gavin kept telling Deputy Ferguson and his fingerprints matched those found on the him well, said -he is the meanest man I ever ar- that he was going to kill him and any officer who white pickup truck commandeered at the shoot- rested." Lt. Shepherd said Gavin once told him, tried to stop him. Alabama state police set up a ing scene. " I would kill a cop for 10 bucks." roadblock but agreed to let Gavin pass when he Gavin had a long criminal record. He was Ten days later (on May 16, 1969) the man- threatened to kill his hostage. released from a Hillsborough County work camp hunt for Gavin ended as he was captured after a As the troopers began to pursue Gavin. he after 10 months on a breaking and entering shootout with two Memphis, TN. detectives..' began tiring one of his three guns itwo taken charge on Saturday. May 3, 1969, and pulled at Gavin was being sought by Memphis police for from the deputies) at them in what became What least three armed robberies in Tampa over that the robbery of an "all-night sandwich place in one newspaper described as a -50 -mile gun weekend. He arrived in Miami on Monday, May the Negro section of Memphis" when he was battle" (though the troopers did not return 5. just two days Before he killed Officer Mcleod, spotted by police. He had just robbed adice game Gavin's fire fearing for the safety of the homage Gavin's "robbery rampage' in Miami be- and taken one "player' hostage but was soon deputy). This incident marked the fourth time in gan around noon on the day of the McLeod mur- spotted by police on the street with his hostage, three weeks that Jesse Gavin had shot at police der when he shat a security guard in the face Gavin pulled a gun and wounded one officer(in officers. during his escape from the robbery of a furni- the foot) in the shootout before surrendering. Deputy Ferguson. who was driving, even- ture store and fired at ?``Metro deputy Arthur Girard More than "Iwo -dozen -shots were fired during tually crashed the car at a truck stop near Pell who had joined the chase. Then just before the exchange of gunfire. Gavin gave a false name City. AL. where the troopers surrounded the dis- 5:0(lPM he committed the first of the two bar to police but "fingerprints which had been cir- abled car. Gavin agreed to give up since he was robberies that led directly to the killing of the culated around the nation by the FBI quickly es- surrounded by ten police cars and was taken into Officer. tablished who he was." custody, Deputy Busbee was taken to an However, police later learned that Gavin Miami Homicide Del. Mike Gonzalez went Annision hospital suffering from shock and a 1 f! Ronald F. McCleod, Ciry of Miami. 1969. "heart condition" (he had suffered two heart at- tacks in the past). Gavin was charged in Ala- bama with kidnaping, auto theft, and burglary. He was extradited to Miami on Sept. 14, 1969, and was returned via auto but extra security was added to prevent another escape. Gavin pleaded not guilty at his arraignment an Sept. 15. 1969. The arraignment was held under "tight security" with six deputies escort- ing Gavin from the jail "while he was shackled with three sets of handcuffs:' Judge Francis J. Christie appointed Louis Jepeway. Sr., Tobias Simon and Assistant Public Defender Phillip Hubbart to defend Gavin with the trial first scheduled for Nov. 17. The case was prosecuted by Alfonso Sepe. Jr. and David Goodhart. The Herald reported that Sepe "pulled rank" to per- sonally prosecute the high visibility case to pre- pare for his forthcoming campaign for judge. Eventually State Attorney Richard Gerstein pulled rank on Sepe and personally prosecuted the case. The trial was continued until June 22, 1970, as defense attorneys sought a change of venue because of the massive pretrial publicity and because of psychiatric examinations of Gavin (three psychiatrists eventually testified that he was sane). The defense team also sought to re- quire a "split verdict" so that guilt or innocence and life vs. death would not be decided at the same time (this was later required by the U.S. Supreme Court and FL law). The judge denied both the change of venue and the motion for a split verdict. On June 22 Gavin unexpectedly pled guilty to first degree murder even though Gerstein re- fused to recommend mercy (i.e. life vs. death) to the judge in return for a guilty plea. However. Gerstein did tell the judge that "not since 1953 has a defendant who pleaded guilty to first-de- ,rce murder not been given mercy." At the sen- tencing hearing, the defense pointed out that -javin was a "61h grade dropout" and had a "his- .ory of mental troubles." Sentencing was delayed "or 3 & 114 months while the judge awaited a etrial investigation. However. Gavin's ploy to avoid the death :enalty failed as on Oct. 16. 1970. Judge Christie ntenced Gavin to death in the electric chair. e judge stated that "we cannot recommend mercy where a police officer has been the vic- tim." The defense claimed it had been "double- crossed" as the plea had been made with the implicit promise of a life sentence and made a motion to withdraw the plea of guilty. On Nov. 12, Judge Christie granted the motion for a change of plea but "categorically denied" that there had been any agreement made (for a life sentence). A jury trial was set for Jan. 18. 1971. While awaiting the jury trial for the mur- der of McLeod. Gavin was tried and convicted in a separate jury trial for the robbery of the fur- niture store and the shooting of the security guard. He was convicted and sentenced (on Feb. 26. 1971) by "Visiting Judge" O.L. Dayton to concurrent life and 20 year terms in prison. Dur- ing this trial. Gavin threatened to "knock down" his own defense attorney. shouted at prospec- tive jurors, and "brandished a jagged piece of metal" (which he had "ripped loose from an air conditioning duct') in open court as he threat- ened to "tear the courtroom apart." Gavin's jury trial for Officer McLeod's murder was rescheduled for April 26. 1971, but he again pled guilty to first degree murder on April 20 in return for State Attorney Gerstein's promise that he "would not oppose" a life sen- tence. However. Gerstein also told Judge Christie that he "did not recommend mercy for'cop kill- ers'." Judge Christie sentenced Gavin to two consecutive life terms in prison and a concur- rent 20 year term. Judge Christie ordered that the life sentence for McLeod's murder be con- secutive to the earlier life sentence for robbery. In 1971 there was no 25 -year minimum manda- tory term before eligibility forparole on life sen- tences for first degree murder and the average time served on a life sentence was 13 years. The life sentence was imposed despite a tearful plea from McLeod's widow who asked thejudge to impose the death penalty. The judge also rejected the plea for the death penalty from "the fatherof another Patrolman killed in the line of duty" and from the "wives of several Miami policemen." In - 1995 (23 years after the sentence was imposed) Gavin. 47, was incarcerated at the Union Correction Institution at Raiford. His pre- sumptive parole release date is set for Feb. 25. 2047, though by law, his status comes up for re- view every two years. He is next scheduled for a review interview in Feb.. 1996. (The parole sta- tus of any FL inmate can be obtained by calling 1-8170-4-FL-VCTM ) Howard Kleinberg, who was an editor with the Miami News, reported in the Feb. 8. 1994, Miami Herald that, because of criticisms of vio- lence in the media, he had planned in 1969 to publish an entire edition of the Miami News that would omit any mention of violence. He even edited the comic strip. Little Orphan Annie. for that day as Daddie Warbucks had kicked Annie's dog. Sandy, and he excluded the results orbox- ing matches on the .spurts page for that day. Unfortunately. Kleirtberg picked May 16, 1969, for his "no violence" edition of the Lj:tmi w, and that was the day that Gavin was cap- tured in Memphis. Kleinberg did not want to "go back" nn his (highly publicized) word. but be- lieved that he had to report on the capture of the ous cop -killer. As a compromise, he cre- ate a small box at the bottom right of the front page that day with a headline: "Stories You Missed Today." The brief section was prefaced by saying that because the newspaper was put- ting out a nonviolent edition. it would not pub- lish the following stories. Several sentences were then given about the capture of Gavin. THE OFFICER Ronald Flirl McLeod was born on Sept. 9. 1938. in Mianii,to Newton Flirl McLeod and Fannie Sue'.IG'�irtgino McLeod, One of his brother's recalls that Ronnie was born at home while his curious siblings and neighborhood chil- dren were "sent out to play." His father was from Valdosta. GA. and was one of eleven children (seven daughters). His mother was from Cordele. GA, and was one of seven children (six daugh- ters). His grandparents (McLeod and Longino) were also from the Valdosta area. Officer McLeod was of Scottish ancestry, though a ,1Si- ami newspaper would later report at his death that a superior described the fallen officer as "a burly fellow with a map of Ireland all over his face." Ronnie was the youngest of five children: George (born in 1927). Harold (born in 1929). Raymond (born in 1931). Betty (born in 193.1), & Ronald (born in 1938). George was born in Valdosta while the other four children were born in Miami. Ronnie's father died in 1940 when he was only two -years old leading to hard economic times for the family. Harold McLeod remembers that their home was paid for "but that was about all we had." Ronnie's mother worked long hours at two jobs and the Salvation Army provided some help to the family. Ronnie never forgot the help given to his family by the Salvation Army and later in life aided them with mangy of their projects. Ronnie's older siblines looked after him while his mother worked tGeorge being the old- est. 10 years older than Ronnie). Harold ,McLeod remembers that 8 -year-old Ronnie especially loved to ride double with him around the neigh- borhood on his motorcycle. Ronnie grew up in Miami but often spent the summers in Valdosta. GA, with his Candle Oscar McLeod. Ronnie loved the summers in Valdosta, especially swimming at Grand Bay Creek and jumping off the bridge at the "old swimming hole." His childhood was not trouble free as he got into some type of trouble at 13 and spent several months at the Boy's Home in Kendall. That experience made an impression on him and he never got into trouble again. And perhaps the "delinquent experience" helped form his desire to become a law enforcement off. ice . His brother. Harold, remembered only one ehilU- hood friend of Ronnie's. Ralph Miranda. Ronnie attended Pinewood Elementary for grades 1.6 but hisschooling, got tiff to a bad start as. on his first day in the first grade, he left after lunch to go home and take his nap. Ronnie also attended Horace Mann Jr. H.S, and Edison H.S. graduating from Edison in 1956. One ufhis 1956 Edison Sr. classmates was Adele Khoury, future wife of Sen. Bob Graham. A second was Arva Moore Parks who recalls that Ronnie McLeod was her prom date at Horace Mann Jr. High .11 A 1 1=' 0 ]it School. In 1995 Ar•a Moore Parks was a pro* rosary recitation was held at 8;00PM on Sun -tion of Miami businessmen and professionals" Hent Miami historian who was chis- day. May 11. A mass w"as held for McLeod at organized in 1968, paid off the mortgage on the tarty of the Miami Police Department to mark 10:00AM on Monday. May 12. at St. Mary's McLeod home. The organization also gave the the IMh anniversan of the City of Miami. Cathedral at 7525 `.'k 2nd Ave. McLeod family a check for 51,000. McLeod's Upon graduation from H.S.. McLeod joined .lore than 1,200 policemen from through- family became the first of many to receive Ti- the U.S. Air Force and served four years (1956- out the state attended the funeral as the 1.200 nancial help from the 200 Club. A Miami news - 1960, as a radio operator. He was stationed in seats in the Cathedral were filled. Ten of paper also reported that the police widow would the U.S. and Japan and served in communica- McLeod's fellow motorcycle officers served as receive 522,500 in insurance benefits from the tions. pallbearers. "Peace officers, 8 or 10 men wide city. a 5290 -per -month pension, 53.000 from the Ronald McLeod. 21. married Donna and almost a block long. waited before the ca- Miami Police Relief and Pension Fund and 5:50 McDowell. 20. of lrliami on Dec. 26. 1959, while thedral and split intodual lines as an honorguard from the P.B.A. home on leave from the Air Force. He met Donna for the funeral procession." Ronal¢:F.rMcLeod is buried in Vista Nfe- at her 16th birthday parte when both were still Archbishop Coleman Carroll of the Miami mortal Gardens at 14200 \.w'• 57th Ave. in Hi - in high school. Ronnie became a Catholic since Roman Catholic Diocese conducted the service aleah. FL. His grave is located in the House of that was his wife's religion. and was assisted by Rev. Father William God Sec. I only 50yards from the graveof Pedro Upon discharge from the Air Force. Ronald O'Meara. "who came from New York at the re- Cainas the Hialeah officer slain in 199' _ui 20 McLeod. 30. joined the Miami Police Depart- quest of Mrs. McLeod. He had married the yards from Johnny Mitchell. the Metro -officer mens on Sept. 6, 1960. He became one of 29 couple." slain in 1971. His grave marker reads: ntcmbersof the M.RD.'s 45th Recruit Class (pic- More than 100 motorcycles, 100 police RONALD F. MCLEOD turgid on the 3rd floor of the.I.I?D.) and gradu- cars. and 125 private cars joined the procession SEPT. 9. 1933 aced from the Police Academy on Dec. 23. 1960. from the Cathedral to the burial site at Vista Me- MAY 8, 1969 At the time of his death he was a 9 -year veteran. morial Garden in northwest Dade (at 1400 N.W. MIA.11 POLICE Most of his tenure was spent in Traffic and Ra- 57th Ave.). Ironically. McLeod was buried on FOP dio Patrol—Motorcycle. His last supervisor in the day that he and his•w•ife had an appointment PBA "motors" was Kenneth Harms. who later became at Vista Memorial Gardens to buy burial plots Chief of Police. McLeod was a member of the "for when that time would come." Officers placed flowers by the bronze PBA and the F.O.P.'s Walter E. Headley Lodge McLeod was survived by his wife Donna plaque (listing the 21 Miami officers killed in S0,20. F.. 27. and three children, David Keith, 8, the line of duty) outside the old Miami Police Officer McLeod's first assignment was to Michael Dean, 7. and Rhonda Gail, 6. Several building. McLeod's name was added to the a"3-wheeler'writingparking tickets. After three members of the McLeod family besides Donna plaque 23 days after his death. Donna \fcLeod years OfficerMcLeod was transferred to the mo- and the three children attended the funeral in attended the ceremony unveiling the inscription torcycle squad. As a motorcycle officer, he still Miami. These included his mother, Mrs. J.J. and told reporters that she didn't feel hate for was often required to write traffic tickets. Nu- (Fannie) Willis and the families of his siblings: her husband's killer. On May 8. 1970 (the first merous letters in his personnel file testified to Harold and Helen McLeod. George and Darlene anniversary of McLeod's death), a memorial his ability to give traffic tickets without provok- McLeod: Raymond and Betty McLeod; and service was held at the "memorial tablet' at Mi- ing resentment from the violator. Betty McLeod Cates. ami Police headquarters. Charles Whited, the longtime Miami Her- Betty's husband. Paul Cates, was serving Donna McLeod kept.the family in Miami columnist was ticketed b} btcLeod live days in Vietnam at the time of Officer McLeod's death but eventually remarried (to John J. Phillips) and before the 1969 murder. and wrote that McLeod and was unable to attend as Ronald was not his helped raise his four children from a previous was polite and made a point of explaining that "next of kin," All of Ronald McLeod's siblings marriage. The three McLeod children each the traffic rule Whited had violated had led to a lived in Miami at the time of his death. Also at- graduated from N. Miami H.S. (David in 1979, number of accidents. WTVJ (Channel 4) news tending the Miami funeral were Ronnie's uncle Mike in 1980, and Rhonda in 1981). The slain anchor Ralph Renick editorialized on May 8, and aunt. Oscar and Mabelle McLeod, and their officer's widow, Donna McLeod Phillips, died 1969 ♦after SlcLeod's death): son Freddie and his wife Carol, and several other on May 17. 1990, and was buried beside her first By coincidence. I had occasion to be aunts, uncles and cousins. husband, Ronald McLeod, at Vista Memorial in Officer McLeod's company last month The mourning for Officer McLeod was not Gardens. Her grave marker reads: "Donna M. when he served as motorcycle escort to limited to the white community. The Rev. Phillips, Wife of J.J. Phillips, Mother of David. Jackie Gleason's car enroute to the Orange Thedford Johnson, pastor of St. John's Baptist Mike, and Rhonda McLeod—George. John. Bowl Youth for Decency Rally. He epito- Church, organized a special memorial service for Anthony and Eric Phillips, 1939-1990." mized everything you like to see in a po- Officer McLeod on Sunday. May 11. A collec- Ronald McLeod's mother, Fannie Sue liceman. tion was taken up at that service and given to the Longino McLeod Willis. diedon.larch 2. 1989. As you know. Ronald McLeod, age slain policeman's family. in Panama Citv. FL. She was buried in Miami at thirty, handsome and friendly, never re Harold McLeod recalled in 1995 that he and SouthernMemorial Park. turned home. He was murdered while re- Ronnie's family were very close and spent a great In 1995 David Keith McLeod. 34. was a sponding to a call to apprehend a fleeing deal of time together. Everyone told him he Sgt. with the Miami Shores Police Dept. Darid bandit. "would get over it" but he (at age 66) still grieves had expressed a desire to become a policeman. There is little left to say now about for his brother 26 years after his death. Harold like his father since even before his father's death McLeod—words do him little good. But his was given his brother's sun holsterat the funeral when he was 8 years old. loss should remind us that it is the men with home and kept it for almost 20 years ---until he The officer's other son, .Michael S1cLcA the badge who stand between us a�td total passed it on to his brother's son. David, when he 33, was a contractor in Miami. His daughter. lawlessness. Ronnie's brother, Harold, recalled that sraduated from the Dade Police Academy. Ronald and Donna McLeod lived at 1585 Rhonda Gail McLeod. 32. was in the travel in. dustry in Plantation. Three of Ronald SicLeud's Ronnie first became interested in police work NX 128th St. when he was killed. Officer Dick siblings were living in 1995 (George McLeod. when, at 16, he received a traffic ticket for an Witt (who later became Chief of Police in Hol- 67, died in Valdosta, GA, in 1994). Harold illegal tum from a Miami motorcycle officer and lywood) was in charge of notifying Donna McLeod. 66. lived in Valdosta. GA: Raymond was impressed by how polite the officer was. Perhaps he determined at that to become McLeod of the death of her husband. He dis- his McLeod. 64, lived in Lake City. FL: ani Betty point a Police officer himself and to emulate that officer? covered that wife and Donna were out shop- ping. When the two women returned to the Witt McLeod Cates. 61. lived in Hinesville. G.A. Harold's (second) wife. Sarah. was executive Funeral arrangements were handled by Lithgow•-Kolski-McHale Funeral Home. home. Witt told Donna that her husband had been secretary to the Chief of Police of Valdosta until The seriously wounded and drove her to Jackson body was in repose on Sunday. May 11, at the Memorial Hospital. her retirement in 1995. Also. in 1995, Officer Ronald McLeod was funeral home at 7200 NX 2nd .Ave. where a On June 3. 1969. the 200 Club. "an organi- survived by four grandchildren: Kyle McLeod. 12 7. Rebekah McLeod. 6. and Kelly 1,F6d. 3 (David's children) and Ryan .Llc (,Michael's child). Ronald F. ,NIcLeod's name is inscribed (Panel 81 -Right -14) on the Memorial Wall of the American Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3801 Biscatne Blvd. in ,Miami and on the National Law Enforcement ,Memorial (East %Vail. Panei 58, Line W) in Washington. D.C. A plaque bear- ing his name is in the lobby of the 1Yliami Police Department and his name is read each Mav at that location and at the Dade Police ,Memorial Service in Tropical Park. Set. David McLeod regularly attends the Dade Police,Nlemorial Smiee and occasionally runs into an officer or citizen who remembers his father—or the notorious Jesse James Gavin. Every two years, graduates of .Miami Edison H.S. from the 1940's and 1950's hold a reunion to "talk about the old days." in 1996, a copy of this chapter was given to interested members of the 1956 class by President Fred Exum of the Edison "Over the Hill Club" so that they would remem- ber that one of their classmates made the ulti- mate sacrifice to keep 4tiami safe. Fred Exum is one of the flag bearers at the annual Dade Po- lice Memorial Service and helped design the stone monuments for the memorial site inTropi- cal Park. SOURCES: Mi -ami Herald, Nlat 8,9,10.15.16.17. E 8,20.21.22._6. June 4. Julti 28.29.3 0.31. Sept. 16.25.26. Oct. 21.23,24.251 Nov. 11. 1969; March 16.17. May 3.9,30. June 17,22 ' 3, Aug. 2. Oct. 16.17.23, Nov. 13.14. 1970: Feb. 25 26.27. 1971. Feb. 8. 1994; ,Miami News. flay 8,9,12,13,15.17, i 9, July 28.29, Sept. 15. Nov. I0, 1969; June 22. Oct. 16, Nov. 12. 1970; Feb. 22.23,24,25,26. March 8. April 21. 1971, Sept. 5, 1981, April 15. 1988; Memphis -Commercial ApWaj, May 17- 1969: Memphis PLus-Scimitar: May 16. 1969; Fon Patrol June, 1969; Dade Criminal Court file of Jesse James Gavin (#69.4613 Sr� 69-5261); FL Dep(. of Corrections records of Jesse James Gavin 0029663): Nledical Examiner's Records of Ronald F. McLeod (f1109 -t -at: death certificate of Ronald Flirl ,McLeod: Marriage application of Ronald McLeod; Dade County marriage ap- plication of Ronald McLeod: Homicide report (4622223) of Miami Police Department; ,4lem- phis Police Department report 14431.046): and interviews with Arva Parks, Set. David Keith McLeod. Harold McLeod. Ratmond McLeod. Sarah McLeod, and Bette McLeod Cates, #52 R%1 I D JOHN' LANE, II Miami Police Dept Shot & killed on May 23, 197, 0 THE EVENT Rookie police officer Rolland J. Lane. [I. 31. became the 25th City of Miami police of- ficer killed in the line of duct %%hen he was shot and killed on May 23. 1970. bt a black militant. Lane and fellow Miami officer Victor Butler (killed in IL)71) were both killer! by black mili- tants durim-, a time of racial strife in Miami and across the ES. His killer rias convicted of mur- der but freed by an appeals court. Officer Lane. who had ;raduated from the police academy only four months before his murder, had been selected to work the 11: - 7:00AM shift in the "Central Negro DAM' tOvertown) because "he had a compassion to people and seldom lost his cool". At 3:30ANf o Saturday. relay 23, 1970. Lane and his fellow rookie partner. i4liami officer Fred Harris. 23 responded to a radio call about a ringin-burglar alarm near the Imperial Hotel at 50 N. W. Eighth St. (In 1995 the Miami arena was located where the Imperial Hotel once Mood.) Upon arrival at the scene of the ringing alarm the two officers noticed three men in front of the "sleazy" hotel walking in a direction away from the bar. Harris later said the three men ap- peared to "tense up" and quickened their pace when they spotted the police car. The two offic- ers called the three men over to the car but. at that point, one of the three men "broke and ran into the hotel front entrance." Officer Harris jumped from the car and ran after the "runner." Eddie Taylor. Officer Lane radioed in that he was "char ing a negro male" and took off after Officer Har- ris leaving the other two suspects standing on the sidewalk in front of the hotel. The fleeing Taylor ran up the front stairs, down the second floor hallway to the rear stairway, and then down the stairs to the backyard where he jumped over a fence. Officer Harris tried to scale the fence in pursuit but it collapsed under him. He then yelled to his partner. Lane. who was still on the second floor. to "go back to the car and advise" (i.e.. radio in a progress report). Officer Lane then ran toward the front of the second floor hallway and started to run down the stairs when he was shot from behind by Willie Allen Garrett. 24. a self-proclaimed black mili- tant. Garrett lived in a second floor room at the hotel and was not one of the three men stopped by Officers Lane and Harris outside of the ho - 1e1. Garrett had returned to his room after he and two other men (including Eddie Taylor) had firebombed the Smiley Bar three hours earlier in the evening. The three were angry at being refused service (because they were black) and had purchased gasoline at a nearby gas station. made firebombs in Garrett -s room, and thrown them into the bar. Garrett had also Fired a re- volver three or four times into the entrance of the bar at N.W. 5th St. and Miami Ave. Garrett fired one shot into the rear left shoulder of Lane but the fatally wounded officer continued down the stairs " holdin- both hands or er his chest." He walked out (the Miami News aid as a "walking dead man") the front door of the hotel (with his ;un stili in its holster) toward the police car. Garrett. pursuing the wounded of- ficer. paused at the front door and tired another shot which hit Lane, causing him to fall down '-in the middle of the street on the white line." Garrett then fired a third shot at Lane from a crouched position just inside the front door of the hotel. He then turned and aimed his ,un at the top of the stairway apparently planning to shoot the second officer he believed would come running down the stairs i Garrett later told a friend that the second officer -'had --otten away"). Hams was spared because the desk clerk, Barry Wilson, "sprinted upstairs" to warn him. Officer Harris was running toward the front of the hotel in the upstairs hallway when Wilson I yelled at him. "don't come down, they are Pan. thers, and they will kill you." Harris unholsterea r his gun and ran on by the stairwell to the front o� n the hotel where he looked out the window dowr. at the street. When Garrett, who was downstairs. heard the officer (above him) run by the stair- well to the front of the second floor. he turner,' and went out the front door. "As he left the iron: door he raised his arm with clenched fist in the Black Panther salute to the desk clerk." He then fled the. scene. 1Vhen Officer Harris saw his partner lyine in tlierstreet from a window on the second floor. he (disregarding the earlier warring) ran down the front stairway (Garrett was gone by this timet to the police car and radioed for assi-stance. He then went to the aid of his partner who was still breathing. As soon as another police car arrived Lane was placed in (he cruiser and rushed io Jackson 1+lemoria! Hospital. He died enrowe to the hospital. The,Nledical Examiner later found that one bullet (a.38 slug) hit Lane on the rear left shoul- der and ripped downward through his heart and lungs. Another shot struck him in the lower right side of his back, and a third hit him in the abdomen. (Miami a d. 6151 1970) Garrett, who had been living in a room on the second floorof the Imperial Hotel fora month under the alias Charles Dawson. was quickly identified by witnesses at the scene as the shooter. One person had witnessed the first shot from the upstairs hallway and four others had witnessed the second and third shots fired from the first floor. Police quickly set up 15 roadblocks be- tween NW First and Eleventh Streets between Nliami Avenue and NW First Ave. Several K-9 dogs were sent to the hotel area with handlers to "try to pick up the suspect's trail." Police later determined that Garrett fled to a nearby apartment and asked a friend for a change of clothes. He took a brief nap while awaiting another friend who was making ar- rangements "to get him out of town." The friend. Al Lewis, arrived, and took Garrett to Miami International Airport, bought a ticket for him. and then drove him directly to the plane " by driv- ing directly under the loading tunnel" (Legis worked at the airport). But police quickly learned from "tipster." that Garrett was on an Easteni Airlines flight to New York through Orlando and made urranae- menis to have the plane boarded in Orlando. O(- ficers ordered all passengers off the plane sun- der a ruse of engine trouble) and found Garrett the only passenger left on the plane. Garrett matte an attempt to reach for the gun in his yaistband (there were no airport searches in 1960) but the officers grabbed him before he could pull the pun (the same gun he had used to kill Officer Lane). He was arrested for tint dcgrce murder and sent back to Miami by air the same day t lire hours after the murder). THE PERPETRATOR The Miami Herald identified Garrett in ih initial report of the shooting of Lane as a "black militant" who was "linked by police and friend, to the Black Panther Party".That description a a: challenged in a later Her -a-1 article by At 113 Featherston. who lived across thfrom A"rank.Garrett in the Imperial Hotel, and ing official" of the Black Afro Militant Move- ment (BA41VI) "which police believe is linked to the Panthers". Featherston said that the shoot- ing of Lane was "not an official act of the Black Panthers, but was an individual act of a former Panther' and added that Garrett was no longer officially connected with the Black Panthers. Featherston suggested that Garrett was a "militant freelancer trying to act his own group going." He added that he had been a "tight friend" of Garrett's (whom he knew under the alias of Charles Dawson) for a year and that he did not think the killing of the officer was planned. Police believed Featherston was trying to distance himself from Garrett since 13A,MM had become the most militant black group in Miami even to the point of predicting shootouts with police. In a March interview with the Herald Featherston had stated. "We don't encourage it (the killing of police officers) because it would take more and more of ourgood people, but it is being encouraged in some quarters." Featherston said he was in his room (across the hall from Garrett's room) asleep when he heard the shoot- ing. Police questioned but did not hold Featherston. Willie Allen Marcellus Garrett was born in Dangerfield. TX, on Sept. 16. 1945. He claimed that he was severely abused as a child. He was committed to a TX psychiatric hospital in 1963 and received shock treatments. He claimed that he had been hearing the voice of a woman from Bombay. Garrett's police record dated back to 1964 when he was sentenced to 5 years in a Texas prison for burglary, He served 3 years in the Wynn Hospital Unit of the Texas Department of Corrections. Upon release from prison in 1968 Garrett moved to Newark. N.J., where he be- came active in US, a Black Panther splinter group. He moved to Miami in 1969 and soon had an arrest record for aggravated assault, threat- ening violence. lewd and lascivious conduct. grand larceny and contributing to the delin- quency of a minor. Garrett served 3 months in the Dade County Jail for carrying a concealed weapon and only got out on May 10—just 13 days before he was accused of killing officer Lane. A preliminary hearing was held on June 4 at 4liami's "lvlunicipal Justice Buildins" before Peace Justice Ralph Ferguson under unusual se- curity precautions as police feared "trouble" from other black militants. Assistant State Attorney David Goodhart presented evidence from the hotel manager that Garrett had expressed "'ha- tred for policemen" and had vowed that if he was ever confronted by a policeman "he'd kill the S.O.B." After indictment by the Grand Jury on July 7. Garrett was arraigned on July 9 and pled not Cu ilty by reason of insanity before Circuit Judge Milton Friedman. Again, extra security precau- tions for the hearing were made after "rumors of impending violence."Judge Friedman appointed Aram Goshgarian as co -counsel with Louis Beller to defend Garrett. The court ordered a psy- chiatric evaluation of Garrett. On Sept. 14. 1970. Judge Fried led (afterhearing testimony from three psyc*ts) that Garrett was incompetent to stand tria and he was ordered to a state mental hospital for treat- ment. Garrett told the psychiatrists that he shot Lane because "voices" told him to shoot the of- ticer. "They told me to shoot him. If it wasn't for that. I wouldn't have shot him." He was di- agnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. Garrett was a behavior problem in the hos- pital and was frequently placed on a closed ward for fighting and aggressive behavior. At one point he attacked (and tried to strangle) a nurse who attempted to give him medication. During the next five years Garrett was "medicated to competency" and. in October of 1975, hospital psychiatrists certified that Garrett was competent to stand trial. Judge Ellen B. Morphonios set a hearing to determine compe- tency. Prosecutors argued that Garrett's alleged competency was due to "five years of heavy medication" and criticized the hospital: They pump people—people with life- time histories of incredible insanity ---full of anti -psychotic medication. When a man is so drugged he's no longer considered a menace, they send him back to us. It's ri- diculous. (Miami Herald. 1011511975) Prosecutors asked for and received from Judge Morphonios an order that Garrett be evalu- ated again after a 45 -day period without medi- cation. The "drug-free' competency evaluation resulted in Garrett being ruled incompetent and to commitment to the state mental hospital at Chattahooche for treatment. But two years later Garrett was back again before Judge Morphonios since hospital staff had again certified him as competent. This time Garrett's defense attorney. Louis Beller. argued that his client should not be forced to stand trial because his competency had "been temporarily restored only through heavy medication." Psy- chiatrists from Chattahoochee testified that Garrett was competent but warned that his con- dition would deteriorate if the drugs were with- drawn. On Nov. 1. 1977 (7 years after Lane's mur- der). Judge Morphonios ruled that Garrett was competent to stand trial and set Dec. 5 as the trial date. Garrett decided to plead no contest rather than go to trial but reserved his right to appeal. Judge Morphonios sentenced Garrett to life in prison plus 10 years (for the firebombing) on April 24. 1978. However. on June 9. 1981. Garrett's con- viction was overturned by the 3rd District Court of appeals. The Court cited the 1972 U.S. Su. preme Court case oflackson v. Indiana and ruled that Garrett had been held more than the "rea- sonable period" allowed by the Jackson ruling to determine if he would ever become compe- tent. The Court ruled that Garrett should have been civilly committed orreleased—the remedy earlier recommended to Judge ,Morphonios. Garrett was released on Sept. 16. 1981, af- ter he had served 3 & 113 years in prison. A pe. tition to have Garrett civilly committed under the Bakeraet was filed in Union County by State Attorney Whitworth of the 81h Judicial Circuit. This petition was denied by District Judue Wayne Carlisle on July 13. 1981.On Nov. 2. 1981, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari and thus refused to review the appellate ruling that re leased Garrett. However. Chief Justice %Varier. Burger and Associate Justice %V;Iliam Rehnquk: -'issued a blistering memo" in dissent from the Court's refusal to hear the case. Following this denial by the U.S. Supreme Court. Dade State Attorney Janet Renodismiscc_' the charges against Garrett. ft appears that Gwye:: soon wound up "back home" in Daingertie!.,!. TX. On Dec. d. 1939. he stabbed hi; mother. Jewel Davis, several times with a butcher knife duripa family dispute and was charged uit:, attgtftNd murder. In a scenario similar to the FL-experience.- Garrett L"experience."Garrett was first found incompetent to stand trial and sent to the Vernon State Hospital ton %la% 21, 1990). He was returned to the 4Torris Count% court on Nov. 26. 1990. but was again found in- competent. He was back in court on July t,. 1992, and was found competent to stand trial. Garrett, 47, then pled guilty to attempted mur- der and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. A< of March, 1995. Garrett. 50. was stili in aTexas prison and no release date had been set. Judge .Morphoniosdevoted five pages to the Lane/Garrett case in her autobiography. 4 ax' - mum Morphonios: The Life, gnsi_ Imes of America's-Toughest_):1t da. She expressed frus. tration with the revolving door aspectsof incom- petency/insanity cases and with the outcome of the Garrettcase. Heraccount includes letters ;he received from Nerine Barnes ( Lane's fiances and Betty Barnes (Nerine's mother). The judge %%ould likely be further frustrated to hear of the incom- petency[insanity revolving door that also took- place ookplace subsequently in Texas. Eddie Taylor. 19, was arrested on May 25 for a stabbing at one bar and the firebombing of a second bar just before Lane was killed on \las 23. 'The shooting of the policeman climaxed a morning of terror in the more unsavory sections of the near -downtown area." Gene Airev Har- ris. 20. was also arrested in the firebombing. He pleded guilty to second degree arson and was sentenced to one year in prison. THE OFFICER Rolland John Lane. 11.21, was born on Jan. Rolland J. Lente. CitY of Mianti. 1970. 7. 1949, in Chicago. ILto Rolland John r Imo 1. VanAvery Lane. He was the secor two sons. His father was raised on a farm in ams, NY, and his mother in Mayfleld. NY. Rolland Lane. Sr.. was the first policeman in the village of Mayfield. NY. working part time as a policeman while working two other jobs. He was later a reserve policeman for the Town- ship of Thornton. IL, from 1947-1953. The Lane family moved to Miami in 1953 when Rolland was 4. The elder Lane ran a home maintenance and repair contracting operation at 11522 N.W. 57th Ave. from 1961-1978. Alma Lane worked at various department stores in Miami and later in the family business until both she and her husband retired in 1978. The couple came out of retirement in 1979 as both went to work for the Kennelwoth House on Miami Beach. Rolland worked as the maintenance en- gineerand Alma in housekeeping until theirsec- ond retirement in 1981. Rolland. Jr., had a strong religious back- ground. All four members of the Lane family were charter members of the Palm Springs United Methodist Church in Hialeah. Rev. Fred Stinson. who was the minister of the church dur- ing Rolland's teen ,years, would later deliver his eulogy. Rolland attended Hialeah Elementary. Twin Lakes Elementary, Palm Springs Jr. High School and graduated from Hialeah High School in 1968. During his Sr. year at Hialeah H.S. he worked (under the work study program) in his father's business in the afternoons and full-time during the summer until starting college in the fall of 1968. Rolland would later become one of nine Dade law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty who attended or graduated from Hialeah H.S. No other Dade H.S. had more than two slain cops as graduates. Also. Rolland's fellow 1968 Hialeah graduate. Manuel Adriano Valle. was later convicted of the murder of Coral Gables Officer Louis Pena in 1978. In 1994 Valle was still on FL's death row for that murder. Rolland enrolled in Miami -Dade Junior College in 1968. He lacked just ten semester hours for his A.A. degree in police science when he was killed. While at Miami -Dade, Rolland worked part-time in the Cadet Corps of the Mi- ami Police Department in pursuit of his life-long desire to become a police officer like his father. Atter three months he was promoted to Cadet Commander. Most of his time was spent "doing office chores" in the homicide bureau, the unit which eventually had the task of investigating his death. Rolland Lane became a member of the Miami Police Dept.'s 70th Recruit Class (pic- tured on 3rd floor of M.P.D.) when he began training in the PoliceAcademy on Oct. 27. 1969. He graduated on Jan. 23. 4970. His leadership was again reeoanized in the Academy as he was elected a squad leader. "Officer Lane was one of the so-called 'new breed of police officers.' young, college-educated and full of compassion for his fellow -man." Rolland Lane was engaged to be married at the time of his death to Nerine Barnes. 17, of Miami Springs. Rolland worked during H.S. at the Greendale Acres Ranch in Miami and met Nerine there in 1964 when she was I I and he was 15. Both loved horseback riding and tually be.aan dating. Rolland spent a great al of time at Nerine's house and was considered by her parents. Frank and Betty Barnes. as "like a son. ' Lane died just four hours before he was to be off work for the weekend and 18 hours be- fore he was to take Nerine to her senior prom at Miami Springs H.S. "She had made her evening gown and he had rented a tuxedo." The night of May 23 was not the first time the rookie policeman had faced a gunman. Two months before he had chased an armed robber into the restroom of a service station. The rob- ber had a shotgun under a raincoat. Lane pulled his revolver and told the bandit to freeze. When the man made a threatening move Lane cocked his pistol and said. "I'll give you one more chance." The robber then surrendered. Also in March, the slain officerhad received a commendation for saving the life of a heart attack victim by administering achest massage. Additional testimony to the character of Lane came from a citizen who was the victim of a strongarm robbery. The citizen described Lane, who responded to the call concerning his rob- bery just two hours before the fatal shooting: He was one hell of a nice kid. It was a shock to me to hear that he was killed. That young man was very polite, very business- like, and to my mind typified what every- body thinks a policeman ought to be. f4ii ami Herald, 5/24/1970) Funeral and burial services were held for Rolland Lane on Monday. May 25, 1970. More than 500 persons crowded inside the Palm Springs Methodist Church for the funeral ser- vice while 300 others "listened on the outside patio and sidewalks." The Hialeah Home News noted that "the church was too small. but it was his church" and that chairs had been set in the courtyard behind the church and the spillover crowd moved quietly there. They would sit or stand in silence and listen to the organ mu- sic from speakers atop the church. (Hialeah Home dews, 5/29/1970) At the front of the church, "two helmeted motorcycle officers stood guard over either end of Rolland Lane's casket." Eulogies were delivered by a former pas- tor of the church, Rev. Fred Stinson, and the cur- rent pastor, Rev. Wm. E. Swygert. Rev. Stinson spoke of Rolland's youth. He said the then teenager was search- ing for direction in life and at last had felt he had been called to be a policeman. He likened this call to that of a missionary. (Home New,,. 5/29/1970) Rev. Stinson also told the mourners that Lane had been agood police officer and that "he will do well in his new heavenly assignment." As the service concluded, the school across the street was just letting out for the day and the children began to line the fence. "their laughter makin_ small cracks in the heavy silence." One by one a few of them slipped across the street to look more closely. One small voice in the rear of the crowd asked. "What happened? Did a policeman get killed'? No one was able to reply. The young- ster found the answer himself. It was a.ain quiet. (The, H=e News, 5/29/1970) "Twenty-eight officers from Miami's mo torcycle division led the twisting 2 -mile jour- ney to Vista Memorial Gardens" for burial. The first automobile in the procession was a limou• sine carrying Lane's mother. Alma, and father, Rolland J. Lane. Sr.: his brotherAlan: his grand• father. Henry Van Avery: and his fiance. Verint Barnes. About 60 police cars and an equal num- ber of civilian vehicles "swung into line as the colurpti stretched away out of sight". As the pro- cessi�ileft the church traffic was stopped in all directions for 13 minutes. The procession was so long that as the hearse entered the cemetm the last car was just leaving the church. The service at graveside was brief and ended with a 21 -gun salute. Many present at the burial service then went back to the church where refreshments were provided and mourners talked with family members. In 1995 Rolland Lane's grave can be found at Vista Memorial Gardens at 1.1200 N.W. 57th Ave. in Ifialeah. The grave marker reads: BELOVED SON & BROTHER OFFICER ROLLAND J. LAME, 11 JAN. 7. 1949 -MAY 23. 1970 FOP Rolland Lane was survived by his mother. Alma 1. VanAvery Lane. 57, and his father. Rolland J. Lane. Sr., 62: a brother. Alan Lane. 24: a grandfather. Henry Van Avery: and his fi- ance. Nerine Barnes. 17. Rolland J. Lane. ff.'s name is inscribed (Panel 90 -Right -10) on the Memorial Wall of the American Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd, in Miami and on the National Law Enforcement Memorial (West Wall. Panel I, Line 15) in Washington. D.C. His name is also read each May at the Dade Police 6lemorial Ser- vice in Tropical Park in Miami. A plaque bearing Officer Lane's name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Department where his name is read each May in aceremony honor- ing slain Miami officers. Also. a photo/plaque is displayed at Hialeah H.S. honoring Rolland Lane and the other eight Hialeah H.S. students who are numbered among the 108 Dade law enforce- ment officers killed in the line of duty from 1895- 1993. In 1995. Rolland Lane, Jr.'s family (Alma Lane. 82. Alan Lane. 49, and Kevin A. Lane. 14) lived in St. Petersburg. FL, Rolland Lane. Sr., died on Dec. 26. 1990, at the age of 82. Rolland's aunt. Alice Van Derwerken. 84, lived in Cobleskilt. N.Y. Nerine Barnes married a Hi- aleah fireman and lived with her husband and child in Boca Raton. Officer Fred Harris left the Dept. in 1974. 4 The 2BA HEAT published an article in its May. 1995. issue to mark the 25th anniversary of the murder of Officer Rolland Lane. SOURCES- rami Herald ,blay 23.24.26. June 5, July 2.8.9. Sept. 15, 1970, Oct. 12,15. 1975. Nov. 2. 1977: Miami News. May 2 3.35.26'6.'7, June 5.10. 1970. Nov. 1.2, 1977. Sept. 3. 1981: ,Mlami Times, May 29, June 19, 1970: The jiz aaj_gah Home News. May 29. 1970: PBA HE.1T- viay, 1995: ELor_P_atrol, Summer. 1970: Court file ofAllen .%tarceilusGarrett(070-7353): Dade County Xledical Examiner records ( A): Morris County criminal case (#67941[989; Texas Dept, of Corrections records of Willie tvtarcellus Garrett 0620800); Garrett vs, State. 390 So. 2d.95. Fla. 3 D.C.A., 1981; Union County civil case #81=109: U.S. Supreme Court, 50 U.S.L.W. 3347 (1981); Death certificate of Rolland John Lane, IL• Miami Police Dept. in- vestigative report #692183-,NIF: iMaA. i tum Morphonios: The- Life and,:Eimes of Ameriea's Toughest Judge by Ellen Morphonios with Mike Wilson. N.Y.: Wm. Morrow & Co. 1991., pp. 82-90; and interviews with Alma Lane, Betty Barnes, Det, Mike Gonzalez, Charles Reynolds. and Monis County (TX) State Attorney Rich- ard Townsend. Lb Shot & killed on Feb. 20, 1971 THE EVENT Miami Police Officer Victor Butter, 45, a 20 -year veteran, was shot and killed "from am- bush" by two gunmen during a domestic distur- bance call in northwest Miami's Brownsville section on Feb. 20, 1971. Butler was the 26th Miami officer killed in the line. of duty and the fifth black officer killed since 1946. Butter and his partner. Otis Pitts, 28, re- sponded to a domestic disturbance call at 1336 Y.W. 461h St. (across the street from Allapattah Jr. High School in the Liberty City section of Miami) at I0:27P:til on Saturday. Feb. 20.197 1. The two were due to end their tour of duty at I 1:00PM but volunteered to take the call. They were the second police unit to respond to that address that night and the second to "attempt to arbitrate the family's differences." The first po- lice unit. comprised of Officer John Valdes and his partner Officer Joe Hunt. had left four hours earlier. The disturbance on both occasions in- volved several members of a family. As customary, the officers attempted to separate the combatants to let them air their grievances out of earshot of the others. It soon became apparent to the two officers that one of the sons, 22 -year old George Chisholm. "was the cause" of the argument. Officer Butler said to the 22 -year old. "Come on son, let's go out- side to talk." As officer Butler was about to step outside the Brownsville duplex he paused. briefly silhouetted in the doorway by the interior lights. At 10:47P41 those inside the house heard shots ring out and the sound of the "screeching of tires". Butler was hit by two .30 calibre rifle slu,s and fell forward.The first bullet him in the chest. first striking two pens he had in his shirt pocket. The second bullet hit him in the back. The of- ficer never had a chance to draw his gun as he was the unsuspecting victim of an "ambush". The police later determined that the two rifle slugs had come from two different weapons. Officer Pitts heard the shots and saw Chisholm jump back inside the house. He later recalled the events of that fatal night. "I told everyone to hit the floor. I went to the door and opened it... "I saw him lying on the ground." Pitts said the porch light was on, so anyone inside would be an easy target. "1 116 had no idea who it was, what their maw tion was," he said. He slipped to theqW drawing his revolver. At the same time, h radioed in an emergency call an his walkie talkie. Another car was only a block away and within seconds the night was filled with the insistent sirens of police cruisers. ( ' nmi Yews, 10120/1978) The first police car arrived in I& 112 min utes and the officers told those inside the house that Butler had been shot. Pitts then ran out th door and saw his partner shot twice in the chest. lying on his back in front of one of the cars parked in front of the house. Butter had died in- stantly. At 11:30PM a Randle -Eastern ambulance transported the body of Butter to the morgue af- ter he was declared dead at the scene. The au- topsy indicated that one bullet "took the top of his heart right off and lodged under his right shoulder." The death certificate listed the cause of death as "gunshot wounds of chest." Assistant Chief Kenneth Fox went to Vic- tor Butler's home• to break the news of his death to his family. The family was awaken from sleep and told that Officer Butter had been killed. Officer Pitts lived only a block from the shooting site and when his wife heard that a po- liceman had been killed she rushed to the scene to discover that her husband was alive. She was concerned because he had been shot at twice in the past six months. The first shooting occurred on July 4, 1970, when a fugitive shot at Pius three times at point blank range in a chase. The fugitive missed and was shot and killed "by a ban -age of police bullets." Pitts feared for his life since there was some speculation that Butler's assassins may have been after him, Police issued a statewide alert for a "light blue, 1963 Chevrolet carrying three black youths, all wearing sunglasses" who were seen acing away from the scene at a high speed traveling west on 46th St. and turning south on 151h Ave. Miami police sealed off the major intersections in the neighborhood but failed to locate a car fitting the description of the get -away car. THE PERPETRATORS The police investigation determined that there were two killers who apparently lay in wait for 20 minutes outside the duplex and fired at Butler from only 25 feet away. Investigators con- cluded that these were no pot-shots snapped off haphazardly from a handgun... these were assassins, benton just one purpose—to kill a cop... The shots came. detectives say, from one man kneeling on the lawn and from another firing a rifle braced against the win- dow ledge of the getaway car. Within that 1963 Chevrolet, witnesses say, was the driver and perhaps one other man, all blacks like Butler. (Miami,Huald. 2120/1972) As many as t5 detectives worked the But- ler case in the beginning and they had a number of tips to check out. The tips were partly due to the more than 1.000 posters distributed through- out the community offering a $6.500 reward (from the FOP, PBA, and tvtiami Firefighters Local 587) for information about the Butler murder. The April 7 Lbami_ Herald reported that more than 1,000 persons had been questioned e and listed five possible motiveslthcories that police were investigating. The first suggested that Butler had been mistaken for an officer who had been making narcotics arrests in the area. The Jv11; second was that the killers were members of a holdup gang. one of whom had been shot and arrested the day before. The third was that the killers were friends of a 17-vear old �%ho had e been killed by a policeman just hour: before Budd's,murder. The fourth theory was that the kill;A rrrtay have had a grudge against Butler for some prior arrest. The fifth and most popular theory was that Butler was killed by "a cadre of black revolu- tionaries in Miami." In fact. police first investi- gated the possibility that there was a --national conspiracy" since seven policemen were killed in separate shootings around the nation oker that same weekend, and several were "exccution- style slayings." The conspiracy motive %%as given more credence since the last Miami officerslain (Rolland Lane on May 23. 1970) was killed by a man linked to the Black Panther. Party. Within months after the murder of Butler. Miami detectives began to focus on a small group of black militants who were.members of a group called the Black Afro h[ilitant Movement (BANIM) who were alleged to teach and prac- tice violence against "the Establishment." BAMM was led by Al Featherston. 37, who was also investigated in the murder of Miami Officer Rolland J. Lane the previous year. Detectives believed that the two killers were BAMM members John Lane. 18. and John Murray Johnson, 19, but did not have sufficient evidence to indict or convict them. David Goodhart, the assistant state attorney who pros- ecuted several BA4IM members on arson charges, had a tot of "street information from : informers' but did not believe the evidence would stand up in court. A year after the Butler murder. four conspirators gave statements to the police but "the statements ran the gamut from truth to part truth to lies." Finally after seven years (in 1978). Det. Bruce Roberson obtained a statement (i.e.. con- fession) from Jan Cleveland Thurston, 25 (18 at the time of the murder), who claimed that he was the driver of the getaway car which dropped off and picked up Lane and Johnson at the murder scene. On the basis of Thurston's teuimony the Dade County Grand Jury indicted Lane and Johnson on Oct. 19. 1978. On Oct. ?0. 1973. the _ktiam�_i Nos; reported a statement from Det. Mike Gonzalez that indi- cated that the arrests in 1978 were made after Richard Gerstein resigned as state auomty and implied a bad relationship between cops and Gerstein's assistants. Gerstein reacted angrily to the press report based an klike Gonzalez's state- ments. Det. Gonzalez meant only to suggest that with a "changing of the guard" at the State Attornev's office. the case was looked at again and with renewed interest. Gonzalez apologized to an angry Gerstein and told the State .attorney that his words were misconstrued. The two re- mained friends. Lane was in prison serving a 10 -year term for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (robbery) when arrested. Johnson was ar- Weror Butler, Jr., Cin of Miami, 1971. rested at his home in N. Miami. Both men were from middle-class homes and played football (Lane as a running back and Johnson as a quar- terback) at N. Miami High School in the late 1960's. Both were "into blackness" and eventu- ally joined BAMM, Thurston (and other conspirators) claimed that a car with 3-5 people dropped off Lane and Johnson at the murder scene when they saw the police cruiser outside the house. The two kill- ers, wearing black berets, waited in ambush for one of the officers "to show himself." Butler stepped out of the house first and was shot and killed. The killers jumped into the getaway car parked a block away and fled the scene leaving one of the black berets behind. However, the case. set for trial in early 1979. collapsed when Thurston disappeared and sent an audio tape to Lane and Johnson's defense atiomey recanting his statement identifying the two indicted men as the triggermen. Thurston claimed that he had been pressured (i.e.. offered a reduction in his current sentence and immu- nity for the murder) by Miami police, Police searched for the missing Thurston for a year before he was located and arrested in St. Paul. MN, in early Jan. of 1980. The fugitive was returned to Miami but continued to insist that Lane and Johnson were not the killers of Butler. The: Miami Metaldreportedthat Thurston was then charged with Butler's murder. However, the state attorney dropped the charges on Aug. 15. 1930, after a judge threw out Thurston's confession because he had been arrested (and questioned) without probable cause. with no confession and a "recanting" Thurston. the state could not proceed against the killers of Victor Butler. The Miami Police Department considers the Butler case as "closed" (rather than "unsolved" or "open") since Lane. Johnson, and Thurston. who were believed to be involved in the murder. were arrested. The fact that none of the trio were convicted does not affect the clearance status of the case. THE OFFICER Victor Butler. Jr.. 43. was born on Jan. 22. 1926, inMiami to Victor Butler. Sr., and A Pinder Butler. His father was born in Nassau. Bahamas, in 1899, and came to ,Miami in 1912. He was a construction worker until his retire- ment. Victor was the second of four children (Preston, Victor, Jr.. Lillie Mae, and Martha). All four children attended Liberty City Elementary (grades 1-6) and Dorsey H.S. (grades 7-12). Victorquit school to join the U.S. Army on March 25. 1944 (during World War 11). and served until May 31. 1946. He served overseas for 16 months and saw combat action in the Southern Philippines with the 636th Ordinance Ammunition Co. as a "munitions worker." Upon discharge from the Army Victor re- turned to Dorsey H.S. (where he played left tackle on the football team. the Dorsey Bulls) and graduated in 1947. He married his high school sweetheart. Juanita Collier. in 1947. Juanita had graduated from Dorsey H.S. in 1945 as valedictorian. She was a native of Miami. growing up with her brother James Collier and her sister Ruby Collier (George). She was later employed for many years as a nurse at Jackson Nursing Home. After H.S. Victor attended a barber college in Tyler, TX, and returned to Miami to work full- time as a barber from 1948-1951. After becom- ing a police officer, Victor worked (from 1951- 1963) on weekends at the Sunset Barber Shop run by George V. McPhee near 15th Ave. and 69th St. He earned "S 1.05 a head to supplement a police salary that was only 5238 a month when he began." He quit in 1963 to devote more time to his young children. Victor Butler. Jr., joined the Miami Police Department on April 7. 1951, at the age of 25. He had long aspired to become a cop because (as he told others) "when you're a policeman you're right at the top... just like a lawyer or doctor, right at the top of society. nothing bet- ter." Victor Butler. Jr.. was a devoted son and stopped by to see his mother each night at her home in Liberty City, Victor Butler Sr. died on Aug. 12, 1962, at the age of 63. leaving Officer Butler's mother alone. On his last tour of duty on Feb. 20. Butler had stopped to check on his mother as Pitts waited in the police car. Patrolmen Victor Butler and Otis Pius. Jr.. were not regular partners. Butler's regular part- ner, Officer J.K. Koeval. and Pitt's partner had both taken a day off. Pitts and Butler were as- signed to patrol together at the last minute on Saturday. Pitts had known Butler as an associate of his father's since he was a child. Victor But- ter. Jr., and Otis Pitts. Sr., served on the Miami Police Dept. together from 1951-1970. Otis Pitts. Sr., retired in 1970 after 22 years (1948-1970) on the force. Victor Butler. Jr.. was a 20 -year veteran of the Miami Police Dept. having become an of- ficer on April 7, 1951. There were 71 black of- ficers on the Miami police force in 1971. Butler was attending Miami -Dade Jr. College andwas studying for the sergeants exam at the time of his death. Butler's body lav in state for two days at the Manker-Milton Funeral Home with shifts of Miami police officers standing by the open cas- ket (containing Officer Butler in police uniform) until the funeral on Saturday. Feb. 27. at the ,Nlount Tabor Church at 1701 V.W. 66th St Eulogies were delivered by Miami Sgt. J.L. Nash and Daniel H. Bailey and Rev. James Hendon. pastor of Mt. Tabor. Fr. Canon Theodore R. Gibson of Christ Church assisted in the services Security was tight at the funeral given the circumstances of Butler's death. A police heli- copter made circles overhead while "dozens or plainclothes policemen"mingled with thecrowd both inside and outside the church. Armed of. Peers manned stations on "rooftops and on high. ways y+Fhe church was checked for bombs be fore mourners were allowed into the building. The Herald estimated that 2.000 persons at- tended the funeral services. That total included hundreds of police officers from more than 40 police departments in Dade County and through- out Florida. Also attending were Miami Mayor David Kennedy. Commissioners J.L. Plummer and Arden Siegendorf, City Manaaer Melvin Reese. Miami Police Chief Bemard Garmire. State Attorney Richard Gerstein and Miami Beach Police Chief Rocky Pomcrance. More than a dozen retired black officers from the City of Miami force attended the fu- neral in testimony to the many friends Butler had made during his long police career. This num- ber included Emest Hayes, who was present at the scene of Officer Leroy LaFleur's murder 20 years earlier. and Attorney Calvin %lapp. A squadron of 30 police motorcycles and more than 100 police cruisers led the procession to Evergreen Memorial Park at 3065 N.W. 41st St. for the burial service. A full police service was held at graveside. Officer Butler's _grave marker at Evergreen reads: VICTOR BUTLER. JR. JAN 22. I926 FEB 20, 1971 Victor Butler is buried near his wife. Juanita (1972), his father ([ 96'1 and hi, mother (1984). Victor Butler was survived by his widow. Juanita, 44, and three children. Carol Jean. 14. Victor Ill. 12. and Rose Marie. 10: his mother. Estella Butler of Miami: a brother. Preston But- ler of Springfield, .NIA: and two sisters. Lillie Mae Clear of Detroit and Martha House of St. Louis. At the time of Officer Butler's death. city officials said that the widow would receive a S 10.000 benefit eiven to survivors of policemen killed in the line of duty and half of the pension her husband would ha�-e received had he lived to retirement. The family also was to receive half a year's pay and S 1.0116 from the 200 Club fur immediate expenses. The 200 Club also pail off the unpaid mortgage of the Butler home. A benefit show for the Butler family. oria- nized by Miami Sgt, Robert Ingram and the black PBA, was held on May 26. 1971, at Bayfront Auditorium. The show. attended by 000 pcople. featured more than 25 black -groups and indi- vidual acts (i.e.. the Soulfulettes. the Delfonics. the Starettes) and raised more than 56,W) for aneducational trust fund forthe Butler children. In 1993 a program from the benefit program +tins displayed in a case outside the Chief's office at the Miami Police Department. Victor Butler. Jr.. was posthumously se- lected as Most Outstanding Officer for the month of February by Miami Police Chief Bernard L. Garmire. On April 7, 1971, Officer Butleo veloper' who had "earned a national reputation widow. Juanita, added her husband's name to the for his Liberty City redevelopment projects." He "bronze tablet" (i.e.. list of slain officers) in front headed the Tacolcy Economic Development of the (old) Miami Police headquarters. The three Corp. which developed Edison Towers. Edison Butlerchildren were present at the ceremony that Marketplace, and other projects on "Liberty included an honor guard of 40 uniformed offic- City's transformed Seventh Avenue corridor." ers, The name of Victor Butter. Jr.. is inscribed Juanita Butler. 45. died of heart attack on April 28, 1972, fifteen months after her husband's murder and was buried beside him at Evergreen Cemetery. Ruby ("Doll") Collier George (the sister of Juanita Collier Butler), raised the three Butler children in Miami after the death of their mother (and father). Ire 1995, two of the three Butler children still lived in S. FL.. Carol Jean Butter. 38, still resided in the Butler family residence on NW. 22nd Ave, and worked as a corrections officer (with the rank of Sgt.) at the state prison for women in west Broward. Her three children (the grandchildren of Officer Victor Butler) were Anthony Williams, Jr., 12, Bobby James Mitchell. 10. and Ephriam Ahkeem Mitchell, 1. Rose Marie Butler. 35, also lived in Miami in 1995 with her three children, DarshaneTrinae Butler, 18. Melvin Daniels, Jr.. 12, and Diamond Pittman, Jr.. 5. Victor Butler, M. 36, was a Mas- ter Sgt. in the U.S. Army, stationed in CA. He and his wife. Laura. had three children, Jenni- fer, 16. Tramaine, 11, and Lauren Sharice, 2. Thus Victor Butler was survived in 1995 by nine grandchildren from his three children. Victor Butler's mother, Estella, died on Nov. 14, 1984, at the age of 84. She is buried beside her son and husband at Evergreen Cem- etery. In 1995, Victor Butler, Jr.'s two sisters, Lillie Mae Clair. 67, and Martha House, 62, both lived in Detroit while Preston Butler. 72, lived in Springfield, MA. Otis Pitts. 28. had only been a Miami po- lice officer for a little over a year at the time of the Butler murder. He considered resigning the week after Butler was killed but other officers urged him to remain with the force. However, in 1974 he did resign from the Dept, to become executive director of the Tacolcy Youth Center in Liberty City. Pitts said, "I thought it was time to get on the other side of the fence and instead of putting people in jail, try to prevent them from going to jail." In 1971 he had been described as: one of the New Police, a community relations -trained young black who had worked his way up from Detroit factory work and cooking on an Atlantic Coast Line railroad into a police uniform (Miami Her- aLd, '2/38/1971) Pitts described Victor Butler as a 20 year veteran who was undergoing a change. He changed... I remembered him as a hardliner. He was a completely different po- iieeman. He was like some guy At com- ing on, very enthusiastic. He was trying to pass his test, make rank. get merits, awards, always conscious of it. What he was telling me, he'd stay here another five years, make sergeant, get out of that radio patrol thing. (Miami Herald, 2/28/1971) In 1993 President Clinton named ex -officer Otis Pitts, 50, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of HUD and placed him in charge of hurricane re- lief in Miami. Pitts had become a "visionary de - Is (Panel 93 -Right -13) on the Memorial Wall of the American Police Hall of Fame Muscum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the National Law Enforcement Memorial (West Wall, Panel 56, Line 13) in Washington, D.C. Aplaque bear- ing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Department and his name is read every May at that location and at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park in Miami. This narrative of the life and death of Vic- tor Butler. Jr.. is also included in Fotgolten He- roes: Black Police Offigrr5 Killcd in Dade Collf)M 1244-1925, published by Avanti Press of Opa-locka in Dec. of 1995. SOURCES: Miami Herald, Feb. 21,22,23,28, March 12,19, April 7,8, May 2.36,27, Nov. K 1971, Feb. 20. April 30, 1972, Feb. 4, 1976, Oct. 20,23,25, 1978. Feb. 8, 1979, Jan. 8. 1980, June 15, 1991. Aug. 6. 1991, April 12. 1992: I mama News, Feb, 2,23,25,26. March 5,13, April 5,8. May 27. 1971. Feb. 3, 1976, Oct. 19,20, 1978: Miami -Times. Feb. 26, March 5.19, 1971, Nov 22, 1984; FL on Patrol, Summer, 1971; Dade County criminal court file of Jan Cleveland Thurston 080-355); Dade County Medical Ex- aminer records of Victor Butler, Jr. (#469A); Death certificate of Victor Butler. Miami Police Department case records (#744570); Military record of Victor Butler, Jr. (#34953469); death certificate of Victor Butler, Jr.; and interviews with Ralph White, Lillie Mae Clair and Carol Jean Butler. #154 JOHNNY EDWARD MITCHELL Metro -Dade Police Dept. Injured in pursuit accident on July 22,1971 (died Dec. 31, 1971) THE EVENT Rookie Metro -Dade police officer Johnny Edward Mitchell, 29, was critically injured in an auto crash at 2:15AM on Ju ly 22, 1971, as he attempted to intercept a speeding violator being chased by Opa-locks police. He died five months later without regaining consciousness, Mitchell was the sixth black officer killed in the history of Dade County since Miami Officer John Milledge was killed in 1946. Mitchell became the sixth of ten Dade of- ficers to be killed during a pursuit. The others were Miami Officer Samuel Callaway (1927): Miami Officer Augustus McCann (1928); Mi- ami Motorcycle Officer Wesley Thompson (1941); Miami Officer John Burlinson (1958); Metro Officer Paul Anderson (1967); Metro - Dade Officer Edward Young (1981): Miami Motorcycle Officer Jose DeLeon (1984): Bal - Harbour Officer John Melendez (1985); and Sweetwater Officer James Beasley (1986). The fatal incident began around 2:OOAM on Thursday. July 22, 1971, when an Opa-locka police officer saw a car run a red light at Opa- locka Blvd. (NI,W. 145 St.) and 27 Ave. and at- tempted to pull the carover. However, the driver as on Opa-locka Blvd, (a one-way bound thoroughfare) and then north on I- 95. After the "in pursuit" call went out over the police radio asking other departments for assis- tance. several Opa-locka and Metro officers along with officers from N. Miami. N, Miami Beach and troopers from FHP joined in the chase. Both the Miami Herald and the kliami News reported that the chase at one point involved speeds up to.100mph and involved ten radio cars from fivp rpolice departments. N. Miami officers "airtmpted to set up a roadblock on I- 95 in the path of the fugitive but the speeding fugitive evaded it" according to police. Officer Mitchell decided to join the chase in his 1970 Plymouth police vehicle. Hearing that the pursued car was heading north on I-95, Mitchell attempted to take ashort-cut and drove his police cruiserthe wrong way on an exit ramp at the Golden Glades Exchange of I-95 and then headed north (i.e.. the wrong way) in the southbound lane of the expressway (which was not heavily traveled at this hour). About 1 & 112 miles south of Miami Gardens Drive (and just south of the cloverleaf), Mitchell's police car was hit by a southbound 1965 Chevrolet station wagon driven by an "innocent" Plantation flight engineer, John A. Wilbur, 45, who was on his way to work at Miami International Airport. Wilbur was prevented from seeing the on- coming police cruiser by a curve and an incline. Mitchell was driving in the right lane when he saw oncoming traffic approaching. He attempted to move from the right to the left lane to avoid the oncoming car but apparently "lost control" of his vehicle and "rotated clockwise" (i.e., slid sideways) across the three lanes of traffic. Wilbur's vehicle was traveling in the middle lane and struck Mitchell's police cruiser on the driver's side. Wslburwas taken to Parkway Gen- era) Hospital in "serious" condition. Officer Mitchell was taken b" an Eastern ambulance to Parkway General Hospital and ad- mitted at 5:45AM with severe head injuries. Af- ter surgery doctors reported that he had a "brain stem contusion with coma." During his first week of hospitalization at Parkway. Mitchell needed 28 pints of blood a day for transfusions. The blood was supplied by a massive blood drive by fellow officers. On Nov. 6, 1971 (after 3 & 112 months), Mitchell was transferred to the Heritage House Nursing Home at 2201 N.E. 170th St. in N. Ivli- ami Beach. He remained in a coma though he had (largely) recovered from his physicalyinju- ries. Mitchell was re -admitted to Parkway with pneumonia on Dec. 13, 1971, and discharged to the nursing home on Dec, 21. He died at 7:50AM on Dec. 31, I971 (five months after the acci- dent) at the nursing home of "multiple medical complications" as a result of injuries from the accident. The death certificate indicated that the primary cause of death was "acute suppurative bronchpneumonia" due to a coma and blunt trauma. The death of Officer Mitchell led Dade Sheriff E. Wilson Purdy to launch an investiga- tion into the high-speed chase and accident, Purdy indicated the day after the accident that though high-speed chases were dangerous they Arrington had also been active in the mist Club for several years and had been Anof 17 black Metraofiicers to become Big Brother. For two years Arrington took 9 -year-old Kevin Smith, his " little brother." on outings. He had seen less of Kevin in recent months as he was moonlighting as a guard at a theater and was also taking college courses at Nliami-Dade Commu- nitv College. The wake was held on May 23 at Robinson's ,Midtown Funeral Home. On May 24. Rev. Gay. Pastorof the St. James A.M.E. Church. delivered the eulogy at Arrington's funeral held at the Dade County Auditorium. Capt. Frank Clifton. District Commander. also spoke as did Det. Earl Chantlos. Sgt. Chester Butler. Det. Steve NfcEleveen and Lt. Willie Morrison were among the pallbearers. More than 3.000 people. mostly police of. ficers. attended the services and formed the cor- tege to the burial services at Evergreen Memo- rial Park at 3665 N.W. 41 St. Simmons Arrington's entire family came to Miami from Birmingham for the funeral services. In 1995 the grave of Simmons Arrington can be found in the northeastern corner of Ever- green Cemetery near that of Miami Officer Vic- tor Butler (killed in 1971). The grave marker reads: SE'MONS ARRINGTON DEC. 29. 1942 MAY 21. 1974 Simmons Arrington was survived by his wife. Albertha. 40, and two step -children. Tosca Fai Carroll, 16. and Robert Franklin Carroll, III. 14; his father. Simmons Arrington. Sr.. 47, and his step -mother. Vivian Arrington of Birming- ham: his mother. Nfurtial A. Jackson of Birming- ham. AL; his brothers. Cleo, Leo. Larry and Michael Arrington and CurtisAtkins and Vincent Jackson of Birmingham: and his sisters Betty. flub%. and Cassandra Arrington and Debra Jack - S011 Of Birmingham: and his grandfather. J. McKee. and grandmother. Clara McKee of Bir- rnino ham. Arrington's widow received a $20.000 death benefit from Dade County because her husband was killed in the line of duty. The Com- mittee of 200, a group of local businessmen, paid the funeral costs and the outstanding debts of the l':unil. ineludin- the mortgage on the house. Albertha died in 1983. The officer's father. Simmons Arrington. Sr.. died in 1953 in Bir- minham at the age 01`60. It, 1995. Tosca Carroll. 38. lived in Miami And Robert Carroll, 36. lived in Broward with his daughter. Robbi. 3. Both Tosca and Robert %%orked in real estate. Also. in 1995. Michael Arrington. 36, was the only sibling of Simmons Arrington living in FL. Michael lived in Miramar with his sons Drrez. IS and Demetrius, 7. and %torked as a security guard at Broward County Community College. South Campus and as pro - _ram director for the Hollywood YMCA. Leo \rringron lived in Hawaii. Cleo Arrington in Nlih%aukee, and Larry Arrington in Atlanta. lion Arrington lived in Atlanta and Cassandra Brown lived in Birmingham. The name of Simmons Arrington is in- wribed (panel 13 -Right -19) on the Memorial «'all of the American Police Hail of Fame Mu - THE EVENT Seven employees of the U.S. Drug En- forcement Agency were killed on Aug. 5. 19 74. when the DEA headquarters building in down- town Miami "burst at its seams and caved in." Two of the seven. Nickolas Fragos. 29. and Charles H, Mann.3 t, were special agents. Both Fragos and Mann were killed on the morning of their first day at work at their new assign- ment in Miami. The other five killed were Mary .\I. Keehan. 27. Secretary to DEA's Acting Regional Direc- tor. Anna J. Pope. 54. a fiscal assistant: Anna Y. i4founger. 24, a secretary: Martha D. Skeels. 50. a supervisory clerk -typist: and Nlar) P. Sullivan. 56. a clerk -typist. In addition. 16 persons were injured, some seriously. At 10:23AM on Aug. 5. 1974. the DEA's southern regional office building at 201 N.E 12th St. (the comer of NE 12th St. and 2nd Ave. t col- lapsed. There were 57 cars fall seized in drug raids) parked on the roof of the two story build- ing and I l cars and a van came crashing down through the two stories causing a major portion of the building to collapse, Approximately 150 persons land 101 agents) worked out of the DEA headquarters building but it appears that only around 50 were inside the building at the time of the collapse. The tragedy would have been worse if it had occurred 7 minutes later as 30 of the region's top DEA officials were scheduled to meet at 10:30AM in a conference room that was com- pletely demolished. Many of those who escaped heard and saw the collapse and managed to escape the falling debris. One agent escaped when a "tush of air' caused by the collapse "blew him down a hall- way." Another was getting out of a parked car in effort. A crowd of over 500 persons •.vats hed a-< the workers tried to save those trapped under the debris. Some relatives of DEA employees, hear- ing news report of the collapse, gathered at the scene to rind out if their loved ones were miss- ing or had been recovered. The wounded were brouvht out tint with the last injured person. Nancy Patricia DeMaria. being removed at 1:50PM.'The first body was not recovered until 6:55 PM lover 3 hours after thecollapse i. Agent Fragos' body was reco%ered at 7:45A.%1 on Tuesday. Aug. 6 (22 hour. after the collapse). He had been buried beneath a Con- tinental dark IV deep in the wreckage. Pitt DeMari& who was rescued 3 & 1l2 hours after the collapse. reported that she heard Fragos' last words and that he then "kind of moaned and then he died." An agent who es aped had sten Fragos hit by a beam and officials knew he was dead. His cause of death was listed as "asphyxia due to crushing injuries o(chest." Marlene Fragos had been notified that her husband had been in an accident and acts taken. alone with her daughter, to an office near the collapsed building. They waited there for oyer 20 hours for word as to what had happened to Agent Fragos. Their anguish was increased eyerytime word came to the office that another body had been Found --but not that of Fragos. The body of Agent ,Mann was recovered at 10:45 AM i 24 hours after the collapse) and was the last of the seven killed to be removed from the wreckage. The � ' ' w - also reported that some records were desiroved but that most records (e.g.. evidence and seized drugs) were in a vault later found in the rubble. Round-the-clock secu- rity was maintained to prevent any further loss of records and cash and about 2:00AS(�o��n�}Tues. -1 :�. � � 4 1 D U 127 scum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on front of the building and escaped even though the National law Enforcement Memorial (East the car was almost flattened by falling debris. Wall. Panel I9, Line 14) in Washineton. D.C. )lost of the persons in the building thought His name is inscribed an a stone memorial in at the time that the collapse was the result of an the lobby of the Metro -Dade Police Department earthquake or a bomb explosion. They heard' an headquarters building and is read each May at eerie crack" and then saw the whole building the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical siarttocrumble followed byacloud ofdu, On. Park in Miami. The PBA -HEAT published an agent reported that "desks and typewriters were article about Arrington on the 20th anniversary falling in. A girl above me was hanging on to a of his death (,May. 1994). chair. The rest of her was kicking in midair." This narrative of the life and death of Over undred police and fireman arrived Simmons Arrington is also included in EQC:ol- within mittftes of the collapse and began pull- = Hem= Black.P_QIICe Officers KillelkDade victims from the wreckage. Within 45 min - County. 1944- published by Avanii Press utes a 100 foot crane arrived and began pulling of Opa-locka in Dec. of 1995. off debris. The Firemen were led to some vic- tims by those who had escaped and to others by SOURCES: MJaMi ElSmId. May 22.1974, June their cries for help. The flreman had to pick their 13.22. July 2, 1974. Sept. 26. 1975. April 2.l I, way "through steel beams, concrete stabs and 1976: Miami News, May 22.23.24.25. 1974: dangerously teetering autos to talk with victims ,Miami Times. May 23.30. June 13.20.23. July pinned in the debris." Rescue workers were 1.2. 1974: Court rile of Sam Smith. Jr. (#74- "lowered by their feet into gaps in the debris." 4719): Death certificate of Simmons Arrington: The rescue work was quite dangerous and FL Dept. of Corrections records of Sam Smith. at one point a beam moved, almost causing a Jr. (#049573); Letter from Det. Aaron Campbell. second collapse chat could have killed the six Jr., of Metro -Dade Police; and interviews with fireman in its wake. The Jliami_N�w_c reported Michael Arrington, Tosca Carroll and Nlarviri that rescue workers "risked their lives time and Wiley. again clawing through the rubble. clinging to the hope someone else would be found alive." Gaso- #58 NICKOLAS ERAGOS line was streaming from some of the suspended #S9 CHARLES H. NIANN autos creating the danger of a fire. U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency The rescue work went on non-stop for 24 Killed in building collapse. Aug. 3. 1974 hours as five giant searchlights were hmu:ht i- from Homestead Air Force Base to :lid in the THE EVENT Seven employees of the U.S. Drug En- forcement Agency were killed on Aug. 5. 19 74. when the DEA headquarters building in down- town Miami "burst at its seams and caved in." Two of the seven. Nickolas Fragos. 29. and Charles H, Mann.3 t, were special agents. Both Fragos and Mann were killed on the morning of their first day at work at their new assign- ment in Miami. The other five killed were Mary .\I. Keehan. 27. Secretary to DEA's Acting Regional Direc- tor. Anna J. Pope. 54. a fiscal assistant: Anna Y. i4founger. 24, a secretary: Martha D. Skeels. 50. a supervisory clerk -typist: and Nlar) P. Sullivan. 56. a clerk -typist. In addition. 16 persons were injured, some seriously. At 10:23AM on Aug. 5. 1974. the DEA's southern regional office building at 201 N.E 12th St. (the comer of NE 12th St. and 2nd Ave. t col- lapsed. There were 57 cars fall seized in drug raids) parked on the roof of the two story build- ing and I l cars and a van came crashing down through the two stories causing a major portion of the building to collapse, Approximately 150 persons land 101 agents) worked out of the DEA headquarters building but it appears that only around 50 were inside the building at the time of the collapse. The tragedy would have been worse if it had occurred 7 minutes later as 30 of the region's top DEA officials were scheduled to meet at 10:30AM in a conference room that was com- pletely demolished. Many of those who escaped heard and saw the collapse and managed to escape the falling debris. One agent escaped when a "tush of air' caused by the collapse "blew him down a hall- way." Another was getting out of a parked car in effort. A crowd of over 500 persons •.vats hed a-< the workers tried to save those trapped under the debris. Some relatives of DEA employees, hear- ing news report of the collapse, gathered at the scene to rind out if their loved ones were miss- ing or had been recovered. The wounded were brouvht out tint with the last injured person. Nancy Patricia DeMaria. being removed at 1:50PM.'The first body was not recovered until 6:55 PM lover 3 hours after thecollapse i. Agent Fragos' body was reco%ered at 7:45A.%1 on Tuesday. Aug. 6 (22 hour. after the collapse). He had been buried beneath a Con- tinental dark IV deep in the wreckage. Pitt DeMari& who was rescued 3 & 1l2 hours after the collapse. reported that she heard Fragos' last words and that he then "kind of moaned and then he died." An agent who es aped had sten Fragos hit by a beam and officials knew he was dead. His cause of death was listed as "asphyxia due to crushing injuries o(chest." Marlene Fragos had been notified that her husband had been in an accident and acts taken. alone with her daughter, to an office near the collapsed building. They waited there for oyer 20 hours for word as to what had happened to Agent Fragos. Their anguish was increased eyerytime word came to the office that another body had been Found --but not that of Fragos. The body of Agent ,Mann was recovered at 10:45 AM i 24 hours after the collapse) and was the last of the seven killed to be removed from the wreckage. The � ' ' w - also reported that some records were desiroved but that most records (e.g.. evidence and seized drugs) were in a vault later found in the rubble. Round-the-clock secu- rity was maintained to prevent any further loss of records and cash and about 2:00AS(�o��n�}Tues. -1 :�. � � 4 1 D U 127 day a safe with S200.000 was removed frock rubble. There was some concern also that cases "made" by the two slain agents would be dis- missed in court. THE PERPETRATOR The 49 -year-old building was completed in 1925 and opened as an auto showroom and a garage. It opened as the Ungar Buick agency and later was occupied by Frank Edelen Buick. The original building was designed for parking on the roof and had a steep ramp to the roof. City building inspection records indicate that alter- ations in the building were made in 1947. repair in 1955-56 and extensive repairs beginning in August of 1971 and continuing into early 1972. It was laterdetermined that the 49 -year old building did not have steel beams across its span and that the original beams were made of tin. Also, the columns supporting the roof were dis- coverer; to have been made of concrete made from "materials dredged up from Biscayne Bay" that "was laced with wood. glass and trash." The original design for parking on the roof was for fewer (and lighter) cars. The renovation in 1971-72 included the pouring of 4 & I2 to 6 inches of unreinforced concrete on the parking deck. Miami City offi- cials clt.imed they did not issue a permit for this work and would have required a "complete en- gineering evaluation prior to permitting." The concrete slab added 75 pounds of weight per square foot to the roof of the building (or 15.000 pounds per car apace), The DEA moved into the building in Sept. of 1971 when the renovation was still underway. Employees at DFA did report that the roof leaked and experts later speculated that the rainwater increased the weight of the roof and weakened the concrete columns. contributing to the col- lapse. Local newspapers ran stories for two days after the building collapse about the "pointing of fingers-" as to who and what was responsible for the building collapse. One article in the ML- ami Herald was headlined. '•5 Agencies Probe Collapse:' and reported hoc the DEA, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). the FBI. the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami, and the City of Miami were all involved in inspecting (or fail- ing to inspect) the building before the collapse. The City claimed that it did not inspect the build- ing due to its belief that inspection was a federal responsibility. The GSA claimed that the City of Miami was responsible for inspection. The building owner claimed that the roof was "over- loaded by the tenant." Neither the City of Miami northe GSA was apparently aware that past occupants of the build- ing, had voiced concerns for 20 years about the strength of the roof. A structural analysis com- pleted by the county after the collapse by engi- neer He&rt Schwartz indicated that'(vater seep - in, into the columns. concrete and beams of the old building "weakened reinforcing steel and cracked adjacent cement. That factor. along with lateral instability in old. thin. supporting beams and the heavy weisht of the new concrete roof- top slab" land the weight of the 57 autos) con- tributed to the building collapse. Also. the "lat- eral metal support beams. on which the parking deck rested. were heavily rusted." 138 The old reported that the G. signed a lease for the building in 1971 "with competitive bidding or a structural assessment' and "agreed to pay S 1.48.348 a year to leassors who in tum were paying S 16.000 a year to the owners." The Herald also reported that the GSA. under severe budget constraints. rented "trade B and C commercial space" and apparently op- erated on the assumption that "if the building department doesn't condemn it. it's OK to oc- cupy." GSAdid spend S120,352 for"alterations" on the Ungar building before DEA moved in but most of this (S73.995) was forcentral aircondi- tioning and "electrical upgrading." The DEA office displaced by the collapse moved temporarily to its field office on S. Bayshore Dr. and then a few weeks later to its permanent (and present) offices in the Koger industrial Park at 53rd St. and 85th Ave. (west of the Palmetto near the Doral Country Club). in 1975. the Fragos family filed a 56.5 mil- lion negligence law suit against the building's owner(National Properties), the Hartford Insur- ance Co., contractor Ray Prieto. and the City of Miami. The Fragos suit was joined to that of 30 others killed or injured by the building collapse and a two week trial was held before Dade Cir- cuit Court Judge Richard Fuller in Sept. of 1977 "to determine liability of the parties and the pu- nitive damages." A committee of lawyers from four law firms argued the case for the 31 plain- tiffs and utilized an "eight -foot -long model of the Ungar building. complete with 57 toy autos on the roof." On Sept. 29. 1977, the six -person jury awarded 535.5 million in punitive damages (S 10 million less than the plaintiff's had recom- mended) to the group of 3I plaintiffs. S31 mil- lion was assessed to National Properties and Ungar Building inc_ owners of the building'. S500.000 to Ray Prieto. Jr.. the structural engi- neer employed by another co-defendant. S2 mil- lion to Kunde. Driver. Spooner and Associates. a consulting firm: and S3 million to Bums and McDonald Engineering. inc. The jury ruled that the four co-defendants and the city of Miami were negligent in that their agents or employees "had doubts about the 50 -year-old building's structural soundness as far back as 1971, but did nothing about it." By law, the city of Miami could not be as- sessed punitive damages but the 31 plaintiffs were then free to seek compensatory damages from the city in individual suits before individual juries. The $31 million was to be placed in a trust until the compensatory damage suits were settled. A second class action suit seeking coin- pensatory damages from the city was settled out of court and the resulting award divided up among the plaintiffs. THE OFFICERS Special Agent Nickolas lonnis Fragos. -19. was born on Oct. 23. 1944 in the village ofThivi. near Thebes. Greece. to John and Koulla Kollias Fragos. He was the first of four children (Nickolas. Peter. Athena. and Angela). His fa- ther was a fisherman in Greece who immigrated (alone) to the U.S. in 1954 and worked at a steel plant in the Detroitarea. He saved enough money by 1957 to send for the rest of the family tin 1957), ,Vickulus Fragos. United Sterns D.E.A.. 1974 Nickolas was 13 when he arrived in America. Much of the social life of the family centered around the large Greek community in Ecorse. NII. and the Greek Orthodox Church in that city. Nickolas learned English quickly the al- ready spoke Greek and Albanian i and attended Ann Visger Elementary School in River Rout and River Rouge H.S., graduating in 1964. Cla:�s- mates remember `ick as athletic the pla) ed bas- ketball. football and baseball as a youth and was on the varsity cross country team in H.S.i. stu- dious (the Yearbook indicated that he was a mtm- berof the Biology Club) and a leader the was on the Student Council in H.S.). After H.S. graduation in 1964. Nick at- tended Eastern Michig,an U. for one semester Wore volunteering: for the draft in Aue. of 1965. Fragos went to jump school at Ft. Benning and was then trained for the Special Forces fGreen Berets) at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonin. TN. In 1966. while in the tinny. Nickolas mar- ried his high school sweetheart. Marlene Glenn. Thev had met when `ick was a senior at River Rouge H.S. and Marlene was a junior at nearby Our Ladv of Lourdes H.S. Their daughter, An- gela, was born in Dearburn. \I1. on June 25. 1967. Fraqos served 15 months in Vietnam as a Green Beret medic. He became a "oar hero' in Viet Num for his actions during, the 1963 Tet of- feniye. His exploits cit the "Baitte of rang `,F «ere noted in \ea cweel and in two tx,uk% and he reeei%ed the Silver Star Medal. the Bmrtccd Star. the Purple Heart and the Army Comnien- datiun Medal. Set. Fragos was one of 22 Green Berets who. with 500 \lontagnard tribesmen and South Vietnamese irregulars. manned the Arrnti Out- post at Lang Vel t '5 km south of the demili(a- rized tone. I & 1!2 kin from the Laotian border. and 8 km from the \Marine combat bum! at Eche Sanh). During the early morning hours of Feb. 7. 1968 (during the Tet Offensive). Sgt. Fragos was on watch in a tower above the operations post when he spotted live Soviet PT -76 tanks approaching the perimeierof the camp (this was the lint time North Vietnam used tanks in Viet Nam followed by two platoon. of N. Vietna ese suldiers. Fragos and the other defenders Fire tanks with anti-tank guns and jumped on t tanks and tried to force grenades into the hatch but were unsuccessful in keeping the tanks fro overrunning the camp. The Americans retreat to the underground bunkerof the operations ce ter as the tanks were overhead trying to crus the concrete and steel roof of the bunker. E emy soldiers then "began to toss grenades an satchel charges and to fire their weapons dow the damaged stairwells" and eventually also fire tear gas grenades, The South Vietnamese soldiers in the bun ker with the Americans decided to surrender an went up the stairs out of the bunker (they were later executed). The eight Americans (six were wounded. including Fragos) refused to give up They radioed for American guns at Khe San and for airstrikes on the enemy above. Eventually a voice called out in English to the Americans in the bunker below: "We want to speak to your captain. Is he still there?" Fragos replied defiantly. Yes!"' "Have you got a weapon?" ..Yep, "Do you have ammo'' "I've got plenty for you" [ r Vietnam. "Battle of Long Vei" by John Cash) After being trapped below round for 18 hours the .americans decided to "make a run for it" and exited the bunker. They were tired at by the enemy but made it outside the camp where they were rescued by American forces sent to reinforce the camp. They were evacuated to Khe Sanh. The battle for Lang Vei was over. Of an original fighting force of approximately 500 indigenous troops..200 (were) killed or missing and 75 wounded. Out of 24 Ameri- cans, 10 were killed or missing and I I wounded, Almost all of the camp's weap. ons and equipment were completely de- stroyed. ( v a ) The iliamj,_�erald noted the "eerie paral- Charles H. Mann. United States D.E.A., 1974 m- le!" between Fragos' Vietnam experience a death in Miami. It is likely that Fragos th 14 he of the parallels before he died in the buildi he collapse. es Fragos was discharged from the Army m Aug. of 1968 and returned to the Detroit area ed his wife and child. He decided to go into la n- enforcement and thus enrolled in the crimin h justice program at Wayne State U. in Detroi En He received his B.S. from Wayne State in 197 d While in college. Fragos first worked as a paint n (1968-69) and then became a Wayne Count d Deputy Sheriff (1969-1970). From 1970-73 h was a civilian medic at the Wayne County Jai while awaiting an appointment with the DEA. d Nickolas Fragos fulfilled a longtime ambi tion when he was appointed a Special Agent a the Detroit Regional Office in March of 197 and then completed three months of agent train- ing in Washington. D.C.. graduating first in his academy class on May 24. 197-4. He was then assigned to the Vliami Re- gional Office on July 31. 1974. The assignment to Miami was in response to a request by Fragos. the Greek fisherman's son, who loved the sea and scuba dieing and who wanted "to be where the action was." He also spoke Spanish which made him useful in Mlumi. He was killed on his first day at work in Miami on his first assign- ment. Nickolas Fragos was survived by his wife Marlene Fragos. 26. and his daughterAngela. 7: ct his father, John Fragos. 63. and mother. Koulla Fragos. 53: brother Peter Fragos. 27: and his sis- ters Athena Pittman. 25, and Angela Georvessills. 23 fall lived in the Detroit area). The body was shipped by Lithgow-Kolski- McHale Funeral Home of Miami to MI for the funeral and burial services. Three DEA agents accompanied the casket to Michigan. ,Marlene and Angela Fragos also returned to Detroit for the funeral. They had been living in temporary quarters in Sliami at the Dadeland Inn and had closed on a new house the weekend before his death. Shortly after the funeral. they moved back to Dearborn to live with her family. Funeral services for Nickolas Fragos were handled in MI by the Ballheim Funeral Home of Ecorse. Services were held on Saturday. Aug. 9 at the St. George Greek Oithodox Church in Ecorse. ,4tany local police attended the services as Nickolas Fragos had many friends in the De- troit area from his work with the Wayne County Sheriff's office and the jail. Also, his sister. Athena Pittman, was a sec- retary for the Wayne County Organized Crime Task Force and her husband. Loren M. Pittman. was the Wayne County undersheriff and former Chief of Police of River Rouge. Many DEA agents from the Detroit office were also in at- tendance. Nickolas Fragos was buried with full po- lice honors in Michigan Memorial Park which is located across the street from Huron H.S. in Flat Rork. -MI (20 miles south of Detroit). His grave marker reads: NICKOLAS FRAGOS U.S. ARMY OCT. 23. 19-W -AUG. 5. 1974 In 1991 Agent Fragos' father. John, was buried to the lett of his son. On the 20th anni- versary of his death, the ' t ParkPark �'ews (a newsletter) profiled the life and ng death of Nickolas Fragos. More than 45.000 per. sons are buried in this cemetery which is the larg. in est private cemetery in NII. to In 1995, Agent Fragos widow. ,Marlene had w remarried (to a physician) and lived in the E),al troit area. His daughter. Angela. 38. graduated t. from Wayne State U. in 1991 with a degree in !. business management. In 1993 she married er Zachary Yaksich. y In -1995 Zachary and Angela Yaksich lived e in WeW?loom tteid. NII, and celebrated the birth I of their first child. Nicholas Alan Yaksich on Dec. f2. 1995. The baby was named after his grandfather, Nicholas Fragos. Agent Fragos' I mother. Koulla, remained in Ecorse and was still 3 active in the St. George Greek Orthodox Church. His siblings also were still in the De. s troit area in 1995. Special Agent Charles H. Mann, 31. was born on July 19. 1943. in Norfolk. VA. to Wyman and Ruth Smith Mann. His step -grandfather (Redman) was Chief of Police in Ashville. NC for 30 years. Charles was the oldest of three chil- dren (Diana was born in 1945 and John in 1955) and grew up.in Miami. Charles attended Auburndale Elementary School and SouthWast H.S. in Miami, graduat- ing in 1961. He then attended Miami -Dade Jr. College from 1961-1962: the U. of `Iiami in 1966; and FSU from 1967-1970. He graduated from FSU with a BS in criminology and la« en. forcement in 1970. In 1970 while at FSU he com- pleted a student internship as a criminal investi- gator with the Bureau of Alcohol. Tobacco and Firearms. Charles Mann served in ilia U.S. Navy from 1963-1965 as a submarine quartermaster at the Charleston. SC. naval base. After his discharge from the Navv in 1965 he worked as a letter car- rier for the U.S. Postal Service in Miami from 1966-1967. He then returned to the Navy- and served three months as a submarine school in- structorat the submarine Training Facility at San Francisco in 1968. �%lannjoined the DEA (then the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs) in April of 1971 and was first assigned as a criminal investigator in Miami. In May of 1974 Agent ,Mann was trans- ferred to DEA's New Delhi. India office and also worked for a time in the Ankara. Turku•. Re- gional Office. He was flo%%n back to the States to testify in aMiami drug trial and arrived at the Miami Regional Office on the day the building collapsed. He was killed on his first day at "ork at his new assignment. Charles H. Mann was survived by his fa- ther. Charles Wyman Mann: his step -father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. (Ruth May) Leamon Richardson: a brother. John Walter Mann, 19. of Nfiami and a sister. Diana Pettigrew. 29, of Lake City. FL. The family received death benefits from the federal government and joined in a success- ful law suit with the Fraps family against those responsible for the building collapse. Funeral arrangements were made by Van Orsdel of Miami. Repose was on Wed. Aug. 7 and funeral services on Thursday. Aug. S. at the Van Orsdel Bird Road Chapel. "rhe funeral was conducted with full police honors and hundreds i - ") "'129 of law enforcement officers attended. includi. The 1975 ceremony unveiled a plaque com- a large contingent from DEA. memorating the seven employees. In 1994 that After the funeral the casket was sent to Lake plaque was still in the lobby of DEA headquar- City for burial at Forest Lawn Memorial Gar- tern at the Koger Center (near the Doral Country dens. This burial location was chosen because Club in west Dade), Mann's sister. Diana Pettigrew. lived in that city The plaque reads: at the time of her brother's death. DEDICATED TO THE EMPLOYEES At the graveside service in Lake City on OF THE MIAMI REGIONAL OFFICE Saturday. August 10, an honor guard was pro. WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE vided by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES WITH and the Lake City Police Department. Several THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT DEA agents attended the burial service and six ADMINISTRATION (Anthony Acri. Donald Zell. Max McCrackin. AUGUST 5. 1974 William Fernandez. Olin ,Mapes. and James Henderson) served as puilbearers. The Rev. IN MEMORIAM Marvin Buckner officiated at theservice assisted "IT IS RATHER FOR US TO BE THERE by Rev. Robert Bridges. The graveside service DEDICATED TO THE GREAT TASK and burial were arranged by the Sherrill -Guerre REMAINING BEFORE US—THAT FROM Funeral Horne of Lake City. THESE HONORED DEAD WE TAKE In 1995, the grave marker in Lake City. FL. INCREASED DEVOTION TO THAT CAUSE for Agent Mann reads: FOR WHICH THEY GAVE THEIR LAST U.S.NARCOTIC AGENT FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION.." CHARLES H. hIANN ABRAHAM LINCOLN JULY 19. 1943 FATHER MOTHER WYMAN C. RUTH M. BROTHER SISTER JOHN W. DIANA L. HE IS NOT DEAD JUST AWAY The 6 ft. (Flat) grave marker also includes a picture of a sailboat (Mann wanted to retire to a sailboat) and a police badge with the words. Special Agent. U.S. Narcotics. The grave site is easily found near the middle of Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. located on U.S, 441 south of Lake City. In 1995. Charles Mann's brother. John W. ,Mann. 40, continued to live in Dade County. His sister Diana Pettigrew. 50. lived in High Springs, FL. Two of her three children also lived in N. FL (Date Thomas Pettigrew. 27. in Gainesville and Shannon Ruth Pettigrew. 20. ih High Springs). Shawn Matthew Pettigrew, 22, was in the U.S. Army. Agent Mann's mother. Mrs. Leamon (Ruth) Richardson. lived in Lady Lake. FL. His father. Charles Wyman Mann. died in Dade County on March 2. 1987, at the age of 75. The names of Nickolas Fragos and Charles Mann are inscribed on the National Law Enforce- ment Memorial in Washington. D.C. Fragos' name is on the West Wall. Panel 25. Line 9 and Mann's name is on the West Wall. Panel 32. Line 10. Their deaths have always been considered as line of duty deaths by DEA, However. the names of Nickolas Fragos and Charles H. Mann were not added to the roll of Dade officers killed in the line of duty until 1993 and their names were read for the first time at the Dade Police Memorial Service on May 11. 1994 (the 20th anniversary of their death). On Feb. 21. 1975, the DEA dedicated its new Miami Regional Office ("The Phoenix") during a ceremony attended by the families of the seven DEA employees killed in the 1974 tragedy. Marlene and Angela Fragos attended this ceremony and received plaques from the DEA. NICKOLAS FRAGOS MARY M. KEEHAN CHARLES H. MANN ANNA Y. MOUNGER ANNA L. POPE MARTHA D. SKEELS MARY P. SULLIVAN Also, the "stilled clock" from the collapsed DEA building has been mounted on the wall of the Miami Regional Office. The plaque below the clock. fixed at "10:23AM:' reads: "On August 5. 1974, at 10:23AM, a por- tion of the Miami Regional Office collapsed. This accident took the lives of seven dedicated DEA employees. They were: Special Agent Nickolas Fragos. Sec- retary Mary Keehan, Special Agent Charles Mann. Secretary Anna Mounger. Fiscal Assistant Anna Pope. Supervisory Clerk Typist Martha Skeels. Clerk Typist Mary Sullivan These men and women were taken suddenly, and even now, almost 20 years later. the pain and loss felt by their fellow DEA colleagues still lingers on.'Mey and their cause will never be forgotten. This clock was hanging on the wall when the building collapsed. It stopped at the exact time of the accident. It now hangs on the wall of the present Miami Division Office as a constant reminder to the DEA family of this tragic incident:" On the 301h anniversary of the death of the -DEA Seven;' the M HFAI published an ar- ticle reminding Dade police of the 1974 trag- edy, Also. on Aug. 5. 1994. the Miami-Hcnld published a shorter article on the 20th anniver- sary of the tragedy. In 1993. the "stilled clock" plaque was tem- porarily displayed at the DEA headquarters building in Washington. DC, as part of a display on all the DEA agents killed throughout the U.S. on the 30th anniversan• of the agency. The dis. play included pictures of Fragos and Mann and the five otheremployces killed in Miami in 1974. The DEA headquarters in Pentagon City (Alexandria). VA, includes a permanent display lWictures/plaques of all the DEA agents killed e Lineof Ditty. In 1995, this "Roll of Honor' included the names of 57 agents and included the names of Fragos and Mann as well as the five female staff killed in the 1973 building, col. lapse. SOURCES:,' *ao3o Heigh August 6.7.8.12.16. Sept. 8. 1974. Jan. 24, Feb. 22. t 975. Sept. 14.30. 1977. Miami_ . August 5.6.7.8. 1914: Newswee Feb. 19.1968.37: Detroit Free press. Aug. 5.7,8.,-1.9]4: Lake_City Repgacr_ Aug, 9- 1971: PBAE�. April. 1993: TGLI by Don Oberdorfer. Garden City. NY. Doubleday. 1971: Ssven Firefights in Vietnam by John Albright. John A. Cash and Allan W. Sandstrum. Wash. ington. D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, U.S. Army. 1970 ("Baltic of Lang Vei.'- 108-138): Dade County Medical Examiner records of Nickolas Fragos (41355A) and Charles H. Mann (#i1857A): Personnel data on Nickolas Fragos and Charles Mann and official DEA investigative report on the building col• lapse from DEA headquarters in Washington. D.C.: death certitudes of Nickolas Fraeos and Charles H. Mann: Yearbook from River Rouge (MI) H.S.: and interviews with Angela Fragos Yaksich, Marlene Hennessey. Marvin Popyk, and Diana Pettigrew. #60 THOMAS A. HODGES, JR. #61 CLARK HAMILTON CURLETTE #62 FRANCIS KENNETH D'AZEVEDO Metro -Dade Police Dept. . Shot & killed on April 1. 1976 THE EVENT Three Metro -Dade auto -theft detectives were shot to death on 4liami Beach on Thursday. April 1. 1976, by the driver of a stolen car. The three slain officers were Frank D'Azevcdo. 31. Tho- mas Hodges. 32. and Clark Ctirlette. 29. The kil ler committed suicide by shooting himself short]} before his capture and died the next day. The three officers had received a tip that three employees of the FL Motor Vehicle Bu- reau were selling fake licenses out of the Miami Beach license station. They passed the tip along to the FL Highway Patrol and when FHP de- cided to arrest the three employees as pan of a sting operation. the three officers were invited as a courtesy to attend the arrest at the Miami Beach license station at 3720 Collins Ave,. As the three officers stood outside the li- cense station observing the FHP sting around 6:00PM, they noticed a light-colored Lincoln Mark IV with Illinois license plates cruise b.'. The officers, "who had an uncanny sixth sense about stolen cars," exchanged glances indicat- ing that each thought that it might be stolen. (In February Det. D'Azeyedo had been involved in the breakup of a major car -theft ring. Slany of the stolen cars were new Lincoln Continental Mark IV's.) They watched the driver park the Lincoln behind the Beach Motel next door to the license station. The three officers decided that they should check out the car. D'Azevedo remained at the driver's license station while Detectives Hodges and Curlette drove one block to the Beach Mo- tel (also known as Starkey's Motel) at 3601 30 Gil n :_;: lice Hall of Fame Museum at 3301 Pgillkyne Blvd. in Miami includes the names JWank D'Azevedo (Panel 29 -Left -17), Clark Curlette (Panel 32 -Left -19) and Thomas Hodges (Panel 23 -Right -21). The names of D'Azevedo (East Wall, Panel 21, Line 3). Curlette (East Wall, Panel 31, Line 6) and Hodges (West Wall, Panel 1. Line 1) are also inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C.The names of the three officers are inscribed on a stone memorial in the lobby of the Metro -Dade Police headquarters building and are read each May at the Dade Police Nfemorial Service in Tropical Park in Miami. In 1976, as a response to the killing of D'Azevedo and Curlette, Hialeah H.S. erected a memorial to the two Hialeah H.S. graduates slain in the line of duty as police officers. The memo- rial, at the entrance to the H.S., is comprised of a memorial tree and a three foot concrete block with a plaque on top that reads: THE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY TREE WITH GRATITUDE TO OUR GRADUATES FELLED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT DEFENDING THE SECURITY OF OUR HOMES AND COMMUNITY 1976 The Hialeah H.S. memorial was even more appropriate by 1995. as by then nine (Rolland Lane, killed in 1970: D'azevedo and Curlette in 1976; Alfred Terrinoni, 1980; Robert Fitzpatrick. 1985: James Beasley. 1986: David Herring, 1986: Emilio Miyares. 1986; and Pedro Cainas, 1986) of the 108 officers killed in the line of duty in Dade County from 1895-1995 had attended Hialeah H.S. An additional officer (Paul Anderson, 1967) was one of the original resi- dents of Hialeah. No other Dade H.S. had more than two graduates who became police officers killed in the line of duty. SOURCES: Miami Herald, April 2,3.4,6.7,9.12 June 27, 1976: Sept. 3. 1981: Miami News, April. 3.3,5.6,8, 1976; Records of Dade County Medi- cal Examiner (#76-839. =76-840, #76-841): death certificates of D'Azevedo, Hodges and Curlette; Metro -Dade Police Department supple- mental death reports: Never Let Thgm Seq You Eby Edna Buchanan. pp. 204-206; interviews with Lynn Ward. Anita Kimbler, and Karen Hodges. #63 BRADLEY STEVEN GLASCOCK Florida Highway Patrol Shot & killed on August 4. 1977 THE EVENT Around 2:50AM on Aug. 4. 1977, Florida Highway Patrol rookie officer Bradley Steven Glascock. 24, was shot and killed after he made a routine traffic stop on the 336 (Dolphin) Ex- pressway just 400 feet weft of the ten cent toll booth. Gtascock became the 22nd trooper killed in the line of duty since the "State Road Patrol" was created in 1939. The murder of Trooper Glascock. who would likel% have survived the murder attempt if he had been wearing a bullet- proof vest, spurred the State Cabinet to spend 3100.000 for vests for all troopers in the state. The state action came only 1 I days atter the death of Glascock. Trooper Glascock was tra%eling was* 836 when he and his 20 -year-old "ride -along." U.M. freshman Charles Paul Monnin. ap- proached the toll booth. In the far lett westbound lane ahead of them at the toll booth was a 1969 sun -Faded turquoise Cadillac Eldorado. The Cadillac had been stopped at the toll booth for more than a minute and was a couple of car lengths from the toll collector %%hen Glascock pulled up behind him. Police speculate that the driver. Felix Ramon Cardenas -Casanova. 30, a Cuban refugee, may have planned to rob the toll collector. As Glascock approached in the same lane. he honked his horn. The Cadillac, after hesitating for a few seconds. went through the toll lane without paying the attendant the required ten cent toll. Officer Glascock pursued the Cadillac and. with his flashing and rotating blue lights, pulled the motorist over in the far left lane (near the traffic cones separating eastbound and westbound traffic) just 100 yards from the toll booth. Glascock, via his loudspeaker, told the driver of the Cadillac to move to the other side of theexpressway. When the driverdid not com- ply, Glascock got out of the cruiser and talked briefly with Cardenas telling him to move to the right shoulder. Cardenas then moved his car to the right shoulder of the expressway. By coincidence, Deputy Chief Medical Ex- aminer Dr. Ronald Wright. eastbound in route to a double arson murder in downtown Miami. saw the trooper stop the Cadillac. Dr. Wright noted at the time that he assumed the motorist didn't pay the toll. At this point he saw nothing unusual. "Wright missed the trooper's murder by a minute." Glascock pulled behind the Cadillac and was about to exit his cruiser when Cardenas sud- denly began backing up. perhaps in an attempt to hit the eruiserto facilitate an escape. Glascock put the cruiser in reverse and avoided a colli- sion. But then Cardenas backed up again and Glascock again avoided a collision by also back- ing up. At this point Glascock told.Nlonnin, "This guy is going to jail." Glascock and Cardenas stepped from their cars. The trooper was 6'4" and 214 lbs. while Cardenas was 5'5" and 146 lbs. The trooper and the motorist met at the front of the patrol car. The trooper asked Cardenas for his driver's li- cense as the two men talked briefly. Cardenas then walked toward his vehicle in an apparent attempt to get something from hi: car (perhaps his drivers license) and Trooper Glascock walk- ing behind him. not know in_ that he was "walk- ing to his death." News reports the day atter the shooting de- clared that Cardenas pulled a handgun from his waistband but Monnin suggests that this was unlikely as it was a hot evening and Cardenas did not have on a jacket that would have allowed him to conceal a handgun. Monnin believes the handgun was in the Cadillac and that Cardenas reached inside and got the gun and turned and fired three times pointblank at the trooper. hit- ting him in (he chest and in the neck. The trooper reached for his gun as he saw Cardenas turn and fire but fell to the pavement mortally wounded before he could unholster his gun. The first shot hit the trooper in the chest, shattering his heart" and was instantly fatal. However, it was a --survivable wound had hc: been wearimy a vest." The second .38 caliber bullet entered through his neck. "went directly through his brain" and severed the spinal cord. Either would have been instantly fatal. A third bullet grazed his chest. Paul Monnin. the college student ride. along, who at this time: was still sitting in the passenger seat inside the police cruiser, did not see the actual shooting as he was looking du.+n when he heard two or three "pups" (i.e.. gun. Fire). Ven he looked up he saw Glascock drop from sight in front of the cruiser and then sa%% Cardenas walk (not run) to his car. Perhaps Cardenas thought that the unarmed college stu- dent posed no danger to him. Or perhaps he did not see oNlonnin inside of the cruiser. Several days earlier ,Monnin, the son of U.1d. Medical School Professor Charles A. Monnin, was riding, his bicycle when he sa%% Glascock working on his FHP cruiser uutside of his apartment and stopped to talk with him. Af- ter talking Fora while. Monnin asked if he could ride with Glascock sometime' just to see what it was like." Glascock arranged for Monnin to ac- company him on his mid -week midnight shift to observe police work first hand. Paul Nfonnin got more than he had bar- gained for. Earlier in the evening Glascock— perhaps in a premonition ---had told the student 1n case anything happens to me tonight. in ease I get wounded. you can use this shotgun." (Monnin was familiar with firearms from his youth.) Glascock showed his ride -along how to get the shotgun out of the rack. I'vtonnin later said that the trooper had told him "you have to watch out for yourself every time you pull someone over". Monnin, still sitting inside the cruiser. grabbed the shotgun, opened the passenger door, stepped outside the car and opened fire at the Cadillac which was only 20 feet away. The frantic student. rt:memberins the trooper's words, fumbled with the l_' -gauge shotgun's release button, then with the safety catch. pumped a round into the cham- ber and opened fire on the killer's car... In seconds, before the Cadillac sped away, the young man fired four times at the car and memorized most of the tag num- ber. He also got a full description of the car. His shotgun fire smashed the Cadillac's back window, raked the car's black vinyl roof and trunk and wounded the driver, showering hien with broken ;;lass and shotgun pellets. The student then screamed frantically to toll plaza employees. 100 yards to the east. (,S(ami He d. 1,;1511977) Cardenas evidently lay down in the front seat after the first shot as the Cadillac"was later found to have pellet holes on the front dashboard and behind the steering wheel. After the tour shots. Cardenas apparently sat back up and drove away. Cardenas suffered no "direct hits" as his only wound (to a finger) resulted from the shat- tered glass. Miami Police Department Sgt. Mike Gonzalez told the 1A1jaMj Her_AM that the student was a "remarkable young man to be that cuura. geous and resourceful, to do all he did when things were happening as fast as they were." Assistant State Attorney David Levy later told t3_5 A. � - 30 the media that the actions of Monnin constitutf a legal use of deadly force though under "nor- mal" circumstances a citizen is not allowed to shoot at a fleeing felon. However. Levy said that Monnin was acting in accordance with state law (FL Statutes #776.05 and 4843.06) which L - quires citizens to assist officers when so re- quested. The instructions by the trooper to Monnin as to how to use the shotgun "if neces- sary" and the fact that his "ride -along status" had been approved by Glascock's superior implied "that the trooper was seeking the civilian's as- sistance." Thus, in a sense. Monnin was acting as a deputy of FHP at the time he fired the shot- gun. After firing the fourshots. Monnin got back inside the cruiser and called for help on the ra- dio. He reported that a trooper had been shot and gave the dispatcher the location. Monnin then went to the front of the cruiser and found Glascock face up with a bullet would to the chest (he did not see the wound to the neck). Another motorist came up and indicated that he would administer firstaid until medics arrived. Monnin then returned to the car to monitor the radio. Off-duty Metro policeman Jose Diaz, 23, was driving by with a friend. He saw the wounded trooper lying by the roadside and ran to the FHP carartd identified himself to Monnin. He then used the radio to again summon emer- gency help and went to see if he could help Glascock. Within a few seconds, several motor- ists had stopped and tried to help the trooper but there was nothing that they could do. Within 10 minutes several police cars (from FHP and other agencies) arrived on the scene. Fire Rescue arrived and spent 20 minutes trying to revive the trooper at the scene as his hearthad already stopped beating. They pounded on his chest but could not revive him. He was then rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital's emergency room where he was pronounced dead at 3:24 AM. Monnin gave police investigators a descrip- tion of Cardenas and the Cadillac. He also gave them the first six digits of the tag number(1WW- 66099). As the police were trying to complete the tag number. Officers Jewett and O'Neil found the abandoned Cadillac. Monnin, fearing retri- bution by Cardenas, gave his name to investiga- tors only after being assured that it would not be released to the media. A massive search involving "hundreds" of on -duty and off-duty police officers from sev- eral agencies began searching immediately for the killer and the 1969 Cadillac. FHP set up road- blocks, checking every vehicle on all major high- ways leaving Dade County. All boats along the Miami River were searched and a house-to-house search was made in a 21 -block area near the air- port. The search team had excellent descriptions of the killer and the Cadillac from Monnin and quickly located the killer's car, abandoned and bloodstained, at the dead-end of N.W. 47th Ave. next to the Blue Lagoon Lake alongside the 836 Expressway. Miami officer Neal Nydam, with his K-9 partner, Duke, rushed to the scene. Duke, a 5 - year veteran of police work, picked up Cardenas' scent from the abandoned Cadillac and tracked it to Blue Lagoon Lake. When Nydam and Duke reached the 4 -foot 136 concrete "seawall," Duke began whining and P "working" the bank. Nydam unhooked Duke's lead from his collar. and Duke immediately jumped in the water. Neal thought that his dog jumped in the water to cool off and swim around and yelled at the dog to come back. He ran to the seawall and flashed his light down into the water and saw Duke's head appear out of the water with a "Titer" .38 caliber revolver in his teeth. Although Duke dropped the weapon. I.D. Tech Dick Bloom waded out and recovered the weapon from about 18" of water. At the time, such an underwater recovery was unheard of in police dog circles. The oper- ating theory was that Duke smelled the fresh gun- powder residue which was washing off the gun and floating on the surface. Scenting theory has changed since that time. and although it is now still uncommon to use dogs to scent through or over water, it is done by several agencies to lo- cate drowning victims. (Letter from K-9 super- visor. John C. Campbell of Miami Police Dept.. Oct. 29. 1995). Duke got a cheeseburger as a reward and his feat became part of the lore of the amazing abilities of police dogs. Police continued to follow the blood trail until the last blood spot was found on the side- walk at NW Sixth St. and 47 Ave. A police pe- rimeter was set up around a 21 -block area from NW 44th to49thAvenues and from 7th to Flagler Streets. Over 100 police officers from Metro, Coral Gables, Miami and FHP conducted a house to house search in the 21 -block area. "Miami's SWAT team, motorcycle crews. a Metro helicop- ter, dozens of detectives and numerous police dogs.., pressed the search." Meanwhile, detectives were working on other clues. The Cadillac was traced to a Little Havana handyman who told police he loaned it to an acquaintance named Felix several days ear- lier. Some of the people who knew Felix by his first name only were taken to police headquar- ters and shown mug shots. One spotted a man whom Felix once shot in a bar fight. Detectives quickly located Felix's earlier bar fight victim and he told police the name of the man who shot him. The killer was identified ( ] 0 hours after the murder) as Felix Ramon (Cucuso) Cardenas Casanova. "a short. muscular 29 -year old fish- erman with a 'tough guy' reputation at his Mi- ami riverfront hangouts... (who)... has a repu- tation for carrying a gun. being a tough guy and being involved in bar fights." He was further described as 5'5" in height and 146 lbs. The killer was known to have a history of drug charges in Tampa, a murder arrest in Nassau and to have been involved in a Miami bar room shooting. In the Nassau case Cardenas spent a year in jail awaiting trial for a shooting aboard a boat. The case was dropped and he was freed when all the witnesses left Nassau. Hospitals, fishing ports and boats were alerted to be on the lookout for a short, wounded Latin male. Police questioned Cardenas' Miami girlfriend. his estranged wife in New York and his friends and enemies. The search. which was hampered by a heavy rain in the early hours, was described by the mid as the "most massive manhunt in Miami history," continued for one week before Cardenas surrendered. He Bradley Glascock. FL flighwar Patrol, 1977. never left the area and hid out and slept in cars. in meter rooms, a Little Havana hotel room. etc. Though police did search outside of.kliami the% - believed that Cardenas was trapped in their net inside the city. They were right! The killer thought the "heat would die do" n by the second or third day but it never did and he knew he was going to be caught sooner or later." Pan of Cardenas' frustration resulted from the lack of help given to him in the Latin com- munity. Miami Det. LuisAlbueme said that "ap- parently people were not willing to help him. They turned their backs on him." However. po- lice later determined that one man, who knew that Cardenas was a fugitive cop -killer, did help him by renting a room for him for several days and paying the rent. Police received thousands of calls of pos- sible sightings of Cardenas during the week -Ione search as a scores of detectives checked out each call. Some officers worked a 60 -hour shift dur- ing the search. A reward fund for the capture of the killer was established. It was initiated by rookie trooper John Rambach who personally wrote a $500 check. The fund reached S2.700 within four days with contributions from indi- viduals and police organizations. The search ended when Cardenas decided to surrender. "Disheveled and nervous. his wounded and infected left index finger swollen and bandaged. Cardenas had a friend call police for him to arrange a surrender. The call came to Miami detectives at 10:00AM on Thursday. Aug. 11. He talked on the phone with detectives and agreed to surrender at Marine Motors at 2315 S.W. 9th Si, He surrendered to Det. Albuerne and FHP trooper Anthony Valdes. "A crowd of about 300 Latins gathered at the surrender scene... (shouting) 'Hane him! Hang him"."' THE PERPETRATOR Felix Ramon Cardenas -Casanova. 30 (born on Nov. 11, 1946) was remorseful but "could offer no motive" for shooting the trooper other than to say he "just didn't want to be bothered by an arrest." He denied being drunk or high on narcotics. Investigators theorized thAt �e,tpo0 11 - rive was a combination of several ers. Cardenas had a stolen gun (from a Miami man in a burglary) on his person and an illegal si- lencer in the trunk and was wanted on a bench warrant for driving without a valid license. He probably panicked at the thought of being ar- rested. Lt. Michael Cosgrove, head of the Miami Homicide unit, told reporters that Cardenas was also a "mule, a low-level courier for local nar- cotics traffickers," He may have had narcotics in the car (though none was found in the aban- doned car). After making a statement to police. Cardenas was taken to the Dade County Jail. The next day surgery was performed on his infected finger. The Dade Grand Jury indicted Cardenas on charges of First degree murder on Sept. 22. The killer's luck continued to run bad when, by the luck of the draw, his case was assigned to be heard by Judge Ellen "Maximum" Morphonios. Public Defenders Michael Von Zamft and Robert Rosenblatt were assigned to defend him (he had no attorney for 1 I days after his arrest). When he appeared for a hearing on Aug. 22 be- fore County Judge Richard Schwartz he tried to plead guilty ----through an interpreter as he spoke no English—to the killing but was told by the judge that he was only in court for a bond hear- ing. The day before the bond hearing Cardenas had tried to commit suicide in his cell by hang- ing himself with an electrical extension cord. Jailors then placed the accused killer in a bare cell and placed him on a suicide watch. Cardenas made two more suicide attempts by Nov. 1, once trying to drink peroxide. Defense attorneys had Cardenas examined by four psychiatrists. Drs. Brian Weiss, Frank Loeffler, Stephan Fox and Lila Segadi talked with Cardenas for a total of 10 hours and found him to be a paranoid schizophrenic and incom- petent to stand trial (i.e., incapable of understand- ing the charges and of aiding in his own defense). The defense psychiatrists found that Cardenas suffered from hallucinations including voices telling him to kill himself. Cardenas also told them that he was the victim of a "giant conspiracy which included his own attorneys, the judge, the CIA. Fidel Castro and the Maria." However, Dr. Charles Mutter, who was ap- pointed by the state, examined Cardenas for an hour and a half and concluded that he was a so- ciopath, "capable of elaborate deception," that his suicide attempts were "part of a plan to gain sympathy," that he was "uncooperative and per- haps malingering." and that he had "been trying to make himself sicker." Mutter found that Cardenas could aid his counsel "if he wants to." The psychiatric evidence for both sides was presented in a three-hour hearing before Judge Morphonios on Oct. 28. The judge sided with the prosecution and pointed out that Cardenas had been "perfectly capable of consulting with his attorneys and testifying in his own behalf' in a federal court hearing two weeks earlier. Defense attorneys Von Zamft and Eugene Zenobi had asked Federal Judge Norman C. Roettger, Jr., to overturn Judge Morphonios decision to reject defense pleas for a postponement in the trial. The federal suit argued that the jail condi- tions for Cardenas were "similar to those used to brainwash American prisoners of war int rea." Judge Roettger refused to intervene in the setting of the trial date but did mandate that the severe jail conditions (i.e., being kept naked in a single cell) for the suicide watch be modified. Judge Morphonios set the trial date for Nov. 7. rejecting the defense plea that the mental condi- tion of Cardenas and the jail conditions precluded their being prepared for an early trial date. Cardenas bizarre behavior continued. At a court hearing on Oct. 13. he stood before Judge Morphonios "with his fingers in his ears" and refused to listen to the proceedings. At a pre- trial hearing on Nov. 2 he "ripped off his clothes" while in a court holding cell, forcing Judge Morphonios to declare a recess. The judge de- clared, "We'll be in recess until Mr. Cardenas puts his pants on." In a surprise move on Nov. 7, the day the trial was scheduled to begin. Cardenas accepted a plea offer from the state to plead guilty to first degree murder. The state agreed not to seek a death sentence. The agreement called for a life sentence with a 25 -year mandatory minimum sentence before eligibility for parole and recom- mended that Cardenas never be paroled. Judge Morphonios accepted the plea and on Nov. 7, 1977, sentenced Cardenas to the life sentence. She also added from the bench during the sen- tencing that "nothing would have given me more pleasure than to impose the death penalty." She also recommended against any future parole. The state agreed to the plea and life sen- tence because they feared that the psychiatric problems of Cardenas might lead to a Florida Supreme Court reversal of the conviction or death sentence. They were afraid that appellate courts would not agree with Judge Morphonios that Dr. Mutter's diagnosis was more reliable than that of the four defense psychiatrists. The defense agreed to the deal because their primary goal was to avoid a death sentence. In 1995 Felix Cardenas was still incarcer- ated in a FL prison. Dept. of Corrections records indicate that his first parole interview date is set for Feb. of 2001. The 25 year mandatory mini- mum sentence he received requires that he not be eligible for parole until the year 2002. THE OFFICER Bradley Steven Glascock. 24. was born April 9, 1953, in Maitland. FL to William Donald and Etna Brooks Glascock and was the oldest of three children. He graduated from Winter Park High School in 1971 and attended a Jr. college in Atlanta for one year before transferring to Atlanta Christian College. While inAilanta Bra- dley was a member of the Mi. Carmel Christian Church where he sang in the choir and served as a youth counselor. The Glascock family moved back to the Orlando around 1975. Bradley's first career goal was to be a min- ister but he changed his mind and decided to be a police officer. He explained to his father that in police work he would "still be helping people." He applied to the Florida Highway Patrol and was placed on the applicant waitine list. In the interim he joined the securivy force at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Glascock joined the Florida Highway Pa- trol on June 6. 1976. He was a member of the 51st Recruit School at the FHPAcademy in Tal- lahassee, graduating on Sept. 3. 1976. Upon graduation he was assigned to the Miami sta- tion. Glascock moved into an apartment in Hi- aleah where he became. close friends with Trooper Odell Kiser and his wife Pat, his neigh- bors in the apartment complex. Glascock was an avid Fisherman and boater and had just re- turned from a Fishing trip in Key West a few days before he- killed. He worked for 11 months in'vliam'. ntil his death on Aug. 4. 1977. Ott t`�ug. 4 his body was taken to Ahern - Plummer Funeral Home in Miami and prepared for burial. The body was sent to Orlando on Aug. 5. Funeral services were held Aug. 8 in Orlando at the Woodlawn Funeral Home on Old Winter Garden Road. More than 300 uniformed high- way patrolmen and police officers attended the funeral along with Col. Eldridge Beach, direc- tor of the FHP. Burial was in the Woodlawn Memorial Park cemetery which adjoins the fu- neral home. On the same day a brief service was held in the lobby of the Miami Police Station. Those attending then left the station to return to the search for Glascock's killer. Bradley Steven Glascock was survived by his father, William Donald Glascock, and mother, Elna Brooks Glascock, of Orlando; a sister, Robin. 15, and a brother. Brett, 11. Trooper Glascock was 24 years old when he was killed. He was not wearing a bullet-proof when he was shot. (He had been given a vest as a gift by his parents but was not wearing it on the night he was killed,) The Highway Patrol's PBA complained that troopers had been asking for years for vests but were told that they were too expensive. The Florida Legislature hadcon- sidered but rejected for the past two years the purchase of bullet-proof vests for troopers. The cast—S87 to $110 each—was considered too prohibitive. Seeing the failure of the Legislature to act, several local groups raised money for vests for troopers. However, as a result of the Glascock kill- ing, the Florida Legislature and FHP provided bullet-proof vests to all of its 1,200 troopers in 1977 and required that officers wear the vests on patrol. In 1995, Trooper Glascock's parents, Will- iam Donald and Elna Brooks Glascock, still lived in FL as did his sister. Robin, 33, and his brother, Brett. 29. Charles Paul i4lonnin. 37. the "ride aEon_s" who witnessed the murder of the trooper, was Mill living in Miami and was a computer opera- tor fora large car rental company. He often lis- tened to his police scanner and listened to all of the radio transmissions after the FBI shootout in Miami in 1986. He often thinks of that latat day in 1977 when his ride -along ended in tragedy. Sgt. Luis Albuerne, the lead Det. in the 1977 Glascock murder case, remained a homicide detective with the City of ,'Miami in 1995. Neal Nydam was a captain with the Columbia County Sheriff's office in Lake City. FL. Duke became ill and had to be put to sleep in 1978. six months after his famous feat. Bradley Glascock's mother, Etna. upon learning of the dog's death, sent Neal Nydam an 18" statute of a German Shepherd in memory of Duke. Nydam left the K-9 unit after Duke's death and never worked with police dogs again. y 2 \. 137 Bradlee Steven Glascock's name is in- police car. At one point Valle was sitting in the scribed (Panel 28 -Left -20) on the Memorial Wall passenger seat of the patrol car. He overheard of the American Police Hall of Fame Museum the police radio say that the Camaro belonged to at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the a person by the name of "Wiliford Straun". At National Law Enforcement Memorial West Wall, this point Valle realized that Officer Pena was Panel 11. Linz 71 in Washington. D.C. His name about to determine that the Camara was stolen is read each May at the Dade Police Memorial and that he would be arrested. Sen•ice in Tropical Park in Miami. Valle again returned to the Camaro and told SOURCES: Miami HeCajd, Aug. 5.6.7,8,9.10.11.12,14, Sept. 7,9.22, Oct. 13.14.15,29. Nov. 1.3.7. 12, 1977: Miami News, Aug. 5,6,8,9.11. 12.13,16,23. Oct. 13. Nov. 7, 1977; Court file of Felix Cardenas (#F7702720I )-. Records of Dade County Medi- cal Examiner r#77 -1912-A); death certificate of Bradley Steven Glascock; Records of FL Dept. of Corrections on Felix Ramon Cardenas - Casanova 0062246); Maximum Morphoniost The Life and TtmesofAmerica'sToug estJudge by Ellen Morphonics with Mike Wilson. N.Y.: Wm. Morrow & Co.. 1991, p. 271; Letterof Oct. 29, 1995, from Sgt. John C. Campbell; and in- terviews with Paul Monnin, Sgt. John Campbell, Neal Nydam and Elna Glascock. 464 LOUIS PENA Coral Gables Police Dept. Shot & killed on April 2, 1978 THE EVENT Coral Gables Police Officer Louis Pena, 41, a 11 -year veteran, was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop on April 2. 1978. He became the sixth Coral Gables police officer killed in the line of duty. His killer was still on death row in 1995, 17 years after his conviction and sen- tence. On Sunday:April 2.1978. Off Pena was assigned to the 3:OOPM to I1:00PM shift as a K-9 officer and had his German Shepherd, "Abe," in the back of the police car. At approxi- mately 6:34P%i. Officer Pena observed a brown 1977 Chevrolet Camara commit a traffic viola- tion near LeJeune Rd, and Miracle Mile. Pena stopped the Camaro in front of 401 Almeria Ave., just west of Miracle Mile. The Camaro was oc- cupied by two Hispanic males, the driver Manuel Adriano Valle. 27, and the passenger, Felix Victorino Ruiz. 24. Officer Gary Spell responded as a backup unit and parked across the street from Officer Pena. Neither officer got out of his car. Unknown to the officers. the car was stolen and the driver, Valle, was on probation. The officers also did not know that the driver was wanted for both a parole violation and for the attempted murder of a Sweetwater policeman. Valle exited the Camaro and walked back to Pena's car. Pena asked for Valle's drivers li- cense. Valle said he did not -have his license with him and told the officer his name was "Manuel Alvarez". Pena used his radio to contact the po- lice teletype operator and requested NCIC and FCIC checks on the car and "Manuel Alvarez". The calls went through a police dispatcher who later indicated that the call from Pena lasted from 6:36PM to 6:45PM. While Officer Pena was waiting fora reply from the teletype operator, Valle was given per- mission to return to his car for a cigarette, Valle got the cigarettes and then walked back to the 138 his passenger, Felix Ruiz, that he would "have to blast the officer." Ruiz replied, "Well, we have no choice." Valle returned to the police car with- out a weapon as Ruiz attempted to approach the police carforthe first time. Officer Pena ordered Ruiz to return to the Camaro and Ruiz complied with the order. Valle again returned to the Camara and picked up a .380 caliber automatic pistol. As Valle walked to Pena's car with the gun, Ruiz began to walk away westbound on the sidewalk telling Pena that he had to make a phone call. Valle walked to the driver's side of the po- lice car, and while standing 3 to 4 feet away from the officer, shot him once through the open car window as Pena sat inside the patrol car. Pena's police dog, Abe, "barked frantically behind the cage in the backseat: The bullet struck Officer Pena in the left side of the neck. Valle then turned and fired two shots at Officer Spell who was sitting in the back- up police car across the street. Spell twisted in his seat and attempted to duck beneath the dash- board but one bullet hit him in the back, below the shoulder. Fortunately. Spell was wearing a bullet proof vest and the bullet did not penetrate the vest (Officer Pena was not wearing a vest). Officer Pena, though mortally wounded. was able to pick up the microphone of his police radio and say, "I'm shot." Several police cars and a Coral Gables Fire Rescue unit, which was stationed only two blocks away, were immedi- ately dispatched to the scene, Lt, Richard Bannon heard Pena's radio plea and rushed to the scene. He found Pena sitting in the driver's seat of his cruiser bleeding from a wound on the right side of his neck. He attempted to apply direct pres- sure to stop the bleeding. Abe, the police dog, "was in a frenzied protective rage," and "kept police and a nurse at bay, protecting his dying master." He refused to allow anyone to touch Pena. Officers distracted him by poking through a window on the other side. When the dog spun around, rescuers dragged Pena from the car, (Miami Herald. 4/411978) A nurse who lived nearby took over first aid attempts while awaiting the medical rescue unit. The wounded officer was removed from his police car and transported to Coral Gables Hospital less than 112 mile from the scene. De- spite the efforts of several physicians and hospi- tal personnel, Pena was pronounced dead at 7:48PM. 84 minutes after the shooting. Dr. Ronald Wright, an assistant Dade County medi- cal examiner, would later testify that Pena "drowned in his own blood" after he was shot in the neck and that his pain was "excruciating." Lt. Bannon then took the police dog. Abe, to Pena's home and (at 7:45PM) notified Pena's wife of the shooting. Bannon then transported her to the hospital. Pena's mother had bought him abulletproof vest a monihearlierand begged him to wear it. However, police say the vest would not have saved his life. Louis Pena. Carat Gables, 1978. Aftershooting and fatally wounding Officer Pena and shooting Officer Spell. Valle ran back to the Camaro and drove east while his passen- ger. Ruiz, fled westbound on foot. Officer Spell. though shot, was able to exit his police car and fire six rounds at the fleeinw Camaro which "screeched across a neighborhood lawn on Almeria, just west of LeJeune Road." Several of Spell's shots struck the Camaro and blew out the back window. Valle abandoned the Camaro in the 300 block of Miracle Mile where it was found laterby Coral Gables police officers. Valle then fled on foot. THE PERPETRATORS A massive manhunt for the two Hispanic males was undertaken in the downtown Coral Gables area but was unsuccessful. The search involved a helicopter, police dogs and more than 100 officers from four departments. A three - block area of Miracle Mile was cordoned off around the abandoned Camaro as the helicopter "turned night into day searching rooftops and awnings." The manhunt first focused on the South Miami Beach address of "Manuel Alvarez." the name given by Valle to Officer Pena. A "small army" of police officers surrounded his house but when Alvarez emerged they learned that he was not involved in the shooting of officer Pena. However. Alvarez was later arrested as it turned out he had been called by the (teeing Valle and Ruiz and had picked them up and taken them home. Alvarez withheld that information from the police and was charged with accessory after the fact. It was later learned that Valle. after aban- doning the Camaro, ran into Ruiz and the two hitched several rides (including the ride with Alvarez) back to Valle's house. The two fugi- tives spent the night at the Ramona Stotel at 3301 W. Flagler with Lydia Quinonese. 18. Ruiz' girl- friend, and Valle's wife. They left town the next day. Metro -Dade homicide detective Richard Wolfe was the lead investigatoron the Pena case (Coral Gables did not have a homicide division and thus its homicides were investigated by 1 _- friend in 1982 when former.letro-Dade 0r and ATF agent Eddie Benitez was killed in the line of duty in Miami in a failed drug sting. DiGenova. though disabled, served as a pall- bearer at Benitez's funeral and carried the cas- ket with other colleagues of the slain agent. Benitez had been Edgerton's partner while at Metro -Dade and was a close friend of DiGenova. Almost every year (usually on DiGenova's birthday in March), Edgerton. DiGenova, and other .Metro -Dade colleagues bet together for a reunion. usually at the home of DiGenova's twin brother in N. Miami. But they rarely talk about the event that changed their lives and took the life of Bill Cook. Det. Edgerton, remains with the N. Lauderdale homicide bureau. In 1986 he witnessed Metro -Dade Homicide's reenactment of the FBI shootout (that took the lives of Agents Grogan and Dove) and was reminded again of the lesson he learned in 1979—gunmen can kill ,fez they themselves are fatally wounded. SOURCES: Miami Hearld, May 17,18,19,20. 1979, April 22, 1984; Jan. 23, 1988: Miami News, May 17,18,1979; PBA R4LQ. July -Aug.. 1979, May. 1983. Neve You Cry by Edna Buchanan. Random House: 1992, pp. 209-212: Medical Examiner records (09-1336): Metro -Dade Police Department supplemental death report: and interviews with Karen Cook. Julia Cook, and Robert Edgerton. Miami Police epartment Died of heart attack while on duty. May 18. 1980 THE EVENT Miami Police Lt. Edward McDermott, 48. a 2l -year veteran, died of a heart attack while escorting National Guard troops during the 1980 riot. McDermott's death was the third (of the 108 through 1995) "line of duty" police deaths in Dade County that resulted from a heart attack while in the performance of duty. He became the 27th Miami officer to die in the line of duty. At 12:30PM on Sunday..May 18. 1980. Lt. McDermott and Offtcerlerome Kaline, 33. were &Avard F: McDermott, Cin. of Miami, 1980. 41 in a police cruiser (a 1977 Plymouth) traveling north on South Dixie Highway (U.S. l) at 17th Ave. escorting a convoy of National Guard ve- hicles from the Coconut Grove area to the'vli- ami Police Department. McDermott. who was driving, had stopped his vehicle in the middle lane at the intersection and was waiting for the convoy to catch up with the cruiser. McDermott's Plymouth suddenly veered off the road to the right. ' jumped the curb and went under a chain link fence and stopped" at 1601 Nethia Dr. After the vehicle crashed. Officer Kaline observed that McDermott had apparently suf- fered a heart attack and was "breathing. but he was unable to obtain a pulse." He radioed for medical assistance. Fire Rescue Unit M arrived within minutes and initiated CPR. There was even some concern shortly after the accident that Lt..McDermott may have hit by a sniper and this confusion led to a delay in his being transported to the hospital. The rescue unit transported McDermott to the emergency room of nearby Mercy Hospital where: CPR "was continued with negative re- sults." McDermott was pronounced dead at 1:26PM. The cause of death was listed as "oc- clusive coronary arteriosclerosis" (i.e.. a heart attack). Miami police officials first decided that Lt. .McDermott's death was not "in the line of duty" and refused to grant his family the double in- demnity award (approximately $100.000) for such deaths. However, in 1983. unknown to the family. ;Miami police officials apparently changed their mind and added McDermott's name to its list of officers killed in the line of duty. (The family has never received the ben- efits for a line of duty death.) Apparently the police department decided that the stress of the riot and the fact that Lt. McDermott had been working for seven straight days with little sleep (and without going home). contributed to his death and ruled that he thus died in the line of duty. THE PERPETRATOR There was no perpetrator in this case. The McDermott case is one of three police deaths involving a heart attack that are included on the list of 108 officers killed "in the line of duty" in Dade from 1895-1995. Metro -Dade Officer Wil- liam Askew died of a heart attack in 1979 after chasing a fleeing auto thief and S. Miami Of- ficer Daniel Schulz died of a heart attack in 1987 while recuperating from being stabbed by a gang of juveniles. There were perpetrators in the Askew and Schulz cases since a particular person's actions led directly to the heart attack. However, there was not a single individual whose actions led directly to McDermott's heart attack. THE OFFICER Edward Francis McDermott, 48, was born on April 25. 1932, in Long Island City (Queens. NYC) to Edward Francis McDermott. Sr.. and .Mary Messett McDermott. Edward was the sec- ond of three children and grew up in Queens with his older sister. Eileen. and younger brother. James Vincent. All three children attended Catholic schools. Ed attended St. Patrick's Gram- mar -School in Long Island City and Long Island City H.S., graduating in 1949. Edward's father took and passed the NYC po- lice exam but could not serve due to an illness. His maternal uncle. Walter Messett, was a NYC policeman in the 1950s and 1960s. .McDermott joined the Air Force in 1949 and served in Germany as a military policeman. He reached the rank of Sgt. during his four year military tenure. During that time he learned to speak German fluently and was discharged in 1953 with the rank of Master Sgt. Ed returned to NYC at)d' wended N.Y.U. for 3 years majoring in crimirtf�ogy and worked part-time as the night auditor at the Gramarcy Park Hotel in Ntanhat- tan. While working at the Gramarcy Park Ho- tel, 1?d met Hilda "Rickie" Soler (born in vlart- hattan and raised in the Bronx) in 1954 and the couple married on May H. 1955. in Myrtle Beach. N.C. Ed was 23 and Hilda. 25, with tw•o children (Robert R. Blanco. 8, and Linda Jo Roe. 6) from previous marriages. Rickie Soler had been an undercover po- licewoman for the Lake Ronkonkoma Police De- partment (near Islip on Long Island) in 19.39- 1951 and thus preceded her husband in police work. Also, her father had been a military po- liceman in World War II. Three days after the marriage ceremony. the family of four moved to Miami where Hilda's father lived. Ed worked as an auditor at the El Concodora Hotel in downtown Miarni and held a second job as a private investigator with the Burns Detective Agency (1955-1956). The McDermott family increased from four to six with the births (in Miami) of Christina A. on Dec. 7. 1957, and Cynthia L. on Feb. 5. 1959. Hilda worked as a practical nurse at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The couple divorced in 1966 when Robert was 19. Linda Jo, 17, Christina. 9. and Cynthia. 7. Hilda remarried in 1973. Edward McDermott joined the Miami Po- lice Department in Jan. of 1959 and became one of 15 members of the Dept.'s 42nd Recruit Class (pictured on 3rd floor of the.I.P.D.). He gradu- ated from the Academy on .May 22. 1959. %lost of his 21 years were spent in the burglary and auto theft units. McDermott became an expert in building security and crime prevention and conducted numerous seminars on the subjects. He even helped design the security system in the new Miami Police headquarters building. Edna Buchanan, the Pulitzer prize winning* crime reporter for the Miami Herald wrote about Lt. McDennott in her book. The Course Had a F=iliarFacc:CoverinMiami. America"Hot- tem Beal. She described the first time they met when he threatened to arrest her for "crashing" a homicide crime scene and then told a f arro%v_ ing story of a domestic homicide inweslwation on which she accompanied him to the crime scene and to the morgue. On a personal level she described Ed as aquiet Irishman and a strong. old-fash- ioned son of cop. Divorced. he lived alone and kept to himself. He was very private and sort of sad. a man you could call friend but never really know. McDermott looked sad. but then he always looked sad. even when he smiled. (Co[psr, Had a Famitini-b-c-e. 1987. pp. 9.1,96) Everyone who knew Ed 1IcDen-nott said the same thing about him. He was "a good 4 his 1876-1947) and grandmother (Margaret Messett' returned to his car after picking up the night de - and jab was the most important thing inFs 1875-1948) and his mother, Mary Messett posit for the Westward Ho Restaurant in the life. Det. Mike Gonzalez, who knew Lt. McDermott Schutt (1904-1983) who was buried Dadeland Shopping Center. He became the sev- McDermott for many years, and who was his beside her son three years after his death. enth Coral Gables officer killed in the line of partner in burglary fora brief time in 1967, said In 1995, Edward ,McDermott was survived duty and the fourth to be shot and killed in 13 that McDermott was a very conscientious by two daughters. six grandchildren, and two years. The Gables force had only 122 sworn of - worker. He also remembered McDermott as great grandchildren. Cynthia McDermott Burger, ficers at the time Terrinoni was killed. Two of "leading man handsome" who impressed every- 36, lived in Littleton. CO. with herhusband Greg, the four robber/killers received life sentences. one with his good looks. deep voice. Boston ac- and four children: Jeanine Kukula, 20, Michele Terrinoni was in civilian clothes and was cent and bearing. Gonzalez also said that, though Kukula. 16, Michael Edward Burger, 7, and Sa- working an off-duty job but his death was clas- McDermott was a 'loner;' he was one of the rah Ann Burger, 5. Christina McDermott sified as,a,p-duty since he was shot as he at - kindest and most sentimental men he ever knew. Harrelson, 37, lived in Ona. FL, as did her two tempted -rd perform his police function in pre- . McDermott. wac also president of the Emerald daughters. Christina McDermott, 20, and venting an armed robbery --against himself. In Society (An Irish fraternity) and helped organize the Chelsea Harrelson. 5. Christina McDermott had subsequent years, three other Dade law enforce. St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dade in the late 1970'& two children (the great grandchildren of Lt. ment officer deaths (Metro -Dade Officer Cheryl McDermott'sdaughter. Tina. would latersaythather McDermott). Christopher Michael McDermott. Selden in1982,N.Miami Officer Steven Bauer father "died for what he believed in" and that "our 6. and Rachel Ashleigh McDermott, 3. in 1992 and Metro -Dade Officer Evelyn Gort in pride in our father will never die." Other survivors of Lt. McDermott in 1995 1993) occurred during armed robberies while off - Edward Edward McDermott was survived by his include his ex-wife. Hilda McDermott Conover, duty and were also classified as line of duty mother. Mary Schlilt. 76, of Newton. N.J.; his 65, of Denver; a step -daughter (from Hilda's first deaths. two daughters, Christina McDermott, 22, of Ft. marriage), Linda Roe, 46. a police dispatcher in On Saturday, Oct. 11, 1980, Sgt. Terrinoni. Lauderdale and Cynthia Kukula, 21, of Denver; Oyster Creek, TX (where her husband, Larry. is a 16 -year veteran, got off work at I I:00PM and his ex-wife, Hilda McDermott, 50, of Denver; a a marshal); a sister. Eileen Brown, 68, of Fishkill, began his off-duty job with the Westward Ho granddaughter, Christina Marie McDermott, 3 N.Y., and a brother, James Vincent McDermott restaurants. Terrinoni had been hired a year and months, of Denver, a brother, James Vincent of Dennysville, Maine. a half earlier by Westward Ho restaurants after McDermott of Newton, N.J., and a sister, Eileen Tina McDermott reported that she was told their Coral Gables headquarters had been robbed Brown, 53, of NYC. (Edward McDenmsott's fa- at her father's rosary (funeral) service that the (on March 5, 1979). He worked the off-duty job ther died in 1951 in NYC.) McDermott family would not receive the to supplement his $22,500 annual police salary. Funeral arrangements were made byAhem- S100.000 benefits given to officers killed in the Terrinoni and Coral Gables OfficerTommy Plummer of Miami and a mass was conducted line of duty since he died of a heart attack that Faroh alternated on Saturdays picking up the by Father Barnett at St. Kiernan's Catholic was not precipitated by some felonious act. The receipts from the Cutler Ridge and Dadeland Church (next to Mercy Hospital) on Thursday, family received just under S30.000 in severance Westward Ho restaurants. Officer Faroh was May 22. Neither the boami_Herald or the ]vim'- pay and benefits from the city and state. scheduled to work on Oct. 12 but asked Terrinoni ami News covered the funeral of Lt. McDermott Tina learned in 1993 that her father's death to substitute for him. or even published his obituary. Mayor Maurice had been "reclassified" as a line of duty death. Terrinoni drove to South Dade where he Ferre tried to get the family to forego the tradi- She learned of tate Department's action from Dr. picked up the receipts from the Westward Ho tional police funeral fearing that such a display Wilbanks after being contacted in Aug. of 1993. restaurant at the Cutler Ridge Shopping Mali. of uniformed officers during the May riots might Dr. Wilbanks had been told by the MPD that it His second stop was Dadeland. He picked up spark additional violence against the police. The had lost contact with the McDermott family and the receipts then: at about 11:45PM and walked local newspapers may have decided not to cover he searched for a year before "finding" Cynthia to his car, a white Datsun 280Z, parked at the the funeral for the same reason. The only men- McDermott Burger in the Denver area. Both curb at the front of the restaurant (which faced tion either newspaper made of his death was in daughters were shocked to learn that their father's south toward Kendall drive). He was likely un - general stories about deaths during the riots. death was now considered line of duty since the usually cautious as both off-duty officers had Christina ("Tina") McDermott reported that family never received line of duty death benefits. reported feeling that they were being watched her father received a full "police funeral" with The name of Edward F. McDermott is in- on previous evenings when they picked up the hundreds of uniformofficers in attendance. Hilda scribed (East Wall, Panel 54. Line 5) on the Na- receipts at the Dadeland restaurant. McDermott was not able to attend as she had tional Law Enforcement Memorial in Washing- Four black males waited nearby in two cars, returned to Denver from the funeral of her mother ton. D.C. A plaque bearing his name is in the a yellow Chevrolet Chevette and a late -model when she received notice of her ex-husband's lobby of the Miami Police Department and his Oldsmobile. The four had received a tip from a death. In fact, Lt. McDermott had not been able name is read each May at that location and at couple of ex-employees of Westward Ho that a to attend his mother-in-law's funeral in Opa- the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical man routinely picked up the restaurant receipts locks because he was on continuous riot duty. Park in Miami. around midnight. They did not know that the The body of Edward McDermott was "pick-up man" was an off-duty police officer. shipped to NYC for services and burial in Long SOURCES: Mjami Herald. May 19, 1980: ,_O'- Two of the men got out of one car and ap- Island City, Queens. A funeral service for friends ami News. May 19, 1980; Dade County Medi- proached Ten inoni with their guns drawn and and relatives in NYC was held at a Catholic cal Examiner record (080-1444A) of Edward F. told him to give them the brown zippered bag Church in Long Island City and followed by McDermott; Miami Police Department case with the money (later determined to hold 54,800 burial at the Calvary Cemetery in Long Island #1393212E; death certificate of Edward Francis in cash). ; City. Cynthia and Christina McDermott attended McDermott, Jr.; ]Ie Oorpse-Had-a_Famil lar Face. Terrinoni apparently resisted and "went for the NYC services as did Eileen >IcDennott Covering Miami. America's Hottest Beat by his gun" but was shot three times (in the chest. Brown and James Vincent McDerindtt. Edna Buchanan. NY: Random House. 1987, pp, thigh and left hand) as he attempted to draw his The Calvary Cemetery is perhaps the largest 93-97; and interviews with Cynthia McDermott gun. He fell to the pavement with his gun still in in NYC and is visible as one crosses into Queens Burger, Christina McDermott Harrelson, Hilda its holster. The two men grabbed the money bags from Manhattan near Queens Blvd. McDermott's Conover, Eileen Brown and Mike Gonzalez. and ran to their car. In their rush to flee, they left gr ive marker is on a 6 foot tall monument for the behind one of the cash bags. The four men in the Messett family (his mother was a Messett). The #70 ALFRED WILLIAM TERRINOivI two cars then fled the scene. Messett marker includes the inscription: Coral Gables Police Department Metro -Dade Police Officers Richard LT. EDWARD F MCDERMOTT Shot & killed on Oct. 11, 1980 Stankiewicz and Larry Gray were the first to ar- 1932 — 1980 rive on the scene after someone called 911. They THE EVENT tried to resuscitate the mortally wounded officer The Messett family plot also includes the Coral Gables Sgt. Alfred WilliamTerinoni, before Fire Rescue arrived. Terrinoni was rushed graves of his maternal grandfather(JamesMessett. 38. was shot and killed on Oct. 11. 1980. as he to South Miami Hospital )yhgre he w� m4t�- Seven off-duty (4tetro-Dade polis tcers volunteered to police N. Miami during the fu- neral so that Mertes' fellow officers on the N. Miami force could attend the funeral. Car! Mertes was the first N. Miami officer to be killed in the line of duty in the 54 -year history of the city (which was incorporated in 1926). There were 85 sworn officers in the N. Miami Police De- partment in 1980. More than 900 persons attended the funeral and burial services. Police officers from every police department in Dade and Broward coun- ties were represented. The honor guard was made up of officers from both counties. Sgt. Donald SanSouci of N. Miami Beach, a friend of the fam- ily, delivered the eulogy and told the mourners that Carl Mertes was the "gentlest man he had ever known." Father John C. Nfulcahy also spoke at the service and urged the officers present to not become bitter and angry. At the conclusion of the service at the S. Maurice Catholic Church a mile -long procession of police motorcycles and cruisers and private automobiles proceeded westward on Sterling Rd. to Hollywood Memorial Gardens. The service at the cemetery was brief. N. Miami Beach Po- lice Officer Rolando Baldemero played "raps" on a bugle and a Marine Honor Guard fired off three rounds to honor the slain officerand former Marine. At the conclusion of the public service the family was led to a private service at the mausoleum. Carl Mertes. 41. was survived by his wife. Linda, 35; one step -daughter. Tammy, 16; two daughters. Amy, 2, and Carla. one month: his father and step -mother. Wallace and Bettie Mertes of Great Falls, Montana; his mother, Bessie Fuller of Spokane, Washington; and three brothers. Calvin, 31. Dean, 25, and Joe of Great Falls, Montana and one sister. Sheila. of Spo- kane. Washington. Several community groups got involved in efforts to show appreciation for the slain officer. More than 25 student volunteers from N. Miami Sr. High School washed squad cars to be used in the funeral procession. Many were members of the Police Explorers group. The N. Miami Beach Sr. High School Key Club organized a car wash with proceeds going to the :Mertes family. A Carl Mertes Memorial Fund was estab- lished at the Peoples American National Bank in N. Miami to provide financial help to the fam- ily. Most of the money came from a fundraiser held on Nov. 23 at Finnigan's Speakeasy at Biscayne Blvd. and N.E. 163rd St. The fundraiser was organized by members of police departments in N. It fiami. N. Miami Beach and Hollywood. Local businesses donated door prizes in an at- tempt to sell 4,000 tickets at SIO each. Approxi- mately 2,000 tickets were sold. One woman and her daughter sold 31,000 in tickets door to door. The city of N. Miami distributed 1.000 canisters to businesses in the area to solicit money for the fund. The Department of Justice in Washington. i D.C., announced that Linda Mertes would re- ceive 550,000 (tax-free) from the federal gov ernment under the 1976 Public Safety Officers Benefit Act. This program had paid out S24 mil- lion to 489 families by 1980. Linda Mertes was 1 granted a six-month extension of her maternity I [cave in the wake of her husband's death. She 1156 returned to work in June of 1981 (just bil Walker's jury trial began). A housekeepeeW hired to take care of the baby. Mertes' death came only a few months be Fore a new law became effective providing stat( benefits to families of slain officers. However his children will receive state monies for their college education. There was no organization like C.O.P.S. in 1980 and thus Linda and her chil- dren had to adjust with little or no counseling o support. On Nov. 5, 1983 (the third anniversary o Carl Mertes' death), the N, Miami Police De- partment dedicated a flagpole and monument in the memory of Carl Mertes a few feet from the front steps of the entrance to the N. Nliami po- lice station. At the dedication ceremony. Linda Mertes read a poem her late husband had writ- ten, ironically about death. N. Miami Police Chief Tom Flom said that Mertes was "from ,Montana—a Gary Cooper type. He was very soft spoken, a good man, sensitive, talented and ar- tistic." Carl Mertes once told his wife that he wanted to be thought of not as a cop who gave speeding tickets but as someone who "was out there to help people" and as a "person who saved lives." It appears that the people of N. Miami and Dade County granted him that wish. A sign was erected at Arch Creek Natural Bridge Park in 1982 designating the park as Carl Mertes Park. The park had an interesting his- tory. no 75 -foot natural rock bridge was a "rem- nant of South Florida antiquity" as it was used by Miami pioneers until the completion of Biscayne Blvd. in the 1920's. In 1899 tycoon John Jacob Astor was the first to cross it in a car. In the early years Indians paddled nearby Arch Creek in dugout canoes. In Miami's early days the area was a "popular site For picnics, political rallies and baptisms." In 1995, Linda Mertes, 49, was a 22 -year veteran and assistant chief of the N. hfiami Beach Police Department. Linda hid remarried (to Tony Loizzo, V.P. of the Dade County P.B.A.) and lived in Ft. Lauderdale with her daughters Amy Mertes. 17, and Carla Mertes, I5. Tammy Saville, 31, worked as a police dispatcher in N. Miami Beach and Cooper City and lived in Coo- per City with her husband, Jim, and children, Carl (named after Carl Mertes). 3, and Taylor, 2. Carl's brother. Joe, remained in &IT while his two half-brothers. Calvin. 46, and Dean, 41. remained in Great Falls. MT. Carl's sister. Sheila. lived in Spokane. WA. His father. Wallace Mertes, died Jan. 29. 1981, and his step -mother. Bettie Mertes, died on Dec. 5. 1991. The name of Carl Mertes is inscribed (Panel 51 -Right -16) on the Memorial Wall of the Ameri- can Police Hall of Fame Museum at' 3301 Biscayne Blvd, in Miami and on the National Law Enforcement Memorial (West Wall. Panel 19, Line f) in Washington, D.C. His name is read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service n Tropical Park in 4f iami. 5OURCFS: M d. Nov. 6.7.8.16. 1980. Sept. 2, 1981. April 14.1984; Miarnj News. Nov. 5. 1980: Ft. Lauderdale Sun-T�u1rr Nay. 6 & $, 980: N_M'ami_Beach Sun RP,yO= Nov, 9, 983; Dade County court file of Lonnie James Walker (##F80021484).' FL Dept, of Corrections records of Lonnie James Walker (#080322). and interviews with Linda Mertes and Calvin Mertes. AMEL K. BRQON>< Miami Pbilcii�eparfinenf' 3 Shot & killed on Sept. 2, 1981 THE EVE,VT ,Miami Police Officer Nathaniel Broom, a r 23 -year-old rookie, was shot and killed as he chased.a man he thought was just a traffic viola. f for dov�p an Overtown alley on Sept. 2. 1931. He ame the 28th Miami officer killed in the line of duty. His killer received the death pen- alty. The Broom murder became the subject of a lengthy article in the Miami Herald's Trooic Magazine because the victim, a black officer. had all the advantages of a good background and caring family, while the white killer (who re- ceived the death penalty) was rejected by his motherand had suffered severe abuse as a child. Robert Patten, a 24 -year old petty crimi• nal, was in Overtown on Wednesday mornine. Sept. 2. 1981, hoping to find a buyer for a black. steel .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver, so that he could use the proceeds to buy drugs. The Sun had originally been sold illegally at the Dade Gun and Equipment Co. at 7294 S.W. 40th St. operated by two former Metro -Dade officers. Theodore Kowaleski and Terry Perrin. (The ,tun shop owners were tried in federal court on charges of "entering false information on the documents required of gun purchasers by fed- eral law" but a mistrial was declared on Sept. 21. 1982. when prosecutors "prejudiced" thejury by mentioning the link. to the Broom murder.) Patten drove to the area in a green Volkswagen "bug" which he had stolen two days earlier. He approached two black men. Henry Lee "Gator' Butier.26. and Leroy "Pe rrine" 45,i1 - Gams, 28. deseribed_by Miami detectives as "petty criminals," and tried to sell them the gun for W. The two men said they were not inter- ested but when Patten persisted they said they knew someone who would probably buy the gun and offered to take Patten to the prospective buyer. They got into the Volkswagen driven by Patten. The Volkswagen was traveling the wrong way (east) on the one-way westbound N.W. I 1 th St. when it was spotted by a Miami Police De- partment patrol car manned by two rookies. Nathaniel Broom and his partner. Terry Russell. 26, who Overton routine patrol only seven blocks from police headquarters. Broom had graduated from theacademy8 months earlier% pile Ru%sell had been on the streets foronly 2 months. Patten saw the police cruiser and turned into the park- ing lot of an apartment complex at 268 N.W. I I th St. When he saw the police car make a U -tum and come in his direction. he iuddenly an- nounced to his startled passengers.'Tme hot and this car is hat... you guys better run." Patten then "boiled" from the car follow ed quickly by Butter. his front seat passenger. Patten and Butler ran in different directions. Officer Broom jumped from the patrol car and chased the driver (Patten) on foot across the busy Third Ave. intersection and into an alley (at `AV Third Ave. & I lth St). Perhaps he was thinking of a similar situation two months earlier when n he stopped a stolen motorcycle in the same - borhood. On that occasion he had chase nd caught the thief who had fled on foot and had received a commendation for his effort. Broom's partner had stayed with the police car and had "wheeled around" in an attempt to follow Broom. Unfortunately, he had lost sight of Broom who by this time had entered the alley which "stretches west, between an aging church... and a two-story building with busi- nesses on the street level and apartments above." Officer Broom probably knew that the alley was a dead end as he had grown up in Overtown while Patten no doubt did not know he was entering a "box canyon," But Robert Patten knew something that the officer did not ---that he was armed with a .38 caliber revolver and was determined not to be caught since an arrest for car theft and carrying a gun would surely result in the revocation of his probation sending him to prison for as long as five years. Officer Broom also did not know that a psychiatrist had noted that Patten had a "morbid fear of being trapped" and was "the type of person who. when cornered, might act irra- tionally." When Patten realized that the alley was a dead and. he first tried to tun through a shop adjacent to the alley but an employee saw him and yelled to another worker. '"Me cornered man dodged away from them." Patten then ran into the back- yard of the apartment building that backed onto the alley as Broom ran down the alley with his radio in his left hand and his police revolver in his right hand. As Broom walked into the back- yard where the fugitive was standing, Patten took a "shooter's crouch," holding his revolver with a "combat two -hand stance." He fired two shots at close range at the approaching officer. The first shot hit Broom in the chest just above the left breast pocket of his uniform and he "went back a few feet" before the second shot hit his belt buckle and was deflected. Broom "managed to squeeze off one shot before he stag- gered a few steps, buckled, and fell dead." Broom's shot ricocheted off the ground to a door behind Patten. Patten then fired one more shot— "a coup de grace"—at the prone Broom, hitting Nathaniel K. Broom, Cin of Miami. 1981. his left foot. The killer then "vaulted a re is and ran south. Meanwhile, Officer Russell had heard the shots and was frantically trying to find his part- ner. His police radio malfunctioned and thus his search effort was hampered by a lack of com- munication. Miami homicide detectives Ernie Vivian and Richard Bohan were enroute to a 10:00AM meeting with Metro -Dade officers in an unmarked car when they were signalled by a young woman who was "frantically waving" at them. Det. Bohan backed up the car to speak with the woman who was on a second story staircase. "pointing down." Bohan stopped the car and ran toward the woman who shouted. "A policeman's shot!" Bohan "vaulted the fence" to the area where the woman was pointing andsaw Broom "lying face down in a clump of weeds." He yelled at Vivian. who was right behind him. to call fire rescue. as "a policeman's been shot!" Det. Bohan rolled Broom over and gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Another officer. Bernard Fowler, d former Cedars of Lebanon medical therapist. arrived and applied heart mas- sage. Fire rescue arrived in less than two and a half minutes. The paramedics found no vital signs but tried to revive Broom as they franti- cally placed him in the ambulance and trans- ported him to Jackson Memorial Hospital. Doctors in the emergency room "immedi- ately opened Broom's chest and tried to clamp the aorta" but soon realized that nothing they could do would save the officer. Nathaniel Broom was pronounced dead at 10:25AM. Dade. Medical Examiner Dr. Joseph H. Davis later said that the bullet "exploded" his heart and that when the paramedics "got there he was beyond all help." Unfortunately, only seven blocks away at police headquarters. Broom's bullet proof vest hung in his police locker. The vests had been provided to officers but were not mandatory. Many officers did not wear them because they were bulky and hot. especially in the hot sum- mer months of June through September. Broom would probably have survived if he had been wearing the vest. As soon as word went out over the police radio that an officer had been shot and the as- sailant had fled, more than 150 Miami police officers and 50 Metro -Dade officers "converged from everywhere" at the scene. They were searching for a white man described as "hippie - looking." with dirty, long blonde hair and about 6 ft, and 120 lbs. Police "searched buildings and fields with helicopters and dogs, stopping doz- ens of suspects." But Patten had gotten away before the police blanketed the area. Witnesses later told of seeing Patten flee across Interstate 95 to a laundromat where he held up Max Rhodes. a washer -dryer repairman, stole his brown Oldsmobile, and fled the area. He drove to the Rainbow Motel at 335 S.W. 241h St. where the manager later reported that he looked "normal" not like "someone who had just killed a man." Patten then drove to his grandmother's house where he changed clothes and hid the "death weapon" under the floor of the room he occupied when sleeping there. Forty-eight minutes after the shooting, the police had taken fingerprints from the abandoned VW and run them through their "new half.mil- ]ion-dollar Rockwell computer system" put into service six months earlier. "In minutes the com- puterspit out the name of Robert Patten, arrested in March on auto -theft charges." Patten's photo was shown to witnesses who identified the skinny, white. curly-haired suspect as the eun- man, r By the time Patten drove to his girlfriend's room at the Bali Hai Nlotel at 1350 S.W. Second Ave., the. police had obtained the address and had it sqi�ed out. About 5:ISPM (8 hours after the murder), the officers on the stake -out saw Patten walking down the street with his German Shepherd. He tried to run but was tackled and arrested. Henry Lee Butler (one of the other occu- pants of the VW) heard the four shots and kept on running. He took a jitney to his home in Brownsville. Leroy Williams. who had been in the back seat of the VW. did not begin to run until he heard the shots. He then ran from the scene but stayed in the "Overtown area at the residences of various friends." . "'Tipsters" in the community provided po- lice with the names of Butler and Williams and the two men were located the next day. Thev were "panicky at being inadvertently involved in a policeman's slaying" and were "eager to co- operate with authorities." Neither man was charged with a crime as police believed their (consistent) stories that they had no part in the murder and did not know the car was stolen be- fore Patten's sudden announcement as he bolted from the car. Both agreed to be key prosecution witnesses at the trial. Miami Homicide Detectives Vivian and Bohan who "assigned themselves" to the case by discovering Broom's body, discovered the murder weapon three days later in the "secret hiding place" at the home of Patten's grand- mother. The detectives learned the night before that Patten had stopped by the house to change clothes and they got a search warrant "during the night" from Judge James Henderson. They searched Patten's room and were about to [eave when Sgt. Vivian said they "felt a difference in the flooring." They lifted a throw rue and the cardboard underneath it and found an old heat- ing vent. They found the gun underneath the gra- in-. The five -shot revolver had been "wiped clean" and had two live rounds in the cylinder. Ballistics matched this sun with the bullet found in Broom's chest. V THE PERPETR.-ITOR Robert Lester Patten was born on April 28, 1957, in Sacramento. CA. the third of fourrhil- dren born to Navy pilot Lester HarvevPatien and the former Betty Lou Biggers of Mianti. When Robert was three his father died and the family moved to Miami. When his mother re- married Robert spent most of his time uith his grandparents across town. By the age of 1.1 he was involved w ith drug (LSD, heroin, cocaine. and STP) and:rime and was arrested numerous times, mostly for theft. He quit school in jr. high school and lased on the streets much of the time. At 13 he was sentenced to 8 years in prison for robbery but escaped from a Gainesville road prison in 1975. He was caught 3 months later in Homestead in a stolen car. He —1260 157 had on, prior arrests for robbery. ry, concealed weap tion of the abuse presented at the sentencing Today Patten would have been made a ward aggravated assault, resisting arrest with violence, ing included testimony by psychologists, tela- of the state at an early age.) grand theft auto, and possession of drugs. tives. school personnel. etc., and was character- *That Robert Patten suffered from L Patten was held in jail without bond pend- ized and summarized in a Feb. 4, 1990, 141iami veere motal-ah =.and maternal reaection ing trial. Before the trial the defense had filed its Herald Tropic Maaazing article. "Sons and as achild —When Robert was in the body intent to use the insanity defense, alleging that Mothers," by Meg Laughlin, a professor at the cast his mother would sometimes wake him Patten suffered from "hallucinations and delu- Downtown Campus ofNliami-Dade Community up holding a knife to his throat... (saying sions" when he shot Broom. The defense also College. Tropic's Tom Shroder summarized "Aren'[you lucky let you live through[he alleged that Patten was incompetent to stand trial. Laughlin's story: night." Upon being told that Robert had On Sept. 25. 1981, the court ordered that Patten Today's cover story provides a devas- been given the death sentence his mother be examined by four experts. The experts agreed rating example: A little boy is openly de- -said. "Robert has always been uncontrol. unanimously that the defendant was competent tested by his mother, beaten, stabbed, ig- ',rla0le.A bad seed from the time he was bom. to stand trial at the competency hearing on Oct. nored. reviled. After years of this abuse, a The sooner this is over, the better." 9, 1981. Patten was ruled competent and ar- psychiatrist noted that whenever he men- *Doctors, social workers and teachers raigned on that date, tioned the mother's name, the teen-age boy repeatedly recommended that Robert "be Patten's trial began on Feb. 16. 1982 (5 & shook and cried. "Despite her rejection of put in a program for deeply troubled 3do- 1/2 months after the murder) before Dade Cir- him." he notes. 'The child stilt wants to lescents" but Robert's mother "ignored the cuit Judge Thomas Scott with court-appointed please her." suggestions. and nobody challenged her."— private attorney Marsha Lyons representing The damage is done.The despised boy ---Left to h is own devices, Robert was "ou[ Patten and David Waksman prosecuting for the glows up and runs into another son. one of control" by the time he was a teenager. state. The trial lasted only five days as the de- who has been surrounded by love and gen- No high school would take him due to his fense did not attempt to refute the 39 witnesses erosity. The loved son has become a brave history of fighting and [heft. He lived for and 131 pieces of physical evidence suggesting and decent man. The despised son kills him months on the streets and "ingested every - that Patten had shot Broom. Patten did not take for it. (Tra ne-Magazine, 214/1990) thing from cocaine to transmission fluil the stand in his own defense and never made a Some of the dghm made by the defense from heroin to Vitalis." formal confession. attorneys at trial and at the sentencing hearing it should be noted that the bias of Laughlin The defense conceded that Patten shot and by writer Laughlin are given below from in the lj�2pk article is clearly anti -death penalty Broom but argued that he was guilty of no more the Tr pk article: as she implicitly suggests that Broom's mother. than second degree murderor manslaughter since *That Robert Patten was an unwanted Lucille. made the "right" decision in opposing he shot "in the heat of the moment" and "in a ra—Robert's mother, Betty, told her the death penalty for the murder of her son. It panic." In short, the defense argued that the pre- family that Robert (her fourth child), was should be noted that two 12 -person juries and meditation required for first degree murder was conceived the day she caught Robert's fa- two judges considered Patten's background and not present and the decision by Patten to shoo[ ther. a test pilot, in bed with another man and decided he deserved the death penalty even was instantaneous and irrational. kicked him out of the house. She claimed though he may have been abused as a child. The defense did not claim insanity though that her husband came back and forced his The jury at first deadlocked 6-6 on its rec- Patten did have a prior history of mental illness. way into her bedroom (i.e.. implicitly sug- ommendation as to Keys. death and Judge Scott In 1977 he was found not guilty by reason of gesting rape). Betty tried to abort the preg- sent them back to deliberate further to break the insanity of charges that he bought and received nancy with a drug and then started drinking tie. The jurors were undoubtedly struck by the stolen property and spent three years in a north heavily and taking tranquilizers. Robert was severe physical and mental abuse suffered by Florida mental institution. Court records indi- born with brain damage. A psychiatrist said Patten as a child but that mitigating factor was cate that he was diagnosed as "suffering from that at the age of 3 Robert suffered "from a balanced by two aggravating factors ---that he chronic major psychiatric illness" and as an "anti- lack of holding, caressing and touching." killed in order to escape apprehension and that social personality with immature -dependent *That Robert Patten was abused ohvsi- he had an extensive prior record, They came back characteristics". c� at an early age -----A psychiatrist re- a short time later with a 7-5 vote for death. Patten's emotional state had grown "uglier' ported that at the age of 3 Roberts mother On March 4. 1982, Judge Scott sentenced in the four months prior to the murder. Patten, "frequently curses at thechild, spitson hint Patten to death. Scott alsoadded consecutive sen• his girlfriend. Christina Castle. -"an unemployed and throws him against the wall, using tences of 3 years each for two counts of grand waitress." and his infant child. April, were choking as a disciplinary tool." Robert's theft and 110 years for armed robbery. He also evicted from the Rainbow Motel two weeks ear- step -sister, a former St. Petersburg police recommended that Patten never be released on lier when he went into a rage and broke-up the officer, reported that when Robert was band parole if the death penalty was not carried out. furniture of their rented room. he refusedhis mother's warning not toreach Scott said the aggravating factors outweighed the However. the four psychiatrists appointed for a piece of cam -on -the -cab, she "took a mitigating factors and described the murder of by Judge Scott to examine Patten failed to sup- carving fork and jabbed in into his bare Broom as an "ambush" and an "execution." The port the defense claims of incompetency and in- back." The sister "could see the fork go in, judge told Patten that "your act transcends an% sanity. In fact, two psychiatrists suggested that up to half an inch." When blood "gushed concept of human decency. Your act strikes at Patten was faking mental illness to avoid trial. from his back" his grandmother took him the very core of a civilized society." The psychiatrists saw evidence that Patten was from the table. "Everyone kept eating as if Scott was aware that Lucille Broom op - full of rage and out of control but saw no evi- such an occurrence was common." ' posed the death penalty for the killer of her son dence of psychosis or that he didn't understand At 8 Robert began to have trouble walk- but said that he would not be swaved by the the difference between right and wrong. The state ing due to a degenerative bone disease. How- wishes of the victim's family. Judge Scott added. argued that Patten was a sociopath rather than ever, his mother thought he was "faking it" "If the courts of [his country cannot protect and "crazy." Thus at trial the defense did not raise and "would walk behind him with a stick. ensure justice to the Nathaniel Brooms of thk the insanity defense. hitting him when his walk was uneven." world. how can we expect the ;rathanielBroomi The eight -woman, four -man, bi-racial jury Eventually, Robert was placed in a body cast to protect us'?" took only three hours to return a verdict of guilty for a year. Two days after the cast was re- However, the Florida Supreme Court ruled of murder in the first degree on Monday. Feb. moved Robert was returned to the doctor that Judge Scott should have accepted the 6.6 22. 19$2. At the sentencing hearing which be - with his leg badly broken in several places" tic as a recommendation for life and overturned gan on Wednesday, Feb. 24. the defense argued (suggesting that the mother broke his leg). the death sentence. The second sentencing hear - that Patten should not be given the death pen- ..The cast went back on for eight months." ing was held before Judge Fred Moreno in Carly alty due to what psychologist Jethroe Toomer (The second cast went on in 1966. a period Nlay of 1989. This time the jury- voted 11-1 fur called "the most horrendous case of mental and when --unlike today—the state did little to death and on May 15. 1989. Judge Nforenoagain physicalchild abuse I've ever seen." The descrip- investigate the "dirtysecree'ofchild abuse. sentenced Patten to death. In 1995 Robert Patten was stillhath row. In May of 1989 he married Shirley eeks of Providence, Rhode Island. She answered his ad in the personals. "Lonely and incarcerated. Want pen pal." Their correspondence led to the marriage and to Shirley's moving to Florida to be near her husband. She hnd been married before, and hadn't much liked it. This arrangement seemed ideal. Here was a husband who could not brutalize her, run around on her. be an al- coholic. or even demand dinner... They would see each other every two weeks, and the rest of the time she would have to her- self. It was the kind of relationship she had always wanted, all love and no hassle. (Tro iri cMagazine. 214/1990) THE OFFICER Nathaniel Broom was born on Nov. 9, 1957. in Miami. the fourth child of John and Lucille Sparks Broom. "Nay" was their first and only son and from the age of 3 told everyone that he wanted to be a policeman. His mother put little plastic policeman on his birthday cakes and his favorite toys were little model police cars. As a young boy he "tamed extra money for his fam- ily as a paperboy" and played cops and robbers with his best friend. Michael Grant. Nay was always the cop. When "Nay" was a teenager he was teased and hazed for his wanting to be a police officer but he would not back down. He was a boy scout and joined the Miami Police Department's Po- lice Explorers when he was l5. "He always said he couldn't wait to be a police officer. It was the only thing he lived for." The JEonic Magazine article focused on the contrast between the negative environment in which Patten was raised and the positive envi- ronment in which Broom was raised. Nathaniel was given a great deal of love and attention and was raised in a very religious home. He learned hard work and discipline from his mother and father. His father was an airplane mechanic and a security guard and his mother worked two jabs. as a maid for a white family and as a cafeteria monitor in an elementary school. Broom graduated from Miami Jackson High in 1976 and joined the Army. He served as a military policeman from 1976 to 1979 and was discharged as a specialist fourth class. Afterdis- charge from the army, he worked as a security uuard at the Omni. In the fall of 1980 Nathaniel realized his life-long ambition when he joined the Miami Police Department and entered the Police Acad- emy. His class of 42 trainees graduated from the academy on Dec. 12, 1980. Two of his closest friends through the Academy were Metro -Dade Officer Glenda Wingard and Miami Officer Eunice Cooper. Broom was not married but,had a steady airlfriend. Pauline Mathis. Nathaniel met Pauline while he was in the Police Academy and was introduced to her by Glenda Wingard. Pauline worked as a secretary at Miami -Dade Commu- nity College. Both Nathaniel and Pauline had attended Jackson H.S. but Pauline was three years younger and thus did not enter Jackson until after Nathaniel had graduated. Nathaniel Broom joined the Miami Police Department during a turbulent time. The Apt- ment was in a "hiring frenzy" after the May riots in an attempt to hire more minority officers and because so many experienced officers were retir- ing or quitting. The result was that a large per- centage of Miami patrol officers were rookies. On the day that he was killed. Broom was paired for the first time with fellow rookie. Terry Russell. At that time, it was not unusual to have two rookies as partners. In fact. the department had planned for Broom to be a training officer with the next academy class due to his exceptional performance and due to the lack of more experi- enced officers. Broom got consistently high marks in his performance evaluations with such descrip- tions as "competent' and "energetic." Broom was so "sold" on police work that he tried to talk others into becoming cops. He often visited Kenneth Lewis. the son of Josephine Lewis, and tried to talk the youth into becoming a police officer. Their last conversation occurred the night before Broom's murder when Kenneth Lewis told Broom that he had decided to become a police officer. When Lewis was told the next day that Broom had been killed, he indicated that he wanted to become an officer so that he could carry on the work of his slain friend. Officer Broom was posthumously honored as Miami's policeman of the year in 1981. He was considered a rising young star in the depart- ment and one of its most outstanding rookies. In fact. Nathaniel Broom, one of 131 black offic- ers, was a model for the kind of black officer the department wanted to recruit. He had roots in and was well -liked in Overtown, he had always wanted to be a police officer. and he showed great initiative in his work. Broom was also attending Miami -Dade Community College as a law en- forcement major to further his career. During his first year as a police officer he "often sent money home to help his parents." Funeral services for Nathaniel Broom were arranged by Range Funeral Home at 5727 N.W. 17th Ave. where a wake was held on Tuesday evening. Sept. 8. 1981. The funeral was held in the Allapattah Baptist Church, 3300 N.W. 17th Ave.. on Wednesday. Sept. 9. 1981.Over 1.000 police officers (500 Miami officers and 500 from other agencies) along with friends of the well- known Overtown family crowded into the small church with many standing along the walls. Eu- logies were delivered by Pastor Richard Pankey of the Allapattah Baptist Church and Miami Po- lice Chief Kenneth Harms. At the end of the ser- vice the audience filed past the open casket and saw Broom. dressed in his police uniform with his hat tucked by his side. Afterthe service the funeral procession, led by more than a hundred police cars, "crept" through 5:00PM traffic to Lincoln Memorial Park, 'five miles and 40 minutes away." Tragic backed up for miles in north- west s4liami. People lined the street. Chil- dren sat on the curbs. Men spilled out of shops and bars along the way to watch the awesome line of patrol cars behind the hearse. They watched quietly. Asad parade. (,Miami l . 9/1011981) A full-fledged police/military type service was conducted at the grave site. The service in- cluded a 21 -gun salute. Broom's grave in the south east corner of Evergreen Cemetery is topped with a concrete "vault' with a large cross along with the words: NATHANIEL K. BROOM NOV. 7, 1957 SEPT. 2.1981 Nathaniel Broom was survived by his par- ents. John and Lucille Broom; his sisters. Johnnie Mae Cleare. 33. and Josephine Broom. 32: an,! Barbara Dean James: and a niece. Octavia Clearee 16: Tropic 4(a zine reported that Nathijol's mother was so distraught after her son's'death that she had to give up both of her jobs. John Broom. 77, a retired mechanic from Aerodex. died on Jan. 19. 1992. In 1995, Lucille Broom still lived in Mi- ami and each year attends the Miami Police Department's Police Memorial to hear her son's name read. Nathaniel's sisters, Johnnie Mae Williams. Josephine Bradley and Barbara. Dean James. Also lived in ,Miami in 1995. Metro Det. Glenda Wingard worked at the Northside sta- tion and Miami Det. Eunice Cooper worked ho- micide. Nathaniel K. Broom's name is inscribed (Pane( 51 -Right -22) on the Memorial Wall of the American Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd, in Miami and on the National Law Enforcement Memorial (East Wall. Panel 19. Line 9) in Washington, D.C. A plaque bear- ing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Dept. and his name is read each May in a cer- emony at that location. Also,eaeh 'vlay his name is read at the Dade Police Memorial Sen -ice in Tropical Park in Miami. This narrative of the life and death or Nathaniel Broom is also included in Exig ten Hergss: Black -Polio Offlcers•_Killed .in 12ade Courim 191295, published by Avand Press of Opa-locks in D€c. of 1995. SOURCES: Wiafni_H_er2ld- Sept. 3.4.5.6.9.10.24.'_6. Oct. 2. 1981, Feb. 17,18.19,23.24.27. March 5. Sept. 22. 1982. Sept. 22. 1983. April 29. May 16. 1989. Feb. 4. 1990 ( N- u ). Jan. 25. 1992: Llj=* News, Sept. 2.3.4.9.10.24. 1981. April 15.1938: ,Miami Time, Sept. 3.10.17. Oct. 15, 1931. Jan. 23. 1992: Records of Dade County Medical Ex- aminer (#81-2581-A). Dade county court file of Robert Patten (#81-1970): Patten v, State t46" So.ed 975. Fla. 1985), decided Jan. 10. 1985. b) FL Supreme Court. Robert _Patten v. Florida. petition for writ of certiorari before U.S. Su- preme Court denied on Oct. 7. 1985: FL Dtpt. of Corrections records of Robert Patten (#049448); Dade County Court rile of Robert Patten (#81-1970'?): death certificate of Nathaniel K. Broom: ,Miami Police Dept. Case #2453292F � • �rr 1 rt Therri Set:YQu CPb% Edna Buchanan. N.Y.: Random House. 199-2. pp. 319-331: and interviews with David Waksman. Det. Richard Bohan, and Glenda Wingard. #73 EDWARD RUSSELL YOUNG ,Metro -Dade Police Department Killed on Sep[. 23. 1981 in car accident durin__ felony pursuit THE EV&VT Edward Russell Young. 29, a seven -}ear veteran of the Metro -Dade Police Department. THE OFFICER Bjorn Thomas Svenson was bom on Oct. 16.1948, in Jonkoping, Sweden. to Lars & EtheI Svenson. Thomas was the second of three chil- dren. The family moved from Sweden to Chi- cago in 1956 and Thomas graduated from Maine Township West High School in DesPlaines, IL, in 1967. The family moved to FL in 1967 after Tho- mas H.S. graduation and Thomas continued his education at Manatee Jr. College in Bradenton, FL (graduating in 1969). In 1970 (at the age of 20)Thomas married Linda Manfuli of Sarasota. He graduated from the U. of South FL in Tampa in May of 1972 with a major in business and behavioral management. While in college. Thomas worked at vari- ous part-time jobs. At the U. of South Florida. he became interested in a career in probation when he was interviewed by a recruiter from the FL Probation & Parole Commission. He began working for the Commission in August of 1972 after his graduation from U.S.F. Svenson became a Florida parole officer in 1972 at the age of 23 and was a I0 -year veteran. He was promoted to supervisor in 1979 and headed the 20 person office in N. Dade. After the building was burned down in 1980 he designed the new building on the same site. emphasizing security... security was his hangup... there is wonderful security all around the building --except when you step outside... (the parking lot) is lit up like aChristmas tree. (Miami Herald. 9f'1./1983) For all the long hours, supervisory respon- M4 Phillitss vs. .476 Southern Reporter. ries. 194: Phillips vs. FL (Case No. 75.59Sr-ruling by FL Supreme Court on Oct. 2. 1993: and interviews with David Waksman. Linda S%enson and San Russell. #76 ARIEL RIOS U.S. Treasury's Bureau of Alcohol. Tobacco & Firearms Shot & killed on Dec. 2. 1932 THE EVENT: Ariel Riitf S7, an agent with the U.S. Trea- sury Department's Bureau of Alcohol. Tobacco & Firearms. was shot and killed inside a Little Havana motel office Dec. 2. 1983, when an un- dercoverdrug buy/bust "went wrong." In a nine second shoot-out, Rios was killed, another ATF agent was critically wounded. and two of the six drugdealers were seriously wounded. Seven men were convicted and sent to federal prison as a result of the murder and drug trafficking. Ariel Rios and Alex D'Airi. 36. a 13 -year veteran of ATF who was seriously wounded in the shootout, were part of the 54 -agent President's Task Force sent to South Florida un- der the direction of VP George Bush. The un- dercover sting began in October and involved the illegal sale of machine guns and silencers and eventually led to cocaine trafficking. On Thursday, Dec. 2. ATFdecided to com- plete an undercover "buy and bust" operation that had been set-up the day before between un- dercover agents and three Cubans at a Home- stead convenience store. Agent Rios called his contact, a Cuban named "Macho." to make a deal for four kilos of cocaine. Rios agreed to bring presented Svenson's widow and son a procla- the New York buyer (actually'ATF Group Su. mation honoring the slain officer's service to the pervisor D'Atri) who was allegedly tied to the State of Florida. New York Mafia, to a meeting at 2:00P41 in a The name of Bjorn Thomas Svenson is in. parking lot behind a restaurant in Little Havana. scribed (Panel 63 -Left -2 I)on the Memorial Wall When D'Atri and Rios drove their rented of the American Police Hall of Fame Museum Cadillac into the parking lot. Eduardo Portal. 54. at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the was waiting in a black Grenada. He was later National Law Enforcement Memorial (East Wall. joined by *vtacho (Victoriano Concepcion. 33). Panel 54, Line 5) in Washington. D.C. His name Rios and Macho negotiated a price of is read each May at the Dade Police Memorial 549.000 per kilo and the buyers (i.e.. the agents) Service in Tropical Park in Miami. were instructed to follow the sellers to a place In 1995 Svenson's widow, Linda. was liv- where the drug transaction could be accom- ing in Sarasota. and owned and operated herown plished in private. The location chosen was the business as a building contractor. Bjorn Eric Hurricane Motel. "a one-story Cuban -operated Svenson. 21, graduated from Sarasota H.S. and fleabag with ten units clustered, horseshoe style. was enrolled at the U. of FL in Gainesville in around a crumbling cement courtyard." at 4911 1995. His parents and brother still lived in West Flagler in Little Havana. On the way to the Sarasota in 1995. motel the two agents alerted (through a hidden Beginning July 1. 1992. state parole offc- radio) the backup teams to the location of the ers and administrators were allowed to cam' intended meeting. weapons fordefensive purposes. Any officer may Upon arrival the occupants of both cars got request a Dept. permit to carry a concealed out and engaged in a conversation outside of the weapon and submit himself to training and quali- office door. Macho told Rios that he could not fiication. Mike Russell and Nanette Russell were accompany D'Atri inside the motel but relented still parole officers in 1995. when Rios explained that D'Airi needed him as an interpreter. Portal remained outside as a look- out. Inside Room #I t of the motel the agents met Oscar Hernandez. 54. the morel manager. his roommate Augustin Alvarez. 4I. and (even- tually) "the man with the direct link to the co- caine courier. Mario Simon." 41. Alvarez called Simon who agreed to come to the motel. However, when he didn't arrive as soon as scheduled, the agents/buyers threatened to leave. As they were about to leave (around SOURCES: Miami [Jerald. Sept. I '.4. 1982, Jan. 4. Dec. 13.17. 1983. Feb. 2.198.1. Sept. 26. 1992: Miami News. Sept.. 1.2. 198=: Medical examiner records )182-2481-A): Court files of Harry Franklin Phillips (k62-6140 & 483-435): Barry Phillips v. State of FL. No, 64883. Aug. 30, 1985. FL Dept. of Corrections records of Harry Franklin Phillips (11008035): FL. Dept. of Corrections Memo of 6/22192 on carrying of sufficient evidence to prove that the murder was IWility and threats to his life, he earned about "especially heinous, atrocious orcruel" and also $20.000 per year. found that it was "committed in a cold, calcu- Funeral services for Svenson were held on lated and premeditated manner" Friday. Sept. 3, 1982, at the Vista Funeral Home. Appellant waited for the victim to 14200 N.W. 57th Ave. in Hialeah. Rev. Albert leave work, confronted him in the parking Schmidt officiated at the services. Visitation was lot and shot him twice. The victim man- held on Thursday afternoon and evening. The aged to flee approximately one hundred feet body was cremated and thus no burial services before he was cut down by gunfire to his were held. head and back. in order for all of the shots Thomas Svenson was survived by his wife. to be fired appellant had to reload his re- Linda. and son Bjorn Erik. 8: his parents. Lars volver. affording him time to contemplate & Ethel Svenson of Naples: a brother. Gunnar his actions and choose to kill his victim, Svenson of Sarasota: a sister. Inger Kafer- (Phillips,v.4, FL.476 Southern Reporter, 2d Cammack of Libertyville, 1L: a sister-in-law. Series. 19.1) Mrs. Greg Schinzel of Sarasota: and an aunt and However. an Sept: 25. 1992. the FL Su- uncle. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Nelson of Sarasota. premeCourt vacated thedeath sentenceof Harry Several years before the death of Thomas Phillips so that he was given a life sentence. The Svenson, state law removed parole and proba- Court noted that the 7.5 jury recommendation tion officials from the "special risk" occupational for death was close and suggested that the argu- category that qualified employees killed in the ments made in the appeal by his defense attor. line of duty to benefits for the families of those ney may have made a "critical difference." killed in the line of duty. Phillips had contended that the jury was not told Thomas Svenson's widow and child will al - that his childhood was filled with poverty, that ways receive a "death benefit" (a percentage of he had been physically abused as a child, and his monthly pay) from the FL. Div. of Retire - that his low IQ created difficulties in adapting ment and received a death benefit from to society. Workman's Compensation. Linda and Bjorn Eric The new sentencing heating mandated by also received a 550.000 federal death benefit for the FL Supreme Court was held on April 8,1994. Thomas' line of duty death as a law enforcement The new jury. which included 8 blacks. heard officer. Also, in 1982, a scholarship fund for the the evidence {child abuse, low IQ. etc.) excluded education of young Bjorn Svenson was estab- at the first trial and again ---by a vote of 7 to 5--- lished by the FL Council on Crime and Delia - recommended the death penalty. Judge Arthur I. quency in Gainesville. Snyder agreed with the jury and sentenced The building in Miami where Thomas Phillips to death on April 20, 1994. In 1995, Svenson worked and was murdered has been Harry Phillips was still on FL's Death Row. renamed the Svenson Building. On Oct. 1. 1982. Governor Bob Graham and the Florida Cabinet THE OFFICER Bjorn Thomas Svenson was bom on Oct. 16.1948, in Jonkoping, Sweden. to Lars & EtheI Svenson. Thomas was the second of three chil- dren. The family moved from Sweden to Chi- cago in 1956 and Thomas graduated from Maine Township West High School in DesPlaines, IL, in 1967. The family moved to FL in 1967 after Tho- mas H.S. graduation and Thomas continued his education at Manatee Jr. College in Bradenton, FL (graduating in 1969). In 1970 (at the age of 20)Thomas married Linda Manfuli of Sarasota. He graduated from the U. of South FL in Tampa in May of 1972 with a major in business and behavioral management. While in college. Thomas worked at vari- ous part-time jobs. At the U. of South Florida. he became interested in a career in probation when he was interviewed by a recruiter from the FL Probation & Parole Commission. He began working for the Commission in August of 1972 after his graduation from U.S.F. Svenson became a Florida parole officer in 1972 at the age of 23 and was a I0 -year veteran. He was promoted to supervisor in 1979 and headed the 20 person office in N. Dade. After the building was burned down in 1980 he designed the new building on the same site. emphasizing security... security was his hangup... there is wonderful security all around the building --except when you step outside... (the parking lot) is lit up like aChristmas tree. (Miami Herald. 9f'1./1983) For all the long hours, supervisory respon- M4 Phillitss vs. .476 Southern Reporter. ries. 194: Phillips vs. FL (Case No. 75.59Sr-ruling by FL Supreme Court on Oct. 2. 1993: and interviews with David Waksman. Linda S%enson and San Russell. #76 ARIEL RIOS U.S. Treasury's Bureau of Alcohol. Tobacco & Firearms Shot & killed on Dec. 2. 1932 THE EVENT: Ariel Riitf S7, an agent with the U.S. Trea- sury Department's Bureau of Alcohol. Tobacco & Firearms. was shot and killed inside a Little Havana motel office Dec. 2. 1983, when an un- dercoverdrug buy/bust "went wrong." In a nine second shoot-out, Rios was killed, another ATF agent was critically wounded. and two of the six drugdealers were seriously wounded. Seven men were convicted and sent to federal prison as a result of the murder and drug trafficking. Ariel Rios and Alex D'Airi. 36. a 13 -year veteran of ATF who was seriously wounded in the shootout, were part of the 54 -agent President's Task Force sent to South Florida un- der the direction of VP George Bush. The un- dercover sting began in October and involved the illegal sale of machine guns and silencers and eventually led to cocaine trafficking. On Thursday, Dec. 2. ATFdecided to com- plete an undercover "buy and bust" operation that had been set-up the day before between un- dercover agents and three Cubans at a Home- stead convenience store. Agent Rios called his contact, a Cuban named "Macho." to make a deal for four kilos of cocaine. Rios agreed to bring presented Svenson's widow and son a procla- the New York buyer (actually'ATF Group Su. mation honoring the slain officer's service to the pervisor D'Atri) who was allegedly tied to the State of Florida. New York Mafia, to a meeting at 2:00P41 in a The name of Bjorn Thomas Svenson is in. parking lot behind a restaurant in Little Havana. scribed (Panel 63 -Left -2 I)on the Memorial Wall When D'Atri and Rios drove their rented of the American Police Hall of Fame Museum Cadillac into the parking lot. Eduardo Portal. 54. at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the was waiting in a black Grenada. He was later National Law Enforcement Memorial (East Wall. joined by *vtacho (Victoriano Concepcion. 33). Panel 54, Line 5) in Washington. D.C. His name Rios and Macho negotiated a price of is read each May at the Dade Police Memorial 549.000 per kilo and the buyers (i.e.. the agents) Service in Tropical Park in Miami. were instructed to follow the sellers to a place In 1995 Svenson's widow, Linda. was liv- where the drug transaction could be accom- ing in Sarasota. and owned and operated herown plished in private. The location chosen was the business as a building contractor. Bjorn Eric Hurricane Motel. "a one-story Cuban -operated Svenson. 21, graduated from Sarasota H.S. and fleabag with ten units clustered, horseshoe style. was enrolled at the U. of FL in Gainesville in around a crumbling cement courtyard." at 4911 1995. His parents and brother still lived in West Flagler in Little Havana. On the way to the Sarasota in 1995. motel the two agents alerted (through a hidden Beginning July 1. 1992. state parole offc- radio) the backup teams to the location of the ers and administrators were allowed to cam' intended meeting. weapons fordefensive purposes. Any officer may Upon arrival the occupants of both cars got request a Dept. permit to carry a concealed out and engaged in a conversation outside of the weapon and submit himself to training and quali- office door. Macho told Rios that he could not fiication. Mike Russell and Nanette Russell were accompany D'Atri inside the motel but relented still parole officers in 1995. when Rios explained that D'Airi needed him as an interpreter. Portal remained outside as a look- out. Inside Room #I t of the motel the agents met Oscar Hernandez. 54. the morel manager. his roommate Augustin Alvarez. 4I. and (even- tually) "the man with the direct link to the co- caine courier. Mario Simon." 41. Alvarez called Simon who agreed to come to the motel. However, when he didn't arrive as soon as scheduled, the agents/buyers threatened to leave. As they were about to leave (around SOURCES: Miami [Jerald. Sept. I '.4. 1982, Jan. 4. Dec. 13.17. 1983. Feb. 2.198.1. Sept. 26. 1992: Miami News. Sept.. 1.2. 198=: Medical examiner records )182-2481-A): Court files of Harry Franklin Phillips (k62-6140 & 483-435): Barry Phillips v. State of FL. No, 64883. Aug. 30, 1985. FL Dept. of Corrections records of Harry Franklin Phillips (11008035): FL. Dept. of Corrections Memo of 6/22192 on carrying of 3:00P191) Simon drove up in the parkin. Simon agreed to return at4:OOPM "with the first of four kilos to be delivered on an hourly basis." Everyone then left and the two agents drove to a restaurant and talked with another undercover agent about how the arrest should "go down." They decided that when Rios went to the trunk of his car to get the money and walked back in- side the motel office, the backup team would wait 40 seconds and then rush in and arrest everyone present. Rios was to leave the door unlocked to facilitate the entry of the agents. (Unfortunately. this plan was foiled when Simon locked the door after Rios returned.) At 4:30PM the two agents and Concepcion. Alvarez and Simon returned to the motel office to begin the deal. Simon went outside to his car and returned with a black plastic bag that con- tained a kilo of cocaine. D'Atri examined the cocaine and instructed Rios to go outside to the Cadillac to get the paper bag with the $50.000. But when Rios returned to the living room. something "went awry." Simon was looking out the window and was "spooked" by something he saw outside. Many agents believe he saw the Channel 4 TV vehicle and, then soon afterward. "the cavalry coming" (i.e., the approaching back- up agents rushing the motel). The back-up team had to stay out of sight to avoid counter -surveil- lance (i.e.. a lookout) by the drug dealers and thus took several seconds to arrive at the motel door. According to D'Atri, just as he heard the backups arrive at the locked door. Rios shouted one word, "No." and there was a shot from Simon's corner of the room. For a second. D'Atri trained his gun on his tablemates and the three of them stayed "stock still." but then there was another shot, and Rios started to fall. When D'Ani sprang forward to help his partner, Alvarez pulled out the gun that fatally wounded Rios and pumped four bullets into D'Atri. who was scuffling with Simon and firing his own weapon. The last thing D'Atri remembers is being out of ammunition in a smoke-filled room with Alvarez looking him in the eye Areii Rios. Unwed Stares A.7: F. 1982. and blasting him point-blank in the chest almost unconscious." He recalled that he thought with a.357 Magnum. shots that pushed him he had fallen against a water pipe "but when he backwards and slammed him into a wall. It put a hand behind him he discovered it was his took only nine seconds. D'Aui later testi- own blood gushing from his back." D'Atri asked tied, for the flurry of shooting that wounded Agent Switzer how bad he had been hit and was him and killed Ariel Rios. (Nonhcast MaIL told he wasn't dying but Switzer's tears told a Zine. 413/1983) different story. D'Atri asked for a priest and then The first backup unit (three agents) exited lost consciousness. its van and waited a few seconds for agents from D'Atri was rushed to Jackson Memorial the two other backup units to join them. The Hospital where he underwent five hours of sur. agents heard shots fired inside the office as they geryThur;Aay night and remained in serious con. rushed toward the office door. The agents first dition for�several days. He was released from attempted to enter the office by kicking in the the hospital just before Christmas but was door (which failed) as they shouted in Spanish, guarded around the clock during the 3 months "Federales! Federales!. before the trial for fear that associates of the jailed As the gunfire inside continued. ATF agent drug dealers would try to eliminate the major RobertSwitzer shot off the lock with four blasts witness in the case. from a shotgun. When the agents did break into D'Atri did not return to New York (Staten the office the shooting had stopped. They found Island was his home) before the trial to recuper- Rios slumped on a sofa with his head back and ate with his wife and six children as his health eyes open. Blood was "spurting out in streams" was fragile and doctors feared that he would from a hole in his cheek. He had also been shot catch pneumonia with his damaged lungs. After in the thigh and finger. Agent Switzer tried to the trial ended on March 15, he was able to re - stop the bleeding from his head with "pressure turn to New York. He returned to work in New from his thumb, and then used a towel, but to no York in March of 1983. The three Cubans were captured by the avail." A group of "weeping agents" carried the backup team. Concepcion jumped out the kitchen mortally wounded Rios outside toward an am- window and began to run before being arrested. butane but when he stopped breathing the para- Simon, who had been shot several times by medics decided to treat him in the parking lot. D'Airi, was taken into custody in the office and A team of local TV reporters moved taken to Cedars of Lebanon Hospital where he in to record this final chapter in the trag- was listed in critical condition. Alvarez ran to edy. Ariel Rios, his black hair matted with the bathroom and threw the money. the N1ag- blood. his limbs bent and still. spent his fi- num (which he used to shoot Rios and D'Atri), nal minutes bleeding beneath the glare of and cocaine out the bathroom window. He then the camera crew's lights as the medics gave ran to a bedroom where he was spotted by Agent him emergency resuscitation. in vain. The crew soon sold their film to Cable News Mike Casalli. Casalli entered the bedroom and saw that Network, and Rios' death was seen across Alvarez was reaching for a shotgun lying on the the nation before his family even knew the bed. Casalli then shot Alvarez and. as Agent Switzer approached, told him to watch Casalli details of the shooting. (Nq1[LqnLN1P.A_ 3/3/1983) while he searched the other rooms. Switzer told 1LU. The agents' anger at the TV crew from Alvarez to just lie down but Alvarez "continued Channel 4 for violating the privacy of the dying to rise up" and "appeared to be reaching for the Rios was increased by the knowledge that the shotgun" again. Switzer drew his handgun and TV crew had (perhaps) contributed to the death shot Alvarez. Alvarez was taken to Jackson `1e - of one of their agents by their failure to leave mortal Hospital where he was listed in fair con - the area when instructed to do so. While the sting dition. was in progress, Channel 4 reporter David Goldstein and his crew (in an unmarked brown in retrospect. there had been warning sig - nals about the operation. An hour before the station wagon) were seen by surveillance agents shooting started (when D'Atri and Rios met with driving past the motel. The crew even stopped another ATF agent in the restaurant during the one surveillance vehicle and asked if the occu- "break"). Rios said that he was worried as the had been tense and Simon had appeared pants were with ATI:. They were instructed to leave the scene. meeting suspicious. During the':00Pk( mectin; Alvarez A tali was placed to the station and the crew and Simon had told the agents that they would die char• back to prison (they claimed was ordered from the area since they were en- dangering the lives of the agents. But as the sur- rather go to have spent 17 and 19 years respectively in veillance team closed in the Channel 4 camera Cuban jails). that they were not afraid of dying. suspicious that buy - was right behind chem videotaping the entire incident. The agents were incensed that the TV and that they were always ers might be rip-off artists or police officers. This crew would endanger the operation and the lives conversation must have given the two agents about the danger that they faced. of the agents after being warned to leave the area. serious concern The Cubans obviously did not realize that a The fire rescue team gave up trying to re- vive Rios at the scene and rushed him to Jack- "small army of federal agents wa, waiting out - son Memorial Hospital, arriving at 5:151"1. Upon arrival he was unconscious and had no side the motel. ready to close in.' The , i F{�raid suggested that many nar- pulse. He was placed on a respirator and received cotics officers were critical of the decision by into the room with the cardiac massage on the "thumper" but all resus- citation efforts failed and he was pronounced ATF to bring the money drugs as the presence of both inside a room in - dead at 5:53PM. D'Atri was found in a corner "crumpled and vited a rip-off. especially when the agents were outnumbered by the drug dealers. However. ATF 167 defended the undercover plan by pointing That D'Atri was perhaps the most experienced undercover agent in ATF and both he and Rios had extensive experience and success in under. cover operations, ATF trusted the "gut instinct" of the two agents and believed that the two would call the whole deal off if they believed they were in imminent danger. Furthermore. more than a dozen ATF agents (plus agents from U.S. Customs and DEA) were serving as back-up outside the motel. it is easy to "Monday morning quarterback" but ATF's plan and execution differed little from numer- ous past buy/busts" that had proven successful with no loss of loss of life to agents, THE PERPETPA TORS Nine men were arrested in connection wit the murder of Rios, the attempted murder D'Atri and the cocaine deal. All were Cuban and all but one or two were refugees from th 1950 Mariel boatlift. intelligence information in dicated that most of the nine had previously bee involved in large scale narcotics trafficking ae tivities. Charged in federal court with the first de gree murderof a federal agent and assault agains a second federal agent were Mario. C. Simon 41. Augustin DelfinaAlvarez.41. and Victorian Concepcion, 33. They were held without bon pending trial. Six other men were charged with cocaine conspiracy. They were Eduardo Portal. 47: Oscar Hernandez. 54. Ramon Alfonso. 38; Jose Lopez. 42; Ramon Raymond. 56: and Rolando Rios, 26. A bond of 5500,000 was set for each of the eleven and they were held at a federal prison from Dec. 2 because they were unable to make bail. On Dec. 2I. a federal grand jury returned first- degree murder indictments against five (Simon, Alvarez. Concepcion. Hernandez. and Portal) of the nine. The other four were charged with con- spiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine. Three months afterthe nine werejailed.The U.S. Attorney's office dropped charges against Lopez and Alfonso. The decision to drop the charges against the two men came on 'the day jury selection began for the trial of seven of the defendants (Raymond and Rios were tried sepa- rately). The trial of the seven was held in Judge Lawrence King's federal courtroom from Feb. 2.1 -March 15, 1983. U.S. Attorney Leonard Baer, assisted by Neil G. Thyfor. argued to the jury that, under federal law, the five were equally guilty of first degree murder sten though only two fired guns since Rios war killed and D'Atri was wounded as part of a drug deal. In short, the prosecutor argued that the five were all guilty of first degree murder under a federal doctrin: that was similar to "felony murder' under state law. Each of the seven had separate defense at- torneys with some arguing entrapment. some that their client was not inve ved in the drug con- spirac% and thus was not responsible for the death of Arius. and some self-defense. The highlight of the trial was the March 3 appearance (from hiding) and testimony of Agent D'Airi, the only eyewitness to the shooting. D'Airi's wounds ar_ very visible: on his chest are bullet scars the size of quar- 68 tern, there's a scar on his eyebrow. and sur - gory scars along his torso making it clear that what the Cubans didn't blast away. the surgeons filletted with their scalpels, His abdomen is still so swollen he can't button his jeans, and until his guardians introduced him to Grapenuts, he says, his system couldn't handle much more than iunafish. ( Northeast Mat'azin�. 31311983) In a dramatic moment At the conclusion of his testimony. D'Atri -rose and pointed out four men who were in the motel that December day. two who fired and two who were nearby." Anotheremotional highlight of the trial was the testimony of ATF agent Robert Switzer who uardo Portal (inmate #11105-004) was re. Wed to the U.S. immigration Service (for de. portation) in July of 1993. Raymond and Rios were sentenced to 10 and 8 years respectively. Ramon Raymond (#I 1082.001) was released from federal prison on Dec. 12. 1988. afterserving 6 years. Rolando Rios (d 11079.0011 escaped temporarily in Au. gust of 1986 from a work crew outside the Fed- eral Correctional institute at Talladega. AL. but was recaptured, He was released on Dec. 2. 1993. and turned gig to the U.S. Immigration Service. All se -Vest received a special parole term of 3 years as mandated by 21 U.S.C. 941(b)(1)(A). Thea cial arolete e' pe p rm. increased the time they was the first member of the back-up team to were required to spend in prison before becom- of d break into the motel room. He told in graphic ing eligible for parole. h detail how he found the two wounded agents and administered first aid and how he agreed to hear THE OFFICER s D'Atri's confession as he thought he was dying Ariel Rios was born in New York City on e and a priest was not available. April 5. 1954, the second child of Francisco and • Defendant Mario Simon, supported by Juanita Rios. He was raised with two older sis- n Victoriano Concepcion. claimed that the two ters. Zandra and Nilda. The family lived in Ncw agents shot first and that he fired in self-defense. York City until the early 1960, when Ariel's fa - not knowing they were federal agents. Simon then. who had been a worker in the garment dis. • admitted that he was involved in a cocaine deal trier. realized a life-long dream by opening a t but argued that the two agents turned a "small- small groccD-storein Puerto Rico. his birthplace. time cocaine buy into a bloodyshootout,"Simon Ariel's pre -teen years were spent in a neighbor - claimed that he had a gun with him only because hood called Campo Alegre in Bayamon, a sub, he planned to take it to a gun shop later, urb of San Juan. On March 9.Judge King ruled (hat he would When Ariel was 13 the family moved back let the jury decide if Portal and Hernandez were to New York City where Ariel's '.education on guilty of first degree murder though they were the streets" began. The family "shuffled around not in the motel room when Rios was killed. The between housing projects in New York's poorer 12 -member jury was given the cast an March l5 after two weeks of testimony and deliberated areas." At times Ariel was so afraid that he would not use the bathrooms at school and would run for seven hours before returning the verdicts. home after school to avoid assault. He decided Simon and Alvarez were convicted of first at an early age that he wanted to be a police of degree murder. assault on a federal officer (icer so that he could help -clean up neighbor- (D'Atri). cocaine conspiracy and distribution of hoods like the one he grew up in from the scourge cocaine, and using a firearm during the commis• of drugs and crime. sion of a felony. However, a jury compromise He graduated from William Howard Taft led to a lesser verdict of second degree murder High School in Feb. of 1973 and immediately for the "non -shooters" Concepcion (who was at enrolled in John Jay College of Criminal Justice the shooting scene). Portal and Hernandez. They in Manhattan. He graduated from John Jay in were also convicted of cocaine conspiracy and Feb. of 1976 with a B.S. degree in criminal jus - distribution. Raymond and Rios (who were tried tice. separately) were convicted on the cocaine Adel's parents were disappointed in his charges. Sentencing was on April 20, 1983. Seven career decision as they wanted him to be a law - •ver. During the summerbefore his freshman vear men were sent to prison as a result of the Rios Ariel was working in a grocery store when he murder. Alvarez and Simon. the two "shooters." met Elsie Morales. a cashier who would later were each sentenced to life in federal prison plus become his wife. Elsie had an infant daughter. (i.e.. consecutive) 50 years. Hernandez. the mo- Eileen. Ariel and Elsie began living together in tel manager and drug trafficker. was sentenced 1972 and married in Feb. of 1981. Their son. to 30 years in prison: "Macho" Concepcion to Francisco (named after his father). was bom in 25 years: Portal to 21 years; Raymond to 10 1981. years: and Rios to 8 years. Elsie was aware of Ariel's "obsession" with In 1995. Mario C. Simon (inmate 411381- police work and gave up trying to talk him oyt 004) was incarcerated at a federal prison in Pe- of his chosen profession. After graduating from king, IL. His provisional release date was April John Jay in 1976, Ariel worked as a jail guard in 2.2046. when he will have served two-thirds of Washington. D.C. and in New York City and as his sentence. Augustin Delfrna Alvarez (inmate a investigator (of escapes. suicides) for the NYC q 11090.004) was incarcerated at a federal prison jail system. in Marianna, FL. His provisional release dale Rios took the oath of office to become an (i.e.. 213 of sentence) was Dec. 2, 2041. ATF agent on Dec. 4, 1978, and received badge Victoriano Concepcion (inmate #11077.0041 #1527. He took a 55,000 pay cut to join ATF was incarcerated at a federal prison in Florence, COL. His provisional release date was Aug. 2. and was assigned to the Hartford. CN. office while undergoing an extensive period of train - 1998. Oscar Hernandez V1107.1.004) was in- ing. During the first six months of his proba- carcerated at a federal prison in Tallahassee. FL. tionary period, he successfully completed for - His provisional release date was Aug. 21, 2000 mal training at two schools (Criminal investiga- 3r School and the ATF'-, New Agent Training 'nurse) held at the Federal Law Enforcement :Mining Center in Glynco. G.A. in 1979. After .,:fining. he was assigned to the New Haven of- ce on June 3. 1979. Rios quickly became an undercover opera- ve forATF because of his ability to speak Span - ,h and his "street smarts" gained from his youth ,nd from his work with jail inmates. He became ;cite adept at undercover work and enjoyed play - :i; the role and dressing the part. Other agents +icknamed him Frank or Paco atter Serpico ( the New York City cop of the book and movie), nick- names which he accepted for they confirmed his reputation as a top notch undercover agent. He became an expert bn motorcycle gangs during one undercover assignment in Connecti- cut and was instrumental in the successful pros- ecution of Danny Bifeld. leader of the Hell's An- gels. who had been called "Connecticut's Pub- lic Enemy Number One." Bifeld was sentenced to ten years in prison. in early 1982. Rios' service as an under- cover agent was requested by the DEA and he assisted that agency in concluding a major drug trafficking conspiracy case in the Hartford area. He also worked in undercover activities and joint .ATF investigations with many law enforcement agencies in CN. but most particularly with the CN Stare Police Intelligence Unit, the Statewide organized Crime Task Force. and the Statewide Narcotics Task Force. In 1983 Rios was picked as one of ATF's 35 "best special agents' to be a member of the Vice -President's South Florida Task Force on Drugs. His temporary assignment to Miami be- gan in July of 1982. His wife. Elsie. and the two children stayed in a recently purchased home in Bethany. a suburb of New Haven. He called her every day to assure her that he was OK. The couple loved the home in Connecticut and did not want to move. When stationed in New Ha- ven. Rios enjoyed landscaping around the house and working in the big garden. Rios seemed driven in his work partly be- cause he saw himself as on acrusade to fight the drug and crime menace and partly because he had a strong fearof losing his job to budget cut- backs. He was at the bottom of the seniority list and knew that threatened cutbacks (which were often made in his five years with ATF) endan- _ered his job. The frequency of rumors about Reduction in Force (R.I.F.) and Rios' known fear of such cutbacks led to another nickname. "Rif' Rios. Rios believed that if he worked hard at ATF and made a real reputation that he would be spared a layoff. He worked long hours and al- ways volunteered for the most dangerous of as- signments. One agent remembered that "Ariel was like the kid in school who always had his hand up volunteering for something. And he al- ways had to be the first guy through thy'door." Agent Rios had often been in life-threaten- ing situations and re lized that his being killed by drug dealers was a distinct possibility. In fact. the night before his murder. Rios had tackled a man who attempted to shoot other agents during nn arrest. Agent Rios began to have premonitions of his death in the months preceding his murder. At a family reunion a few months earlier he told kfather that if he were killed he wanted to be ried in Jayuya. a small mountain village in the heart of Puerto Rico. Jayuya was the birthplace of his father and Ariel had often visited there and thought it was one of the most peaceful and beautiful places in the world. Ariel Rios got his wish much sooner than he wanted. On Saturday. Dec. d, a Coast Guard jet flew Rios' body along with his entire family and 36 agents from the Connecticut and Miami offices to Puerto Rico for the funeral. The wake was held in Bayamon. just outside of San Juan. Ariel Rios was viewed in an open silver casket. Beside him were a pair of sunglasses. an undercover prop he favored along with his hat collection. They were to have been a gift from his mother -she searched weeks for the exact pair of glasses he wanted. and then never got the chance to give them to him. ( e . 313!1983) On Monday morning a mile -long motor- cade to Jayuya "began to snake its way up the mountains-" in a three-hour trip. The hearse was followed by a white car.filled with flowers and over 100 police cars with blue lights flashing. Jayuya's Municipal Cemetery was filled with children as school had been dismissed for the day for the funeral. Agents thought the pres- ence of the children was appropriate since Rios often said he felt his work fighting drugs was important in that it was an effort to save chil- dren from the destruction drugs could bring. The service ended with a 31 -gun salute and played by a lone trumpeter. Ariel Rios had spent his life in the urban jungle but his final resting place was in the most peaceful of places. a mountaintop overlooking a rural and peaceful valley. In 1995. the grave site of Ariel Rios is eas- ily found in the "Municipal Cemetery" in Jayuya. puerto Rico. The cemetery is on the side of a mountain overlooking the town of Jayuya and the Rios family "tomb" is one of the most vis- ible in the cemetery as it is white. 7ft by 10 ft.. with a metal grate over the entrance. A'_ft by : ft stone marker on the wall of the tomb reads: ARIEL RIOS RUIZ APRIL 5. 1954 DECEi4IBER 2. 1982 scored legislation signed into law by Pre_ dent Reagan on Dec. 19, 1985- renaming Z: : Federal Building at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave..--, the "Ariel Rios Federal Building." A ceremony was held on Feb. 5. 1986. officially dedicating the building. This building (formerly known as the `few Post Office). located at the southwest corner of Penn. Ave. and 12th St.. served as the headquarters for the ATF. The 10th anniversary of the death of Ariel Rios was recalled in a ceremony held at ATF headquarters i13-1,tiami on Dec. 2. 1992. The ( Dade Countyemmi. _ and two federal employee newsletters (ATF's Dirssi�s v � - Mi15iltttl and The Eighteen Eleven) ran stories about Rios on the 10th anniversary of his death. In 1987 a segment on the Rios murder was shown on TV's "Top Cops" program. The name of Ariel Rios is inscribed (Panel 62 -Left -19) on the Memorial Wali of the Ameri- can Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3301 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the National Law enforcement 110emorial tEast Wall. Panel 20. Line 6) in Washington, D.C. His name is read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park in Miami. SOURCES: NiLIMLBALIld• Dec. 3.5.9.30. 1982. Jan. 7.19. Feb. 25. March 1.4.5.8.9.10.11.15,16. April 8.21. 1983: Ltlami Nov.#. Dec. 3.4.22. Feb. 2.1. Lurch 1.3. 10.15.16. 193:: PB.� HEt� Dec., 199'_: "The Undercover Life and Death of Ariel Rios:' by Rubin Finn. ApriI3. 193_. pp. 7 19: San Juan f 4lunda. Dec. 8.1982: AUL&M Dec. 1932: Records of Dade County Medical Exam- iner 093-3311-A); death certificate of Ariel Rios: LIE=' U.S. Court of Appeals. Eleventh Circuit. March 30. 1985: ho- micide investigation report of Miami Police Department (03363696G): FederalCourtfile #31_-741-CR-JLK-. lrii� Oct. 1933. p. 5: and intervie%s with.ATF Super- visor. Joseph Benitiz and Agent Alen D'Atri (whochecked"The Event' forgeneral accuracy). Ariel Rios was survived by his wife. Elsie: his son Francisco. I. and step -daughter. Eileen. 11.. his father and mother. Francisco and Juanita Rios: and his sisters Zandra and Nilda. in 1995. Elsie Rios had remarried and lived in FL with their son. Francisco. la. His parents remained in NYC. The Dade County Chiefs of Police named Ariel Rios Officer of the Year for 198'_ on Jan. 18. 1983, markin; the first time a federal officer received that honor. Rios and D'Atri were Pre- sented the Secretary of the Treasury's Medal of Valor. the highest award given by the Treasure Dept., for their bravery and dedication to dut%. by Secretary of the Treason Donald Regan+n April 6. 1983. The award is given for the perfor- mance of duty when "at personal risk of sell'. The International Narcotic Enforcement Ofrw- ers Association awarded its Lledal of Valor to Special Agent Rios on Oct. 24. 1983. In Dec. of 1985. Sen. James Abdnor (R- S.D.) and Congressman Edward Roybai (D -CAI #77 EDDIE BEtNITEZ U.S. Treasury's Bureau of Alcohol. Tobacco Z Firearms Shot and fatally wounded on July S. 1')33 tdied on July 12) THE EVE,VT Eddie Benitez. 27. a ?-)'ear veteran of the U.S. Treasury's Bureau of Atcuhol. Tobacco and Firearms (.ATF) was shot and fatally %%ounded on July S. 1983, in a "lunch-time shoat -out' al' shopping plaza while trying to make an arrest in an undercover operation. Benitez was (he third undercover ATF agent shot in seven months#d the second to be killed (Agent Ariel Rios was killed on Dec. 2. 1982). His killer. a "gun runner and drug dealer." was sentenced to fife in prison. On Friday. July S. 1983. ATF agents met and decided to arrest Eduardo Jaime Rouco. ?1. a Cuban refugee (from the 1930Llariel boatliftI who had, on several occasions. in the prior wecki sold undercover agent Eddie Benitez illegal fire - amts. including a ritle. silencers. a homemade bomb. and a small amount of cocaine- Rouco and Benitez had negotiated a ,multi -kilogram cocaine deal" and another purchase of silencers ,r .k G0 169 but these deals had not materialized. ATF de• cided that it was time to end the operation and arrest Rouco. Soon after a meeting at ATF headquarters, Agent Benitez. "shadowed by a half-dozen backup agents." went to Rouco's home but he was not there. Benitez left a telephone number and Roucosoon returned his call telling him that he could not produce more silencers at the time but agreed to meet Benitez at the "usual place" to "talk things over." The "usual place" (where the prior under- cover buys had been made) was the southeast corner of the Central Shopping Plaza at N.W. 37th Ave. and 71h St. (nearMiami International Airport). Rouco arrived and parked his white 1976 Mercury Cougar. At 11:30AM. Benitez drove up and parked his maroon Camaro paral- lel to Rouco with two parking spaces separating the vehicles. Benitez then got out of his car and walked over to the passenger door of Rouco's car. Six additional agents were at the scene to provide back-up. Four were parked nearby in a brown Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme while two others were across the street (N.W. 37th Ave.; from the shopping center. Benitez leaned into the passenger side win- dow of Rouco's car as the two talked. Suddenly Benitez began to back away from the window moving toward the rear of the car as he simulta- neously drew his firearm, a 9mm handgun, and announced in Spanish that he was a police of- ficer. Rouco, still seated in his car, fired "two to three shots" at Benitez at close range with a.38 caliber handgun. Benitez returned fire. shooting three times at Rouco. Though Benitez had been graded as "excellent' in marksmanship. he failed to hit Rouco with the three shots while the drug dealer. who was probably untrained in marks- manship, hit Benitez in the forehead with one of his shots. Clearly. luck sometimes plays a part in who dies and who lives in shoot-outs. Benitez was hit with one shot just above the right eye with the bullet entering his skull and brain. He fell unconscious to the asphalt_ with a "bullet in his brain and his gun in his hand:' Ur, Philip Villanueva. the neurosurgeon who later performed the surgery on Benitez, said that the high -velocity. .38 caliber bullet pro - palled violent shock waves through the mid- brain, an area believed to control conscious- ness... as the shuck wave passed it prob- abiv rendered him immediately uncon- scious... it is likely that he didn't know what hit him. (Miami Herald. 7/12/1983) Rouco made an attempt to flee in his Mer - cur• but the backup agents in the Cutlass blocked his car and "dove out" of their vehicle. Two of the agents were in a position to return fire and several rounds were fired into Rouco's vehicle sti they used their own vehicle for cover. The backup unit across the street sped to the seine of the shooting. Rouco "dropped his gun on the seat and slid to the floor, screaming and shout- ing tin Spanish)." The people in the shopping center "dove for coyer" when the shooting started. When the shootin, ceased Rouco surren- dered "slithering out of the canon his stomach." Rouco "cheated death" and "escaped the hail of bullets without a scratch." As he surrendered Rouco screamed and shouted in Spanish but the 0 agents didn't know what he was saying as the only Spanish-speaking ATF undercover agent in Miami lay mortally wounded on the asphalt. Miami police. who knew nothing of the un- dercover meeting. arrived "in 30 seconds" as a Miami motorcycle officer who was nearby heard gunfire and alerted back-up units as he rushed to the scene. Miami Fire Rescue arrived within minutes and found that Benitez's heart had stopped. They were able to revive him and then rushed him to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he arrived at 12:05PM. He was rushed into sur- gery which lasted for four hours. After surgery he was taken to the intensive care unit where he remained comatose and on life-support systems for over four days. During the day on Friday and throughout the four-day period. Benitez mother, sister, fian- cee and fellow agents kept a vigil in the waiting room a few feet from the 8th floor Intensive Care Unit at JMH. At times they were joined by U.S. Attorney Stanley Marcus, Miami Police Chief Kenneth Harms, and Dan Conroy, special agent in charge of Sfiami's ATF office. The attending physician reported that the prognosis was not good and that Benitez had, at best, less than a 50.50 chance of surviving. He also said that Benitez had lost his right eye and suffered brain damage and that. even if he lived, he would have a weakness or paralysis in his left side. The doc- tor also warned that Benitez could remain in a permanent coma. The initial surgery removed thebullet from his brain and found that it had "flattened like a couple of quarters stacked on each other ...it caused tremendous damage." The doctors had to "remove 20 per cent of the right frontal lobe of the brain to clear out dead tissue and give healthy tissue room to swell." The surgeons also had to remove the bullet and skull fragments shattered by the bullet. The surgery was compli- cated by uncontrolled bleeding and severe swell- ing of the brain, Agent Benitez was pronounced dead at t 1:30PM on Tuesday. July I ?. The cause of death was heart failure brought on by complications from the gunshot wound. Vice -President Bush was notified in Washington of Benitez' death since Bush headed the federal task forceondrugs and crime in Miami. He sent condolences to the family of Agent Benitez. THE PERPETRATOR Eduardo Jaime Rouco. 31. came to Miami in the 1980 Martel boatlift, and lived at an apart- ment complex at 978 S.W. Sixth St. in Little Havana. He was stocky and bearded and claimed to be a house painter and auto repairman but his business appears to have been crime. He got into trouble with the law soon after his arrival in Miami in April of 1980 as he was convicted of three counts of manslaughter after his three pas- sengers (everyone else in the car) were killed when he crashed head-on into an Australian pine tree at 70 mph on Key Biscayne. He served one year in jail for that crime and was still on two years of probation for that offense when he was arrested for killing agent Benitez. Rouco's prior arrest record in the U.S. (his record in Cuba is unknown) did not include vio- lent crime except for the "accident" that led to his manslaughter conviction, He was a drug 'k r` 1 Eddie Benire;, United Stares A.T.F.. 1983. dealer and gun -runner specializing in selling il- legal guns and silencers. Rouco was taken to the Federal Metropoli- tan Correctidnal Center in South Dade under a two million dollar bond. On Monday. July 11. Rouco was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Peter Nimkoff. The defendant claimed that he was broke and unemployed and asked for a pub- lic defender. Judge Nimkoff granted the request for a public defender and ruled that Rouco would be held without bail on a charge of assaulting a federal agent (Benitez was stili alive at this point). On July 15. 1983, Rouco was indicted on 1.3 counts under federal law related to the kill- ing of Benitez and to the undercover operations. He was charged with the murder of a federal agent. firearms conspiracy. narcotics conspiracy. possession of a silencer and bomb.'transfer of a silencer and bomb. distribution of cocaine. pos- session of a deadly weapon during a drug traf- ficking crime, and the possession of a firearm illegally transported in interstate commerce. Five other Miami men were also indicted by the federal grand jury for the drug -dealing and weapons -dealing operation that led to Benitez' murder. Thev were Alberto (Beto) Cruz. Andres Luis (Perchero) LaCalle. Leonicio Fernando Cruz. Orlando Hernandez and Miguel Angel Qucyedo. Bond was set at amounts rang- ing up to S250.000 for the five men. Rouco's trial began an October 7. 1983. before Federal Judge SidneyAronoyitz. His pub- lic defenders. Robert Moore and Michael DeGrandy. conceded to the jury that their client was guilty of illegally selling firearms and drugs (though he claimed that a government informant enticed Rouco to make the deals at a time when he was "down on his luck and pressed for cash") but was not guilt- of murder. Rouco took the stand and denied the prosecution's claim that Benitez shouted. "Po- lice. Police!" and contended that he fired in self- defense "after a man he thought wax a bigtime, hot-tempered New York Mafioso tired at him first." Rouco also said that he fired blindly out the window "without even looking." and nut of -blind terror." Assistant U.S. Attorneys Linnea Jc n and Patrick Sullivan told the jury that Rouco was a "hoodlum who dealt in guns and cocaine" who then "tried to shoot his way of out of an arrest at the busy Central Shopping Plaza. The prosecu- tor presented witnesses who said that Benitez clearly "identified himself as an officer before the shooting began." After two-week trial. the jury deliberated four hours before returning a verdict of second (not first) degree murder on October 24. 1983. Second degree murder under federal law is mur- der that is willful and malicious, but not premedi- tated. Rouco was also convicted on the drug and firearms charges. On Dec. 6. 1983. Judge Aronovitz. sen- tenced Rouco to a life term plus (i.e.. consecu- tive) 75 years. On July 18. 1985. the U.S. I Ith Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta affirmed the conviction of Rouco. In 1995. Eduardo Jaime Rouco (inmate #13608-004) was incarcerated ata federal prison in Allenwood. PA. His provisional release date (i.e.. after 213 of his sentence) was July 7.2063. Two accomplices (to the drug deal) were also convicted in this case. Orlando Hernandez received a 10 -year sentence and a $10.000 fine and Leonardo Cruz received a 14 -year sentence and a 525.000 fine. THE OFFICER Eddie Benitez was born on Oct. 20. 1955. in the Canal Zone of Panama to Fernando Benitez and Calixta Garcia Benitez. His father was a Puerto Rican born U.S. Soldier and his mother a Cuban. Eddie was the youngest of four children (the three oldest were girls). The fam- ily of six moved to Dade County in 1968 when Eddie was 13. Eddie graduated from ,Monsignor Edward Pace High School (a private Catholic school) in 1973. He attended the U. of Florida at Gainesville and was only five credits short of a degree in criminal justice at Florida International Univer- sity when he was killed in 1983. Before joining the Metro -Dade Police De- partment in 1976. Benitez worked as a stock clerk. a security guard, and as a sky cap for East- ern Airlines at Miami International Airport. He graduated from the police academy in August of 1976. He earned six commendations during his assignment to the Central District. After four years with Metro -Dade. Benitez was hired by ATF on July 13. 1980. He completed New Agent Training in Nov. of 1980 and .advanced Under- cover School in October of 1981 - During his three-year career with ATF he participated in approximately 35 undercover op- erations and was the primary agent in 12. He often "posed as a middleman for wealthy South American criminals looking to purchase illegal weapons." These operations resulted in numer- ous arrests and asset seizures. Benite?.'the only Miami ATF undercover agent who spbke Span- ish, was in great demand as an undercover op- erative in an area where much of the illegal gun and drug trade involved Hispanics. His supervi- sor had planned to promote Benitez to senior agent on July S. the day he was shot. Eddie Benitez was also widely known and liked at ATF and in the law enforcement com- munity in general. He was known as a "happy- go-lucky" type of guy with a broad smile who enjoyed "office horseplay" and had a zest for living. He often brought his black Labrador re. triever Lucifer to the office. He was an outstand- ing athlete as evidenced by his no. I ranking at ATF in physical fitness and scored 594 points of a possible 600 on the physical fitness test for agents. He was an avid jogger and scuba diver. The undercover ATF agents were very close. "They don't go home like other people. They live together. play together. and work to- gether. There's a real esprit de corps." They met the evening of Benitez' death at his favorite nightspot, Dalt's Restaurant in Kendall. The agents propped up Benitez' photograph on a table top and put his favorite drink. Long Island Ice Ten. in front of it. Benitez' supervisor. Steve Liebowim_ then received a call that death was imminent at the hospital. He went to the hospi- tal arriving in the intensive care unit shortly be- fore the monitor went flat. Liebow•itz "walked over and squeezed Benicez's hand. 'So long. buddy.' he whispered." The funeral for Eddie Benitez was held at 9:30AN1 on Saturday, July 16, at the Cathedral of St. Mary's at 7485 NW Second Ave. A mass was celebrated by Bishop Augustin Roman. More than 100 uniformed Metro -Dade and Nli- ami police officers served as the honor guard outside the church. A motorcade brought the nag - draped casket from Rivero Funeral Home in Hialeah to the Cathedral. More than 1.000 persons attended the ser- vice with the majority being uniformed officers from agencies throughout South Florida. ATF agent Alex D'Atri, who was severely wounded in the shootout that killed agent Ariel Rios seven months earlier. flew to Miami from New York to attend the service. One of the pallbearers was Keith DiGenova, a retired Metro -Dade officer who was on disability as a result of the "shoot- out" that killed Metro -Dade Officer William Cook in 1979. DiGenova was a former partner of Benitez. The family was quite upset at the behavior of television crews at the funeral. Those in at- tendance had difficulty hearing the comments of the Archbishop at the funeral due to aTV he- licopter "hanging" overhead. Inside the church film crews walked up and down the aisles dur- ing the service interfering with the solemn na- ture of the occasion. Finally. as the honor guard paid its final respect outside the funeral home after the service. a photographer and TV crew pushed aside mourners to get a better view. The Herald published two letters to the editor criti- cizing the media for its insensitivity and disre- spect shown to the family and all those in atten- dance. The body of Eddie Benitez was cremated and thus no burial service was held. His ashes were buried in a mausoleum at Vista Memorial Garden in Hialeah. His grave marker reads: EDDIE BENITEZ 1955-1983 Eddie Benitez was sun ivied by his parent%. Fernando and Calixta Benitez of Miami. and three sisters. Lucy See. Eridia Benitez Coy and ,Myra Benitez of Miami. Agent Benitez had received numerous com- mendations as a Metro -Dade police officer and as an ATF agent. He also received several post- humous awards. The U.S. Department of Trea- sury (ATF is a "bureau- in Treasury) awarded him its Exceptional Service Award and he was given the yledal oi' Valor Award in 1994 be the International Narcotics Officer Association. In 1984. in an award ceremony attended by 60f) people. he was named the Federal Employee of the Year in Dade County by the ,Miami Federal Executive Board. In. 1995. Eddie Benitez' father, Fernando Benitez;4ived in Deltona. FL. (His mother. Calixta, died in 1093.) His sisters Lucy See. Eridia Benitez Coyand Nplyra Benitez continued to live in Miami. On Dec. 21. 1992. Florida International Uni- versity awarded a posthumous B.S. degree to Eddie Benitez. Benitez was only five hours;hort of graduation when he was killed in 1983. The degree was awardec. nine }earn after his death as Dr. Wilbanks did not "discover' Benitez' student status until 1992 ai he prepared this narrative. Wilbanksproposed the posthumousdegree to FIU President Modesto :tdaidique. Dean Allan Rosenbaum of FIU spoke briefly about Eddie Benitez to the audience of 5.000 persons (including 1,500 graduates) at the Miami Beach Come ration Center before present- ing the diploma to the family of Eddie Benitez. Accepting the diploma were Eddie's father. Fernando. his two sisters. Lucy See and Eridia Coy and his niece. Melissa See. In 1996. a plaque with photographs of the seven F.LU. students killed in the line of duty as Dade law enforce- ment officers was hong in the Dept. of Criminal Justice at the U, Park Campus of F.I.U. Also. in 1992. z. fitness center atATF head- quarters in Miami was dedicated to Eddie Benitez in a ceremcny attended by his family. ATF also awards the "Eddie Benitez Fitnc,$ Award" to a member of each new recruit class at the ATF training center near Brunswick. GA. The name of Eddie Benitez is inscribed (Panel 66 -Left --19; on the Memorial Wall of the American Police Hull of Fame Museum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the Na- tional Law Enforcement Memorial (East Wall, Panel 4. Line 15) in Washington. D.C. His name is read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park in Miami. SOURCES: ,4liami . Herald. Jule 9.10,11.12.13.14.15.16.17. at. 8.20.25. Dec. 1983. Miami New:. July 9.10.13.14.16. Oct. 5 20.25. Dec. 7. 1932. Jul% 13. 1985: Ft, Lau- derdale News/S_un-!;e i . July 9.11. 193?: PBA HE Dec.. IS192: U.S. Dept. of Treasury News Bulletin. July 13. 1983: Records of�.ade County Medical Examiner t#83-1859.Aii Fed- eral Ct. Case of Edua~do Jaime Rouco (083.614 - CR): Federal prison record of Eduardo Jaime Rouco (#12608.004): death certificate of Eddie Benitez: and interviews with ATF Supervisor Joseph Benitez. Lue,e See and Eridia Coy. 478 STEPNEY OWEN CORBETT Metro -Dade Police Department Hit by car on May 28. 193: THE EVENT Rookie Metro -Dade Officer Stephen Corbett. 2l, became ;he youngestpoliceofficer ,l .Q. � . U 171 A bagpipe's whine wafted in the ste0air outside the Miami Beach Theater of the Perform- ing Arts. One officer held the reins of a chestnut gelding, the riderless horse carrying black boots reversed in the stirrups—the symbol of a fallen comrade. (Miami News, 2P.81 1984) Rabbi Mayet-Abramowitz, the Kramer fam. ily rabbi for three decades. conducted the ser- vice. Eulogies of Donald Kramer were delivered by Rabbi Abramowitz, ,Miami Beach Police Chief Kenneth Glassman. and Rabbi Pinchas Weberman, the Miami Beach Police chaplain. Rabbi Abramowitz told the mourners. "Here's the man who was the good cop in real life, not on television." Rabbi Weberman said that Kramer was such a family man that he "called his mother Gladys at the end of every shift to say, `Mom, everything's OK."' Chief Glassman said that "the very people he has taken to jail mourn and grieve with us" and that "the poor souls he dealt with on a daily basis --he loved them all." He also told the mourners that "his family can look around here today and see the real memorial to Don, in our hearts and in our faces," The love of the community of south Beach for Officer Donald Kramer was demonstrated in the throngs that crowded WashingtonAve, as his funeral procession left the Performing Arts Cen- ter and traveled down Washington Ave. through South Beach headed for the McArthur Cause- way and the cemetery in West Dade. A four -mile -long procession of police cars headed by a battered blue and white paddy wagon, followed the coffin of Miami Beach Po- lice Officer Donald Kramer through South Beach Monday. Word of the procession spread quickly through Miami Beach's decayed southern -most neighborhood, where the slain officer used to patrol in the paddy wagon each morning. People streamed out of low, Art Deco hotels. Shops closed, and the sidewalks along Washington Avenue filled. Business people, shopkeepers. elderly and unkempt men lugging bags and push- ing shopping carts packed with their belongings stood together on the curb as it passed. (Miami He -MU 2128/1984) Miami -Herald crime reporter Edna Buchanan wrote (in v e �v) that "Kramer made his usual rounds of South Beach one last time, in a hearse," Burial was at Lakeside ,Memorial Park at s 10301 N.W. 25th St. in Miami, just 100 yards east of the offices of the Dade County PBA and t only 10 blocks west of the headquarters of the ,Metro -Dade Police Department. The service at d graveside was attended by about 1,000 police is officers from departments all over Florida and li states as far away as Massachusetts. d As the coffin slid into the ground, dusted with a spoonful of white sand and a single rose. a a police guard fired three blank -cartridge Vol. th leys into the air. th Kramer's elderly mother. Gladys_ 21 clenched her eyes tightly and gripped her w husband's arm. She (appeared) startled at each fra volley while her husband. Nathan, stood sto- of ically. As the last shots faded and a Ione bugler played taps, she let her head sink to his shoul. (P der. .,. A radio crackled to life in the old paddy 190 wagon, which was parked close by the rano "Attention all units... Donald Kramer has be laid to rest." (Miatpi Herald, X=811984) Kramer's grave marker reads at Lakeside Memorial Park reads: DONALD B. KRAMER 13ELOVED SON - BROTHER JAN. 31. 1942 - FEB. 25. 1984 POLICE OFFICER, MIA�M1 BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY Donald Kramer was survived by his par. ents, Nathan and Gladys Kramer, and a brother. Robert, 51. His father was buried beside him inffi 1989. Two other Dade law enforcement oc- ers, Cheryl W. Seiden of 4letro-Dade (1982) and Scott Rakow of Miami Beach (1988) are buried within 35 yards of Kramer in the Degania sec- tion of Lakeside Memorial Park, a Jewish cem- etery. m In 1984 the South Florida Shorim Soci- ety, a newly -formed chapter of a national orga- nization of Jewish law enforcement officers, elected Donald Kramer and Cheryl Seiden (a Metro -Dade officer killed in 1982) to posthu- mous membership. Shomrim board member, David Waksman, the assistant state attorney who prosecuted the killer of Officer Kramer, proposed the fallen officers for membership. Waksman had been a close friend of both Mark and Cheryl Seiden. In 1995, a 20 ft. tall monument to Donald Kramer was located in front of the Miami Beach Police building on Washington Ave. On the base of the monument are the words: HONORING DONALD KRAMER AND ALL OTHER MIAMI BEACH OFFICERS WHO HAVE FALLEN IN THE LINE OF THE EVENT DUTY Jose DeLeon, 26, was a two-year veteran DONATED BY A GRATEFUL of the Miami Police Department and had been a CUBAN COMMUNITY member of the motorcycle squad for only two FEBRUARY 19, 1986 weeks when he was killed in a collision during the pursuit of a traffic violator on Dec. 21, 1984. He was the 291h Miami officer and the fourth Miami motorcycle patrolman killed in the line of duty since 1915. Around 9:00AcI M on Friday. Dec. 21, Of. ficer DeLeon and his partner and training officer.. William Williams, were sitting on their motor- cycles on the north side of a park on S.W. I I St.. between 4th and 5th Avenues (a block from where I-95 becomes U.S. l). They saw a Bur- gundy vehicle run a stop sign westbound on S,W. I I St. Deleon took off atter the %iolator and turned on his blue lights and siren as he sped off on the damp roadway. Jorge Reinaldo Ortiz. 44, of �,Mi4mi was driving a 1980 Maroon Chevrolet westbound on S.W. I I St. He was traveling "in the wake" of the vehicle being chased. DeLeon attempted to pass the Ortiz vehicle when Ortiz suddenly be- gan to make a left turn at 91h Ave. Ortiz appar- ently did not hear the siren or see the blue light %41and thus did not know that the motorcycle ; on his left. As Ortiz began his left tum. his front left bumper struck the right rear black fiberglass saddlebags of DeLeon's motorcycle. DoLeon. who was traveling at 45-50 mph, attempted to maintain control of his motorcycle as it swerved tional Law Enforcement Xlemorial (Wast Wall. Panel 21. Line 13) in Washington, D.C. Aplaque bearing his name is on the wall of the lobby of the Miami Beach Police Department. His name is read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park in Miami. In 1995, Gladys Kramer, 82, still lived on Miami Beach as she had for the past 60 years. Donald Kramer'solder brother. Robert. 61, lived in Orlando as did one nephew (Robert's son), Dennis Kramer, 36, and his daughter. Courtney, 7. RobeFts other two children. David Kramer. 34, aild Angela McCarty. 32, lived in Ft. Lau- derdale. Angela had one child. Chad, 5. SOURCES: Miami Hemi . July 4. 1983: Feb. 24,25,26,28,29,March 1.7.8,16.19.30. April 27. May 4, June 29, July 12. 1984. Oct. 10, Dec. 6. 1985. May 15, 1986, Apti 127,28. July 4.8. 1939: Miami News, Feb. 23,24,27,28,29, 1984, June 17.21, 1988; r, Feb. 26, March 1, 1984; 1 A_i AT. April. 1984, Dec., 1986, Jan., 1993; Miami Beach Police De. partment police report (#84-1082.1) and (#373199-9/3f74); Dade County court file of Andres Garcia Marrero (#84---1131); Death cer- tificate of Donald Bernard Kramer, Dade County Medical Examiner Records (#84-534-A); Never Let Them See Y% Cry by Edna Buchanan. pp. 196-204; Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police Newsletter, June. 1984. and interviews with Gladys Kramer. David Waksman, Sgt. Tom Hunker, and Judge Arthur Snyder. M i 5017milem, Killed in collision during high-speed chase Dec. 21, 1984 Nfore than $20,000 was raised for the me- morial by the Miami Beach and Miami Cuban communities. At the dedication ceremony on Feb. 19, 1986, Salvador Lew of Radio Station WRHC (which led the fund drive) told those assembled that Castro—through the,tiMariel exo- dus of which Marrero was a part --was respon- ible for the death of Officer Kramer and the monument was intended to "build bridges among he different segments of the community." The Cuban media paid considerable attention to the edieation ceremony. For example, two Span - h magazines, $fir and To Miami, pub - shed articles (both with nine pictures) on the edication ceremony. Miami Beach Police Chief Ken Glassman an Rabbi Phineas A. Beberman also spoke at e dedication ceremonies. After the unveiling, e Miami Beach Police Honor Guard fired a -gun salute. Three years later the monument as moved from its location across the street m the police department to the plaza in front the police headquarters. The name of Donald Kramer is inscribed anel 75 -Middle -23) on the iMemorial Wall of American Police Hall of Fame Museum at 01 Biscayne Blvd. in ,Miami and on the Na- Jose Deleon, City of Miami, 1984. for approximately 100 feet as he continued westbound. The motorcycle then fell over trap- ping DeLeon in front of it. The motorcycle con- tinued to slide for 50 feet at approximately 40 mph with Officer DeLeon trapped in front. The 1,100 pound motorcycle propelled DeLeon's body, head first, into a curb, shatter- ing his helmet. At this point, DeLeon and the motorcycle became airborne for approximately 25 feet, hit the ground again and bounced for another 25 to 30 feet with DeLeon still attached to the motorcycle. DeLeon was finally dislodged and the motorcycle continued sliding for another 90 feet. Officer Williams was two blocks away when he heard a radio dispatch that a motorman "was down." The radio alert came a little more than a minute after DeLeon had sped off in pur- suit of the violator. Williams then rushed to the scene. Fire rescue was called to the scene at 9:01A.M. in reference to a "motorman down." Paramedics arrived at 9:06A.I4'and found the officer unconscious and without any vital signs. CPR was initiated and the officer was transported to the emergency room at Jackson Memorial hos- pital and was admitted at 9:20A.M. An automatic chest compression ma- chine. called a "thumper." was keeping his heart beating. A breathing tube had been inserted in his throat, and two lines were feeding him fluid intravenously. He had no vital signs. Dr. Geraldo Gomez led the surgical team that opened the officer's chest and massaged his heart in an effort to revive him. The team also applied electrical shock to restore a heart beat. Its efforts failed... Afterward, a police chaplain'came in and prayed." (Miami Herald. 12/22/1981) DeLeon was pronounced dead at 9:37AM from "massive cranial trauma, multiple skull fractures." His skull had been shattered. The sur- gical team was particularly devastated since sev- eral of the medical staff knew DeLeon. who of- ten brought injured persons to the emergency room. Blanca DeLeon, the slain officer's widow, "was at home with her baby when grim police officers arrived with the news that every p wife fears." THE PERPETRATOR Jorge Reinaldo Ortiz. 44 (born on Aug. 3. 1940), was charged with violation of Florida Statute 316.126 (failure to yield right of way to an emergency vehicles as he did not pull over to the right in response to the blue lights and siren. Ortiz claimed that he never heard the siren and never saw the blue lights and was attempting to make a left turn, not knowing that the motor- cycle was at his side. Atter the collision he pulled over to the right and awaited the police. The case was investigated by Det. William Cheetham of the Traffic Homicide division of the Miami Police Department. Cheetham recon- structed the accident on the basis of the physical evidence. Ortiz' testimony and the testimony of two eyewitnesses. One witness was a woman who was traveling east (the opposite direction of Ortiz and DeLeont on S.W. 1 I St. She testi- fied that it appeared to her that DeLeon was try- ing to pull over (rather than pass) the Ortiz ve- hicle. She did not see the collision but did see the motorcycle swerve, slide and crash. The second witness was several blocks away standing on a street comer when he saw the motorcycle officer apparently try to pass the Ortiz vehicle. This witness testified that it ap- peared that Ortiz first pulled over to the right but then turned a little bit to the left leading to the collision. At the conclusion of the investiga- tion. Investigator Cheetham cited Ortiz with Traffic Citation #80826-NIK for failure to yield to the approach of an emergency vehicle. Ortiz went to trial in traffic court on Jan. 22. 1986, before Judge Calvin Mapp. During the 30 -minute trial. Judge Tapp heard testimony from Det. Cheetham and ruled that Ortiz was guilty of failing to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle. However. he withheld adju- dication and did not assess any points or fine. The state made an attempt to revoke Ortiz' driver's license since Florida Statutes allow re- vocation for a traffic citation involving a homi- cide. However. this effort failed since adjudica- tion had been withheld. Ortiz driver's record with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles indicated thatthe Dec. 21. 1984. citation was the only blemish on his record. However, after 1984. Ortiz accumulated a long list of traffic offenses in Dade county including a 1989 DUI conviction. THE OFFICER Jose Raimundo DeLeon was born on Jan. 2. 1958. in ,Matanzas. Cuba, the only child of Juan Bautista and Ondina 4largarita Abreu DeLeon. His father was a printer and his mother a teacher in the LA Progresiva Presbyterian School in Havana. Jost attended La Progresiva Presbyterian School before his family moved to the U.S. Jose came to the U.S. with his family in 1972 when he was P years old. He attended Miami Sr. H.S.. graduating in 1976. As a youth he especially enjoyed playing the accordion and electric guitar. He was taught by his mother who was a music teacher. Every night he would play the accordion for his elderly grandmother. After H.S. he attended George T. Baker Aviation School to learn to become an airplane mechanic. On Sept. 26, 1976, two months prior to graduation, Jose married Maria Ramos. and did not complete the course. Jose's second mar• riage was on May 5, 1984, to Blanca Rosario Rodriguez. On Oct. 20, 1984 (two months be. fore his death). Blanca gave birth to their son. The baby was named "Jose Angel" because he was the angel his father had been waiting for. Jose also became the step -father to Blanca's Son by a previous marriage. r to joining the Miami Police Dept. in 1982At the age of 24, DeLeon worked as a fork- lift operator and at a wood products company, DeLeon graduated from the police academy on July 23, 1982, and had been a patrolmen for the two years prior to his becoming a member of the motorcycle squad, DeLeon had recently graduated from a two month training program for new motorcycle officers. He tamed fourcom- mendations during his career. Jose DeLeon. 26. was survived by his wife. Blanca, a son. Jose Angel, 2 months, and a step- son, Alexander Alpizar, 5, and by his parents. Juan and Ondina DeLeon. Funeral services, arranged by Rivero Fu- neral Home, were held on Saturday, Dec. 22 at the First Spanish United Presbyterian Church at 2480 N.W. Seventh St. Hundreds of uniformed officers from Dade and throughout FL attended the service at Rivero Funeral Home. A lengthy procession of police can with lights and sirens traveled from the church to Nti- ami Memorial Park for burial. A brief service was held at the mausoleum where DeLeon was interred (in vault 0 12). A full police honor guard was present and the service was with full police honors. In 1995. Jose DeLeon's grave marker was easily found at Miami Memorial Park (adjacent to the Palmetto Expressway between :Miller and Sunset Roads) on the. (right) west wall of the mausoleum. It reads: OFF. JOSE R. DELEON ENERO 2. 1958 - DIC. 21, 1984 ESPOSA, HIJOS Y PADRES (I.E.. WIFE. SON & PARENTS) Blanca DeLeon remarried. She sued the company that made the helmet worn by her hus- band and received an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed sum. In 1995 Officer DeLeon's son. Jose Angel. 11, lived with his paternal grandparents. Juan and Ondina DeLeon. and says that he wants to be- come a police officer like his father. His grand- mother hopes he will change his mind as she never wanted her only child to become a police- man, a job she thought was too dang0ous. She fears that her only grandson might suffer the same fate. Officer DeLeon's father. Juan DeLeon, continued to work as a printer in 1995 and his mother. Ondina, retired in 199: after teaching for 50 years at La Progresiva Presb%te- rian School in Havana and Miami. Each Nlav Juan. Ondina. and Jose Angel attend the,viiami Police Dept.,�lemorial Seriire and the Dade County Police 4iemOrial Scr`ice in Tropical Park. In 1994, Juan and Ondina DeLeon took their grandson to Washington. D.C., to attend the candlelight vigil at the Va- tional Law Enforcement Memorial. 12G0 I� • Several members of the Miami Police De- partment still visit with Officer DeLeon's par- ents. Jose used to invite officers (e.g.. Solomon Naser, Pedro Llanes and Pedro Hernandez) over to his mother's home for flan and thus she was well-known to the Dept. For years after Jose's death, one Miami officer came by to take little Jose (nicknamed by Jose's colleagues "Azuquita"---Spanish for sugar) to the beach on weekends. The name of lose DeLeon is inscribed (Panel 74 -Middle -17) on the Memorial Wall of the American Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the Na- tional Law Enforcement Memorial (East Wall, Panel 56, Line 4) in Washington, D.C. A plaque bearing his name is in the Iobby of the Miami Police Department and his name is read in a cer- emony held each May at that location. His name is also read each May at the Dade Police Memo- rial Service in Tropical Park in Miami. SOURCES: Miami Herald, Dec, 22,1984; ML - ami News, Dec. 24,1984; Miami Police Depart- ment accident report on Case #3561233 -IA; FL Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Div, of Driver Licenses record for operator 110632-436-40-283-0; Interview with Det. Will- iam Cheatham; Dade County Traffic Ct. case #80826MK; Autopsy file in Dade Medical Examiner's Office (#843391-A); and interviews with Det. Wm. Cheatham, Ondina DeLeon, and Luis Garcia. #82 ROBERT E. FITZPATRICK Miami Beach Police Department Died from job-related injury on April 3, 1985 THE EVENT Miami Beach Officer Robert E. Fitzpatrick, 37, a 14 -year veteran, died on April 3, 1985, from a pulmonary embolism which occurred after sur- gery for a knee injury he received while on duty. He became the sixth Miami Beach officer to die in the Iine of duty. At 7:o0A.M. on Oct. 25, 1984, Officer Fitzpatrick injured his left knee when stepping between boxes on a cluttered sidewalk as he ar- rived at work at police headquarters. His left foot went in between the sidewalk and asphalt twist- ing the left knee. Fitzpatrick did not see a doctor immediately but after the pain failed to go away he consulted two doctors who recommended surgery. On March 13, 1985, he underwent surgery to cor- rect the knee injury. On April 1, 1985, two weeks after leaving the hospital, Fitzpatrick was re -admitted to Bap- tist Hospital, complaining of chest pins, His death on April 3,1985, was caused by a pulmo- nary embolism which was a complication of the surgery. The cause of death was given as "pul- monary infarction and thromboembolism due to phlebothrombosis of left leg, post operative due to tear of knee legament." Officer Fitzpatrick's widow, Deborah, filed a claim for death benefits with the U,S. Dept. of Justice under the Justice Assistance Act of 1984 which provided death benefits to police officers who died in the line of duty. That claim was granted and the officer's family received a S50,000 death benefit in 1985. Ten years later (in 1945), the Miami Beach Police Dept. requested that Dade County add Robert Fitzpatrick's name to its list of officers killed in the line of duty since his death had been declared in the line of duty by the U.S. Dept. of Justice and the National Law Enforcement Me- morial. That request was granted in April of 1995 and Robert Fitzpatrick's name was added to the list of officers read annually at the Dade County Police Memorial Service. THE PERPETRATOR There was no perpetrator in this case. THE OFFICER Robert Edward Fitzpatrick was born on July 17, 1947, in Marianna, FL, to Gus and Thelma Fitzpatrick. He was the second of two children (Nancy and Robert). The Fitzpatrick family moved to Hialeah when Robert was 10 years old. Robert graduated from Hialeah H.S. in 1966 and joined the U.S. Army on Feb. 6,1968, serv- ing until Feb. of 1970. He was in Vietnam with the 10 1 st Airborne Div. and served in the Army reserves until his discharge on Feb. I, 1974. After discharge from active dury, Fitzpatrick returned to S. FL. and joined the Metro -Dade Police Dept. in Feb. of 1970. He graduated from the Police Academy in July of 1970 and served as a Metro -Dade officer until Oct. of 1970 when he resigned and went to work for Southern Bell in Miami. Fitzpatrick returned to police work on March 22, 1971, when he joined the Miami Beach Police Department- During his 14 -year career he was in patrol, K -9's, motorcycles, train- ing and S.W.A.T. (he was or. the Beach's first S.W.A.T. team). His closest friend during his police career was Miami Beach Officer Paul Lupian. On Feb. 8, 1980, Robert Fitzpatrick, 33, married Debbie Barron, 28. in Miami. Debbie was from PA and was working as a nurse in Miami. Their son, Cory, was born on June 14. 1983. The funeral services were arranged by Riv- erside Funeral Home of 1920 Alton Road, Mi- ami Beach. The funeral service was held at the Miami Beach Community Church on April 5, 1985. Officer Fitzpatrick received a full police funeral with a military honor guard, presenta- tion of the flag from the casket to the widow, helicopter flyover. etc. The church was overflow- ing with uniformed officers from Miami Beach and other FL police departments. The eulogy was delivered by Miami Beach, Police Major Fred Wooldridge, the slain officer's supervisor. He told the mourners that "Bob Fitzpatrick made a mark on every officer who attended his training session" and that "every officer was taught skills that he would carry with him throughout his career. I know of no other police officer who has had such an impact on so many." He added that Fitzpatrick "exuded the wisdom, strength, and confidence to handle any- thing that happened." There was no burial service after the fu- neral as the body was cremated. Robert E. Fitzpatrick was survived by his wife Deborah L. Fitzpatrick, 33, and son, Cory D. Fitzpatrick, 2. of Miami and by a sister, Nancy Campa, of Miami. In 1995, Deborah Fitzpatrick 0 Robert Fitzpatrick, Miami Beach, 1985. was a nurse at alt. Sinai Medical Center and was active in C.O.P,S. Debbie, 43, and her son. Cory, 12, lived in Pembroke Pines where Cory attended a middle school, The name of Robert E. Fitpatrick is in- scribed (East Null, Panel 50, Line 9) on the Na- tional Law Enforcement Memorial. His name was read for the first time at the Dade County Police Memorial Service on May 18, 1995. Plaques bearing the names.,of the six Miami Beach officers (including Fitzpatrick) are dis- played in the lobby of the police headquarters building. Also, a photo/plaque at Hialeah H.S. hon- ors Robert Fitzpatrick and the other eight Hi- aleah graduates who are on the list of 108 Dade officers killed from 1895-1995. A stone memo- rial at the entrance to Hialeah H.S. is dedicated to the Hialeah H.S. students who, as police of- ficers, were killed in the line of duty. Before his death, Officer Fitzpatrick dis- played in his office a large American flag that he brought back from VietNam. After his death, his friend, Officer Paul Lupian gave the flag to the Department and it was hung in the lobby of the first floor over the reception desk. A caption under the flag states: "In Memory of Robert Fitzpatrick. 1947-1985. Flag of the United States of America, brought home by Officer Robert Fitzpatrick from the Republic of Vietnam." SOURCES: Miami Herald, April 4,5.6. 1985; Miami Dgach Sun -Reporter. April 6. 1985: Records of Dade County Medical Examiner (#85.0959A): death certificate of Robert Edward Fitzpatrick; Miami Beach personnel file of Rob- ert Fitzpatrick: Interviews with Deborah Fitzpatrick and Paul Lupian. #83 JOHN R. MfELENDEZ Bal Harbour Police Department Injured in accident after a pursuit on Oct. 15. 1985 (died on Oct. 17) THE EVENT John R. Melendez, 27, a Bal Harbor police officer for only five weeks. was futally injured military honors. Officer Beasley's gravesta Memorial Gardens reads: JAMES itil. BEASLEY. JR. APRIL 10. 1942 JUNE 25. 1986 WE LOVE YOU ALWAYS IN OUR HEART James Beasley was survived by his wife. Sandra Jean Beasley, of Hialeah: three daugh- ters, Laura J. Pizzi, 25, of Plant City. FL. Kelly L. Hepler, 22, of Miramar and Tracy S. Beasley, 19, of Hialeah. a son. James M. Beasley. III. 13. of Hialeah; three grandchildren, INleranda & Dustin Pizzi of Plant City. FL, and Tara Lynn Hepler of Miramar: his father, James NI. Beasley. Sr.. 7 i, of W.V., and mother. Lillian Sherry. 70. of TN-. one sister. Patricia Armstrong. 42, of Spring City. TN: four half-sisters. Margaret. Mary, Marcella, and Melinda Beasley, all of the Charleston, W.V. area: and two half-brothers. Jerry A. and Timothy of Charleston. W.V. James 8easley's sister, Patricia Armstrong, died in 1990 at the age of 45. Laura Beasley's husband was killed in 1987. In 1995 Sandra Jean Beasley lived in Sebring, FL. Laura Beasley Currier, 34. lived in Plant City. FL, with her husband, Steve, and chil- dren. Meranda Pizzi, 19, Dustin Pizzi. 11, and Victoria Currier. 8 months. Kelly Beasley Hepler. age. 31, lived in Ft. Lauderdale with her hus- band. Jay, and children, Tara Lynn, 12. and Jamie (named for her grandfather) Cheyenne. 4. Tracy Beasley Wilson. 28, lived in Frostproof. FL, with her husband. Michael, and children. Kyle Michael, 6, Kayla, 4. Kevin. 2. James M. Beasley. III, 23, lived in Sebring. FL. - James' father and step -mother continued to live in St. Albans. WV. in 1995. Five of his (half) siblings lived in WV or VA (Marcella in Culloden, WV, Mary in Eadysville. VA. Melinda in St. Albans, WV, Timothy in Hightown. VA. and Jerry in Scott Depot. WV). His half-sister. Margaret, lived in FL. The name of lames M. Beasley is inscribed (Panel 94 -Right -15) on the Memorial Wall of the American Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd, in Miarni. Also, the police car that "hangs" on the outside wall of the Museum is acru- ally the "retired" police car driven by Officer James Beasley at the time of his death. The car was involved in several accidents after Beasley's death and. since most officers considered the car to be"jinxed". it was donated to the Police' useum. James Beaslev's name is also inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Memorial (East Wall. Panel 21. Line 14) in Washington, D.C. His name is read each May at the Dade Police *vlemorial Service in Tropical Park in Miami. On Dec. 6. 1986, a plaque honoring the memory of Officer James Beasley was placed in the lobby of the Sweetwater City Hall. Beasley's widow and four children and his fa- ther attended the dedication ceremonies. The plaque reads: DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF POLICE OFFICER JAMES N1. BEASLEY SWEETWATER POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF DITTY JUNE 25, 1986 MAY HE REST IN PEACE" The city of Sweetwater also named ar ercise park atter Officer Beasley. The narrow park is on S.W. 7th Terrace which parallels the north bank of the canal by Tamiami Trail and extends from S.W. 109 Ave. to S.W. 114 Ct. (about the length of the F.I.U. campus across "The Trail"). In 1996. Dr. Wilbanks placed a plaque in the office of FLU.'s Dept. of Criminal Justice with the photographs of the seven (of 108) of- ficers killed in the line of duty in Dade County who attended F.I.U. Beasley's photograph was added to the plague (though he did not attend FLU.) since he was killed at the (north) entrance to the campus. Also in 1996, Wilbanks donated a plaque to Hialeah H.S. with the photographs of the nine officers killed who attended that H.S.—no other Dade H.S. had more than two slain officers who were alumni. Hialeah H.S. also has a memorial to Dade's slain officers at the entrance to the school. The monument (and memorial tree) was erected in 1976 aper two of its graduates (Metro - Dade Officers Frank D'Azevedo and Clark Curlette) were killed on the same day (April 1. 1976). Two of James Beasley's daughters, Kelly and Tracy, graduated from Hialeah H.S. SOURCES: Miami Herald, June 26,27.28.29. 1986; Miami_News, June 26.27.28. July 12.17. Dec. 7. 1986. Feb. 18,1992; Naples Daily News. June 26.27.30. 1986; PBA HE July, 1986: Death certificate of James Mathis Beasley. Jr.; Dade County court file of Miguel Ernesto Lingren (086-18084); FHP Case 8625-13378- 01; Metro -bade Police Dept. Report #0686137; Dade County Medical Examiner records (#86- 1630A); and interviews with Sandra Beasley. Kelly Hepler. Jerry Beasley. Charles Flynn and Kenneth Harms. 1($8 DAVI3, WAYN)". HERtI1 G r ,4liami PoliccDepf:ti�w:zr _. Died from carbon monoxide in patrol car on Sept. 3. 1986 THE EVENT David Herring, 25, a four-year veteran of the Miami Police Department, died on Sept. 3. 1986, of carbon monoxide poisoning when gas seeped into his air-conditioned patrol car as he was sitting with the engine running in a parking lot in the Miami Design District. He became the 30th Miami officer killed in the line of duty. Herring began his shift with roll call at 9:OOPNI on Tuesday. Sept. 2, He was on regular patrol duty until midnight but then was assigned to patrol the Design District from midnight to 6:30AM as part of a program to prevent night- time burglaries in that business area. Between 3:30AM and 3:55AM. while Her- ring was patrolling the Design District, he met with a K-9 officer in the area. The officer re- called that he noticed a foul odor of gas fumes coming from Officer Herring's car and made the statement. "Nice car." The K-9 officer also no- ticed that Herring's eyes were puffy and red but just thought it was late and that Herring was prob- ably tired. Herring's sergeant met with him briefly be- tween 5:OOANI and 6:OOANI and thought he ap- peared to be alert. At 6:05 a dispatcher talked briefly with Herring. This was the last contact anyone had with him. Officer Herring was on a "signal 10" so it was his responsibility near the end of his shift (scheduled for 7:00A -NI) to take himself off that signal with an "06" (the signal for transfer). Her- ring did not radio in the "06" signal at 6:30A,NI as required. However, the midnight shift dis- patcher was not under any orders or instructions to check on or to raise units that had not given an "061". -Therefore. Herring was not contacted to askAIty he had not reported. It is possible that Herring would have lived if he had been dis. covered by 7:OOA4I though the 4ledical Exam. iner was unable to pinpoint the exact time of death. Herring was on a special one-man assign- ment on the lookout for burglars who had been striking businesses in the Design District. One Design District worker saw Herring's parked car as early as 7:05AM. From that time until 8:20AM, several other employees walked by and observed the vehicle with Officer Herring sit- ting in the driver's seat. All thought he was ei- ther writing or taking a nap. At approximately 8:25A41, a civilian knocked on the window of the vehicle in an attempt to wake the officer. The vehicle was running and the driver's door was locked. The civilian contacted other co-workers in the area and they opened another. door and found the driver to be unconscious. The civilians pulled the officer from the car and attempted to re- vive him but were unsuccessful. The civil- ians then used their walkie-talkies to request that co-workers in a nearby office call the police. At 8:40A,%1 the Miarni Police Department received a call about an officer who "would not wake up." The location was given as 139 N Y 39 St. The complaint desk then received a sec- ond tali correcting the address to 139 NE 39 St. At 8:42AM a radio alert went out indicating that a police officer needed assistance. At 8:43A�f a civilian pressed the emer- gency button on Herring's portable 4lotorola radio. A dispatcher asked which unit had hit the emergency tont. At 8:44AM a civilian was heard over the radio to say. "Civilian here. I'm with your officer in our parking lot and I be- lieve he's dead." The civilian then (at the dispatcher's request) gave the vehicle number as " 148" and said. "I believe it might be carbon monoxide. He was sitting in the car with it run- ning." Fire Rescue arrived just prior to the first police car. The paramedics found Herring un- conscious and attempted unsuccessfully to re- vive him at the scene. The officer was tNm trans- ported to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:50AM. An autopsy by Dr. Joseph Davis. Chief .Nledieal Examiner of Dade County, found that the cause of death was carbon monoxide. His blood was saturated with carbon monoxide at a 68% level (lfc is normal. and 2% will cause a headache). Carbon monoxide is tasteless, odor- less and colorless gas in automobile exhaust fumes which suffocates its victims by saturating their blood in place of life-giving oxygen. Vic- tims of the gas get drowsy. very weak, and then lose consciousness.,, 4; . G 0 193 Ah THE PERPETRATOR The investigation into the death of Officer Herring indicates that a "system" rather than an individual was responsible for his death and thus was the "perpetrator." The administrative mis- feasance to check an Herring's failure to call in was not the only mistake that led to his death. The motor pool of the City of Miami's Gen- eral Services Administration (GSA) appears to have overlooked a serious defect in the police car driven by Herring. Car 148 was a 1981 Chrysler Plymouth, 4 -door. Grand Fury with 67.-170 miles. The vehicle had been sent to the motor pool four times over the past 7 & 112 months (twice on Jan. 17 and once on Jan. 30 and May 16) for repairs for "fumes in the car:' The car was scheduled to be taken off the road and junked in two weeks undera city policy that replaced all cars that are 6 years old and have 70.000 miles an the odometer. The City of Miami had 219 patrol cars at the time of Herring's death. Car No. 148 was later inspected by Officer Ken Nelson. president of Miami's Fraternal Or- der of Police. who found the "exhaust pipe was rotted off' and that "black soot was coming out." Yet this problem was evidently not noticed or ignored by GSA though the car had been in for service 44 times within the past 12 months. 4 times for exhaust related problems. Dr. Joseph Davis. Dade Medical Examiner, also noticed soot on the rear of the car and a deteriorated tailpipe, "telltale signs" of an exhaust problem. At one time the car had been scheduled to bejunked in September of 1985. City Manager Cesar Odio ordered the forty- two 1981 police vehicles replaced within four days of Herring's death. The 42 replacement ve- hicles were sitting in the city's motor pool await- ing the installation of sirens and radio equipment. Chief Clarence Dickson announced that he wanted the police department to assume the maintenance of its own vehicles so that more careful attention would be given to maintenance. Miami police officers were warned not to drive with the windows rolled up tight and to turn off the ignition if the cruiser was to be parked for more than a few minutes. The week that Herring died from a defec- tive auto maintained by GSA a second city em- piovee died in an accident when the brakes failed on his city truck even though brake problems had been reported a few days earlier. Many Mi- ami police officers said that their complaints about maintenance problems with their cruisers were treated negatively by their supervisors af- ter a new city policy required that a police ser- geant must inspect a vehicle and approve a ser- vice request. The Miami Police Department investigated the death of David Herring todeterminarif crimi- nal charges should be brought against anyone for his death. Two U. of Miami Mechanical En- gineering professors examined the "suspect ve- hicle" to make an official determination as to how carbon monoxide entered the driver's com- partment. It was determined that the tail pipe of Vehicle 148 was pointing directly to the back of the rear bumper, thereby not allow- ing the exhaust emissions to escape from under the vehicle. Emissions then built up under the trunk and undercarriage of the ve- hicle and entered the vehicle through the trunk lid. It was found that the trunk lid was not properly sealed and that the exhaust en- tered into the trunk then into the passenger compartment and finally into the driver's compartment. It was also discovered and documented than an air pump which is vi- tal to the operation of the emission control devices had been removed from City Ve- hicle 148. (MPD report) Since the removal of an emission control device is a violation of Florida Statute and the Federal Clean AirAct. police examined 52 simi- lar City of Miami police cars and found that the pumps had been removed in four of them. Po- lice determined that 10 of the 14 mechanics and supervisors in the Miami Motor Pool "either al- tered or knew of alterations being done to emis- sion control devices." Investigators found that the Motor Pool had no testing devices to determine the level of car- bon monoxide inside the vehicle oremining from the exhaust system. Supervisors had been in- formed by memo five months earlier that nine vehicles, including Car 148, were in violation of emission regulations and that the defects should be repaired. Evidently. no attempt was made to repair any of the nine vehicles. Investi- gators later found that one police vehicle (Car 297) had been responsible forsending six people to the hospital "due to the inhalation of fumes" and yet the Motor Pool apparently ignored memos from the MPD about the problem and the car was not repaired. MPD homicide listed Herring's death as "unclassified" and recommended that the State Attorney's Office investigate the case and for- ward the results of its investigation to the Dade County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury took testimony on the case in November and on May 12. 1986. issued a re- port that said that the "acts or omissions" of in- dividuals in the Motor Pool and Police Depart- ment were not "so egregious" as to constitute culpable negligence (i.e.. manslaughter) under Florida law. Or in other terms. the negligence of any one person "did not rise to the level of man- slaughter." However, the Grand Jury. did lash out at the City of Miami Motor Pool and the Miami Police Department: That probable cause does not exist to charge any person or entity with man- slaughter in the death of Officer Herring, does not diminish the outrage felt by the Grand Jury. At the time of his death, the Motor Pool was woefully understaffed, in- adequately supervised and trained. It lacked the appropriate procedures and equipment. The wholly unrealistic. expected -life of the police fleet exacerbated the Motor Pool's shortcomings. Expansion of the fleet in the years prior to Officer Herrings's death with. out a commensurate increase in the re- sources of the Motor Pool strains the belief of the Grand Jury. At the same time, the City of Miami Police Department bore the primary respon- sibility for the safety of its officers and it let them down. It seems almost inconceiv- able that officer after officer would be laced in an imminently dangerous work- ing environment, their patrol vehicle. Of- ficers went to the hospital with carbon mon- oxide intoxication, their sergeants wrote re- ports. Risk Management paid the emer- gency room bill and that was the end of it. (Dade County Grand Jury. May 12. 1988) The Grand Jury made several recommen- dations to remedy the problem and several of those recommendations were adopted by the MPD and otfter police departments in Dade. MPD proced�ensured that if an officer was not heard from after one hour, hislher number would be displayed on a dispatcher's screen alert- ing the dispatcher to check on the officer. The Miami Motor Pool installed carbon monoxide detectors in all police vehicles. Several police departments extended tailpipes past the rear bumper. The Coral Gables Police Department directed that police vehicles should keep windows partially open to allow fresh air to circulate and required that the igni- tion be turned off if the vehicle stopped for longer than three minutes. The City of Miami decided to retire vehicles every two years or40.000 miles but later amended that policy to three years and 50.000 miles (the policy prior to Herring's death was six years and 70,000 miles). The Miami HemW published a scathing edi- torial four days after Herring's death suggesting that: Whoever let Miami Police Car 1.18 go out on patrol on Wednesday deserves to be dipped in hot tar, coated with feathers, and then ridden on a wooden rail to Dade County's swampy western boundary and dropped there. No incident in recent memory has evoked such a yearning for frontier justice as has this example of fatal incompetence. Blame for his death must not be al- lowed to dissipate through the faceless bu- reaucracy. Officer Herring is dead because identifiable individuals ignored a cardinal rule of automotive maintenance, a rule that has been common knowledge for genera- tions... And yet Patrol Car 148 rolled out of the lot, a death trap for a fine young officer. He was trained to face dangers from out- side the department ---drug dealers. crazies, armed robbers --but didn't suspect that his own haven, his patrol car, would fill with the lethal odorless gas that every automo- bile engine emits. Officer Herring's death resulted from inexcusable incompetence heightened to the level of indecency. It must be punished, and if the city manager can't do it. the Miami City Commission should. (old. 91611986) The Motor Pool Supervisor,'rariq Riaz. was suspended with pay from his position as Motor Pool Superintendent several days before Officer Herring's death and the Motor Pool was "reoganized." Chrysler Corp. was not blamed by the Dade County Grand Jury for defects in the design of the vehicle. However. car defects have been blamed for police deaths in the past. In 1975 a Baltimore police officer was found dead (from carbon monoxide poisoning) in his 1974 Ply - 194 12 David Herring. City of Miami, 1985. mouth Satellite. "The death led to a massive re- call by Chrysler." On May 31. 1988, Officer David Herring's death was changed from "unclassified death" to ..accidental death." On Jan. 12, 1989. the Miami City Commis- sion voted to pay $300,000 to the Herring fam- ily for the negligence of its employees in the death of Officer Herring. The out -of -court -settle- ment was a compromise as the lawsuit against the city was for a million dollars. The City of Miami continued to have prob- lems with its motor pool. In 1986, WPLG-Chan- nel 10 aired a series of investigative reports on poor workmanship by the motor pool in servic- ing police vehicles. The City announced it would remove the supervisors and let the mechanics run the shop themselves. THE OFFICER David Wayne Herring, 25, was born on Aug. I, 1961, at S. Miami Hospital in Miami. FL, to Tommy Denton and Barbara A. Edwards Herring. He was the second of two children as his older sister Linda Diane was born in 1957. He grew up in Hialeah and attended Amelia £arhart Elementary and Hialeah Jr. H.S. David attended Hialeah H.S. in 1977-78 and then transfered to Hialeah -Miami Lakes H.S.. graduating in 1979. While in H.S. he worked part-time at Publix and for U.P.S. After H.S. he worked in the pharmacy department at Palmetto General. Hospital and planned for a time on a career in medicine. He was allowed on occasion at the hospital to observe orthopedic surgery and began looking into the possibility of medical school after college. David was first exposed to police work at the age of five when his mother got a police band radio. As she became more interested in police radios she upgraded her equipment and learned all the police codes. David would often listen to the police radio and became interested in police work. When David decided at the age of 20 to apply for a job as a police officer his mother en- couraged him to join a small department where there would be less "action" but David applied to the City of Miami. He joined the Miami Po- 0.ce Department on Oct. S. 1982. He was as- signed to the midnight shift on June 15. 1983, after spending several months in training jobs due to a dislocated shoulder. After David joined the Miami Police De- partment his mother listed to her police scanner more frequently. Early on a Sunday momine in 1985 David was involved in a shoaling incident that his mother had monitored on the police ra- dio. David called home to assure her that he was OK and to tell her to go ahead and go to church and that he would meet her there. David's family got another scare when he was attacked by mistake by a police dog. The dog bit into his arm and would not let go even after commanded to do so by his canine officer. David was told by the canine officer to shoot the dog but refused to do so because he was such a lover of animals. David Herring lived in Hialeah with his parents. His father, Tom. a Delta Airlines reser- vation agent, and his mother. Barbara. a secre- tary at the United Pentecostal Church in Hialeah. were at work the morning they got the news about their son. They had seen their son the night before as he left for his midnight shift and re- membered they said, as they always did, "Son. be careful now." His pastor. Wayne Rooks. was particularly upset because he knew David so well and had talked his family into letting him become a po- liceman. David frequently went to church be- fore work, leaving his police revolver in pastor Rook's office before going into the chapel to pray. In the summers David used the vacation time he saved up during the year to take chil- dren from his church to a summer camp in Cen- tral Florida. David Herring's religion and honesty made an impression on his co-workers. Sgt. Frank May remembered the time David, then a rookie, found $17.000 in an abandoned car. Though he was alone with the car and the cash he turned the money overto the sergeant. Sgt. ,,May said. "This is a real honest kid who wants to do things right. the kind of kid we need to have. An idealist." Sgt. May nominated Herring for officer of the month for August for saving a life by using car- diopulmonary resuscitation. Herring's police file showed seven commen- dations, most for arrests he had made. His repri- mands were limited to failure to make court ap- pearances. In 1985 Herring shot and killed a 31 yearold woman who was waving whathe thought was a gun during a neighborhood dispute. The gun turned out to be a toy but Herring's action was ruled self-defense following an inquest. Pastor Rooks counseled Herring after the shooting and said that the tragedy "broke his heart". Officer Herring volunteered his time to the department's 25 -member honor guard which served at funerals and parades. The unit wore dress uniforms and swords. In 1984 he was part of the Miami Police Department honor guard at the fu- neral of Motorcycle Officer Jose DeLeon. the 29th Miami officer killed in the line of duty. Officer Herring was the 30th Miami officer killed and this unit served as the honor guard for his funeral. The funeral service for Officer Herring was held at the Northwest Baptist Church at 951 N.W. 136 St. because of its seating capacity. The view- ing prior to the funeral was held at the United costal Church (David's home church) at 9300 N.W. 32 Ave. Officer Herring was given a full "police" funeral with an honor guard and a police car procession session to and from the ser- vice. The procession included the fire rescue vehicle and paramedics who had unsuccessfully tried to revive the Officer. Hundreds of uni- formed officers were in attendance. Chief Ken- neth Harms spoke at the service as did Wayne Rooks. the United Pentecostal pastor who was close to David and his family. Burial w t Dade Memorial Park at 1301 N.W. Opa-loeha Blvd., not far from the North- west Baptist Church, the site of the funeral. In 1995. the grate marker reads; DAVID WAYNE HERRING AUGUST I. SEPT. 3. 1961 1986 BELOVED SON AND BROTHER A DEDICATED CHRISTIAN David Herring was survived by his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Herring: his sister, Linda Diane Hen ing Thompson. 29, and her husband Robert C. Thompson and their sort, Shawn Michael Thomp- son; his maternal grandparents. William Grady and Eula Harper Edwards: his uncle, Rev. David R. Edwards (who tkw° to the funeral from his rWWon- ary post in Munich. Germany). and by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. In 1996 Hialeah H.S. displayed a photo/ plaque honoring David Herring and the other eight Dade law enforcement officers from Hialeah H.S. who were killed in the line of duty since 1895. In 1995. David Herring's parents had moved from their Hialeah home at 540 E. 60th St. (where they lived for 35 years) to Pembroke Pines. FL. His mothercontinued towork forthe United Pen- tecostal Church (which had moved to 5201 S. Fla- mingo Rd. in Cooper City). The Rev. Wayne Rooks still served the church as pastor. David Herring's name is inscribed (Panel 90 -Right -19) on the Memorial Wall of the Ameri- can Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the National Law Enforcement Memorial (East Wall, Panel 41, Line 7) in V%'ashington. D.C. A plaque bear- ing his name is in the lobby of the Miami Police Department where his name is read at a memo- rial each May. His name is also read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropi- cal Park in Miami. SOURCES: Miami Herald, Sept. 4.5.6. Dec. 22.23.1986. Feb. 9, June 1, 1988, Jan. 13. 1989. Dec. 8. 1992; rami News. Sept. 3, 1986: PM HEAT. Oct.. 1986: Final Report of the Dade County Grand Jury, Spring Term, 1987. filed May 12. 1988; death certificate of David Wavoc Herring: Dade County Medical Examiner's record (#i86-2262) of David Wayne Herring: Miami Police Dept. Case file 424161345K: and interview with Barbara Herrine. #89 EMILIO FIDEL MIYARES Hialeah Police Department Shot &: killed on Nov. 6. 1986 THE EVENT Hialeah motorcycle officer Emilio Fidel Miyares. 27, was shot and killed by a robbery suspect inside the Palm Springs Mall on Nov. 6. <n 195 of evidence which favor a deleteriousof the stabbing upon the heart of Officer Aculz." He concluded: I would support compensation for the widow because such should not be based upon the requirements of proof beyond rea- sonable doubt as in a criminal trial but only on a basis of more likely than not. (Letter from Dr. Joseph H. Davis to Chief Turner, 809/1990) The state of Florida provides a 550.000 death benefit for officers killed in the line of duty and it appeared that Daniel Schulz' Family would not receive that benefit. However. Marvin Clayton, the State Coordinator for Fire and Po- lice Benefits in Tallahassee. pointed out that FL Statute # 112.19 did provide for a $20.000 death benefit when a law enforcement officer died wlihin 180 days after injuries received in the line of duty though those injuries were not the cause of death. However. the Schulz' family did not receive this benefit because of a clause that dis- allowed the benefit if a medical condition (i.e., the heart disease) pre-existed before the injury. A federal benefit was paid to the Schulz family as the federal government acknowledged that the stabbing incident was contributory and led to his demise. A $25,000 federal benefit went to Mrs. Schulz and S12.500 to each of her two children for their continued formal education as they were both in college at the time of the ap- plication. In 1988 the federal death benefit for police officers killed in the line of duty (in 1988 or later) was raised to $100,000. The City of South Miami did pay all of Daniel Schulz' medical bills resulting from the stabbing through its Compensation Program. Also, the police department had an insurance policy that paid the family a small benefit. In addition, the Red Sunset Nferchant's Association set up a "Dan Schulz Fund" at the First National Bank of South Miami. The Fund collected and gave to the widow a total of 51,800. The 200 Club of Greater Miami, founded to assist officers killed in the line of duty. agreed with Chief Turner and provided some benefits to Daniel Schulz as befitting an officer killed in the line of duty. As one member of the 200 Club said. "Dan Wm slain in the line of duty. It just took him longer to die." Chief Turner noted in a letter to the 200 Club that NIrs. Schulz' take home pay was 51,000 below her monthly expenses af- ter the loss of her husband's income as a police officer. Mrs. Schulz also won civil suits against Florida's Workmen Compensation after initially being denied benefits and against Jackson Me- morial Hospital for failing to detect Daniel's heart disease (and two heart attacks) while at the hospital. On June 7, 1988, the Dade County Police Benevolent Association and the South Miami Po- lice Department presented Daniel Schulz with a ,4tedal of Valor for the courage he displayed on Oct. 16, 1987, and throughout his police career. The Department alsoestablished the Dan Schulz Memorial Gold Medal of Valor (for police of- ficers) and Silver Medal of Valor (for other de- partment employees and citizens). In 1995, Daniel Schulz' mother and brother, Richard, lived in Artesia. New Mexico. His sib- lings Mark Schulz and Rebecca Schulz Dudek lived in Thornton. CO. Officer's Schulz' wido Rebecca Schulz, worked in Miami as a para gal for the U.S. Attorney. Patrick Connolly. 28. graduated from FIU with a degree in construc- tion management and worked forConnotly Con- struction (his father's firm) in ivliami. Belly Connolly attended North Carolina Wesleyan College and Miami -Dade Community Coli"e and in 1993 became Mrs. Clinton Sanchez. The couple lived in Miami. On July 18. 1994. the new South Miami Police Department building was dedicated in the name of Officer L. Daniel Schulz. Family mem- bers attending the dedication ceremonies were his widow. Becky: his mother. Agnes: sister. Becky Dudek: brothers, Mark and Richard Schulz, and his children. Patrick Connolly and Kelly Sanchez. Becky Schulz spoke at the dedi- cation about her husband and her loss. Her words "which brought tears to all who listened" were quoted extensively in the PBA HE AZ Aug.. 1994. The old station was built in 1956 when the department had only 17 employees. The new building was designed to accommodate the city's 49 officers and 63 support staff' members. In 1995 the life and death of Officer Schulz was included in Dr. Wilbanks' book, Forgotten Hergcs: Police misers Killed in Corin Gables and South Miami. Florida, 1928-129• Copies of the book were given to the Schulz family dur- ing police memorial week in May of 1995. Officer Laverne Daniel Schulz' name is in- scribed (Panel I l -Left -5) on the Memorial Wall of the American Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the National Law Enforcement Memorial (East Wall. Panel 27, Line 3) in Washington, D.C. A plaque bearing his name is in the lobby of the South Miami Police Department. His name is read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park in Miami. SOURCES: Miami Herald. Oct. 17.18.20.22. 1987: Nov. 28.29, 1987: Dec. 2.8. 1987: Feb. 20. 1988. May 26. 1991; Miami News. Oct. 17,19,21. Nov. 28.30, 1987; PBA HE Jan. July. 1988. Aug., 1994: South tiliami Police Department incident reports; Dade County Medi- cal Examiner files 087-3179): Dade County court files of Howard Perez (#87-37360. #89- 5060) and Rodney Perez(M-10440): FL Dept. of Corrections records of Howard Satunimo Perez (#185799) and Rodney Peter Perez 0190669): Death Certificate of Laveme Daniel Schulz: and interviews with Agnes Schulz and Rebecca Schulz. �J�a��7IC3TOR�ESTEI;,�N Miami Police Dept. Shot on March 30. 1988 (died March 311 THE EVENT Victor Estefan, 49, a 21 -year veteran of the Miami Police Department. was fatally shot when he approached a car he had chased and then stopped fordriving without headlights. Hebecame the 31 it City of Miami officer killed in the line of duty. His two killers were sentenced to death. Officer Estefan was well-known and liked in Little Havana. the area where he had worked as a traffic investigator for 21 years and where he also lived. Around 9:30PM on Wednesday. %larch 30. 1988. Officer Estefan was on patrol in Little Havana. He was ialkin,o by the roadside to Jimmy iNforejon. a tow truck driver, when he apparently spotted a new gray Mazda 626 driv. ing without headlights. He then said. "Jimmy I'll see you. I've gotta go." Estefan got into his car and made a U-turn and headed east on Tamiami Trail in pursuit of the Mazda. The driver of the Mazda apparently saw the approaching police car and attempted to outrun it. Estefan radioed •'I have one running from ttt� Iastbound from 36th Court and Ninth Te other officers, hearing the transmis- sion, moved in to help Estefan. lite pursuit was brief and ended—at 3315 S.W. Ninth Terrace-- just a few blocks from where it began. Estefan got out of the car and approached the Mazda to ticket the driver for the "chase" and to tell him to tum on his head- Iiehts. He did not radio in the license plate num- ber or a description of the car before approach- ing it. Estefan obviously did not expect trouble. But what Estefan did not know is what killed him. The two occupants of the car were Douglas Martin Escobar. 29, the driver, and his brother Dennis Javier Escobar. 28, the front -seat passenger. The brothers had been driving from bar to bar on the evening of March 30. The Mazda had been stolen days earlier from Pio- neer,Mazda in Homestead.: The lyJiami Herald would later describe the two Nicaraguan bom brothers as "notorious on two coasts" as Douglas was wanted on eight armed robbery warrants by San Jose California police and both had served prior prison terms. Dennis Escobar had been released from prison in FL. only 2 & 1/2 months earlier. The brothers had made a pact that they would do anything to, keep from going back to prison. Douglas. the driver. told his brother to shoot the cop if he got out of his patrol car. The unsuspecting Estefan approached the Mazda without a bulletproof vest (the wearing of Vests was encouraged but not required): probably with. out a drawn gun {since he had no reason to ex. pect violence): and without waiting fora backup though he must have known that other officer; heard his radio transmission and would likely join the chase. Estefan had made hundreds of stops under similar circumstances and did not expect trouble. He certainly did not expect an ambush. Dennis Escobar jumped from the passen- ger seat and opened fire on the unsuspecting Estefan with a . ,i < caliber revolver that he had kept hidden under the passenger seat. He tired three shots. hitting Escobar in the chest, arnt and abdomen. Escobar apparently was able'to dra%k his 9mm Clock pistol. which holds up to 17 rounds in its magazine. after being hit but was not able to fire before he fell. Police would later sav that Estefan would have likely survived the attack if he had been wearing a bulletproof VeNt. Dennis Escobar jumped back into the car and Douglas then smashed the rearof the Mazda into Estefan's police carbefore fleeing the seene. The brothers drove to the .%liecosuked Indian res- ervation in far west Dade to get rid of the dun. Dennis threw the ,tun into a canal. (Police diver. never found the murder weapon.) The brothers later abandoned the Mazda in front of an apart- ment complex on Northwest Seventh Street. 20 960 loved "Victoria Delia Estefan whispered, "Thank you. GoThis decision to continue the work he woleum. Her grave marker reads. C. the jury foreman read the death recommen a- in spite of his poor health (two heart by-pass op- Estefan. 1900-1971." She had died in 1971 and tions. On Feb. 23, 1991, Judge Shapiro sentenced orations). He was so proud of his work as a po- had been buried in another Miami cemetery. the Escobar brothers to death. Pie also added lice officer that he waxed his squad car every Also, the family had his father's remains shipped consecutive terms of 35 years (for Dennis) and day and would get upset with anyone who put to Miami from Cuba (where he died in 1939) 20 years (for Douglas) for additional offenses. their hands on it. He was one of the department's for reburial next to Victor. The father's marker In 1995 the Escobar brothers were still on death "most -decorated officers" having "received more reads. "Elias Estefan, 1891-1939." row at Florida State Prison at Raiford. than 100 commendations." He was named of- A requiem :Mass was celebrated in honor (icer -of -the -month on two occasions and "most of the slain officer on Friday. April 8. 1983, at THE OFFICER courteous officer' in the Department in 1974. St. Lazarus Roman Catholic Church. Victor Victor Estefan was perhaps the best known Victor Estefan was also involved in the Estefan had been a founding member of St. Miami Police officer in Little Havana since he Little Havana community. He organized car Lazarus 4d was a "well -loved and respected pa - had patrolled the area for2l years and lived there, washes at his home to help neighborhood boys rishioner. ' He was one of the rare officers who made friends make money. He made an effort to work with Officer Estefan was survived by his wife. even when writing traffic tickets. For example, young Hispanic males, many of whom grew up Delia; a daughter Alina: 28; a son Angel. 2.4: a shortly before he began the chase that led to his with his son, to keep them out of trouble. He grandson, Angel, 3; a brother. Joe Estefan. of death, he had stopped and ticketed two youths. was known by almost everyone in Little Ha- Denver: and two sisters, Elia Owens, of Though the driver had no license and could have vana. Danbury, CN, and Julia Sais of Tampa. A few been taken to jail, Estefan told the tow truck A wake was held at Rivera Funeral Home months after his death a second grandchild was driver to take the car and the kids to their par- at 3344 S.W. 8th St. (just two blocks from the born and was named Victor Estefan after his encs. As he talked to the driver he spotted the murder scene) on Friday, April 1. The funeral grandfather. Mazda drive by and began the fatal pursuit. was held at St. Michael's Catholic Church The family of Victor Estefan did receive a Victor Estefan. 49. was born on June 9, (named after St. Michael the law officer's pa- $50,000 death benefit provided by federal law 1938, in Havana, Cuba, to Elias and Victoria tron saint) at 2987 W. Flagler on Saturday. April and line of duty death benefits from the City of Curry Estefan. He was the youngest of five chil- 2. More than 1,000 uniformed policemen from Miami. However, the additional benefits prom- dren. The family moved to the U.S. when Victor all over South Florida "entered or waited out- ised from the promotion to Col. never material - was only one year old and shortly after his side" the neighborhood church. ized. Also. in the emotional period after Officer father's death in 1939. Victor's grandparents on The Eulogy was delivered by the Rev. Estefan's death. promises were made that the both sides were from Lebanon. Michael Kish. the Miami Beach Police mortgage on the Estefan home would be paid Victor was educated in Miami's public Department's Catholic chaplain, who told the off along with other outstanding debts. Those schools, graduating from;4liami High School in audience that Estefan "won the hearts and es- promises were never kept. The famivy was also 1958. After H.S. he worked as a stock boy at Sears for two years while he attended Miami- teem and respect of all who knew him." The Rev, Michael Paz of St. Michael's and Archbishop angry that a crime partner of the cAars re - ceived the 580.000 reward and that the courts Dade Community College (graduating with an Edward McCarthy also spoke about the life and allowed him to keep the money rather than be A.A. degree). He then served seven years in the death of Victor Estefan as did Miami Police Chief required to give it to the family of,the victim. U.S. Array and was stationed most of that time Clarence Dickson. •- The name of Victor Estefan is inscribed in France. He learned French and thus became After the memorial service ended, (Panel 24 -Right -6) on the Memorial Will of the fluent in French as well as Lebanese, Spanish Estefan's casket was bome past phalanxes American Police Hall of Fame ;Museum at 3801 and English. of saluting officers bedecked in crisp- Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. A picture of Col. Upon discharge from the army in 1965, creased uniforms and polished leather. Estefan is also prominently displayed on a wall Victor joined the South Miami Police Depart- Many displayed full-dress ceremonial braid at the Museum. His name is also inscribed on ment but stayed only a year as he became a mem- and white gloves. (Miami Herald. 3/311988) the National Law Enforcement Memorial (East berof the Miami Police Department on Sept. 26, More than 100 police motorcycles led the Wall. Panel 45. Line 8) in Washington. D.C. A 1966. at the age of 28. Victor's lifetime ambi- procession from the church to the burial site at plaque bearing his name is in the lobby of the tion had been to become a police officer. He Woodlawn Park. The procession, which included Miami Police Department where his name is read worked the day shift for most of his 21 years on police cars from throughout South Florida. was in a service each May. His name is also read each the force and was working the night shift when so tong that it stretched from St. Michael's to May at the Dade Police ?%lemorial in Tropical he was shot only because he had agreed to switch Woodlawn. The procession was routed by the Park in Miami. shifts to accommodate a colleague. Estefan home and through the streets of Little Victor Estefan is one of the few law enforce - In 1970, Victor Estefan married Delia Havana where the slain officer had worked for ment officers in the history of Dade County to Castaneda of Miami. He met her at the scene of 21 years. Hundreds of citizens lined the streets, have astreet named afterhim (Hialeah has named one of the thousands of accidents he investigated many kneeling and praying. as the procession streets after two of its slain officers). On April as a Miami officer. The couple eventually had passed. Most knew Victor Estefan and all grieved 14, 1988, the City of Miami named SAV 341h two children. Alina and Angel. the passing of " "Little Havana's own cop. Ave. from Flagler to S.W. 3rd St.. "Col. Victor Estefan's wife. Delia, had a premonition Burial was in Woodlawn Park Mausoleum Estefan Blvd." A brown sign marks the entrance that "something was going to happen" to her hus- at 3260 S.W. Eighth St., only blocks from the to S.W. 34th Ave. at Flagler and at 3rd St. and band on the night of his death and pleaded with Estefan home. Over 2.000 people. about half law 3.41h Ave. him to skip work that nigh[. Estefan was also sick but insisted on going to work despite his enforcement officers, gathered at the burial site for the brief service. The tomb is inside a cu- SOURCES: Miami Herald, April 1.2,3,oi953. illness and his wife's premonition. The murder bicle fenced by an iron gate with the name. Nov. 28, December 6, 1990. Jan. 8,9.11.13.15. occurred just 45 minutes before Estefan was to "Estefan" in Section 6A in the Southeast corner Feb. 1.23, 1991: M' ' w . ivlarch 3 t. April end his shift that night and only six blocks from of the [bird floor of the Mausoleum. 1.2.4.6,7,8. Aug. 13. Sept. 3. 1988: Dade County his home. The inscription (in Spanish) above the tomb court file of Douglas Martin Escobar and Den - Officer Estefan never sought promotion at the Mausoleum reads (in English): nisJavier Escobar (#F89011887A8:B): FL Dept. "because he wanted to be a street cop." How- VICTOR, YOU WILL ALWAYS LIVE IN of Corrections records of Douglas Martin ever. moments before he died. Miami Police OUR HEART FROM YOUR CHILDREN Escobar (#1721 11) and Dennis Javier Escobar Chief Clarence Dickson. with the approval of AND GRANDCHILDREN THEY WILL (#416806): death certificate of Victor Estefan: City Manager Cesar Odio. promoted Estefan to NEVER FORGET YOU. Dade County Medical Examiner file (#S1 - the rank of Colonel "in a gesture that will pro- vide better benefits to his family." Victor Estefan had said that he wanted to 1037A) for Victor Estafan: Metro -Dade Police Department's Supplemental Death Report for Estefan had already reached retirement age be buried beside his parents and so the family Victor Estefan: and interviews with Alina and but continued to work because he loved his job. reburied his mother next to him in the Mauso- Delia Estefan. Other officers moving in to backupok'n heard the gunshots. Miami motorcycle officer Juan Inastrilla was the first to arrive at the scene. He saw Estefan's cruiser parked in the middle of 'Ninth Terrace and found Estefan being at- tended by Gary Keller, a 29 -year old first-year medical student at the U. of Miami. Keller lived a few feet from the shooting and was in bed when he heard the shots and looked outside. He saw a police officer "lying between a squad car and his neighbor's car" and went outside to find the officer "lying half on the sidewalk and half on the grass," As Officer Inastrilla approached, the wounded officer told Keller to call for help as Keller was talking into Este Fan's hand-held ra- dio saying. "He's been shot." Keller tater told a reporter that almost immediately the "whole world turned blinking blue" as police cars con- verged on the scene. Miami Commissioner J.L. Plummer, who monitors police calls in his car, was driving to dinner in Little Havana when he recognized the voice of his old friend. Victor Estefan, telling the dispatcher he was chasing a car. Estefan's call seemed at first to represent business as usual but Plummerbecame concerned when Estefan's call was followed by a long silence. The dis- patcher tried to reach the officer but there was no response. The next radio transmission (from another officer) said there were three shots. Plummer pulled his car out of the restaurant park- ing lot and raced to the scene. The Commissioner found his friend Victor Estefan lying in a pool of blood next to his po- lice car. Several police off icers and paramedics were huddled around the fallen officer. Estefan gave the police a description of his assailant. When the medical rescue van arrived Plummer got inside with the wounded officer. For the entire trip Plummer held up the officer's arm to ease the pain. Estefan was able to talk and told Plummer he had pulled over a car because the lights were out and that the pas- senger jumped out of the car and shot him. Plummer kept telling Estefan that he was not going to die. Estefan's last words to Plummer were. "Make sure you get me a priest." Estefan was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he arrived at 9:55PM, "con- scious. alert and oriented, with gunshot wounds to the left forearm. chest and abdomen." His medical status was described as "extremely criti- cal with poor prognosis." A surgical- team worked all-night to save his life. Unfortunately, the faral bullet entered Estefan's body just above one hip, continued through his midsection and our the other hip. Liver damage was so severe that the surgeons could not stop the bleeding despite eight hours of surgery and transfusions of more than 46 pints of blood. Estefan died the following morning at 9:34AM (March 31). 12 hours after he was shot. City %tanager Cesar Odio and Police Chief Clarence Dickson promoted Estefan to Colonel shorty before he died so that his family would recei,e greater benefits. Friends and relatives of Estefan eathered at his home in Little Havana. only seven blocks from where he was shot. A massive police search began shortly af- ter the shooting. Up to 200 police officers can- vassed the neighborhood Wednesday night and Thursday. The police did find the abandon Mtazda and a fingerprint from the fugitive's car eventually helped solve the case. But "the in- vestigation floundered at first. Police chased thousands of leads. A psychic volunteered tips, Fakes confessed." The Miami City Commission, upon a pro- posal by Commissioner Plummer, posted a S50.000 reward for information leading to the apprehension. arrest and conviction of the killer. Additional rewards were established by a pri- vate fund at Southeast Bank and via CrimeStoppers. TV stations in Miami aired an appeal for information on the killing from " Mti- ami Vice" starMichael Talbott. "'The public ser- vice spot was taped by the actor in front of the house where Estefan was shot." THE PERPETRATORS Douglas and Dennis Escobar were both bom (Douglas on Sept. 12. 1959, and Dennis on July 19. 1960) in Nicaragua. Dennis Escobarhad a prior incarceration in FL as he was convicted in 1981 of grand theft and was released upon expiration of his sentence (i.e.. he was not pa- roled) from prison on Jan. 19. 1988. Douglas and Dennis Escobarwere arrested in California on April 27. 1988 (a month after the Esteban murder), when they were involved in a gunfight with police after a routine traffic stop. The two brothers were stopped on a rural highway near Paso Robles. about 180 miles north of Los Angeles. As in the Escobar killing, Dou- glas was driving and Dennis was the passenger. Dennis tried to fire a.380 caliber Walthersemi- automatic at a CA Highway Patrol officer but the gun jammed. Douglas grabbed a second trooper's nightstick and struck him with it. The Escobar brothers were seriously injured in the confrontation and were arrested. A third passenger in the car. Gilberto Saballos. ciai mcd to have been asleep in the backseat of the car during the confrontation and shootout with the Highway Patrol but "turned on" his companions in return for murder charges being dropped against him. Saballos told detectives (and later testified at the Escobar brothers' trial) that the brothers had admitted killing a Miami police officer. Miami police then matched Douglas Escobar's fingerprint with the print found in the Mazda abandoned a month earlier in Miami. Another witness also later testified that Douglas Escobar said he carried a gun because he would rather shoot acop than get caught and rot in jail. The Escobar brothers were convicted of at- tempted first degree murder in CA and both were given two consecutive life sentences.They were then extradited to Miami for trial in the killing of Victor Estefan. Det. George Morin had taken statements from the Escobar brothers while they were in the hospital in CA though he had only written notes as the brothers refused to allow their statements to be recorded. Dade Circuit Judge Sidney B. Shapiro initially barred much of this evidence from the trial but an appeals court reversed the ruling. The brothers were re- luctant to talk to Miami police at first but evi- dently became convinced that they could receive the 580,000 reward for their families if they co- operated. The trial for the two Escobar brothers be- gan on Jan. 7. 1991. At trial the "inseparable blood brothers" turned on each other and each blamed the other for the killing of Victor Estefan. Douglas' attorney, Yale Galanter, said that Den- nis shot Estefan and that it would be unjust for him to be held responsible for his brother's act as "we are truly not our brother's keeper." Den. nis' lawyer, Art Caner, said Dennis was not even there when Estefan was shot and, if he was there. that he didn't shoot Estefan. estefan's only son, Angel. said he was dis- gusted -by the Escobar's finger -pointing. "They should in divorce court." The jury didn't believe either brother but did believe the confessions that the brothers gave to Det. Morin. Prosecutors Abe Laeser and Michael Band presented evidence that the broth- ers had attempted to kill the two CA Highway Patrol officers in circumstances similar to the Estefan killing and that Douglas Escobar's Fin- gerprint had been found in the Mazda. On Jan. 16 the jury returned a verdict of guilty of first- degree murder for both brothers. The most emotional testimony during the trial was given by Commissioner Plummer. As Plummer related the final words of Victor Estefan while in the ambulance. Delia Eztefan burst into tears and was escorted out of the court- room. One female juror wiped away a tear while the Escobar brothers sat impassively. "For a few minutes Douglas Escobar took a nap." At the sentencing hearing the Escobars' fa- ther, mother, sister, wives and young children begged jurors to vote for a life sentence rather than the death penalty. Dennis Escobar. Sr., the brothers' father "flew in for the hearing from Managua, Nicaragua. His sons had not seen him in 10 years." The jury was not moved and on Jan. 31 voted I I- I for the death penalty for both Escobas. lrcror Estefan, City of ,tilrumi. 1933. N CR IG Miami Police Department Fatally injured by drunk driver. March 19, 1958 (died June 21. 1988) THE EVENT Miami motorcycle officer William Craig. 37. a 14 -year veteran. became the 322nd 4liami officer killed in the line of duty when he was fatally in- jured in a collision with a drunk driver on March l9. 1988. He died of massive injuries three months later. The drunk driver, who had an alcohol level of .2 t. had two prior drunk driving convictions and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Officer Craig became the sixth Dade po- lice offtcerto be killed by a drunk driver and the first in 30 years. The earlier four were I'vliami Officer Frank Croff (1921); Coral Gables Of- ficer Cy Guest (1938): `liami Officer Samuel Hicks (1935): Miami Beach Officer William L. Nichols (1936). and Miami Officer John Burlinson (1958). Officer Craig was on duty riding his mo- torcycle north on S. Dixie Highway at 6:10AM (at dawn) on Saturday, March, 19, 1988. He was on his way to Coconut Grove to begin his day of patrol duty and was in the center lane when Sean Timothy Ward, 28, who was traveling south on Dixie in a 1972 Pontiac, made a sudden left turn onto S.W. 67th Ave. (Ludlam) in front of the mo- torcycle. There was no way Craig could avoid the collision. He crashed head-on into the Pontiac and was thrown 50 feet in the air over the Pontiac. landing on his face in the street. The Pontiac did not stop but continued on and crashed into a Chevrolet Blazer driven by Christine Lopez. She was on her way to work and was stopped at a red light, heading north on S.W. 67 Ave. She was unhurt but was distraught as she witnessed the crash and the officer being thrown over the car into the street. Crai.- suffered "massive" multiple injuries. His pelvis was broken. his right leg shattered. fractured in five places, and his left leg was even more severely damaged. His bladder and rectum were ruptured and he had numerous other bro- ken bones. serious facial injuries and a major loss of blood. He was airlifted to Jackson Me- morial Hospital, arriving at 6:49AM, and re- ceived 10 units of blood in the emergency room. The unconscious and critically wounded officer underwent nine hours of surgery. He re- mained in the intensive care ward for three months and was liven extra care by the Jackson hospital staff under Jeanne Eckes. Traumacoor- dinator. Officer Craig was semi-conscious at times and at other times was in a coma during the three months in the hospital. His condition deteriorated even further af- ter a cardiac arrest on Easter Sunday that sent him into a coma. He never resained conscious- ness after the heart attack. His wife, Debbie. maintained a constant vigil at the hospital for the three-month period. His two children. I I & 9, visited their father and were told of his condi- tion. Major Dean DeJong co-ordinated a 24- hour -a -day police presence at the hospital dur- in- the vi.cil. William Craig died at 8:45A,41 on Tuesday. June 21, 1988. THE PERPETRATOR Sean Timothy Ward. 28 (born on Dec. 5, 1960), was living in New Mexico at the tim the "accident' but was visiting his mother in Lake Park. FL. He and a friend had been out all night drinking. Several Budweiser beer cans were found in the car. Ward refused to perform sobriety tests on videotape but did submit to a breath test three hours after the accident. Assistant Dade State Attorney Jill Menadier said blood drawn from Ward by paramedics shortly after the crash showed his blood alcohol level was .21 ---twice the level at which state law considers a driver legally drunk. (Miami News, 6/21/1988) Florida Highway Patrolman Sob Mager said, "You could smell alcohol on his breath... his eyes were bloodshot, his pu- pils dilated. His speech was slurred. He could hardly stand, and for most of the in- vestigation at the scene he seemed to be asleep in the back of the patrol car. Most people would be so upset after this type of accident that it would be extremely diffi- cult to fall asleep. He did realize that there was a police officer involved. He asked several times if the officer was going to be OK. (,Miami Herald. 3r-0119881 Ward's male passenger, 33, was taken to South ,Miami Hospital for treatment of a sprained arm and minor cuts from broken glass. Ward was not injured but he was arrested and jailed for having no valid Florida driver license and for felony drunk driving. Miami traffic homicide investigator Ken- neth Goffin said that Ward had been convicted twice 6n drunk driving charges in New 1,lexico (on 110-5/1987 & 319!88) with the second being only 10 days before he caused the fatal injury to William Craig. He was also driving on a sus- pended license. According to Blair Carr, assistant chief of the DUI division of the Dade State Attorney's Office, Ward was first charged with driving un- der the influence of intoxicants resulting in a se- rious injury (a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison) but the charge was William D. Craig, Cir} of Miami. 1988. 204 . J!. C 6 upgraded to DLII manslaughter(a second degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison) when Craig died. Ward was in jail pending the disposition of his case from March 18. 1988, to Aug. 9, 1988, when he pled no contest to the manslaughter charge (and to three misdemeanor charges of driving while under the influence and causing property or bodily damage) in a plea bargain with the state. Dade assistant state atiornevs Jill D. Ntenadier and David Gilbert negotiated the plea with Ward's attorney, Scott Sandler, after Judge Gisela Cardonne refused to suppress the results of Ward's blood and breath tests taken at the time of the accident (the tests were taken by force as Ward refused permission for the police to draw samples). The prosecutors agreed to the plea bargain with the understanding that Ward would be sentenced to 12 years in prison as they be- lieved that Ward would have been sentenced at most to 15 years in prison if he had been con- victed after a trial. OnAug. 10, 1988, a sentencing hearing was held before Judge Cardonne. Debbie Craig was present but chose not to speak, However. Major Dean Delong did speak and (though he accepted the plea arrangement) said that 100 years would not be worth Bill Craig's life.' Defense Attorney Sandler told the judge that the accident was partly Craig's fault but noted that under the manslaugh- ter law, fault was not at issue. Judge Cardonne then sentenced Ward to 12 years in prison and ordered that he recommended that he be sent to the Lantana prison for their alcohol treatment program. He was also fined S2,000 and had his driver's license suspended for the rest of his life. However, due to prison overcrowding, Ward was released from prison on Oct. 19, 1990, after serving less than 3 years on his 12 year sentence. THE OFFICER William Don Craig was bom on Feb. 12. 1951. in Key West, FL. to John Francis and Edith Buckley Craig. Bill grew up in Tampa. FL, graduating from the Tampa Bay Vocational - Technical H.S. in that city in 1970. After graduation from H.S., Bill Craig moved to Miami and took a job with Randle Eastern Ambulance where he worked for three years until he joined the Miami Police Depart- ment in 1974. Off-duty. Bill Craig spent his time rebuilding his 1965 Shelby G.T. and painting and working on various old cars. He also spent a great deal of time painting police motorcycle helmets and "boxes" (on the back of motorcycles) for his colleagues in "motors." In 1972 Bill Craig met Deborah Lynn Durfey, the daughter of Miami Fire Chief Ben- jamin Durfey. The two were married in 1974. shortly before Bill entered the Police Academy in June of 1974. They had a son. David, and a daughter, Sandy. Craig intended to transfer from the police department to the fire department after a yearor so but became "hooked" on police work and abandoned his career plans to become a para- medic with Fire Rescue. He joined the ,Miami Police Department in Jan. of 1974 and was first assigned to patrol where he was recognized by the FOP's Miami Lodge #20 as the "most out- standing officer in Patrol A" for May, 1975. Craig was also a member of the Swo team. working in the 1980 Miami riots. He spent a year as an accident investigator and then be- came a member of the motorcycle unit in June. 1982. From 1982-1985 he was assigned to a DUI task force that worked late nights and early mom- ings patrolling fordrunk drivers. The Task Force was disbanded in 1935. Craig received a plaque From M. A.D.D. and the Dade Traffic Safety Pro- gram for his "outstanding service" in 1983-34. Officer Craig's personnel file "bulges with more than 70 commendations and dozens of let- ters from people impressed with his courtesy." He was known to colleagues as "a talker' and as one who constantly cracked jokes. Another of- ficer said that "you can become hardened in this job but he never lost the human touch. He was polite and he always had a smile." Craig had a prior serious motorcycle acci- dent when he was sideswiped and thrown from his motorcycle when hit by a hit-and-run driver as he escorted a funeral procession along State Road 826 on Satgrday morning. Oct. 19, I985. He suffered cuts to his elbows and a back injury. A member of the funeral procession got the tag number of the fleeing motorist, Fernando Perez, an elderly Miami man. Perez was arrested at his home and charged with Ieaving the scene of an accident with injuries, a third degree felony. Charges against Perez were eventually dismissed partly because he was distraught at the death of his wife that same year. A wake was held for William Craig on Wednesday night. June 22, at the Rivero Funeral Home in Little Havana at 3344 S.W. 8th St.. The entire 19 -member Miami motorcycle unit at- tended the wake. Craig had worked with the group for six years. The funeral service was held on Thursday, June 23, at Christ the King Church. 11295 S.W. 57th Ave, The service was attended by over 750 police officers from Dade and Broward counties. A eulogy was given by the Rev. George Poulos, Jr., chaplain of the hliami i Police Department. l He spoke of Craig's easygoing nature. his sense of humor. He recalled the traditional greeting Craig gave him whenever the pas- tor walked into the motorcycle squad room. i 'Well, chaplain.' Craig would say, 'How the hell are you?'The mourners broke into laughter. (hliami Herald. 6/2.1/1988) s Rev. Poulos introduced members of Jack- son Memorial Hospital's trauma unit which treated Craig for three months and thanked them for theirefforts. "The mourners applauded." The applause was not only for the treatment given to s Bill Craig as the Jackson trauma team had treated o four other i liami officers shot during a three month period. One, Officer Victor Estefan, died. After the service "two -mile -long" proces- sion drove to the Woodlawn Cemetery South at o S.W. 112th St. and 117th Ave. The procession c included what the Miami ,'News called the "big- gest procession of police motorcycle patrol of- ficers in Dade history" as Craig was well-known and well liked among his "motorcycle brothers." a A brief service was held at graveside. A police b honor guard gave a 21 -gun salute and a police bugler played -T=. Four helicopters, two from Air Rescue and two from Metro -Dade Police, flew overhead, Chief Dickson presented Debbie Craig with the folded American flag. ,Mayor Xavier Suarez gave the widow the silvers ,No. 1007, wom by her husband. The widow and children placed roses on Craig's casket. A police dispatcher an- nounced over the radio that Craig, a 14-yearveteran, was "laid to his etemal rest" and. in police code, was "06" --out of sery ice. (Miami Herald. 60-4/t988)William Craig was survived by his kite. Debbie, a son. David, 11. and a daughter. Sandy. 9; his parents. ivrr. and ,firs. John F. Craig of Tampi?4id a brother. John of Tampa. The Miami News reported that "tomorrow" (June 23. 1988) "the city commission would approve a labor agreement stipulating that of- ficers kilted in the line of duty would automati- cally be promoted to major so their families would receive S75,000 in death benefits." tin 1995 this "law" was in effect but referred only to rank and did not effect pensions.) - Some police otficials spoke outat what they perceived to be a lack of community attention to police officers killed by drunk drivers. Major Dean Delong, Craig's supervisor. said it disturbed many in the police depart- ment that a cop seemed to rate more atten- tion when downed by a bullet than by a 2,000 pound car... to me he (Craig) was murdered. The sad thing is that our society doesn't view driving a car drunk as serious a thing as a man walking around waving a gun... People who would never think of shooting an officer don't think twice about being drunk behind the wheel. It's not Nfi- ami Vice. It's not guns blazing. But the grief' to the family is exactly the same and the cost to us is exactly the same... If people 'really want to show respect for Bill Craig, they should never put their butt in a carand drive drunk. (Miami News, 6!211198 $) Deborah Lynn Durfey Craig and her fam- ly moved to AZ in Dec. of 1993. In 1995 she ived in Scottsdale. AZ. David, 19. and Sandv, 16, were students in Scottsdale schools. Deborah was on the board of'tothers A,ainst Drunk Driving (M.A.D,D.) for five years while still li%-- ng in Dade County and was President of the Dade M.A.D.D. chapter in 1993. She co- ordinated the Victim Impact Panel, a group that poke to convicted DUI offenders ordered by Dade courts to listen to families of those killed by drunk drivers. Debbie also participated in a 4I.A.D.D. program in Dade that spuk: to schoots. clubs, etc., on drunk driving. The pre• entation includes pictures of Bit[ Craig and 30 [her victims of drunk drivers. While in Dade, Debbie was also attire in C.O.1?S., an organization which provides sup- port and counseling to surviving relatives of slain ffieers. This organization assists police agen- ies on death notification and line of duty death:. Debbie and the children often visited Bill Craig's grave ---when living in Dade—at Woodlawn South Cemetery. A police badge and 1. motorman's emblem" is inscribed on the d ti. y 4 ft, stone grave markeralong with the word:: HE'S NOT GONE FOREVER HE'S JUST A SMILE AWAY ,MY HUSBAND, MY DAD, MY BUD WILLIAM D. CRAIG FEB. 12, 1951 -JUNE 21. 1983 V) 0 20_ %Vhi)e living in FL. Debbie and the 10 June 29 when the two drug dealers agreed to meet ing his Blazer. called ,4torantes on his cellular &:n regularly attended police memorial services again at 3:30 at the Circle K convenience store phone and told him that he wanted to move the held by the City of Miami and Dade County and to complete the transaction. deal to a different location and told Morantes to the memorial services held each May in Wash- Morantes. drove up to the Circle K in a Ford follow him out of the lot as he headed toward ington. D.C.. at the National Law Enforcement Bronco with the cocaine while Andrade and the street. ,blorantes at first followed Delahoes Memorial. The name of William D. Craig is in- Delahoz arrived. supposedly with the money, in directions and backed out of the parking lot and scribed ( West Wall. Panel 3. Line 15) on the a black Chevy Blazer. it was around 3:50PM. It followed Delahoz to the street. Morantes, per. National Law Enforcement �femoria[. later appeared that Delahoz and Andrade had haps remembering the instructions of Sgt. A plaque bearing the name of William Craig planned a "rip -oft ' and neverplanned to buy the Hunker not to leave the scene with the "dopers." is displayed in the lobby of the Miami Police drugs. They didn't even bring the S66.000 decided not to follow Delahoz and tried to make Dept. where his name is read in a service each needed to buy the drugs with them. a U-turn apd return to the front parking lot. May. His name is also read each May at the Dade Unknown to the police. Pedro Rodriguez. Delahfi. about to enter the intersection and Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park in Mi. 35, the mastermind of the drug deaVrip•ofi'-was head across the bridge toward North Bay Vil- ami. observing the entire operation "from a nearby lage. "suddenly shifted into reverse and backed Mothers Against Drunk Driving ninth -floor apartment on Bay Drive." Rodriguez up. angling his Blazer nearly perpendicular to (M.A.D.D.) presents tiie "William Craig Memo- was a federal fugitive who was wanted on Morantes' Bronco. partially blocking him." rial Award," its highest award, each year to a charges of selling drugs. Morantes then realized that he was blocked by Dade police officer for work combating drunk Rodriguez' view was limited to the west Delahoz and feared he was in trouble. However. driving. The 1991 and 1993 awards went to side of the Circle K and to the intersecting streets he decided not to contact his supervisor (he was Metro -Dade Officer Harold Ruffner. on the comer where the Circle K was located. wearing a transmitter) as Delahoz was quickly He could not see the front door of the conve- approaching and he wasn't sure of his intentions. SOURCES- �,J iami Herald, Oct. 20. 1985. nience store nor could he see the cars parked at What Morantes did not realize was that he ,March '20.June 32.24, 1988. June 21, 1991. May the front. However.: from this vantage point had been trapped behind a tree that blocked the 31. I992: Miami mews. &larch 21. June Rodriguez and Orlando Lopez. a lookout who view of the members of the surveillance team 31,22,23,34. Aug, 10. I988. Records of Dade drove around the Circle K and reported to covering the west side of the Circle K. They County Medical Examiner (#88-1863): Dade Rodriguez with his cellular phone. noticed Mame could not see what was going on and were lim- County court file of Sean Timothy Ward "suspicious" cars (which were in fact police ve- ited to audio surveillance. The back-ups nearby (#F88009194):FILDept. ofCorrections records hicles)nearby and alerted Delahoz: that the "deal" heard a gruff -voiced Delahoz saying to of Sean Timothy Ward (#183588): FL Highway might be a police setup. Morantes, "Come here. come here." Patrol Traffic Homicide Investigation (#FHP When Morantes was informed of the sus- Morantes assumed that Delahoz wanted to 788-01-54): and interview with Deborah Craig. picions of the drug dealers he informed Sgt. Tom show him the money and got out of his Bronco Hunker, the supervisor on the scene. who de- and approached the Chevy Blazer. Delahoz. who 993 SCOTT R. RAKOW tided to go forward with the sting since "rip- had gotten out of the Blazer. grabbed Morantes Miami Beach Police Department pers" were even more more dangerous than with his left hand and reached inside the Blazer Shot on June 29. 1988 (died June 30) "dopers" and needed to be taken off the street. and grabbed a LN[AC-10 with his right hand. He However, the Sgt. did order the two oii`iceis in- ordered Morantes to get inside the Blazer. THE EVENT side of the store to leave fearing they would be Morantes, fearing he would be shot before Miami Beach Officer Scott Rakow. 28, a recognized by Delahoz br Andrade. the surveillance team could reach him, grabbed 4 -year veteran. was shot and fatally wounded on The Nsw Times erroneously suggested that at the machine gun. Delahoz struck Morantes in Wednesday. June 29. 1983. by a drug dealer at the removal of the two-man surveillance team the jaw with the gun, throwing him to the pave - the and of a wild car chase on the 79th Street from the inside of the store "was an action akin ment (and throwing his transmitter to the pave - Causeway after an undercoverdntg sting "went to removing Llorantes's armor". when. in fact. ment several feet away), Morantes looked up and wrong." The shooter and two others were sen- 37 police officers. including 10 from the S'NAT saw Delahoz pointing the "IAC -10 at him and tented to life in prison forthe murder. The failed Team, were still on the scene backing him up. yelled. "No. no. no. no. no!" Morantes "rolled sting and Rakow murder became the subject of "investigative" This number included several members of the investigations Unit drug away" and ran across the street, Delahoz never tired at him apparently deciding just to take the a two-part series in the Miami Strategic (SIU—the New Times in 1989. sting team) who were stationed near the Circle drugs and flee. The events that led to the murder of Scott K along the probable eastern escape route while Delahoz jumped into Morantes' Bronco Rakow began with an offer from a female confi- Scott Rakow and another officer were stationed (with the cocaine) and fled west on the Cause- dential informant (Maria) whoclaimed to be able along the western escape route (i.e.. 79th St. way. Andrade moved into the driver's seatof the to set up a drug deal that would allow Miami Causeway) in case something went wrong. Blazer after the rip-off and also sped away. He Beach police to arrest two men for buying co- The "look -out" apartment belonged to first fled east for two blocks before making a ):- Baine. After several prior telephone conversa- Pedro Rodriguez' ex-wife. Cindy Andrade. and turn and fleeing west on the Causeway after de - tions. Beach undercover officers agreed to meet her second husband. Freddy Andrade. Rodriguez termining that three men in an unmarked car the two drug dealers. Freddy Tamavo Andrade, was the "main man" of the drug operation who were chasing him. He later claimed that he 33. and Felix Delahoz. 37, in the parking lot of a brought together Delahoz and Andrade and was thought the three were drug dealers intent on Circle K convenience store at 2050 71st St. in to find a buyer for the stolen drugs. Rodriguez killing him because of the rip-off. Miami Beach. The deal worked out on the tele- also hired Orlando Lopez to serve as a look -out Morantes found his transmitter in the street "It's Mand phone was for the two drug dealers to buy four during the rip-off. "police and yelled (at 3:4313M). a rip!" The - ing forthe team. even if a rip - kilos of cocaine from the undercover cops for Despite the signs of a setup" order surveillance "sur S66.000. The plan was for the exchange of Delahoz "never wavered" about going forward off occurred (with no shots fired), was to - veil and follow" as the police knew the identity money and drugs to take place in a warehouse on Bay Road where police could quickly move with the deal. According to statements Pedro of both drug dealers and had discovered their in and make the arrest. Rodriguez later made to police. Delahoz "hideout' the previous day and thus knew where Beach undercover outer Efrain Morantes He declared. "Police cannot sell drugs. ';a if it's the the worst is I go to jail and they would go after the buy for rip-off). The hideout was in ;4liami just over the posed as the seller. was an experienced un- dercover operative having participated in twenty police. three days t get out. And if it's not the po. bridge from North Bay Village and that escape by Officers Scott Rakow and stings and thus the Department gave him con- siderable leeway in deference to his expertise. lice and they are dope dealers. nothing will happen, So I don't care. I'll do it anyway.- rout; was covered Tony Sabatino. The police did not want to try to Morantes had met the day before with the two (N_,w TMU. Dec. 6-1211939) "take down" the two drug dealers in a populated like Circle K it was absolutely drug buyers and had been shown the money (i.e.. Delahoz and Andrade pulled into the Circle area the unless the 566,000) and met them again the morning of K parking lot behind Morantes. Delahoz. driv- necessary. Scorn R. Rakow Miand Beach, 1988. Delahoz. who was ahead of Andrade, had his MAC -10 machine gun on the seat beside him in the (polices Bronco that carried the stolen co- caine. However. his anticipated "flight" was stalled by heavy afternoon traffic on the west bound lanes of the 79th St. Causeway and he had to stop at the second traffic light after the bridge (between Miami Beach and North Bay Village). Cars were stopped ahead of him at the red light in both east bound lanes. Nleanwhife. Morantes ran into the street to flag down Det. Pat Ryan and his partner. Officer Mickey Kabakoff. who were in a gray (un- marked) Mercury Marquis. %lorantes got into the Mercury and told the driver to chase his stolen Bronco. Simultaneously. six other officers in three other unmarked can gave chase (accord- ing to plana to the two fleeing drug dealers in the Bronco and the Blazer. The Mercury, with Ryan drbdrtg and Morantes and Kabakoff in the back eat. led the chase and reached the stoplight where Delahoz was delayed and. in the left hand tum lane. pulled alongside. but just behind. the Bronco. The first police vehicle was followed closely b) another with Det. Vinnie Campbell and George Lerra. The rive officers. in plain clothes (but with "Police' jackets). identified themselves as po- lice officer: before the sho,.,tout that followed. "Each side says the other fired first." Delahoz. who slumped down in the dri%er's seat to avoid being hit. tired fourteen rounds with his MAG - 10 over hi, left shoulder. Fig a offlvers (from two cars) tired a total of 30 rounds at Delahoz. " iVli- raculousl%. no one was hit.— One citizen car was hit in the fender and bullet holes were later found in the Capital Bank Building on the south side of the street. "Pandemonium broke cut among motorists waiting at the traffic signal." Since'the police officers were not in uniform end the police ve- hicles were unmarked. mo>t likely thought they were in the middle of a shotitout among rival drug dealers. One citizen said. "it was like a scene right out of Miami Vice." Motorists even- tually cleared a path for Delahoz to escape and then the chase began again. Andrade was in the right hand westbound lane of the causeway and slightly behind Delahozd l y by the drug dealer who killed ATF agent in the trafficjam at the red light. As the shootout die Benitez in ,Miami in 1983.) developed, he saw officers approachinghim from Fire Rescue was summoned and transported behind from another unmarked car Ii.e.. the ve- Rakow to Jackson 10emorial Hospital. arriving hicle occupied by Sgt. Terry Bahn. Det. Lou at 4.35PM. Dr. Jonathan Greenberg, chief of the Albertie and Officer Jeff' Peleaz). Realizing he neurotrauma service at JMH. ran to the trauma was about to be apprehended. he "cut the Blazer room and found doctors "pumping the young to the right and zipped down the sidewalk" and policeman's chest. trying to make him breathe thus escaped the traffic jam. He sped west be- again." When he did begin to breathe the ;Ur. hind the fleeing Delahoz. goons began a CT scan and round that the bultet Scott Rakow was the second officer sta- had' -destroyed the right frontal lobe of Rakow-s tioned along the anticipated westem escape route brain and ,%i Ipl embedded in the back. There w 3s along the 79th St. Causeway. Rakow was not in a trcmendd a amount of bleeding, swelling and uniform and was in an unmarked car while Of- destruction." At this point Dr. Greenberg kne« (icer Sabatino was in uniform in a marked car. that Rakow would not make it. The two officers were on opposite sides of the At 6:00PSI. Dr. Greenberg. assisted by mo Causeway at approximately the same location. othersurgeonsbegan surgery. They removed rhe Rakow was not in visual contact with the sting front pan of the skull and closed blood vessels but was in radio communication. He heard and removed damaged tissue as they followed Morantes tell the surveillance team that a rip- the path of the bullet. The main problem was the off had occurred and saw the shootout just to the swelling of the brain, not the bullet. A fter 3 hours cast of his position. When the Bronco (Delahoz) of (unsuccessful) surgery. Rakow was placed on and B I ozer (And rade) passed him, he joined the a respirator and taken to the neurosurgical in - chase in his blue Ford Taurus and became the tensive care unit. First police car in pursuit. At 1:00PM the next day tests showed that The Bronco and the Blazer split up at the the patient was brain de_d. The respirator was western end of the Causeway just as they en- turned off and Scott Rakow was pronounced tered the City of Miami. Delahoz went straight dead at 1:30PM. June 30 (22 hours after the while Andrade made a right turn onto Bayshore shooting). "The wait at Jackson Memorial Hos- Dr. Rakow had to make a choice and chose to pital became a wake." Doctors indicated that follow Andrade. Andrade lost control of the even if Rakow had lived he would. at best. have Blazer and crashed into anAusiralian pine at N.E. been paralyzed. and. at worse. have been in a 83rd St. and Bayshore Dr. alter a 3.4 mile chase coma for the rest of his life. "Rakow• become that took 2 & 113 to 3 minutes. comatose as soon as he was ;hut." Thecrash location is just three blocks from Aftershooting Rakow.Andrade ran another Mike Gordon's Restaurant on astreet (N.E. 83rd 20 feet andjumped into a canal and tried to hide St.) where the houses on the north side of the underaboat. Memo-ersoflliamiBeach'sSWAT street are on a canal separating Miami and Mi- team, who had been just behind Rakow in the ami Shores. Andrade jumped out of the crashed chase. saw Andrade in the canal and arrested him. track and ran northeast through the front yard of At first Andrade had a ready alibi saving that he a house at 1095 N.E. 83rd St. Rakow jumped was' just fishing."At the time of the arrest scores out of his Ford and pursued Andrade. of officers from Miami. Miami Beach. Miami In retrospect. Rakow should not have en- -Shores and other departments in Dade converged gaged in a foot -chase of Andrade. He had been near the scene. at the corner of Northeast 3: rd told by a dispatcher to wait for back-up from St. and Bayshore Drive. other officers. However. Rakow had no reason As Andrade was being led from the sce^:. to believe that Andrade was armed and none of a Miami Beach undercover officer. Dat. JL ha the other police cars were within sight. Scott Quiros. who was a friend of Rakow's. ac- Rakow was an aggressive cop and he had been proached the killer from behind and punched him rewarded in the past for a successful foot -chase in the face, knocking him to the ground. A "punch" of a suspect. He made a spur-of-the-moment WSVN-Channel 7 crew taped the and decision to chase. It turned out to be a fatal mis- showed it on the evening news. The chase had take, gone by the Channel 7 studios on the Cause%%a% When Rakow exited his Ford he shouted. and a camera crew monitoring, the police ra,61:o "Police! Freeze!" and began to run afterAndrade. was alerted to the chase and :arrived at The sce-e He had run about 40 feet when Andrade, who just alter the pursuing police. was 74 feet ahead of him. pulled a 25 caliber Many police officers were aqry becaL,: semi-automatic pistol from his waistband. the TV crew seemed more interested in the ": v turned, and tired one shot at the pursuing Rakow. punches killer' story than in the murder of t:1e The single shot hit Rakow just above his eyes policeman. Chief Kenneth Glassman saidhe JA and he fell, gun in hand. without firing a shot. not condone the punch and that action would :ti Later investigation rcvealedthat Rakow and taken against the officer. Andrade were only 74 feet apart when Rakow Delahoz. the other fleein; fuSitive, was ar- was hit by a.25 caliber bullet from asmall, "un- rested minutes later. He temporarily "lost`Hi;s reliable pistol." The fact that Rakow was hit be- pursuers and headed for his "hideout" at I dr3 tween the eyes by such a pistol at such a dis- N.E. 32nd Ter, to switch cars. He dro%e ove.-00 Lance by a frightened and inexperienced gunman lawn to the back of the house where a Buick AiN represented a "freak occurrence:' Firearms ex- parked. A female accomplice at the house hOFS-1 perts say that noteven an expert marksmancould throw the drugs into a 1981 Cadillac. JnJi have made that shot with that weapon from that Delahoz drove away. As he left the hideout ht distance under those circumstances. (The "lucky could see that Andrade had crashed his Bluer' shot' by Andrade was similar to the shot Fred only ablock away and had run toward thecanal. 207 oelahoz drove to the other side of the canal hop ing to pick up Andrade. However. a man living across the street from the hideout. told police that a man driving a Bronco had switched ears and was now driv- ing a Cadillac. Police put out a SOLO on the Cadillac. By this time scores of police officers from Miami Beach. Miami. N. Bay Village, and Miami Shores were on the scene searching for the fugitives. Two Miami officers spotted Delahoz in the Cadillac and pulled him over. The stolen cocaine was inside the Cadillac, Both Andrade and Delahoz were taken to the Dade County jail and held without bond. One of.the two officers who spotted and arrested Delahoz was Jairo Lazano. the brother of Officer William Lozano. the Mi- ami Officer tried twice for the fatal shooting of a motorcyclist that sparked a riot. Jairo Lazano was selected by the Dade Chief's Association as "Police Officer of the Year" for 1988. On the day Scott Rakow died, there were 26 Miami homicide detectives and 20 Miami Beach investigators working the case. Andrade, who confessed to the murder, was taken from jail to the scene of the crime and pointed out to the police where he had thrown the murder weapon into the canal. A police diver found the Sun, a titan .?3 caliber handgun. Ballistics tests confirmed that rounds fired from this gun matched the bullet removed from Rakow's brain. Detectives confirmed that Rakow's weapon had not been fired. DelaHoz also confessed to steal- ing the drugs and to shooting at pursuing offic- rrs. Metro police, alarmed at cases like the 1986 FBI shootout and the Rakow shootout (both Andrade and Delahoz fired semi-automatic weapons at police armed with revolvers) where the police were "out -gunned." announced the day of Scott Rakow's funeral that they had commis- sioned an extensive study (by Dr. Geoffrey Alpert of the U. of Miami) to determine if their officers should be equipped with semi-automatic hand- .3uns. The )Miami Police Department replaced its revolvers with 9mm semi-automatic Glock 17 pistols in 1987. Ironically, Paul Palank. the Mi- ami officer in charge of training for all Miami officers switching from the .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver to the semi -automatics was killed in an Amtrak train crash on July 31, 1991. The Miami Beach Police Dept. also made the same change in 1991. The Miami Herald and the [Miami) yew. E= reported that the informant who set up (what turned out to be) the fatal Ming was Mario Pena, a "rogue confidential informant from Nica• ragua" who had earned 5300,000 in three years "auctioning his tips to the highest police bidder." In fact. he was described by one Miami Beach rolice officer as the "Amway of Confidential In- formanis" as he "subcontracted" deals (for a ;:erceniage of the profits) to other informants to ?xpand his income and to distance himself from ,le deals. The Herald also claimed that Pena "had first asked Miami police todo the sting but was turned own because previous deals he set up had ended shootings." The 19eu Tim4;t reported that in ,"t.. 1987, a deal setup by Pena led to the death of one drug suspect and the nearly fatal injury of a federal agent. The agent, Carlos Montalva of the Bureau of Alcohol. Tobacco, and Firearms, nar- rowly escaped death whena bullet aimed at his chest instead shattered the muzzle of his pistol. steeling from the impact. accord- ing to press reports at the time, Montafvo "dropped like a bag of sand." The shootout occurred in a crowded parking lot at Westland Mall in Hialeah. ((!News Timet, Dec. 6-12J 1989) The criticism of the Miami Beach Police Department by local newspapers went further w; the New Times. after reviewing "thousands of pages of court records and police reports. com- bined with interviews, of several key partici- pants," published a two pan investigative article on the sting/murder in 1989 that concluded that the sting was "poorly planned and poorly ex- ecuted" and should have been called off after several warning signs and that "disastrous blun- ders" occurred before or during the sting. The newspaper further claimed that the police failed to call off the sting because of pres- sure from top police officials to complete a deal that would bring S66.000 in confiscated money to the Department and noted that Reach police confiscated "just below four million dollars" in drug money in 1989, mostly from reverse -stings (i.e.. police posing as dealers). Unfortunately. Miami Beach police officials could not respond to the New -Times reporter (and published article) at the time since the investi- gation and trial were ongoing. Sgt. Tom Hunker. the supervisor of the sting that resulted in the -death of Officer Rakow, when later freed to re- spond to the newspaper criticisms. pointed to several factual errors and erroneous conclusions drawn by the newspapers. For example. Hunker disputes the claims of the Miami Herald and the New s that the confidential informant involved in helping to set up the sting was the unreliable and "blackballed" Mario Pena. Hunker maintained that the confi- dential informant who helped set-up the deal was a woman named Maria who had provided reli- able information in the past. Maria did know ;Mario Pena and Cindy Andrade. However, the police officials planning the sting did not know that Cindy Andrade social- ized with several Miami Beach Police Depart- ment employees. This embarrassing fact was brought to public attention by the New Time;; which reported that earlier in 1988. Cindv had sold drugs to and socialized with three Miami Beach police officers and three civilian employ. ees of the Department. This "involvement" did not contribute to the failure of the sting or to Scott Rakow's death but did later delay the ap- prehension of two other men (Pedro Rodriguez and Orlando Lopez) involved in the sting. Also unknown to the police before the stint, was the fact that Cindy Andrade shared (with Freddy Andrade) an apartment overlooking the: Circle K convenience store where the Rakow sting "went down" and thus that the police sur- veillance team was itself under surveillance by someone (Cindy) who personally knew many Beach officers, including some undercover of- ficers. Police now believe Cindy told Pedro Rodriguez, who was in her apartment during the Ming. that police were surveilling the Circle K. 0 Sgt. Hunker also disputes the flerald'sclair.. that the sting was set up the same day. Tltc "Rakow sting" was the result of an ongoing in- vestigation that had begun two months earlir.r It was far from a last-minute. spontaneous srin; resulting from pressure from "higher-ups" to bring in more money from drug stings. Sgt, Hunker was under no pressure to bring in more money from stings and. even if that were the case. the 566.000 "prize' in the Rakow sting was "pea- nuts" comparo)}o the amount of money seized during the ye•arfover S -t million) and was barely cost-effective given the 37 men it took to oper- ate the sting. Furthermore. Miami Beach police officials pointed out that Rakow was killed even though a rather massive force of Beach officer.- and ex- tensive planning had attempted to minimize the danger. Bunker pointed out that any dru: sting is inherently dangerous and that the things that went wrong during the Rakow sting were un- foreseeable by any plan. Mistakes were made by individuals in the sting but a laterdepartmen- tal investigation (by then Assistant Chief—later Chief—Lots Guastol found no claws in the sting, plan and the decision to continue the sting once a rip-off attempt'was suspected. Internal affairs of the Miami Beach Police Department investigated the alleged drug use of its officers that became known shonly after the Rakow murder and that was publicized by the 1989New-TI "expose:' The Internal Affairs report was released on March 30. 1989. and re- sulted in the two-week suspension of one Beach officer. Robert Hundevalt. who admitted using cocaine. Rosie Stoller. the police employee who "blew the whistle" on the drug use of other De- partment employees and whose tip led to the ar- rest of Pedro Rodriguez and Orlando Lopez. was terminated. The Internal .affairs in•estication classified the complaints against the other de- partmental employees as "unstibstantiated." Miami Beach Officer Efrain Morantes, the lead detective, in the sting that resulted in Scott Rakow's death, was terminated by the Miami Beach Police Department on May 11. 1990. He had difficulty "adjusting" after the Rakow mur- der and was transferred out of the narcotics unit to beach patrol after the trials. One incident that contributed to his being terminated was his tiring a handgun into Sgt. Hunker's desk after being told that he was to be transferred out of SIL'. Then on .Aug. 20. 1989. Moranies was found Wandering on the edge of the Everglades, dazed. and with a gunshot wound in his abdomen. He first claimed that he had been abducted by two Columbian drug dealers. Po- lice eventually decided %loranies had fabricated the story of the abduction and that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted. He was discharged for making false police reports and for discharsing a firearm in the police station. THE PERPETRATORS The arrests of Delahoz and Andrade did not end the investigation as Pedro Rodriguez. 33. the "ringleader." who set up the sting was Mill at large as was Orlando Lopez. 30, It took Beach detectives assigned to the Rakow sting case more than two weeks to locate and arrest these two men. Everyone in the Department knew the de- tectives were searching for a Pedro Rodriguez y :L, 4-1126 0 and several employees. including at leas[ blemish" was a 1985 conviction patrol officers. knew Rodriguez, having bought His first attempt at drug dealing fwas or ha disaster Kahn.Thewas maa jury in th �kea b °f lodge Martin drugs and socialized with him, as he attempted to serve as a broker in a one- rive Nietro-Dade police officers guarded he Yet no one came forward until Rosie Stoller, kilo sale of cocaine in Hialeah. The buyers drew courtroom after an FBi tip that there was a plot a female civilian employee of the Miami Beach weapons and falsely announced themselves to to free one of the defendants (Delahoz). Specta- Police Department finally told Sgt. Hunker of be federal agents, cars were screened by a metal defector. the "connection" Rodriguez had with Depart. They then stole the cocaine and hand- Andrade took the stand and pled self -de. as. Stoller told Hunker that Pedro cuffed both Andrade and the man who had fense. He said that he didn't know Rakow %%us a Rodriguez was Cindy's ex-husband and that she just lost S 18.000 worth of drugs. The police officer when he Shot at him and claimed had performed a (bogus) wedding ceremony for would-be seller—a Columbian business- that "all he heard was man chasing him and yell - Cindy and Andrade. Also. she old the Sgt. that man who was now in debt to his supplier ing. .1'rtr .ing to kill you."' He claimed that he Cindy and Andrade shared an apartment over- was outraged. The target of his rage was -thought drug dealers were chasing him." looking the Circle K where the Rakow sting Andrade. ( AW mI4, Dec, 6-1211989) Andrade also said that hedidn'tknow in advance "-�t went wrong." The Columbian dealer threatened to kill that Delahoz planned to "tip-off" Nforantes and Sgt. Hunker. to avoid "leaks" and conflicts Andrade and his wife if he did not come up with steal the drugs and claimed that he "panicked', of interest. got investigators from the State the S 18.000 to make-up for the loss. Andrade and "boiled" when the robbery began. Attorney's Office to set up a sting to arrest Cindy turned over his car but was still $8.000 short. Delahoz's attorney, Manuel Vazquez. told Andrade after receiving information from Rosie Andrade clearly "was in a bind: he had no job. the jury that his client was the victim of police Stoller of Cind%'s drug activities, Cindy had al- no prospects, and now. no car." At this point greed as police set up the sting and went through ready quit the Police Dept, before the Rakow Andrade wasapproached by a woman described with it to confiscate his client's drug money 10r murder and was selling cocaine. After the suc- as "a professional informant paid by police to the Department. Lopez' attorneys. Louis Caruso cessful sting. Cindy was arrested and agreed to set up drug deals." She convinced Andrade to and Yale Galanter. claimed that their client cooperate with the police. Her phone calls were become involved in the drug buy (set up by the agreed to act as a lookout only as a favor to a traced. leading police to Pedro Rodriguez and Miami Beach Police Department) for a "cut of relative anddidn't know anything about thedrug Orlando Lopez at an apt. near the Doral Coun- the take". The woman arranged for Andrade to deal. Neither DelaHoz or Lopez took the stand. try Club in west Dade. The two were arrested on meet Efren Morantes (who. unknown to her. was The jury was sequestered after failing to outstanding federal (DEA) warrants since a Miami Beach undercover oMcer). reach a verdict at the end of the first day of de. Rodriguez was a federal fugitive. Orlando Nicholas Lopez, 30, was a brother liberations. On March 22. 1989, afterdeliberat- Four defendants were eventually charged to Pedro's new girlfriend and joined the Pedro ing for I 1 hoursover two days, the jury found with first degree (felony) murder, conspiracy to Rodriguez "Sang" to make a few extra dollars. DelaHoz and Andradeguihvof fir<t delgree mur- distribute drugs. and othercharges related to the He had only a minoreriminal background. Pedro der in the death of Officer Rakow: three counts failed drug deal that led to the murder of Officer Franca -Rodriguez. 33 (born on May 19. 1955). of attempted murder for shouting at the three Scott Rakow. The four were Felix DelaHoz, 37, was the ringleader of the drug gang, He had been Beach officers at the "traffic -light shootout" on Freddy Andrade. 33. Orlando Nicholas Lopez, arrested two years earlier by DEA after a fed- the 79th St. Causeway: conspiracy to traffic in 30. and Pedro Rodriguez, 27. DelaHoz. Andrade, eral drug sting but fled after posting bail and was cocaine: armed trafficking in cocaine: armed and Lopez were tried together in March of 1989 still a federal fugitive at the time of the Rakow robbery, and resisting arrest with violence. Lopez while Rodriguez was tried separately in lune of murder. 1990. was acquitted of murder and attempted murder Felix Delahoz was born on May 18, 1951. gree (felony) murder in thfour mart were e deathed tof Rakow. th first de- coca cocaine inut was therst ng that led o Office Rcted of C"O'n'spiracy to akow-(; in Cuba and came to Miami in the 1980 Martel Andrade, the " shGoter" was also charged with death. boatlift. DelaHoz had an extensive police and armed cocaine traffiekng, armed robbery and More than 100 spectators crowded Judge court record dating back to 1983. He had been the use of a gun while committing a felony. Kahn's courtroom for the announcement of the involved in numerous "domestic fights"and had DelaHoz was charged with the attempted mur- verdict. Toni Rakow "winced and shook her been arrested sc%era[ time, for burglary and car der of three police officers ( for tiring his.IAC- head" when the not guilty verdicts were read for theft. 10 machine gun at them). aggravated battery on Lopez. Delahoz had also been arrested forburglary a police officer ( for striking Nlorantes at the On April 14. 1939. the jury met again to by Miami officer Victor Estefan in 1933 after Circle K), armed cocaine trafficking. armed rob- consider whether the defendants should be sen- Estefan spotted Delahoz and another man steal- bery. grand theft auto (stealing the Bronco). and fenced to life or death. The jury voted to recom- ing "stacks of clothing from 7_eem Fashions, the use of a gun in the commission of a felony. mend life rather than deal for both Felix 1179 S.W. Eighth St." The case drugon for five The court appointment of.lilton Hirsch as DelaHoz and Freddy Andrade. Jury member; years as Delahoz failed to make court appear- defense counsel for Freddy Andrade led o his interviewed by the Hersld were critical of the antes and did not comply with an agreement he being kicked out of the South Florida Shomrim drug sting set up by the .demi Beach Police made with prosecutors (i.e.. o take a lie-detec- Society, an organization of Jewish law enforce- Dept. [a focus of [he defense attorneys) and also tortest). He was fina[iyjailed forsix months for ment officers and lawvers. after a 39.1 vote (out seemed to have been influenced by the fact that contempt by Judge Arthur Snyder but released of a membership of u%'vr 200). The dismissal led Rakow "did not follow instructions" to wait for three weeks later (and two months before the it) considerable controversy in the Jewish (and backup. murder of Rakow-) when the state had to drop larger) community. Jury members denied that they were influ• the case when Officer Estefan was murdered on Some Jewish defense attorneys supported enced by Hirsch's presentation of 5300 silta- .larrh ? 1, 1988. the dismissal since Hirss h'saceg acceptance was vol- cures from citizens in Andrade's hometown of Delahoz told police after his arrest for the untary and was offensive to the Rakow family Bugalagrande, Colombia, "attesting to his Rakow murderrhar hiscriminal careerhad turned and said the point was not that a Jewish lawyer client's good character' and the fact that he had to drug rip-offs in 1988 and admitted to foursuch should not defend someone accused of killing a no priorcriminal record. Thou -2h Delahoz was a robberies during the past year, white" eoniplain- Jewish policeman but that Shomrim was a fra- career criminal, he was not the shooter and th�:;, ing that he work was sporadic." He apparently ternity and "a fraternity brother should not rep- jury perhaps felt it would W unjust to recom- had a "reputation" fur violence as Pedro resent someone accused of killing another fra• mend life for the shooter and death for he non -(":# Rodriguez told Andrade that Delahoz was a "thee- ternity brother." Hirsch defended his acceptance shooter.Andrade's attorney al.o suggested to the f heelers" who "kills people," of the case by saying that " (he highest tradition jury that Rakow and Andrade were victims of t—A Andrade was born on July 19. 1964. in Co. of Jewish morality and American law is the de- the "inherent immorality of the police informant" 1 lumbia. He was On illegal alien who could not Tense of the outcast and the pariah." who set up the faultysting operation outofgreed. obtain a work permit and so was unemployed The two-week trial for Delahoz. Andrade. Judge Kahn "departed from usual court• except for occasional odd jobs. such as painting and Lopez began on March 6, 1989, with David room protocol by meeting privately with houses and moving furniture. His only "legal 1. Gilbert and Chris Rundle prosecuting the case Rakow's family moments before senrencing" on ',pril 14, 1989. telling then he could not find *HE OFFICER *rugs who explained his attendance by say- egitimate reason to overrule the jury's recommen- Scott R. Rakow. 28, was born on July 29, ing. "I had to come. Officer Rakow was the only lation fora life sentence though his"personal feel- 1959, in Mt. Sinai Hospital on Miami Beach. person who ever treated me like a man." Ings" differed from those of the jury. It was Judge He was the youngest of four children bom to Funeral arrangements were handled by Riv. Kahn's first death penalty sentencing heating. Allen ("Rocky") and B.J. Kaplan Rakow. Scott erside Funeral Home of Miami Beach and ser- Judge Kahn sentenced both DelaHoz and attended kindergarten and first grade at Treasure vices were held at Temple Emanuel. 1701 Wash- Andrade to seven consecutive (rather than con- Island Elementary. At the age of 6 he won acity- ington Ave, in ,Miami Beach on Sunday. July 3. :urrent) life sentences plus consecutive sentences wide boxing championship, a feat mentioned in The cervices were conducted by Rabbi Irving of 15 years & 5 years in prison so that each would the newspapers and on the TV news. Lehrman. who had presided at Scott's bar have to serve at least 60 years before becoming It was at this early age that Scott formed mitzvah 15 years earlier, and Rabbi Mayer eligible for parole. On April 19. 1989. Lopez was the desire to be a police officer. Scott mentioned Abramowitz, who had performed his wedding sentenced to a mandatory minimum of 15 years in the autobiography that he was required to ceremony twiorears earlier. More than 1.700 in prison for drug trafficking. write in the police academy that he was be- mourners were inside the synagogue and "hun- Milton Hirsch. Andrade's defense at- friended by a Miami Beach sergeant who dreds more" stood outside listening to the eu- torney, was happy with the sentence: "would let me sit in the police car occasionally logy over loudspeakers. "I'm astounded, astounded!... 'This case and explained various radiocodes and other po- Officers from more than 30 law en. had all the makings of the death verdict: lice mysteries." forcement agencies lined up outside the You have a Colombian immigrant charged Scott also attended North Beach Elemen- South Beach temple to await the arrival of with the murder of an extremely popular tary and Nautilus Jr. High School. As a youth he the hearse. They saluted as the pallbearers. police officer in the case of a drug deal"... spent hours at the Miami Beach Youth Center a white-gloved Miami Beach police honor "That's a script for death". on Pine Tree Dr. across the street from his home guard, carried the coffin up the synagogue Hirsch said he accomplished his "only (he later coached kid sports there). He collected steps. goal"—keeping Andrade out of the electric dozens of trophies as a boy for basketball. base- On the steps, an FBI agent dressed in chair. ball and boxing which were displayed in the fam- a kilt played an old Irish dirge on the bag- "All I ever set out to do in this case is ily home. At Miami Beach High School. Scott pipes. save this kid's life," he said. "I told him that. was a member of the wrestling team and gradu- Mourners filed in for 30 minutes be. I told his wife that. I told everyone in Co- ated in 1977. fore the service began. There were police lombia that, and goddamit, I did it." (ML. Rakow attended Miami-Dade Jr. College, chiefs, judges, firefighters, corrections of- ami Herald, 4/1511989) receiving an A.A. in I979. While attending Mi- ficers. contingents from the state attorney's The Rakow family was devastated by the ami-Dade. Rakow worked for the Miami Beach office and the U.S. attorney's office. and a (relatively) lenient sentence given to Scott's kill- Recreation Department and became head male delegation from the South Florida Shomrim ers. Toni Rakow later wrote thatAttorney Hirsch coach at Crespi Park. He also coached football Society. an organization of Jewish law en- nay have "won" but only at Hebrew Academy. Rakow graduated from the forcement officers. L.�tiami Herald. 7141 at the expense of putting one more U. of Florida with a degree in political science 1988) stake through our hearts. I pray to God that in 1982. While in Gainesville, he worked on the Scott Rakow was eulogized as a "manyr he never endures our pain and suffering. campus security force. - and as "an inspiration." Miami Beach Police (Miami. Herald. 3/22/1989) Rakow returned to Miami Beach after Chief Glassman told the mourners that Scott had On June I5, 1990, another Dade jury con- graduating from college and held several jobs all the right qualities for his job. "He was col- victed Pedro Rodriguez of first-degree murder before joining the Miami Beach Police Depart- lege-educated, athletic. caring. with a marvel. in the Rakow case. He was already in the fed- ment in 1984. He was a substitute teacher at Cit- ous sense of humor" and was "street smart." oral prison at Leavenworth at the time orhis trial. rus Grove Jr. High School and held several jobs Burial was at Lakeside Memorial Park. He was also convicted of three counts of at- in the city's recreation department. 103101 N.W. 25th St. (100 yards east of the Dade tempted first degree murder. robbery with a fire- In 1986 Scott Rakow married Toni County PBA offices and 10 blocks west of the arm and conspiracy to traffic in drugs. Bernstein, his college sweetheart. The couple Metro-Dade'Police Department headquarters). The Rodriguez trial got tittle media ntten- bought Scott's grandparents' house and hadjust The funeral procession from Miami Beach to tion since Charlie Street was also on trial during finished renovating the inside of the home when Lakeside was led by 70 police motorcycles and the same period for the killing of Metro-Dade he was killed. (Friends finished the outside reno- more than 150 police cars. The procession Officers Richard Boles and David Strzalkowski. vation afterhis death.) Their daughter Erica was stretched uninterrupted on State Rd. 836 (troop- Prosecutors Gilbert and Rundle told the jury that born on Jan. 3. 1988, ers scaled off the entrances to westbound 836 to Rodriguez was the "mastermind who helped put Scott loved to take Caribbean cruises and allow the motorcade to pass) from Lejeune Road the fatal deal together." Judge Marin Kahn went "won first place in several on-ship talent shows." near the Airport to Alton Road on Miami Beach. beyond the sentencing guidelines and sentenced He loved to make people laugh and often mim- The burial ceremony combined Jewish tradition Rodriguez to six concurrent life sentences plus ick-ed comedienne Lily Tomlin in her Ring-A- with police tradition. 30 years and fined him $500.000. This sentence ping-Ding telephone operator routine. He was Rabbi Lehrmanchanted the moumer's was to be consecutive to the federal sentence he a practical joker (i.e.. he kept rubber palmetto Kaddish in Hebrew. The honor guard's fir- had already received and was serving. bugs in his desk drawer to "plant" around un- ing team lifted its titles and gave a 21-gun In 1995, DelaHoz. Andrade. Lopez were suspecting colleagues). outgoing. and very salute. A Metro-Dade police bugler played still incarcerated in Florida prisons and friendly. taps. Rodriguez remained in federal prison. The first Rakow graduated from the Police Academy Four helicopters—two from Air Re!- parole interview date for both DelaHoz and in May of 1984. He worked patrol for his first cue, two from Metro police—flew over- Andrade has been set for Dec. of 2011. Orlando three years and then was assigned to the Special head. The flag and badge were presented Lopez's presumptive release date on his sentence Investigations Unit (SIU) in 1987. Scott's long to the widow. A police dispatcher an- of 15 years had not been set by Nov. of 1995 but term career goal was to become a lawyer and nounced over the radio that Rakow. "Knit the U.S. Immigration Service had a detainer on perhaps a judge. 581." is "06." the code for out of service. him after his release (presumably to deport him). Rakow's mother, in an open letter about her (Miami Herald. 7/411988) Pedro Franca-Rodriguez remained incarcer- son printed in the Miami News Omni and the The grave marker at Lakeside Memorial ated at the federal prison in Cumberland. MD, PBA-HE AT (811988). told of the love of all ele- Park, a Jewish cemetery in west Dade reads: in 1995 and had a projected release date of March ments of the community of Miami Beach for her SCOTT RICHARD RAKOW 3. 1998. However, he had a detainer from FL so son. She recalled that a woman crying uncon- (SCOTT RAKOW'S HEBREW NAME) hat he will begin serving his six concurrent life trollably at Scott's funeral was a "bag lady" that BELOVED HUSBAND - FATHER - SON entences (plus 30 years) upon the completion he had befriended. Another person at the funeral JULY 29. 1959 ---JUNE 30. 1988 chis federal sentence. was a man Rakow had arrested for possession WE ALL LOVE YOU degree Nov. 18 after serving 8 A replica of Rakow's badge appears be- murder, 25 years for second murder,10 prison on years of a 15 tween the dates of his birth and death. years for third degree murder, 10 years for man- year sentence for attempted murder and was liv- Two other Dade law enforcement officers. slaughter, 15 years for kidnapping, 3 years for ing in Boynton Beach, FL. On Sunday, Nov. 27. Cheryl Seiden of;Metro-Dade (1982) and Donald aggravated battery and l year for aggravated 1988, ten days after his release from prison, B. Kramer of Miami Beach (1984) are buried assault. These minimum terms will be "without Street had been in Sliami's Liberty City trying within 35 yards of Rakow in the Degania sec- possibility of early release through any gain time. to locate an "old Flame" he had not seen in nine tion of the7 cemetery. At the conclusion of the provisional release credits. conditional release years. He failed to locate her and was returning Rakow burial service, many officers stopped at supervision, supervised community release. [ran- to Boynton Beach on toot when he was first en - the other two graves to pay their respects for the sitiort assistance program or parole." countered at 6:00P41 by the Florida Highway two officers buried nearby. In 1995. Toni Rakow lived in S. FL with Patrol. Witnesses had seen Street clutching a Scott Rakow was survived by his wife. her 7 -year-old daughter, Erica. She owned a guardrail on Interstate 95, and fearing he would Toni, 29. and 6 -month old daughter. Erica: his home accessories business. Regal Designs, in jump,poPed FHP. parents. Allen and B.J.of Miami Beach: his sis- Hallandale. Officer Rakow's mother. B.J. Street cold the troopers that he had been in ter Sherry Superfine, 43. and his brothers, Jo- Rakow, remained on 4liami Beach but his fa- Miami visiting a friend, had run out of money seph, 40. and Steven. 36. Joseph was a reserve ther died in 1993 and was buried beside Scott. and was returning to his home in Boynton Beach. Sgt, with the EI Portal Police Dept. His sister. Shery Superfine, 49, lived in S. Ali- The troopers told Street that he could not walk On July 22, 1988, "hundreds of well -wish- ami: his brother. Joseph, 47, lived in Pembroke an I-95 and asked him to tum out his pockets to ers, civic activists" and others packed Blackie's Pines; and his brother Steven, 43, lived on Mi- make sure he had no drugs or weapons. The on the Beach for a benefit for the family of Scott ami Beach. Joseph Rakow was a reserve officer "chat' with Street ended when "a motorist, slow- Rakow. A total of 55,000 was raised for the with the Miami Police Dept. ing down to gawk. caused a three -car pileup that ,Aidowand chi IdofOffice rRakow. Benefits from On Nov. 18, 1991. Christopher John Cole left three people injured and a car perched on the City of Miami Beach were given to Officer was sentenced under the new law to life in prison the guardrail." The troopers left Street to handle Rakow's parents. his legal beneficiaries. No state (with a minimum term of 25 years before eligi- the accident. Street walked off 1.95 at the 691h or federal benefits were given. bility for parole) forthe attempted murderof Sgt. St. ramp. The name of Scott Rakow is inscribed Daniel Pinder and Officer Mickey Kabakoffof "Six hours and nine miles later" another (Panel 18 -Right -4) on the Memorial Wail of the the Miami Beach Police Dept, when they at- confrontation between Street and the police oc- American Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3801 tempted to arrest him for a home invasion rob- curred. He was still on Foot and still looking for Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The Museum also bery. Before the "Rakow law" Cole, who had a ride to Boynton Beach. At midnight. Street prominently displays a (larger than life) bust of been sentenced to prison on two priorcccasions called 911 from "Surtny's;" a North Dade car Scott Rakow•, the only bust in the Museum. His for armed robbery, could not have been given a wash at 19350 NAV. Biscayne Blvd, In a "calm, name is also inscribed on the Stational Law Ea- mandatory minimum sentence for the attempted relaxed voice." he told the operator he wanted torcement Memorial (East Wall. Panel 18. Line murder of a police officer. to go to the hospital, and to send police because 5) in Washington. D.C. A plaque bearing his "people were after him." He complained about name is in the lobby of the Miami Beach Police SOURCES: Miami Herald. lune 30. July a variety of ailments. He said someone was try - Department. His name is road each May at the 1,2.4,12. Sept. 1.2. 10. 1988. Starch ing to poison him. Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park 7.14,I6.17,18,23,Apol15,20,22.Aug.22.Sept. However. the three paramedics who re- in Miami. 26.28, 1989,June 16, 1990,July21.Aug, 1.Nov. sponded to the 911 call soon figured out that In 1988 the youth center at 2700 Sheridan 19. 1991. Jan. 22. 1992; Miami News, June 30, nothing was wrong with Street and that his call Ave. in Stiami Beach was re -named the Scott July 1,2.4,7,12,13,14,23,Aug. 5.1988: "Behind was just a ruse to get a ride to Boyn(on.The para- Rakow Youth Center in honorof the officer who the Badge" by David Nickell. (Miami) New medics called police when Street complained. spent so much time counseling youth at that fa- Times. Sept. 27 -Oct. 3. Dec. 6-12, 1989: The "Are you going to leave me here to be mur- cility. The proposal to name the facility after Jewish Floridian. Sept. 9, 1988: The M ami dered?" Scott came from a meeting of eleven of his child- Beach Post, July 28. 1988: PBA HEAT. August, Five officers arrived -including Bolts and hood friends two days after;he died. The friends. 1988. Jan_ 1995; Death certificate of Scott R. Strzalkow•ski. Boles told Street he could walk to led by Jon Simon and Norman Reiz, met at a Rakow; Dade County medical examiner records Boynton. go b% ambulance to Jackson Memo- Sfiami_Herald conference room and developed (;#88-1953-A): Dade County court file of Freddy rial Hospital or accept a ride from the cops to a proposal to keep alive the memory of their Tamayo Andrade (it88-213708). Felix DelaHoz the county line, Eric Rossman. one of the fire friend. They decided to propose to the 1kliami (#88-21370A). Orlando Lopez (1188-21370C). officers from the midnight shift of the Northeast Beach City Commission that the Youth Center and Pedro Rodriguez' (#88-21370D & #88- District Station. later testified at the trial that be named after Scott since he played there as a 3293 0-. FL Dept. of Corrections records of Street claimed that unknown mates had been child and worked there as an adult. The Com- Freddy Tamayo Andrade (#185455). Felix following him and trying to kill him and that he mission accepted the proposal. DelaHoz 0185456). and Orlando Lopez appeared ro be extremely agitated and even to Toni Rakow became active in seeking leg- (4185636): U.S. Bureau of Prison records of be paranoid of the two police officers. Street also islation that would provide tougher sentences for Pedro Franca -Rodriguez (#28248.00.4). Sliami told officer Rossman shut he people armed those a he assault or kill police officers. She and Beach Internal .affairs Report #88.15: and in- with guns on too of the car wash and that they ether" survivors" of Main officers lobbied for the terviews with Toni Rakow and Sat. Tom Hunker were aoine to shoot him. Oft:cers Bolts and Law Enforcement Protection .pct ("The Rakow (who reviewed "The Event' for general accu- Rossman left the gas station whe:i Street got into Bill") enacted bvthe FLLegislaturein1989.The racy), Medi-Carambu lance to.Jac'ssunSfemorialHos. law provides for minimum prison sentences pital. without the possibility of parole for defendants #94 RICHARD ALLEN BOLES However, a few minutes later Street told convicted of assaulting orkilling a FL police of- #95 DAVID STRZALKOWSKI paramedics he wanted to go north to Dania in- ficer. The law "was inspired by public outrage Metro -Dade Police Dept. stead of south to Jackson Hospital. The pri%ate o%er a spate of shootings of police officers, in- Shot & killed on Nov. 28, 1988 ambulance refused to take him to Dania and thus eluding slain Miami Beach officer Scott Rakow.- let him out of the ambulance at ! :53AS1. Street The law went into effect on Jan. I, 1990. THE EVENT then walked northbound on West Dixie High. and applies to offenses committed after that date. Metro -Dade Officers Richard Allen Boles, way alongside the Lone Pine Trailer Park at The law i Section 773.0821 of FL Statutes) re- 41, a 4 -year veteran, and David H. Strralkowski. 20000 W. Dixie Highway. quires minimum mandator} sentences for vio- 34,a6 -year veteran. were shot and killedon.Nov. But Street again started "making trouble". lent crimes committed against law enforcement 28, 1988, in a street encounter with ex -convict He threw apiece of automobile tailpipe and some officers, correctional officers, state attorneys or Charlie Street. Street was sentenced to death for stones at cars travelling on West Dixie Highway. assistant state a[lomeys. The minimums are life the two murders. About 2:00AS1 residents of the mobile homes without possibility of parole for first degree Charles Street had been released from in the trailer park heard Street crying for help. 9 jJ 211 S r d ', Lithgow Funeral Home conducted a visit tion for Martin on Monday. April 30 and on Tues- day. May I, hundreds of people. including Gov. Bob :Martinez and police officers from all over South Florida, attended a funeral service for Martin at Visitation Catholic Church in north Dade. The Rev. John darks of the Agape Church of God in Royal Palm Beach, who had known the deeply religious officer for a year. delivered the eulogy. Among his words were the follow - Ina: "Joe has taken off his earthly uniform. His coronation day has come. He has slipped into a new uniform that death can- not destroy or conquer. that bullets cannot pierce, that darkness cannot overshadow." A police motorcade of 380 vehicles made the trip from the church in N. Dade to Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery in West Palm Beach. More than 1.500 friends and fellow of- ficersjoined the officer's family at the cemetery. Unfortunately, three officers were injured and hospitalized as a result of a traffic accident that occurred during the motorcade. Gov. Bob Martinez, Dade State Attorney Janet Reno and Broward Sheriff Nick Navarro were among the mourners. The grave marker at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery in West Palm Beach reads: JOSEPH PRESTON SiARTIN JULY 17, 1961 - APRIL 27. 1990 DEVOTED HUSBAND. FATHER. SON & FRIEND A replica of a police badge (with Martin's badge no.) and a cross also adom the grave marker. Officer Marin was survived by his wife. Mary. 39, and two children. Joseph 7. and Jeannie. 6: his mother Barbara Martin of Miami: his father, Larry L. Martin. of Satelke Beach. FL: and his sister. Kathy Startin Dragon, 31. \Miami Herald columnist Robert Steinback met Slartin's partner. Officer Carlos Crespo, two weeks before the murder. He later published a letter by Crespo which he described as a "dis- sertation of thanks." Crespo thanked his col- leagues and friends and then spoke of his slain partner. "And finally to Joe, thank you for be- ing my friend and allowing me theoppor- tunity to get to know- you. and for talking to me constantly about your beautiful fam- ily. For yourwit and humor. forcarins about the people with whom you worked and served. For having a positive outlook on life and sharing that with me. For always do- ing your job to the best of your ability. for working 480 minutes a night. five days a week. For that smile. To the people of Dade County, 1 feel song for you. You have lost a champion. a man who felt deeply about protecting your interests and did, so that you could sleep at night." (;Miami Herald. 6/1S/1990) In 1995. ,Mary,Martin had sold her country home but still lived in West Palm Beach with her children Joseph, 13. and Jeannie, 10. Joseph Martin's mother. Barbara. remained in Miami and his father. Larry L. Martin. in Indialantic. FL. His sister and brother-in-law. Kathy and Joe )n Dragon lived in West Palm Beach with Iheirchil- dren. John Paul. 12• ani'. Je<sica. S. The Police Officers assistance Tru,( w ill provide scholar- ships for the ,Martin :h:;Jri: n to attend college. The name of Jvscph Manin is inscribed (Panel 30 -Left -I) on the Memorial Wall of the American Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the National Law Enforcement Memorial (East Wall. Panel 42. Line 3) in Washington. D.C. His name is in- scribed on a stone memorial in the lobby of the Metro -Dade Police headquarters building and is read each Mav at the Dade Police Memorial Ser- vice in Tropical Park in Miami. Stan• Stavin and her children regularly attend the Dade service and have attended the services in Tallahassee and Washington. D.C. Also. a marble memorial in the lobby of Sletro-Dade's Northeast Station lists the names of the officers from that station killed in the line of duty: Stephen Corbett (1983). Richard Bolas and David Strzalkowski (1988) and Joseph Mar- tin (1990). The four names appear under the in- scription. "in Memory of Those Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice." SOURCES: Miami Herald. April 23.29.30 -May l.".4. 3'9.30 -May - l.'.4. June 15.28. 1990. Jan. 28.29. Feb. 1 2.5.6.7.9.14.15.22. Starch S. 1991: Dade County court file of Michael Griffin. Samuel Geraldo Velez. and Jonathan Tarallo f#F90016875): PSA HEAT. April. 1991: FL Dept. of Corrections records of Slichael Griffin (#183543). Samuel Geraldo Velez 0437038). and Jonathan Tarallo (#190436)-. Metro -Dade Po- lice Dept. homicide case #310.197-K: Dade County Medical Examiner records (#90-1218A): Death certificate of Joseph Preston Martin: and interviews with Mary ,Martin and Larry L. Mar- tin. #98 THOMAS JAMES LEIS .Yfe(ro-Dade Police Department Died April 39. 1990, from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning on Oct. 4. 1988 THE EVENT Sletro-Dade Lt, Thomas Leis. 40. a thineen- year veteran. died on April 1-9.1990. from com- plications that began with carbon monoxide poi- soning from a heroic ship rescue 19 months ear- lier. He became the second Dade officer to die by poisoning tthe first was Miami Officer David Herring in 1986). On Oct 4. 1988. Lt. Thomas Leis was as- signed to the Bay Operations Section a[ Kew Biscayne. He received an emcreencv call to back-up another bletro-Dade offtcer who was attempting to rescue two crew members from the Panamanian freighter, Turrialba. at the Pon of Sliami. Crew members had been trying to re- move water from the boat's hull by using a por- table gasoline -powered pump. At 1 ] :3OASl Miami -Dade Fire Rescue was called when two crew members were otereome by carbon monoxide fumes from the pump. Sletro-Dade OfficerArthurAneelica arrived and found two incapacitated crew members in a lower cargo hold. Angelica attempted to rescue the two men but was he was overcome by the fumes. When Officer Leis arrived he rushed into the hold and discovered that Officer angelica had passed out from inhaling the fumes. Though he %vas quite aware of the danger the fumes posed. Officer Leis carried Angelica and two crew members to the open deck. Leis then passed out on the open deck as a result of inhaling the fumes. Two of the crew members died as a re. sult of the incident. . Both officers received emergency medical care and were later transported to a nearby hos- pital. Leis wa#,hosp i tali zed and treated with 90 - minute infusf6ns of oxygen. From that day until his death 19 months later. Officer Leis was plagued with "pulmonary ailments affecting both heart and lungs." He did return to work but suf- fered a heart attack while on duly on Nov. 23. 1959 (13 months after the poisoning incident). On Feb. 27. 1990. Leis underwent double bv- pass surgery- at Baptist Hospital. Blood clots developed after surgery but Leis was soon back home recovering and w as expected to be back at work in four months. But on April 25. 1990. Leis was walking upstairs when he lost his balance and fell, hit- ting his head. fie was conscious when taken to Baptist Hospital and admitted to the emergency room. But soon after arriving at Baptist he went into a coma as a result of the brain hemorrhage he sustained during the fall. lie remained in the coma for four days until April 39 when he was pronounced dead at 11:00AM. The medical ex- aminer ruled the death accidental from compli- cations of blunt cerebral trauma. THE PERPETRATOR There was no perpetrator in this case. THE OFFICER Thomas James Leis. 40. was born on Dec. 17. 1949, in South Weymouth. SIA. He was one of six children bom to James and Henriette Leis. but was their only lirina child. His father was a career Navy man who. upon retirement. mowed the family to Miami in 1966 (when Thomas was 174. He then worked at the National Hurricane Center for over 20 ycars and was a close friend of Director Bob Sheets (who became executor of his will). Thomas attended Pottersville Elementary School in Somerset. Mass. (grades 1.3): Sullivan Elementary School in Newport. R.I. (grades 4 through 5 & I/2): and Goodvear Elementary School in Brunswick. GA tgrades 5 8 ll3 through 6): Jane Macon Jr. High School in Brunswick. GA (grades 7-9): St. John Vianney Seminary in Savannah. GA (grade 101: Glynn .academy in Brunswick. GA (grade 11) and Pal- metto H.S. in ,Miami (grade 12). He graduated from Palmetto H.S. in 1967. Leis started attending Miami -Dade Com- munity College in 1967. attended Tallahassee Community College in 1973. and received an A.A. degree from Miami -Dade Jr. College in August of 1983 with a major in criminology. .after H.S.. Leis %korked construction jobs in Stuart, Hallandale. Homestead and Coral Gables from 1967-1971. He then worked for two years as an "installer" for Western Electric in West Palm Beach. He began his la%% enforcement career (at the age of 23) on March 15, 1973. when hejoined the FL Highway Patrol. "Troop r et rved Thomas J. Leis..'Ierro-Dade. 1991. three years (1973-1976) at the Miami F.H.P. sta- tion and earned a reputation among Metro -Dade officers as someone they could count on as he "would pick up on Metro calls and back up the officers." In 1976. Leis, 6'0•' and 205 lbs.. joined the Metro -Dade Police Dept. and was assigned to patrol. During his l: -year tenure with Metro - Dade. he was in uniformed patrol and was a member of the Special Response, Team. He also was a GIG detecti%e. served as a team police supervisor, and as a Lt. with the'rransit Section. Leis was promoted to Sgt. is 1934 and was one of the officers given credit for ending the decade-long search far an elusive burglar known as Johnny Blue Eyes this real name was John Francis Moreano) %%hocommitted more than tw•o thousand burglaries along the east coast in South and Central Florida. Leis and Metro -Dade Det. Chris Stroze were selected a: Officers of the Month in Jul%. 19SS. for the arrest of Morgano. In April of 1989. Officers Leis and Angelica were awarded the Sil%er Sledal ot'balorand were named as Officers or the 4lonth for Murch. 1959, b% the Metro -Dade Police Depattment. Lt. Leis %vas posthumously a%%arded the.Gold Medal of Valor for the ship rescue that ultimately caused his death. The award noted that Leis was being honored "for performing an ac( of outstanding braver%, _allantr%, or above and bevond the ordinary call o(July. in the pros. ence of erect cer:onal danger. and in the spirit of the la%% enforcement code of eth- ic,. This is the highest symbol of reeogni. tion bestowed l,% the Metio-Dade Police Depanment." Funeral services for Thomas Leis were held on Thursda%, Ma% ' . 1990. A funeral Siass was held at St. John Neumann Cacholic, Church. Vie%vin- of the bod\ was held the day before at Alligood-Carr Funeral Home. Burial was at Woodlawn South Cemeter%, The Leis funeral was covered by the Miami Heraldand by three local TV stations )Channels a. 7 &: 10). Officer Leis was given a full police funeral with an honor guard and police procession to the cemetery. His _rave marker at Wbodlawn South reads: LT. TOM LEIS DEC. 17. 1949 -APRIL 29. 1990 ON GREAT AND SHIN-ING WINGS The grave marker also displays a police badge with the words, Lieutenant. #1917 (badge il)r Miami. FL. and a picture of a speedboat Ione of his favorite activities). His brother. James M. Leis (1945-1970). is buried beside him. The Herald noted that Thomas Leis was the only surviving child of six children born to James and Henriette Leis. A 42 -year-old sister and a 24 -year-old brotherdied ofcancerand three other siblings died when they were children. with Tom's death, his parents survived all six chil- dren. Thomas James Leis was survived by his wife Jessica. and their daughter. Jamie. 3, and four daughters (Jennifer, 19. Shawn. 16. Heather. (3. Misty. 10), from a previous marriage. He was also survived by his parents, James and Henrietta Leis of Miami. In 1995. Jessica Leis and her daughter. Jamie. 8. remained in Miami as did Officer Leis' parents, James and Henrietta Leis. The P.B.A. Love Fund has set aside monies for a four-year scholarship for Jamie to any FL university. The name of Thomas James Leis is in- scribed (Panel 32 -Left -2) on the Memorial Wall of the American Police Hall or Fame Museum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the Na- tional Law Enforcement Memorial (West wall, Panel 19, Line 3) in Washington. D.C. His name is inscribed on a Mone memorial in the lobby of the Metro -Dade Police headquarters building and is read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Part: in Miami. SOURCES: Miami Hcrold. May 1. 1990: F2A ea . Aug. 1988. Jan. and April. 1989. and lune. 1990: The Weekly Reporter. Ma -v 2346lay 30. 1990: )metro -Dade Police personnel record of Thomas Leis: Dade County Medical Examiner records (1190-1242A). Press release from `tetro- Dade Police Dept.. April 30. 1990: and inter- views with Jessica Leis and Henriette Leis. 499 CHARLES BRIAN STAFFORD Miami Springs Police Department Shot & killed on June It. 1991 THE EVENT Charles Bryan Stafford. 28. became the first Miami Springs police officer to be killed in the line of duty in the 65 -year history of the city/ department when he was shot and killed during a traffic stop on June 11. 1991. Stafford had been a member of the 38 -man `tiami Springs police force for only I & 112 years. On Tuesday. June 11. 1991. Stafford was working the 3:00P.N1 to I LOOPM shift. He had dinner that evening with his friend and fellow officer Jeff Clark and dispatcher Charlene Navarro. While on routine patrol shortly before 9.00PM. Stafford noticed a suspicious car, a white 1978 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. with three black male occupants on Kenmore Drive in Nli- ami Springs. The officer apparently recognized the stolen Cadillac from a police report distrib- uted earlier in the day to all Springs officers. Stafford, who had a reputation for being able to spot stolen cars, followed the Cadillac i Sj_, R. -,,J 112 and radioed in the tag n:..,. GYJ40G ). He told the dispatcher (Chicle! - avarro) that he suspected the car tit the descri;, tion of a stolen car bulletin he received earlier that evening. Navarro reported back that the car had been reported stolen the day before (Mon- day). Stafford called for a backup and was told a Sit. was on his way. In face. Sgt. Don Pessolano was on his way to backup Stafford as were Of- ficers Jeff Clark and Shervll Kumm. Lt. Pete Baan. and Detectives Steve Carlisle and Jon Kahn. r Stafford continued to follow the stolen Cadillac out of his Miami Springs jurisdiction onto the expressway. He radioed in other details about the Cadillac (e.g.. that it had a cracked windshield. that a gold baseball cap emblazoned with the words. " Niorgantown. Pennsylvania" was visible in the car. and that a pink and blue "Buckle 1.:p. Miami" sticker was affixed to the bumper) while wuiting for the backup to arrive. Stafford followed the stolen car at a dis- tance and without trashing lights "giving his backup time to catch up before making himself known." However, it appears that the occupants of the stolen car realized they were being followed bya patrol earand the driver stopped the Cadillac on the State Road I l2 exit ramp at NAV. 271h Ave. "It looks as if Stafford was surprised when the car stopped on the exit ramp and that he switched on the roof lights that." Stafford. de- ciding not to wait on his backup. got out of his car and approached the Cadillac. According to the driver's (later) confession. Stafford approached the car with his gun drawn but eventually holstered it.; He told the driver. Merrit Alonzo Sims..24, that the car had been reported stolen. Sims insisted that the car be- longed to his cousin and was not stolen (not knowing that his cousin had reported it stolen). Sims became increasingly angry and snatched the officer's police radio and struck the officer on the head with it. Although stunned. Stafford "grappled" with Sims and drew his gun. A passing motorist would later testify that Stafford. bleeding from the head, holstered his gun while trying to handcuff Sims who was lean- ing forward from the waist over the side of the Cadillac's trunk. The officer managed to get a cuff on Sims' left wrist. Sims later testified that he reached back with his right hand and took the officer's Glock 9mm automatic from its holster (Stafford hadn't fastened the snap that secured the gun I. As the two men struggled over the weapon. Stafford was knocked to the pa%cment. Sims then shot Stafford (wire (in the neck and left shoul- der) while the officer was still on the pavement. The prosecution would later describe the shoo( - in, of Stafford as "almost execution style" as he was shot "from a high ante" while he was un- armed and helpless on the pavement. The fatal first shot, tired from no more than six inches away. hit S(allord in the left side of the neck just abo%e the collarbone. The second shot siruck Stafford just below the collarbone on the riehi side of his chest. Experts said the gunman pulled the trigger from no more than a root away. (PBA HEAT. NIarch/ 19y4)� c) 1) w it I they ever be told why Daft" .4102 OSVALDO CANALEJO 'Vill they remember Daddy lath . =Miami Police Department The answer is "No" Killed in traffic accident, Oct. 13. 1992 Because why would Daddy die. for someone Daddy did not know'? And leave them behind to ask. "Why?" Go ahead, you explain it to them. can you? No. because you'll never know why Daddy did it. Thank you Daddy -for all of us. Thank you Steven Bauer, Thanks for being my brother. One day I'll explain it to them. Because, I know why you did it. We put you to rest today, I'll see you later. love you Steven Bauer (written on Jan. 3. 1992) Steven Bauer was survived by his wife. Caroline, 36. and three children. Kelly. 16. Katie. 5. and Kyle. 3: his father. Dr. Robert E. Bauer. Sr.: four brothers. Robert E. Bauer. Jr., Michael R. Bauer. Scott B. Bauer, and Todd T. Bauer. and three sisters. Patti Bauer Shomer. Fawn Bauer Lantis. and Melissa Bauer Rowan Out- land. Dr. Bauer, a medical doctor, began his medical practice on Miami Beach in 1957. Rob- ert Bauer was a Miami Beach police officer and Michael Bauer, a retired Miami Beach police officer. Most of the Bauer family lived in Dade and Broward Counties. The Kislak National Bank set up a trust fund for the education of the Bauer children and part of the proceeds from the Jan. 18, 1993. Pig Bowl went to that fund. The Police Officer Assistance Trust will also provide college scholarships for the Bauer children. The name of Steven E. Bauer is inscribed t Panel 83 -Right -23) on the Memorial Wall of the American Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Niiumi and on the National Law Enforcement Ivlemorial (West Wall. Panel 7. Line 19) in Washington. D.C. His name is read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park in Nliami. In 1995 most of the Bauer family remained in S. FL and many attend the annual memorials for fallen police officers in Miami. Tallahassee. and Washincton. D.C. The Bauer family is eas- ily recognized at the annual Dade memorial in Tropical Park a, they wear T-shirts with the words. -Steven Bauer. Forever Young." SOURCES: Miami Herald. Jan. 4.5.6.7.8.9.12.16,18.19. 1992, Sept. 24. Oct. 12. 1994; Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sen(ing , Jan. 19, 1992: PSA -HE July, Nov.. 1994; Criminal Court cases of Fernando Augustine Fernandez 0179200214A). Leonardo Franqui (F920021.11 B). Pablo San Martin (OF9200214C). Ricardo Gonzalez 01792002141 D). and Pablo Abreu (#F9'_ X)2141 D): Dept. of Corrections records for inmates Ricardo Gonzalez (#123763). Pablo San Martin ()#4-15904). Leonardo Franqui (#445903). Fernando Fernandez (1#430999). and Pablo Abreu (1102536): Interviews with Caroline Bauer and Michael Bauer. TETE EVENT Miami Police Officer Osvaldo "Ozzie" Canalejo. 28. was killed at dawn on Oct. 13. 1992. in a traffic accident when his police ve- hicle was broadsided by an elderly man who ran a stop sign. Canalejo, a five-year veteran of the Miami force. died of internal injuries an hour later. He became the 33rd Miami officer killed in the line of duty. On Tuesday. Oct. 13, 1992. around 6:45AN1, Officer Canalejo was at the South Sta- tion at West Flasler and Southwest 22nd Ave. and was near the end of his night shift (9:00P41- 7:OOAM) patrolling Little Havana and parts of Brickell Ave. He heard a call over the police ra- dio: "Officer needs help. Mercy Hospital. Vio- lent patient." Canalejo heard the call and headed south on 22nd Ave. in his police cruiser. 1991 Chevrolet. The Officer had a green light at the intersection of S.W. 22nd Ave. and Coral Way and proceeded through the intersection at a nor- mal speed (35 mph) without flashing lights or siren. Norberto Rodriguez. 62. was heading west on Coral Way at about 35 mph and ran the red light at S.W. 22nd Ave. and Coral Way. His gray Dodge "barreled through the intersection. ram - mins the officer's cruiser and two other cars." Rodriguez' Dodge hit the driver's side of the squad car knocking it into two other cars. a Daihatsu and an Oldsmobile. The collision knocked Canalejo unconscious and to the pas- senger side of the cruiser. Rolando Mesa. Jr.. 23. a police service aide. was stopped on Coral Way at the red light in the Daihatsu and saw the Dodge hit the cruiser and then his car. Nlesa crawled out his passenger door and saw that the officer in the cruiser was un- conscious in the passenger scat. He reached into the police car without opening the door (it was jammed) and took the radio from Officer Canalejo's belt and called for help. A nurse on her way to work at ,Mercy Hospital tried to re- vive hint. Paramedics arrived within minutes and "pried Canalejo from the cruiser." The uncon- scious officer was rushed to Jackson !Memorial Hospital. arriving at the Ryder Trauma Center at 7:14AM. He was "unresponsive. with no vi- tal signs... resuscitation efforts failed." Officer Canalejo was pronounced dead ai 7:S5AM. The cause of death was listed as "multiple blunt trauma injuries.' Rodriguez was thrown from his Dodge and was sitting on the curb in front of the gas station. He was bloody and dazed. He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment. Tests indicated that he was not inioxicaied and it appeared that speed was not a factor in the accident. Rodriguez simply ran the red light even though another car heading west was stopped at the light. THE PERPETRATOR Norberto Rodriguez. 62 1D.0.B.=6161 1938). was hospitalized for several days for in- juries he received during the accident )hat killed Officer Canalejo. He was charged with running a red light and reckless driving. Rodriguez pled nolo contendre before County Court Jud,2,: S. Silverman on March 3. 1993. Judtre Silvenoan tined Rodriguez $575, revoked his driver, li- cense for one year and sentenced him to traffic school. THE OFFICER Osvaldo Juan Canalejo. Jr.. 28. was born on .Llarch 14. 1964. in Havana, Cuba, to Os%aldo and Teresita lzquierdo Canalejo, He was their only child and immigrated to Nliami with his parents,a the ase of four. Osvaldo graduated from Cifts Grove Elementary School. Citrus Grove Jr. High School (in 1979) and from Mi- ami Sr. High School (in 1983), He was active in the Rotary Service Club while at Nliami H.S. As a youth Osvaldo was active in baseball playing in summer leagues and at the Miami In- ter -American Baseball Academy. He was a pitcher for Miami Sr. H.S. in his senior %ear. Young Osvaldo also played basketball for iev- eral years with the Kiwanis of the Little Havana Youth League. Osvaldo was also acertified scuba diver and was involved in judo and karate (with Twin Dragons Shorin Ryu). For five years after graduating from high school. Osvaldo worked as a security guard at several department stores. He joined the Miami Police Department on Aug. 28. 1987. After graduating from the Police Academy. Canalejo was assigned to the South Station in Little Ha- vana. In1990he won an award for the most D.U.I. arrests for the month of November. Canalejo played on the M.P.D.'s baseball team and was known by his teammates as "Candy." To make practice, he would sometimes leave work at 7 a.m. and head straight for the day's practice field and nap in his car until his teammates arrived. "Ha was pretty much an ail -around player -you could put him on first base. outfield. he played second base, always smiling and joking." said Officer Juan Casiano. "That's pretty much the kind or cop he was," (Miami Herald. 1 011 4/1 9 9,1 His colleagues remember him as the "con- summate professional" and his immediate friends remember him as being "straight as an arrow:' devoted to his friends. and utterly "alive" in his general outlook on life. At the time of his death. Osvaldo shared an apt. with his parents and spent much of his off-duty time with his girl- friend. Teresita Alonso. Viewing of the body of Officer Canalejo was held at the Rivera funeral Home at 3=44 S.W. Sth St. on Wednesday. Oct. 14. Funeral er- vices were held on Thursday. Oct. 15. at the Church of St. Michael the Archangel at 2987 W. Flagler St. (it is interesting to rttme t�at St. Michael is the patrol saint for police officer:.) The Rev. Michael Kish, chaplain of the Miami Police Department and the Rev. Rolando Garcia. associate pastor of St. Michael's celebrated the Mass for Canalejo. Miami Police Chief Cal%in Ross and Officer Julio Carraseo spuke w the as. sembled mourners about the life or O-aldo Canalejo. Canalejo was buried at Woodlawn Park Cemetery with full police honors. After brier re- marks, Chief Ross presented the parents of the slain officer with the folded American flag that had covered his casket. The graveside senice 2Z" Jit_ 1,-zi I ended with volleys from police rifles, the pla . what is wrong with that guy. If he is going ing of Taps and the flying overhead of police to do that again I'm going to kill him here." helicopters in a V -formation. His grave is located Fernandez said. in the southeast corner of Woodlawn in section The operator told Fernandez to stay 36 near the statute of a praying white Jesus and inside his apartment. (Miami Herald. 111 is marked by a 3 ft. stone monument. 1.11995) Written on the monument are the words: The two officers approached the door of the OFFICER apt. and knocked on the door" identifying them- OSVALDO J. CANALEJO selves as police officers in both Spanish and En - MIAMI POLICE, 1987 glish. They repeatedly shouted (over a two - TE RECORDARENIOS SIEMPRE minute period). "Police, open the door." and. OSVALDO J. CANALEJO, JR. following police procedure, stepped to the side NIARCH 14, 1964 -OCT. 13, 1992 of the door. Quintanal looked out his peephole and then "without waming" fired through the closed door striking Cainas in the back of the head. Officer Atesiano radioed for help. When back-up officers arrived. they saw Quintanal open the apartment door and lean over the fatally wounded officer before retreating again behind the door of his apt. Several offic- ers rushed the partially open door and entered the apartment and arrested Quintanal. Quintanal suffered a cut on his head during the struggle but was attended immediately by paramedics who arrived soon after the arrest. Tests indicated that Quintanal had a blood alcohol level 2.5 times above the state standard for intoxication (i.e.. .10), At 12:30PM. Quintanal. with his head ban- daged, was taken out of the apartment on a stretcher. He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries (broken ribs and a head wound that required 31 stitches) and then to the Dade County Jail where he was booked on murdercharges and held without bail. Quintanai's mother later complained that her son was beaten unnecessarily because "he shot at one of their own." The police reported that Quintanal resisted arrest and they arrested him only after a violent struggle. Pedro Cainas was transported to lack -son Memorial hospital where he was immediately taken into surgery. His condition was declared to be critical and he never regained conscious- ness and remained in a coma. He remained on life support systems at the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson until his death six days later. The Cainas family and police maintained a round- the-clock vigil at the hospital until his death at 11:51 A.M. on Nov. 19. At noon on Nov. 19. a Hialeah dispatcher "broadcast two long beeps over the police radio. a signal that a bulletin was coming. Then the solemn message: Officer Pete Cainas has expired." Osvaldo Canalejo was survived by his par- ents. Osvaldo and Teresa Canalejo of Miami and by his girlfriend. Teresita Alonso. A plaque bearing the name of Osvaldo Canalejo is displayed in the lobby of the Miami Police Department alongside the names of the other 33 Miami officers killed in the line of duty since 1915. His name will be read each May at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park. Also, his name is inscribed on the walls (48 Right -Line 25) of the Police Hall of Fame Museum at 3501 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington. D.C. (East Wall. Panel 47. Line 18). A scholarship has been set-up at Miami H.S. in his name to benefit the year's "Most Improved Student." The Miami Parks and Rea:reation Dept. established the "Ozzie Canalejo Tournament" in his honor. SOURCES: Miguni Lierald, Oct, 13.15. 16. 1993: P_BA_H1rAT. Nov, 1992: Dade Countv Medical Examiner records (case #92-2726A). FL Traffic Accident Report (#111284881): Death Certificate of Osvaldo Juan Canalejo: Dade County Traffic Court case record (case #910360L): Letter from Canalejo family. and interviews with Det. Wm. Cheetham of M.P.D and Osvaldo Canalejo. #103 PEDRO ANTONIO CAINAS Hialeah Police Department Shot on Nov. 13, 1992 (died on Nov. 19) THE EVENT Sgt. Pedro ("Pete") Antonio Cainas. 34. of the Hialeah Police Dept. w•as shm in the head during a domestic call on Nov. 13, 1992. Cainas, a 10 -y -ear veteran, died six days later becoming the third Hialeah officer killed in th,: line of duty (Hu. -o Becker was killed in 1966 and Emilio Miyares in 1956). Cainas had rejoined the Hi- aleah force only three weeks earlier after scry- ing as an assistant state attorney for 1.3 months. Around 11:05PM on Friday. Nov. 13,1995. Cainas and Officer Raimundo Atesiano arrived at the Summit of Palm Springs (an a�anment complex) at 1655 W. 44th Place in Hialeah in response to a complaint that a resident of apart- ment 347 was "brandishing a gun" at a neigh- bor. Abel Fernandez. Fernandez told the 911 operator that he had asked Esteban Quintanal, 39. to turn down his loud radio and that Quintanal became belligerent and pointed a revolver at him and threatened to kill him. Fernandez ran to his apartment and told the 9l I operator: "I got a problem with my, my neigh- bor and he put a gun on me and .1 don't know 228 THE PERPETRATOR Quintanal. 39, was arraigned on Nov. 15 and was denied bail. On Dec. 4. 1992, the Dade State Attorney's Office charged Esteban Quintanal with second degree murder of a law enforcement officer which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison with the possibil- ity of parole after 25 years. Prosecutors indicated that the charges might be upgraded to first degree murder of a law en- forcement officer which is punishable by death or life without the possibility of parole. The state had already decided against seeking the death penalty if Quintanal was charged with first de. gree murder. The prosecutor's decision as to first degree vs. second degree murder was delayed pending the completion of the continuing police cr Osvaldo Canolejo. Ciry of ,3liami, 1992. investigation. More than 60 persons were wit- nesses to the shooting or to the action: leading up to it and were being interviewed by police. Ultimately. the state decided not to upgrade the charges and thus Quintanal remained charged with second degree murder. Quintanal was an "unemployed factor+ worker". His mother. Felicia Eche+arria, who lived with her son at the Summit of Palm Springs. told Miami -Herald reporters that her son "-has been a little crazy' for more than 20 +ears•" She also reported that her son took Xanax. an ami - anxiety drug. for his mental problems but that he had discontinued the drue when he lost his job and could not afford treatment. A cousin re- ported that Quintanal "was an ttnhapp. man" and had threatened to kill himself more than once. Rene Costa, a psvehologist whore parents lived next door to Quintanal: told reporters that Quintanal "was going through a crisis." was "ex- tremely depressed" and had been "drinking to the point of losing consciousness." Costa added that he was "shocked that Quintanal'= family allowed him to have a gun" given their knowl- edge of his mental state and excessi+e drinkinc. Quimanal's mother said heron haj bou, ht the gun le0aily but this was not true. He had bought the gun from a store but h:4d lieu on the application +when he stated that he had neer had a mental disorder. The mother blan;ed alcohol and t neigh- bor w ho called police for Cainas' death. She told reporter+ that "if that man hadn't galled the po- lice last night. nothing would have happened." As of Dec. of 1995. over three +ears after he was char -ed with the murder of Officer Cainas. Esteban Quintanal was still ak%aitin_ trial. He w as first declared incompetent to Mand trial but was later found competent and a trial date was set. A,si!,tant state a; tome% . A. -,e Lauer and Sall+ Weintraub were scheduled to proxccute the case for the state at a likely 191)6 trial belore Jud�,e Ma+nard Gros. Quintanal'; defense at. torney was Reemb�no Diaz, THE OFFICERn r Pedro Antonio Cainas wfaJhorn K Oct8.' helps the community to recognize the value of those who give their lives for us." Near the conclusion of the burial service Chief Bolanos presented folded American flags ;o Cainas' father. mother. older sister. and fiance. The service concluded with the playing of taps. volleys of rifle fire and the "fly -over" of police helicopters. The other two Hialeah officers killed in the line of duty (Hugo Becker. 1966. and Emilio Miyares. 1986) are also buried at Vista Memorial ;ardens. Also, two Metro officers (Johnny Mitchell. 1971: and Clark Curlette. 1976) and a Miami officer (Ronald McLeod. 1969) are buried it Vista within 50 yards of Pedro Cainas' grave. In 1995. a six -ft. (flat) grave marker at Vista .Memorial Gardens includes a photo of Pedro Cainas and a cross that includes the words: E.P.D. (SPANISH FOR "REST IN PEACE") PETRO A. CAINAS OCT. 8. 1958 NOV. 19. 1992 DIED IN THE LINE OF DENY SGT. OF POLICE (WITH A HIALEAH POLICE BADGE) ATTORNEY ( WITH A SMALL SCALES OF JUSTICE) WE LOVE YOU Pedro Cainas was survived by his parents. ,,e Antonio Cainas. 76, and Ofelia Cainas, 65. The Hialeah City Council voted on Nov. 27 to rename Hialeah's main commercial street. West 49th St. (103 St.). after Pedro Cainas. The 1993 FL Legislature approved the City Council's request and in 1995 a large sign in front of the Citizens's Federal Bank at Red Rd. and W. 49th St. designated the street as "Sgt. Pedro Cainas Drive". FLU. established a scholarship in the name of Pedro Cainas in honor of the only police of- ficer to ever graduate with a perfect 4.0 grade - point average in his major. criminal justice. The award will be given each year to the working student who best exemplifies Pedro Cainas' scholarship and community service. The U. of Miami Law School also established a scholar- ship in the name of Pedro Cainas. In 1996. Cainas was one of seven (of 108) Dade law enforcement officers whose names and photographs appeared on a plaque at the F.I.U. Dept. of Criminal Justice honoring the seven F.1.U, students who were killed in the line of duty as police officers. Also, a photo/plaque at Hi- aleah H.S. honors Pedro Cainas and the other eight Hialeah H.S. students who are numbered among the 108 Dade officers killed since 1895. A Nfiami Lfergldeditorial praised Sgt. Cainas and commented: The terrible chance that ended ,Mr. Cainas's life is the common risk of all in police smice, the awful burden of urban civilization that a few people wearing uni- forms and badges heroically bear far the many. ® Their sacrifice is the ransom that c, der pays to chaos. Those who. like Pedro Cainas, pay it with honor and love deserve a gratitude too vast for memorial, and eu. logies. It is debt constantly- owed, too grear ever to be paid in full, increasing daily with. out measure. Now it has increased anew. (Miami Herald. 11/21/1992) In 1995. Jose and Ofelia Cainas lived in Miami Lake's. Robert Enrique Perez. 41. re- mained with the Hialeah Police Dept. Pedro's aunt. Natach. Millan. was one of l: Commis. sioners of Metro -Dade and represented District 13 (including the Hialeah areai. SOURCES: Miami klerald. Nov. 14.15.16, 17. 18. 19.20.31.22.28. Dec. 5. 1992: PBA Hen. Jan.. 1993: Criminal Court file of Esteban Quintanal (#92-38818): Dade County Medical Examiner File #92.3068: Interviews with Flena Cainas Felipe. Pedro and Ofelia Cainas. and Lt. Jerry Freeman. #104 EVELYN GORT Metro -Dade Police Department Shot & killed on Oct. 30. 1993 THE EVENT Det. Evelyn Gort. 34, a seven-year y eteran of rhe Metro -Dade Police Department, ii as shot and killed during an armed robber} %%pile off- duty in Coconut Grove on Oct. 30. 1993. Her killer, a career criminal who "beat the system" time and again, was sentenced to life in prison. The Gort Career Criminal Act of 1993 was passed to close the type of loopholes that allowed her killer to remain on the streets. Officer Gort became the second female of- ficer to be killed in the history of Dade law en. forcement and was killed in circumstances simi- lar to those in which the first female officer was killed-10etro-Dade Officer Cheryl Sriden was killed in an off-duty armed robbery in 1982. Both Seiden and Gort were out of uniform and vic- tims of armed robberies when they attempted "go for" their guns and were shot and killed. At 12:45A.,M. on Saturday. Oct. 30. 1993. Evelyn Gort and herboyfriend. Antonio Calafell. 29, had just left the apartment of a friend. Karen Monterey. who lived at 3130 Bird Ave, in Coco- nut Grove. The couple was standing next to Calafell's car parked just inside the apartment complex's five -foot -tall electronic gale. Unfor- tunately, the switch that controlled the securiry gate had been turned off. An armed robber suddenly appear:d and pointed a semi-automatic pistol at the couple. The robber ordered the couple to give him their money and car keys. Calafell cave hi, car key's and S3 to the gunman and led him to his car trunk so that he could surrender his wallet. Officer Gort, who was required to cam her :un even while off-duty, probably realized that the armed robber did not know that she was a police of- ficer and perhaps thought she could surprise the robber by going for her gun. At the direction of the "unman. Gori reached into the car for her purse but instead of searching for her money she grabbed her gun. As she turned to face the robber with her gun, a .357 magnum revolver. she shouted. "Give it up!" Gort and the robber both fired their w cap - 12 G 0 ap- 12G0 church by eight pallbearers. The pastor. Chef Hialeah: a half-brother, Roberto Enrique Perez Rev. Gustavo Ntiyares, conducted a resur- (a Hialeah police officer). 38: a sister. Elena rection mass in English and Spanish. (P_t' Cainas Felipe. 53. of Miami: and an aunt. Hee s, Jan./1993) Naracha Millan of Hialeah (a member of the Several fellow officers spoke at the services. Hialeah City- Council). Close friend and fellow Hialeah Officer Samuel Pedro Cainas became the 103rd Dade law Ceballos. who joined the Dept. with Cainas in enforcement to be killed in the line of duty. His 980. "recalled his friend's bravery. his commit- name will be read each year at the Dade Police meet to excellence and his personal style." Memorial service held each May in Tropical Park Ceballos concluded by noting that Cainas was a in ,Miami. His name is also inscribed (49-R-25) quintessential overachiever. He not on the memorial wall of the Police Hall of Fame only achieved his goals: he surpassed the Museum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami and expectation of many because he was un- on the National Law Enforcement Memorial compromising and unwilling to settle for (East Wall. Panel 53. Line 18) in Washington. mediocrity. He was a model son, a perfect D.C. brother. a loyal friend, and moreover, he Also. the name (and face) of Pedro Cainas was truly a top cop. (PBA Heat. Jan./1993) appear on a memorial in the lobby of the Hi - Dade County Judge Joel H. Brown told of aleah Police Dept. It reads: Cainas' dedication to another profession—the IN MEMORIAM law. Cainas had served in Judge Brown's traffic SGT. PEDRO A. CAINAS court for la months as an assistant state actor- OCTOBER 8. 1958 - NOVEMBER 19, 1992 ney. The judge told the mourners that he was most impressed by Cainas' humanity, his integ- "TO ONE OF OURS, AN OFFICER, KILLED ray. and his sense of justice. IN THE LINE OF DUTY. IT MATTERS NOT Chief Rolando Bolanos told the audience THE STYLE OF THE SHIELD THEY that Pete Cainas had told him that if he were ever WORE, ONLY THAT THEY SERVED WITH killed that the Chief should tell the mourners that PRIDE AND HONOR." PETE, YOU he did not in vain as his death. like that of all INSPIRED US. YOUR PERSONAL AND police officers. maintains the social order. PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY At the conclusion of the funeral services a ENCOURAGED US TO EXCEL. "miles -long precession of 383 cars" (mostly po- A DEDICATED OFFICER. LAWYER. :ce cars with lights flashing) carried the body AND A DEVOTED SON r Cainas to Vista Memorial Gardens at 14200 AND BROTHER. YOU LIVED TO BENEFIT W 57th Ave. in Miami Lakes. The graveside OTHERS. YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS. AND :�rvice was conducted with full police honors BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN BLUE MISS and was attended by hundreds of mourners. Po- YOU. AND YOUR MEMORY WILL lice Chaplain Julio DaSilva told those at .. REMAIN IN OUR HEARTS. Graveside that "nobody wants this honor. but it helps the community to recognize the value of those who give their lives for us." Near the conclusion of the burial service Chief Bolanos presented folded American flags ;o Cainas' father. mother. older sister. and fiance. The service concluded with the playing of taps. volleys of rifle fire and the "fly -over" of police helicopters. The other two Hialeah officers killed in the line of duty (Hugo Becker. 1966. and Emilio Miyares. 1986) are also buried at Vista Memorial ;ardens. Also, two Metro officers (Johnny Mitchell. 1971: and Clark Curlette. 1976) and a Miami officer (Ronald McLeod. 1969) are buried it Vista within 50 yards of Pedro Cainas' grave. In 1995. a six -ft. (flat) grave marker at Vista .Memorial Gardens includes a photo of Pedro Cainas and a cross that includes the words: E.P.D. (SPANISH FOR "REST IN PEACE") PETRO A. CAINAS OCT. 8. 1958 NOV. 19. 1992 DIED IN THE LINE OF DENY SGT. OF POLICE (WITH A HIALEAH POLICE BADGE) ATTORNEY ( WITH A SMALL SCALES OF JUSTICE) WE LOVE YOU Pedro Cainas was survived by his parents. ,,e Antonio Cainas. 76, and Ofelia Cainas, 65. The Hialeah City Council voted on Nov. 27 to rename Hialeah's main commercial street. West 49th St. (103 St.). after Pedro Cainas. The 1993 FL Legislature approved the City Council's request and in 1995 a large sign in front of the Citizens's Federal Bank at Red Rd. and W. 49th St. designated the street as "Sgt. Pedro Cainas Drive". FLU. established a scholarship in the name of Pedro Cainas in honor of the only police of- ficer to ever graduate with a perfect 4.0 grade - point average in his major. criminal justice. The award will be given each year to the working student who best exemplifies Pedro Cainas' scholarship and community service. The U. of Miami Law School also established a scholar- ship in the name of Pedro Cainas. In 1996. Cainas was one of seven (of 108) Dade law enforcement officers whose names and photographs appeared on a plaque at the F.I.U. Dept. of Criminal Justice honoring the seven F.1.U, students who were killed in the line of duty as police officers. Also, a photo/plaque at Hi- aleah H.S. honors Pedro Cainas and the other eight Hialeah H.S. students who are numbered among the 108 Dade officers killed since 1895. A Nfiami Lfergldeditorial praised Sgt. Cainas and commented: The terrible chance that ended ,Mr. Cainas's life is the common risk of all in police smice, the awful burden of urban civilization that a few people wearing uni- forms and badges heroically bear far the many. ® Their sacrifice is the ransom that c, der pays to chaos. Those who. like Pedro Cainas, pay it with honor and love deserve a gratitude too vast for memorial, and eu. logies. It is debt constantly- owed, too grear ever to be paid in full, increasing daily with. out measure. Now it has increased anew. (Miami Herald. 11/21/1992) In 1995. Jose and Ofelia Cainas lived in Miami Lake's. Robert Enrique Perez. 41. re- mained with the Hialeah Police Dept. Pedro's aunt. Natach. Millan. was one of l: Commis. sioners of Metro -Dade and represented District 13 (including the Hialeah areai. SOURCES: Miami klerald. Nov. 14.15.16, 17. 18. 19.20.31.22.28. Dec. 5. 1992: PBA Hen. Jan.. 1993: Criminal Court file of Esteban Quintanal (#92-38818): Dade County Medical Examiner File #92.3068: Interviews with Flena Cainas Felipe. Pedro and Ofelia Cainas. and Lt. Jerry Freeman. #104 EVELYN GORT Metro -Dade Police Department Shot & killed on Oct. 30. 1993 THE EVENT Det. Evelyn Gort. 34, a seven-year y eteran of rhe Metro -Dade Police Department, ii as shot and killed during an armed robber} %%pile off- duty in Coconut Grove on Oct. 30. 1993. Her killer, a career criminal who "beat the system" time and again, was sentenced to life in prison. The Gort Career Criminal Act of 1993 was passed to close the type of loopholes that allowed her killer to remain on the streets. Officer Gort became the second female of- ficer to be killed in the history of Dade law en. forcement and was killed in circumstances simi- lar to those in which the first female officer was killed-10etro-Dade Officer Cheryl Sriden was killed in an off-duty armed robbery in 1982. Both Seiden and Gort were out of uniform and vic- tims of armed robberies when they attempted "go for" their guns and were shot and killed. At 12:45A.,M. on Saturday. Oct. 30. 1993. Evelyn Gort and herboyfriend. Antonio Calafell. 29, had just left the apartment of a friend. Karen Monterey. who lived at 3130 Bird Ave, in Coco- nut Grove. The couple was standing next to Calafell's car parked just inside the apartment complex's five -foot -tall electronic gale. Unfor- tunately, the switch that controlled the securiry gate had been turned off. An armed robber suddenly appear:d and pointed a semi-automatic pistol at the couple. The robber ordered the couple to give him their money and car keys. Calafell cave hi, car key's and S3 to the gunman and led him to his car trunk so that he could surrender his wallet. Officer Gort, who was required to cam her :un even while off-duty, probably realized that the armed robber did not know that she was a police of- ficer and perhaps thought she could surprise the robber by going for her gun. At the direction of the "unman. Gori reached into the car for her purse but instead of searching for her money she grabbed her gun. As she turned to face the robber with her gun, a .357 magnum revolver. she shouted. "Give it up!" Gort and the robber both fired their w cap - 12 G 0 ap- 12G0 Evel+•n Gort, ,bletro-Dade, 1993. ons at about the same time and were only six inches apart. She fired once. He fired twice. Gorr "fell to the ground fatally wounded with two shots to the torso." One bullet entered her thigh, The second and fatal shot went through her right hand. chest. lung and stopped in her heart. "Tony. I've been shot," Gort said. fall- ing into his arms. He tried to walk her back to their friend's apartment. She collapsed. Caiafeli screamed, " I love you. I love you. Please don't die." (Miami Herald. If 3511995) The robber was hit in the stomach by the single shot fired by Gort but was able to flee the murder scene. He was picked up by his "get- away -driver" who waited nearby on a stolen motor scooter and was taken to the emergency room at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Calafell rushed to his fallen girlfriend's aid, picked herup and carried her in his arms back to the carport about 30 yards from the car. Gort was bleeding profusely and left a trail of blood from the scene of the shooting to the carport. The of - ricer. who Mill had her revolver in herhand when she was picked up. dropped the gun as she was carried inside. Calafell and Monterey's next-door neighbor attended to Gort as she lay bleeding an the concrete floor of the carport while theV awaited fire rescue. The Cite of Miami Police and Fire Rescue responded within minutes but Officer Gort was declared dead at the scene by paramedics. The autopsy cc%ealed that Gort had suffered a "per- forating gunshot wound to the chest". a -perfo- rating gunshot wound to right hand." and a gun- shot wound to the left hip. Two bullet holes were found in an automobile at the scene. Metro -Dade Officer Gu: Gorr hadjust got- ten off-duty when he learned that his ex-wife had been killed. He had a friend drive him to the home of the slain officer's mother (Ofelia Gonzalez). where he broke the news to her. Police later said that Evelyn Gort followed police procedure in that she was required to stop a felony when she sees one in progress. Officer, are trained never to surrender their :uns because many have been killed with their awn weapons. Bveyln's death was classified as a line* 18. A gunman had forced two men off a motor. duty death since she was killed while trying to cycle and then drove away on the stolen motor - arrest the robber. She "reverted to on -duty sta- cycle. Police found the stolen bike at McCray's tus" when she reached for her revolver. northwest Dade apartment when they went to question him an Monday. Nov. 1. THE PERPETRATOR ,1QcCray had 14 prior felony convictions Miami Police investigating the case were over a 15 -year period but had never spent any told by eyewitnesses at the scene that the rob- time in prison. At the time of the Con murder. ber. a black male. had been shot and gave them he was on probation for a 199' theft of a gun. a description of the wounded perpetrator. Wit- McCray's sister was Mitchell's girlfriend. Un- nesses said the robber escaped on a motorcycle fortunately, police could never prove that driven by a black male wearing a white motor- McCrap`pas at the scene of the Gori murder. cycle helmet. a white shirt and dark pants. Po- However. he was convicted and sentenced to :0 lice quickly located a man at Jackson Memorial years for another robbery. Hospital who was being treated for a gunshot Mitchell was indicted by the Dade grand wound to the stomach who fit the description. jury on Nov. 17. 1993, for first degree murder. He had been admitted at 13:50A.4M. (the first armed robbery and the unlawful possession of a call to the police was at 13:46A.M.). firearm by a felon. He went to trial in Jan. of Miami homicide detective John King ar- 1995. Dade Circuit Judge Robbie Barr presided rested Wilbur Leroy ("Jit") Mitchell. 33 (born over the case prosecuted by Jerald Bagley. Paul on April 11. 1971). and charged him with first- Mendelson and Jamie Campbell. Mitchell's neo degree murder, armed robbery. and the use of a defense attorneys were Manny Casabielle and firearm in the commission of a felony. Police Steven Kassner. The state thought it had a strong firearms experts determined by I I:00A.M. the case as a bullet from Gort's gun had been re - same day that the bullet taken from Mitchell's moved from the stomach of the defendant and stomach during surgery came from Officer Gort's there was forensic evidence that the defendant .38 caliber revolver. However. Mitchell remained had recently fired a gun. at Jackson jail ward under guard since he was The defense conceded that Gort had ;hot still listed in serious condition. the defendant but claimed that the defendant had A hospital security guard told police that a not shot Gort. Casabielle and Kassner claimed man driving a red and white Kawasaki Ninja mo- in a "clever rebuttal" that Mitchell had been in torcycle rode up to the emergency room around the arca burglarizing cars when he heard shots 1:00AM Saturday with Mitchell as a passenger. and can into Gori—who shot him. Thev claimed The driver helped carry Mitchell inside but then that gunpowder had stuck to Mitchell's hands fled the scene. The guard said the motorcycle when he grabbed his wound. driver neverremoved his white helmet and wore Also. Det. Gort's boyfriend. Antonio a white shirt and dark pants. CrimeStoppers of- Cafarel, could not`positively identify Mitchell fered an St 1.000 reward for information lead- as the gunman since it was dark and he was in. ing to the arrest of the motorcycle driver. Miami toxicated. In fact. he picked the wrong man out police laterdetermined that the driverofthe "get- of a police line-up. The defense was siren_th• away -motorcycle" was David 1,McCray. 33. and cried when Mi(chell's confession to police the arrested him on Monday. Nov. I. had "blurted out. "She shot me first') was thrown Both Mitchell and McCrae had lengthy out because police had continued to question him police records. Mitchell's record of arrests. con- after he asked for an attorney. The confession victions. sentences, time served. etc. was detailed could only be used if ,Mitchell took the stand 1 he in the Miami Herald on Nov. ,. 1993. He had did not). nine prior felony convictions but had served only On Jan. 31. 1995. the jury acquitted I 1 months (total) in prison. His status as a ca- lfitehell of armed robbery and first degree mur- reer offenderwho "beat the system" led to a new der but convicted him of manslaughter and the state law two years later (in 1995) designed to possession of a firearm by aconvicted felon. Six assure that career criminals are sent to prison. members of the jury wanted a verdict of first Mitchell had seven convictions and had degree murder but six held out for acquittal or been in state prison two times. In Nov. of 1989 manslaughter. The manslaughter verdict N%as a he had been sentenced to 6 months probation compromise. for cocaine possession and obstructing justice. The verdict "stunned" prosecutors. the On Jan. 18. 1991, he was sentenced to 364 days victim's family and the law enfurtemew .om- in the Dade County Jail for possession of co- munity. Some called the verdict "spineless.' caine and marijuana and carrying a concealed "mindless." gun. He was released from the county jail on "unbelievable," "out(ageous." and "a slap in the April 18. 1991. face to every police officer and law-abiding citi- In Sept. of 1991 Mitchell was sentenced to zen of the county." one year in prison for vehicle theft and cocaine When one juror read in the paper the nett possession and was released in Dec. of 1991 af- day that Mitchell had confessed to police but that ter serving only three months. In Aug, of 1993 the confession was not admitted at the trial b< - he was sentenced to one year and a day in prison cause the questioning took place after he hid for five counts of burglary Ibreaking into cars) requested a law%er, she felt "sick" and wrote 1 and one count of vehicle theft. He was released letter of explanation to the Gort famil%. She again after serving only three months because pointed out that some jurors believed that the of prison overcrowding. Two months later he was motorcycle driver might have been the gunman charged with killing Officer Gort. and that they had doubts about the prosecution Police arrested McCray after the Gort mur. case. especially in light of the fact that the L%L)% der for a motorcycle theft in Homestead on Oct. friend could not identify -the killer. She said she :.). -xI `')6Cl 't alt like she (by her verdict) had "killed Gon" io Calafell on a cruise and they began dating. id was so distraught that she swore that she InJuly of 1993 Evelyn and Antonio traveled to ould never serve on ajury again. Barcelona. Spain. to Visit his family. The State Attorney's office departed from Evelyn Gortjoined the Metro -Dade Police ;s usual policy of not commenting on jury ver- Department and graduated from the Police Acad- 'icis and pointed out that if there was a doubt emy in 1985. After only two years on patrol out .bout murder there should also have been doubt of the Cutler Ridge Station she was promoted to :bout manslaughter as the conviction was for detective and assigned to the Domestic Violence manslaughter of a police officer with a deadly Unit. She was later transferred to the Economic eapon. Clearly. the verdict was a compromise Crimes Unit to work on credit fraud, taking ad - ,u( it made little sense to prosecutors. vantage of her I I years of banking experience. However, some of the anger at the jury ver- Evelyn also took criminal justice courses at Mi- Jici subsided when Judge Barr sentenced ami -Dade Community College during her career. Aitchell to life in prison as an habitual offender Gort's last job review listed her work as ,)n Feb. 15. 1995. The manslaughter charge alone "outstanding." the highest rating given in the could have brought Mitchell 17 ro40 years given police department. and noted that she was well - his previous record. liked by her colleagues. Her personnel file in - The prosecution requested at the sentenc- eluded 21 letters of commendation from people ine hearing that yf irchell be sentenced as an ha- she had helped in the past two years. The Nletro- bitual offender which required that a defendant Dade police calendar for 1993 featured a pic- ha%e two felony conyicrions within the past five ture of Evelyn Gort standing i in uniform) by a years-4fitchzll had nine. Members of the Gorr Metro -Dade police car. The�1994 police cale'n. family. including 8 -year old Tiffani Gort. pleaded dar was dedicated to Evelyn Gori. with the judge to sentence Mitchell to life. Mayra Evelyn's concern for others was indicated Fausett read a letter in court (which was printed by the fact that she gave the battered women she in the Miami Herald) that included the follow-- worked with her beeper number. She received ine: one letter from a pregnant battered woman she -On Oct. 30. 1993, the light went out had helped who told her that she had named her of our lives. Wilbur Mitchell did not just child. Evelyn. out of appreciation for her help. murder Evelyn. he murdered all of us." Officer Gorr made sure that she was never Defense attorneys asked Judge Barr for le- too busy with her work to give time to her iwo niency because Mitchell "was the product of daughters. She enrolled them in St. Timothy drug -addicted parents who constantly beat him School. Knowing Evelyn's concern for her two and made him buy them drugs" and "never had children, the family asked that, in lieu of t1ou- a chance" given the examples set for him. At ers. donations be made to a trust fund for Gore's that point. Mayra Fausett. Gort's sister. suddenly two daughters to attend college. stood up. The wake for Officer Gort was held from "Excuse me, your honor. If everybody 1:00PM-1 1:00PM on at Bemardo Garcia -Brake who grew up surrounded by scum never funeral home on Bird Road. Hundreds came to took responsibility for their actions. we'd view the body of the slain officer who was in all be dead... being deprived and abused her uniform in an open casket flanked by a po- doesn't sive you an excuse to take lice honor guard. The number of persons visii- someone's life." (Miami Herald. 'J16/1993) ing the funeral home was so area[ [hat ii took, The seventy police officers and Gori fam- three and one-half books to record the names. ilv and friends who had packed the courtroom The funeral mass was held at St. Brendan burst into applause. "The bailiff couldn't keep Catholic Church at 8725 S.W. 32nd St. on Tues - them quiet." day. Nov. 3 (election day in Dade County[. More rhnn t (i()() nermn.<. 'included hundreds of uni- THE OFFICER Evelyn Gonzalez was born on Dec. 15. ! 958, to Jose M. and Ofelia Gonzalez. She was the youngest of four children (Mayra. Joe. Ore. and Evelyn) and attended Blue Lake Elemen- tary School. S. 4fiami Jr. H.S.. and Southwest H.S.. graduating in 1977. She was the head cheer- leader at Southwest H.S. in her senior year and was a star on the gymnastic ream (she was good enough to try out for the FL Olympic (eam). after graduation from H.S. Evelyn began working as a bank teller at SunBank. She soon became head teller and then operations manager during her 1 [-year career. Evelyn married Michael Brownstein on July "_. 1477. Their daughter. Melissa, was born .in Jan. 3. 1979. The couple divorced in 1981 lnd E%elvn married Gus Gort on Jan. 5. 1985. ]ortv<as a Metro -Dade police officer and Evelyn xcame interested in police work as "she heard ter husband's real-life stories and wanted to be i pan of them."Their daughter. Tiffani, was born srtAprii 18. 1986. Evelyn and Gus separated and afer divorced. In Dec. of 1992 Evelyn met An - formed police officers from throughout S. FL and the U.S. (and one Canadian Mountie). at- tended the service which was conducted b% Po- lice chaplain Paul Edwards. Among those speak- ing at the service were Evelyn's mo older si>- ters. ytavra and Ofe: Metro -Dade Director Fred Taylor: and Evelyn's supervisor. Lt. James Cooner. The funeral procession from the church to the cemetery took an hour and a half. However. the family remembers that those citizens stopped and inconvenienced by the procession, instead of expressing anger, stood silently as the pro- cession passed and many- saluted the passing cas- ket. Undoubtedly. the spectators had re:id of Eyelyri's life and death and wanted zo sho%k ;heir respect. The burial service- conducted a ith full po- lice honors (i.e.. bagpipes. 21 -gun salute. etc.) was held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cem- etery. A procession of police moiorcyctes and police cars with flashing lights led a two-mile procession to the cemetery. As the funeral pro. cession passed in front of the lfeiro-Dade Po- lWeadquarters building on N.W. =5th S(.. more than '_00 Metro -Dade employees lined the street to pay final respects. Other employees, unable to leave their u ork siation.. watched from the windows of the building. The procession thin, passed the Dade County Police Benevolent :z:: sociation building, also on ti.µ'. 25th St.. wh, all the employees stood by the street. Officer Gort's two sisters spoke briefly graveside. Mayra Fausett played Evelyn's fay ice song. Bette Midler's "Wired beneath riiy wines," and as ;the words "fly away" were sung. a Bust of w ind came up and bleu the flag off the coffin. .11-fayra turned to her sister and said. "The angels have taken her." The American tlae that had covered the casket was then folded and given to Evelyn's mother. A police helicopter " tly- oyer" and a moment of silence on police radios concluded the serf ice iat 2:56PM). The grave marker at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemtery at 11-11 t NAV. 25th Si. (by the FLTurnpike.just north of F.l.U.) reads: EVELYN GORT 1953 - 1993 Eceh n Gott was survived by her mother. Ofelia Gonzalez. 67, of `fiami (her father died on Oct. 14. 1989): her two daughters. Melissa Brownstein -Gorr. 14. and Tirfani Gort. 7: her mo sisters. Marra Fauseu. 46. of Miami and Ore Bridgeford. 37 of Buford. GA:: and a brother, Joseph Gonzalez. 40 of Miami: and her ex-hus- band. Gus Gort, 31. of Miami. On Nov. S. 1993. the Nliami Herald pub- lished a tribute to Evelyn Gorr by El Nue%o Her- ald reporter Kevvan:'kntonio Hevdari. a personal friend of the slain officer and her boyfriend. .Antonio Calafell. Heydari noted that Officer Gort was devoted to her colleagues. friends and fam- ily and %%as known for her energy and enthusi- asm. Evelyn Gort became the 1041 h law enforce- ment killed in the history or Dade County. Her name is inscribed on a Mone "wall" in the Iobbv of the Sfetro-Dade Police headquarters building and will be read each Mav at the Dade Police Memorial Service in Tropical Park. Her name is inscribed t%Vest Nall. Panel 59, Line 19) on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in \Vash- ington. D.C. and on the memorial wall (62-L- 28) of the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum at 3801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The Pig Bowl football game played on Jan. 219. 199.1. was dedicated to Evelvm Gor, and Of- ficer Lynette Hodge of N. Miami --both of whom were killed in 1993. Gort had pre\iousiy par- ticipated in the Pig Bowl as a cheerleader for the Magnum Force. Dei. Gort was posthumously awarded Metro-Dade's Gold Medal of Valor for her "rapid response to the threat. courage in the presence of great personal danger and selfless actions re- sulnrie in the survival of her companion and the .creased safety of the public due to the capture pr' the subject." She was also selected Metro Dade's Distinguished Officer or the Ntonth for Jan.. 199: and is the Metro -Dade Police Officer of the Year for 1994. In July of 199.1, the Dade County P B.A. presented the farm]% of Evelyn Gort the Rhen McGregor `lemorial at the Law Enforcement Awards Gala. Also. in 1994, Det. Gort was named rhe X260 0 0 nation's" Police Officer of the Year for 1993. by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. VFW Narai Post 10068 chose Gori as their Officer of I Year for 1993-94 and nominated her for the sta wide honor, which led to the national recogi tion. Other nominees for the award came frc more than 10.1-W VFW posts in the U.S.. E rope and Asia. Gort was the first Florida Offic to receive the state award posthumously and d first female from the state to be recognize Members of the Gort family were presented wi the]. Edgar Hoover Award, the VFW's highe award for law enforcement officers. at th association's annual convention in Las Vegas i August of 1994. In 1995 the FL Legislature passed th Evelyn Gorr and All Fallen Officers Care Criminal Act. The act requires that any perso who has three previous convictions for certai specified "forcible" felonies as an adult who ha been previously incarcerated in a state or fed eral prison must be given a minimum manda tory sentence unless the court makes a findin that the individual is no longer a threat to th community. The exemption from the mandato minimum must be justified in writing and sen [o (he Sentencing Commission. Under the Gorr law•, anyone who meets the above conditions (i.e.. three convictions and prior incarceration) must be sentenced to life (if con- victed of a life or first degree felony): 30-40 years iif a second degree felony) or 10-15 ,years (if a third decree felony). Additionally, felons sen- tenced under this law must serve at least 85% of their sentences. The State estimated that the new legisla- tion, sometimes called the "four -strikes -and - you're out'- law, would send an additional 4,000 career criminals to prison over the first four years at a cost of 542.7 million. The law went into ef- fect on Oct. 1. 1995. To assure that prosecutors aggressively pursue persons who qualify for prosecution un- der this act. there is a reporting requirement. Whenever prosecutors deviate from an estab- lished cri(eria for prosecution underthis act, they must explain their actions in writing and submit (Kern (o the FL Prosecuting Attorneys Assoc. where they are subject to public records law. The driving force behind the Gorr will was Evelyn Gorr's cider sister. Mavra Fauscu. who called a Preis conference two days after her sister's murder to announce that she was going to pursue such a law. Arter the press confer- ence Mayra was contacted by -Major George .Aylesworth of Metro -Dade'; Legal Unit who pledged to work with her to pass the legisla- tion. Senator Ron Silver, Rep. Sally Heyman. Rep. Elvin Martinez, and Rep. Bruno Barreiro sponsored and supported the bill and Metro -Dade Director Fred Taylor. the PBA's Rick Kology and Metro-Dade's Major Aylesworth helped 0lobby it Through the FL legislature. Mayra Fausetr also spent considerable time oder 13 months lobby- ing for the bill. The bill was passed in 18 months and signed into law in Miami by Gov. Chiles at a press conference attended by the Gonzalez/ Gort family. Dade Countv PBA officials, Metro - Dade officials, and the legislative sponsors. SOURCES: 4tiami iCrald, Oct. 31. Nov 1.3.3.5.8.18. 1993. Jan. 30. 1994. Jan. 25. Feb. 1.2.4.9.10.16.17, March 5.13. 1995: P8A HEAT. Dec.. 1993. Feb., Aug., Oct.. 1994. Feb., March, April, 1995: Dade Countv criminal court riles of Wilbur Leroy �fi(chell 01793036795 a 1#F950250761: Dade Counts Medical Examin records (493.2899): and interview ,sith M_,v Fauseu, 1#105 LY�;ETTE HODGE .. Miami Police Department Killed in auto accident Nov. 16, 1993 n THE EVENT N. Miami Sgt. Lynette Hodge. 30, died e injuries received in an on -duty automobile ac:i er dent while rushing to the aid of a re€low office n on Nov. 16. 1993. S -r. Hodge became the [sir n female in the history of Dade law- enforcemen s to be killed in the line of duty. Metro -Dade Or fieer Cheryl Seiden was shot and killed in 193 and ,Metro -Dade Officer Evelyn Gott was sho g and killed earlier in 1993. Sgt. Hodge was ais e the I I th black officer and the first black female mandatory officer killed in Dade County. t On Tuesday, Nov. 16. 1993. Ser. Hodge. a three-vear veteran of the Opa-locka and N .Mi- ami Policy Departments. was working the mid- night shift t 11:30PM to 3:30.AXI) when she he i a fellow officer radio for assistance at 4-:05ANI. The call came from an officer in the parking :ct of Howard Johnson's restaurant at 1 I0 Biscayne Blvd. The officer was confronted by a crowd of about seven persons who u -ere "veli ing. pushing each other and being unruly," He radioed for backup when someone in the crowd yelled. "he has a gun." Sgr. Hodge was approximately four blocks away at Biscayne Blvd. and 1261h Ahen she heard the call. She sped south with flashing lig^t; and siren and upon arrival a( the location s -e made a right turn onto NE 122 St. when e vehicle started to rotate on the road. T" -'e vehicle struck a fixed object (s.w, curbs, slid across the sidewalk and struck a large metai post and sign (i.e.. the Office Depot Pos: and Sign), at approx. rhe left rear tire of veh. #1. This caused the vehicle to rotate in the opposite direction and it also overturned ar,� ejected the driver. The sehicle came right side up, facing a nor,hwest,,;� Jire.- (ion. The driver was la} inx appro-,. fes- west or the vehicle. I FL Traffic Crash R,- - port 9, -36446) S,t. Hodge was not +t, trim a ;eat be;: when she Stas ejected from the police zruise'-. The vehicle landed in the parking lot or the Of. rice Depot at 13190 Biscayne Blvd. and sus. rained 58.000 damage to the front, rear and sides. The officer who had radivvd (or help heard tete crash and round Hodge I%ing in (he park: lot. ENIS %%a' notified at 4:11.a\I :end arrised [ 4:13.AM. The comatose officer was rushee[ 6% Air Rescue to Jackson Memorial Hospiral a her: an emergency team of doctors perforated sur• eery and worked frantically for 14 hour; uric l she was declared brain dead at 5:45P�l. She had suffered major head injuries and never regained consciousness. Cause of death was listed as "craniocerebral blunt trauma'" from the auto crash. THE PERPETRATOR There was no perpetrator in this cast. None of those in the crowd were charged. ad THE OFFICER er Lyneac A. Hodge uta, born in Brookkn. ra `Y. on Aug. 4. 1963, It, Jame: and Laura Remin_ Hodge. Fier parent: acre both from Aaguilla in the Weir lndit, and immigrated tin( to Fn;land I where Ihev lived for 1,ve year) l and +hen to the U.S. in 1961. Lvne(te was the (hirdof rive children (Jahn Anthony. Yvette Angela. Lcneue. Rorey. and Michael). She aitended P.S. 36 Eltmentary �r School. I.S. 59 Intermediate School, and Spring- field Garden H.S. in Queen;. Lyneue's ramify r moved to S, FL. in 1931 but ;he;rayed in Queen; d fssith the family or her best friend. Norma I Howard) to finish her lag year of Hi_;h school at Springfield Garden H.S. Upon graduation from high school in 1933 [ Lynefte moved to S. FL, to live with her f'amil%. o Her father worked a; a real estate agent and Ly riche worked as a secretary at Florida Memo- rial College for several year .vhile atttnding St. Thomas University, Florida Memorial Colle•_e and Miami -Dade Community College. Her edu- cation was interrupted by the birth gni her dau-lh- ter. Ktisha. on March 1.1. I.1S7. She .ea; -,iil taking courses at \liami•DsLe .tihe,� ,ht way kiIIeJ. Lynette Hodge joined the Opa-lccla Police Dept. in 1990 and graduated from the Police Academy on March 3, 1990. She was first as- signed to patrol where she .%orked wi[h a Field Training Officer. She worked every shift and worked with the VA.`. i Narcotics I Unit conduct- ing surveillances. undercover work and reverse sting operations. Lyneve's de -;ire to help olners. mainly chil- dren, prompted her [o apple for and to k"e ac- cepied into the D..A.R.E. I Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. For two sears :;.e worked full-time with children at Nathan B. Ylwm, El- emez(ary School ger: ing a, a rag ai , e coun- selor and role rnodc!. Prirrn:ieal Essig Pace r, - membered that Hodge had a "special girl' for relating to children on their ow n level. She used a lot or motherly qualities, along with he, laic enfOrcen�_at back- ground... She nc%crcame :n •.v ith a ::d She was alvvav, ver% ut~Lcmi for the chil- dren. She was [^ere [n iZc€0.lnv ^:1J what- :tier it look, ,va ,ever .i .t, nee :J. Od! ami Herald, H 1 Nl). OrficerHetfge•.va,.videlt nrhswn;e�itlicv� in presenting crime. ",getfirt•_ kids .Irai_.,hls�neJ out',e(orc they gut into trouble. In her D.•-VR.E- work, she attempted :o instill hope and goal; in the :hildren. She tits, knuwn : sr her "bubbly per�onafity and her 4e,liiadori I,) helolae olh- er:- and "touched (he 'iv c, Of not only rhe :hil• dren. but the ,(iff.(+ ,villa' In 1)93 Opa-luc:.a PLsliie Chief J(minv R Burke transferred Ofricer Hodge from (he D.A.R.E. program and rea,.igned her to routine patrol. The transfer. %% hick %t a, contrary to her wishes and in spite t+r the fassl ih1[Pub)h9 cF- cellent performance evalbattons rur fier work with D.A.R.E., cawed Officer Hodge to apply for a Position with the ci[v of N. Miami. Hodge became .1 `. `Iianti police orlicer the .academy on Jan. 31, 1986. Thompson was tirst sent to the Columbia. S.C.. Resident OfFic for three months before being transferred t Miami in April of 1986. While in Miami Agent Thompson received the hil•hest erfo three tours of duty under Operation Snowcap. e two in Bolivia and her last assignment in Peru. o Tom Cash. the Agent in Charge of the Miami office. noted that Agent Thompson was in "su- perb physical condition-' and that she "was al - #109 LEONARD TRL'DEAU Dade County Dept. or Corrections Killed in traffic accident Jan. 16. 1995 p rmance evaluations and was characterized as a "tireless worker, innovative. ways looking Cora different mountain to climb." THE EVENT motivated and organized." Throughout her She hoped to be in chargee or a DEA office one day. Dade Count,. Corre.::ons Officer Lcc-Mrd ea- reer• she received numerous letters of apprecia• Meredith lived in Pembroke Pines during Trudeau. �0. sons ;truce ;^d killed by an mobile afier he had ctoppad to help the pa:.an- tion and commendation from both within and her eight years in S. FL and attended the Faith _erg ora disabled tar on State Road 8:6 or. J;n. outside DEA John Coleman, Special Agent in Presbyterian Church in Pembroke Pines. She was 16. 1995r 1rudeau became the fourth last Charae of the DEA Office of Training, wrote or very active in youth work at the church and was _-t- rorcement officer killed in ,he line of dun her performance as a basic agent class counse- well known to members of the congregation. .%io corked in corrections. T; -e others were Dade Ior. Meredith Thompson was survived by her County Jailer Gustav Kaiser 11395), Daae She is an excellent role model and father and mother. Jack and Adelaide "Tad' Th. County Jailer Wilbur Hendrickson ( 1915, and through her demonstrated expertise• tact. ompson of Fairfax. VA: three sisters. Kimberly FL Probation Supervisor Thomas Sven,cn and devotion. instilled within each trainee Thompson Vander Yacht. 17, of Rochester. NY. r 19821, a sense of purpose, direction. and pride in Elizabeth Thompson Miller. 25. or Centrevil le. The tragedy ec;urred a: 41 -47A..1., on �G: n - DEA. .Meredith Thompson was one VA, and Diane Thompson Liddell. 21. of River- da% morning, Jan. 16. 1995. a few minute, a;:. of only two of the 108 slain officers included in this book side. CA: and one brother. Doug Thompson. 20. of Lake Ridge, V.A. Trudeau and fellow officer Carlos `Carrera whom the author knew personally. While in A memorial service was held in S. FL a( iihed work at the Dade County Jail. The :.10 officers were on their %%a% Tome driving Miami Meredith took courses at F.f.C, and was the Faith Presbyterian Church in Pembroke Pines on State Road 8:6 in Marero'i Isuzu R,%:io Part of a special F. I.U. graduate class of 22 DEA on Sept. 2. Every seat was 6 [led as her co -work- w hen they saw a di;abled Honda in the mid.l:e agents at their headquarters at the Koger Center ers, Friends and fellow parishioners attended. of the road. in Miami in 1990. 1 remember her as attentive. Several agents spoke of their remembrances of The driver of the Honda had been energetic, articulate, and cheerful. :Meredith Thompson. too fast (later F.H.P. in� es(!, axion paid at a n :-;- On the day of her oral report she came .A memorial service was also held at the mum 75 mph) whoa she [o5; control of her dressed in Washington Redskin "uniform" and Fairfax. VA. Presbyterian Church on Oct. 28. .:- hic!e as she attemrt. i to c`!ar.ge lanes in put a Redskin hat on me before beginning her 199-1, and was attended by her parents. sib- in the road appro�imarel% cne-half mile be-- _ report. She %vas reacting to m% "I love the Dal- lines. and friend: in the %'Vashington. D.C.. the Northwest 2-(h A%e. a%c as<. Tie H,----,:� las Co%4boy.s and hate their chief rivals. the area. There was; no burin[ ier%ice as Meredith (hen hit the guard rail on :'U right of the rc_,.. Redskins" speech gi%cn on the First day of class was cremated. caromed orl the guard raiz, and stopped :.• %%here I (jokingly) threatened to fail Redskin The name of .Meredith Thompson was read ailed) in the middle of the-Npress%%a�. slangs Cans. She loved a challenge and she loved her for the First time at the Dade County Police Me- Campos. 27, the drier. and ser passenger. L;!,!, - Redskins. [ think of .Meredith Thompson each morial on May 18. 1993. Her name is inscribed Martinez. 21, were hurt but -sere able to get our semester when [ give that speech. (East Wall. Panel 59. Line 19) on the national or the car (leaving it in the middle of the ro-Z Thompson volunteered for Operation Law Enforcement .Memorial in Washinawn. and walked to the shoulder c,f the road. Snowcap even (hough she recognized that it was D.C.. and on the memorial wall (10-L•25) orthe Officer Trudeau. al%%A%s (he GDod Sam,--. a dangerous assignment. To qualify for Snowcap American Police Hall of Fame and Museum or tan. saw the women signali%:;heir distress -� she completed a�arueling rangerjungle training =801 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Also. in 1995, sopped a few yard. Dass tC..m -second dr%_r. Course in Ft. Benning. G.A. and took a special Thompson 's picture was also part or a special «illiam L. Thomas. '6. of Newark. \'.J-. ,:•; weapons training course. She also attended six display on slain remale ci(;iters at the vi;i(or's <Iooped to help. Ti,)ma, : r:ed his.lerce',• months of language school 1 i.e., Spanish) under center of the.iational Lau Enforcement Memo- on the shoulder cleer to (he +isabled Hon a. auspices of the State Dept. to quality for the as- ria[. As Officers TPadeau and �larero wale: tiianment in Latin America. A plaque bearing her name and picture is back to aid the mo %%omen. a:) Acura .lyse^ ^. After completing the special training re- part of a permanent "memorial wail" displayed Jesse Garfield France. 20. came along and. ,c. quirements. Agent Thompson volunteered for at DEA headquarters in Pentagon City (Alexan- ing the Honda disabled in the middle of the rca,: dria). VA, along with the other 57 DEA agents and the people on root aheaj. slammed on:• killed in the line ofduty. The DEA display also brakes losing control of hi; %ehicle. The flat_- incIudesanareaforawardsofhonorandineludes F.H.P. investigation estimate ;hat France, %%_, the picture: of the file agents killed in (he l Q9-4 era%:ling at a minimum of --•.eh. Hi, :;tr -.% c- •- Peru plane ;rash a, well as (he five agents who out ,f control and :n: (he >__r ratl. went in:-- . volunteered to rescue the cif the Wi z! (win >rra and hit the .Mer: -de, Ln 'b% T^,rm.:- `.`' the jungie in hostile (err)t%%rs. The plaque for The Acura hit:-tt cr:_ :,;u•t .Trull.__ Thomp,un read;: %%a, %%alkin2 in Cron; of it NIer:eJe, .%.. Special .Agent Meredith Thomp,on ror,•ed forward 51 rt b% the and ran o%: volunteered forOperanonSNO1VCARone him. Trudeau seas thr0%n u^%i,r the >IerceJ.- of DEA's most dangerous o%erseas assign- He %%as then drug 13 !t. a. he 'na. penned un.::- - mints.On.Au,2ust ?7, 1994. while conduct- the .Mercedes. _ im-, an aerial reconnaissance operation in Fire Rescue am, cd ar.d %%as able a, la:% Peru', Upper Huallaga `'alley to item the up the Mercedes to tree T^.Jeau Tradeau %%_• flow or drugs. Speciaf .agent Thompson (hen :ran>ported to Jacl,un %, emorial H%%,p)u: - pve the ultimate sac- ",:c:. her life. R%Je.-TraumaCenter Hely:,:,%• itai- Thi, plaque wa, un%erled m a special ser- am%al but was put on ,) re.::r t%r -% :ean! . emony Lin May 17, 19%)5. (ha( was attended b% dre:or,and nurse, s,,r.lc 11-» :cal[% t%%.a%e the Thump,on famil%. Iiie but %sere not able t%%do •,• L.onard T ude_- %%a- pronounced dead at 6.5rs Th(: SOURCES: Miami Hefald..Au . 31. 1991: DEA death Aas ,given a, Nunt Ir:r.:^)a due (o "mu' publication: Drug Enforcement. '0th annivenarn upk injuries.- % �� G� edition: ansa interview with Jack and TadThomp- Several Tamil% member :hes ,),ter. fu !�! Me,-edirh Thwnp%mr. U.S. D.E..4.• 199.1. son.Re,ci;no. brothers. Js,e and Gerr,ge Trudeau. ac,'. dauehter. Christina rushed to the hospital w•he0he As:isiant Chief of the Criminal Traffic Divi the% were informed of the accident. Judy and Sion. Geor;e arri%ed before his death and watched as Martha Campos. the woman involved in the doclo., worked desperately to save his life. accident that led to Trudeau's Good Samaritan Leonard's girlfriend. an airline stcwardes.%•, was act. was charged with careless d6%incz (she was informed and Clew in that aftemoon from 4lexico later convic[zd of that charge i. Her "obstructing Ci[%, of the roadw a\- was one cause of'the i e%entuai ) Several of the 12 persons invol%ed in the multi -car cra.,h were "scratched and bruised while dicing, out of the %%ac." Three other per- soni i Leslie Martinez. Campos' passenger. and two ^_�ssengers in the Acura driven by Frances) %+ere taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment. Officer Trudeau's death was classified as "in the line of duty" since officer%are pledged to "Prefect and Serve" and Trudeau died in-ing to !\ e. In effect. he went "on duty" when he stop.ned to help the distressed motorists. Though techri:all% off-duty at the time. his case is simi- lar to that of Dade police officers who. though off -dui). trent on -duty (he moment they at- tempted to make an arrest (see the cases of Metre -Dade Officer Chervl Seiden. 1982. and Coral Gables Off-tcerAlfred T,! inoni. 1980, who were killed t*-ing (o make an arrest when "off- dut%"i. THE PERPETRATOR The FL Highwav Patrol tiled a preliminary fatality report on Jan. 19. Trooper P.S. Allen re- ported that Frances. the driver of the Acura. was speeding at a minimum of 85 \IPH and a maxi- mum W93 MPH based on physical evidence at the scene. Two witnesses at the scene told in- Vesti_ators that Frances "appeared to be racing at the time of the crash" but Trooper Allen re- ported that he was "unable to prove the allega- (ion." There was an open sig -pack of beer in Fran; s' Vehicle and Frances and his passengers had admittedl% been drinkine at a S. Beach bar and were on their way home, However, because of a mistake by a trooper at the scene. no blood alcohol test was given at (he scene to Frances. precluding a charge of drunk driving, The F.H.P, traffic homicide investigation was conducted by Trooper Perry S. Allen. Fran:es was not ticketed at the scene but was charged after Trooper Allen's investigation and report. Tests at the scene indicated that Frances had been traveling at a minimum :peed of 95 mph is the ?; mph zone. The case against Jesse Frances was contin- ued until July 10. 1995, when he appeared be- fore County Court Judge Teri Ann Miller. Fran,:: pled no contest to the charge of careless dri% in,_ and w as adjudicated guilty. He received a maximum civil penalty of 5500 and had to pay court costs of S 109: was ordered to complete 126 hour, t the maximum under the law ) of commu- nis service at (he emergency room at the Ryder Trauma Center: and hi. license %k as revoked for one '% ear. Frances was accepted into the Advo- cate Program for super\ inion of his community service work. He is under a "stay of execution" by the :ourt until Jan. of 1996. al>o. Frances was ordered to complete the mavimum amount of traffic school 1 i' hours) for infractions and the conviction and points will appear on his driving record. The ease was pros- ecuted b% Assistant State Aftorne% David Kelly, 36 t'atal ac:ident. Campos was given a blood alco- hol test at the scene which indicated a B.A.C. of 0.041'r ethanol (no( legally drunk). THE OFFICER Leonard Trudeau was born on May I. 1954. in Coral Gables. FL. He was the third of four children (Joe. George. Leonard, and Judy) born to Homer Joseph Trudeau and Frances Marie Trudeau. His father, a World %'or 11 veteran. mo%ed to Miami from Springfield. NIA. and was from a French-Canadian family. Homer Joseph Trudeau's uncle. Edward P, Mulroonev.was Police Commissioner of -New York City from kla% 21. 1930 to April 12. 1933. The Trudeau children grew up in the Coral Gables and S. Miami area. All fourchildren were baptized. had first communion and confirmation at the Church of the Little Flower. Leonard attended the ,Merrick Demonstra- tion t Elementary) School and Jr. High School at St. Theresa (next door to the church of the Little Flow eri and S. Miami. He attended Coral Gables and S. Miami H.S. but did not complete high school until he joined the Army and got his G.E.D. Asa youth he w•as a Boy Scout, hada news- paper route. and was in the band in elemen(ary and jr. high school. He also developed an early interest in police scanners which led w his inter- est in law enforcement. Leonard joined the Army at 17 and was sta- tioned at Ft. Knox in KY and R. Jackson in S.C. He sen ed as a mechanic during his two years in the .army and was discharged in 19'3, upon discharge from the Army. Trudeau re- tumed to Miami. and from 1973-1980, worked as a mechanic at Baney-'s Garage in S. Miami, at Red Bird S(andard and at Ted and Stan's Tow- ine Co. In 1980 he was hired by the Metro -Dade Corrections Dept. and graduated from Training Academy Class #30 in 1980. One of his class- mates in the Academy was Robert Zore w ho later became a yietro-Dade police officer and was killed in the line of duty in 1983. One of his in- struc.ors at the training academy was Peter Neumann who later became the chaplain at the Dade Count% Jail. Leonard Trudeau saw plenty of "action" as acorrtctionsofficer. In 198066n:his firstyear of work he was working inside (he Dade County Jail on N.W. 36th St. during a riot that injured ?2 and caused 510.000 damage. Trudeau was later assigned to the rear fobbv area of (he down- town jail for several years and was in close con- tact %% ith inmates coming into the jail for book- ing. Fellow officer and lifelong friend. Ted Sinnes. noted: Those are places where you're in con- tac( with prisoners that are violent. jus(com- im! in under acres(, maybe on drugs and the} don't like being told what to do. [ remember one time he pulled an of- ficer out of a cell when he was in trouble. Ordinarily you'd call forassistancc and wait Uonard Triideait. Dade Corrections. 1995. for it to arrive. but Lenny -na:n't rhe type to put his ow n iafen first. (quote from Ted Sirines in PBA HEAT. F6,1995) At (he time of his death. Trudeau. a 14 -year veteran of the Dept.. %k ii %%orking in the record: section and was in chL _e of :'e'ecords of Trans- fers to other jails ani Tn Ins Leonard Trudea_ .%as %.:i kno,xn around the Dade courthouse ai his _ro(her. George. served in Judea Eilen `lorci:onios' court for many years. Judge Morphonios was a family friend of the Trudeaus. NfanV Dade law enforce- ment officers knew T:-jdeau from his %ears at the "rear lobby" of the :ail when off vers brought in inmates for bookir, Trudeau's %+illir•_r..a to "_e: ;n%ol%ed" w as not limited to helpin >:-andej 7xltori.ti as in- dicated bV his "Go: Sa.m irr:in" .ice the mom. ing of his death. Se%era: %.-ars riore his death. Trudeau was about :. -e_or: '1,r warl a[ the downtownjail when. a•% =erne attempt- ing to break into a ca- in a pa::"_ lot. He :on - fronted the man the :ar belon;.ed to his sister. Trudeau then .k.:it inside (he jail and checked out the ricer=e and Jc!:fmined that the car. in fact. belonged :o a .orreciion> of- ftcer. He and anothc. ;,:e-'-,.nz bick outside and found the man '::^e car. When (he% :on(rontcd (he -_A just been re. leased frornjail. he coin: e_l a _ -. at .he unarmed officers and tied. The eatuall% :2u•ihi after a chase and crag In 1950 Leona. -I -,arried Brenda Welkner. Their dau-oh[er. Ch-:s::na Marie, was bum in 1933 in Miami. Trudeau and his wife later di%orced. The "%i<i(a(ion- for rhe stain officer was held on Jan. 19 a[ the ai,rn-P`. ^t:ner Funeral Home on Bird Rd. Th. cnera! for Leonard Trudeau was held a( :^: Ch :, of (he Little Flower in Coral GdMe. on Jan _'0 and A% is at- tendedh% more than t.,Xo:'ri.^._' indco•%%ork- ers.including hundrej• or umior n.e l Corre:tion. officers. The eulog% %%a> de:%, Bazan w ho read the car,^ie G,•ud S.im.iri- tan and told the aud;el%t :hat '.eOriard Trudeau died obeving God's command to help ofn distress. Rev. Bazan noted that Trudeau --w* . al - way, a neighbor to ;[rangers" and that his stop- ping, to help the motorists in distress was tin_ rerlection of his entire life." Dr. Arnold Perry, pa,tor of St. Marks's Lutheran Church. ,poke of Trudeau's lite and read a poem --.+ritten by the officer', sister. Judy. The poem began with the words: The stron•oer of two ,-\s he carne to be Red Haired and freckled He had a special destine Laughing and plavirtg .and Joking .around He Never Brought Your Spirits Down The times we shared I remember so well He was my buddy He was my pal Rev. Perry also told the slain officer', daughter, Christina, that she and others should consider Leonard Trudeau as a role model as he was truly the Good Samaritan. Director Charles Felton expressed the feel- ing of loss by members of his Dept, and Rev. James Martin, correctional Chaplin, spoke of Officer Trudeau's service to others noting that "he was always a neizhbor to strangers'. Dade County Commission Board Chairman Arthur Teele. Jr.. and Dade P.B.A. President John Rivera presented Trudeau's mother. Marie, a proclama- tion on behalf of the citizens of Dade County, atter the service the casket was carried to the hearse by members of the Corrections and Rehabilitation Honor Guard. The Miami Police Honor Guard presented the colors. The escort to Woodla%6n Cemetery was made by motorcycle unit, from the Corrections and Rehabilitation Dept.. the Nlevo-Dade Police Dept. and the Mi- ami Police Department. At the `rravesite service. the Corrections and Rehabilitation Department Honor Guard folded the Paz from Officer Trudeau's casket and pre- sented it to Director Felton who presented it to OfricerTrudeau's daughter, Christina Marie. The Carlos Santiago. cin. uj Miunti. 199?. combmed honor guards from Metro -Dade 0 lice and Correction, then tired the'_l-gun sa- lute- Metro -Dade police helicopter. rle`.+ o+er the site. "Taps" was played and the final radio call was broadcast. The grave of Officer Trudeau is located near the northwest corner of the mau.oleum and is on l+ 30 vards from the icornen gratia of Miami officer Robert Jester who was killed in a"dowrt- tow,-[ shootout'- in 1933. Trudeau's marker reads: LEONARD L. TRL-DEAU YOUR LOVE WILL BE 1` OUR HEARTS FOREVER 195-! 1995 A Dade County Dept. of Correction,' badge [with badge 130761 also appears on the grave marker. Leonard Trudeau was sur+iied his daugh- ter. Christina Marie Trudeau. 12: his mother. Frances Macie Trudeau. 74, of .Miami chi., fa- ther died in 1993 in wliami at the age of 7.11: his brothers, Joe Trudeau, 42. of Miami and Georee Trudeau, 41. of ,titiami: and his sister. Judy Trudeau Reseigno. 33, of Miami. Trudeau was buried beside his maternal grandparents. Gerwood and Julia Rand of Miami. On May 13. 1995, Leonard Trudeau's name was read for the first time at the Dade County Police Memorial Service. His name is inzcribed on the memorial wall t 10 -L -10i of the Ameri- can Police Hall of Fame and Museum at :801 Biscayne Blvd. in Sliami. His name will be in- scribed on the National Law Enforcement Me- moriai in Washington. D.C. in 1996. In Feb. of 1995- the Trudeau survivors at- tended a Dade County Corrections Dept. ban- quet where Leonard Trudeau and Carlos Marrero were honored as Corrections Officers of the Year. The Dade County P.B_A. established a "Good Samaritan" award in Trudeau's memory and k% ill present the award each veru to corrections offic- ers who "exemplify public service through acts Of compassion." Everyone who knew and/or worked with Leonard Trudeau spoke of his com- passion and service. "He genuinely personified the virtues of a good Samaritan." SOURCES: Miami Herald. Jan. 17.19. 1995: PBA HEAT, Feb.. & March, 1995. Records of Dade County Medical Examiner t=95.0133 is F!_. Hi,2hw-av Patrol Traffic Homicide lnvestigaiion t 4FH P i95 -01.05i: Count,, Traffic Case 12JI'ost le,se G. Frances (1841-1 .a -EK): and inter. te++s with Joe Trudeau and Jud+ Re-sci_cno. tf108 CARLOS SANTIAGO Miami Police Department Killed in bridge accident. May 30. 1995 THE EVE,VT Carlos Santiago, -l.. a I3 -+car veteran of the Miami Police Department. was filled ksn 30. 1995, when he fell from a bridge in a .Teak accident. He became the 14th Nlianu officer killed in the line ofduty since 101 Around 10:00PS1 on Tuesda% night. ala+ 30. 1995, Officer Santiago. and his panne;. Jose Paz. 34, a 6 -year veteran, were working the night shift when they spotted a man breaking, into a Toyota Corolla at N.I.V. First St. and N. River Drive. a block from the Ra_ler St. bridge. .after Santiago and Paz made the arrest. bystanders ;ofd them that the Toyota iniLht beton= to the brdee tender. € It was later determined that the auto did not belong to the bridge tender.I The two officers decided to drive to the bridge and talk with the bridge [ender. Upon ar- rival. Paz stayed in the police car °xuh the "and - cuffed suspect ;+hile Santiago .talked tow»r,i :he -tender's shack.' The dra•.+ bridge wa, ,not in use as it had been in the ...se poitlion" sine: Sun- da,, and was under repair. The street lights near the gateUuse located on the north°.nest ,ogle of the bridge were not workine but the oche: half of the bridge was++ell lichted. Santiago walked toward the tender's shack on the dark side of the bridize. The officer did have a flashlight and be2urn waving it to _e[ the tender's attention as he w alked up the dark side of the bridge. That �;de of the bridge should ha+e been li%!h[zd but the copper wiring for the brid_`e lights had been ,to - len. The C[[v and Metro had a problem +a im •, a - ,rants stealing copper wire and aiuminum :rom the bridges for sale to junk .Dealers. Suddenly Officer Santiago fell through a ft. 9 inch opening between the road++ay and the upright span. He may ha+e been looking up to- w and the bridge tender and `.+axing his rlashiight to ;et his attention when he fell through the ..hole." The bridge tender could not hear the (- ricer o if he were •h,)utin•,:o nine, 1. the was soundproof- Howe+::.::^,e .iid , la[en that he taw the tight but [hen it disappear.-_ - Santiago landed 30 fe.; ^els.+ on the :,n- crcte at the base of the bridge. This ara ++as .i "homeless encampment of ramshackle cardboard and cloth shelters" for 25 homeless persons and was located at Northwest River Drive. about a block from the East Coast Fisheries restauran(. Officer Paz saw his partner "disappear' and ran to his aid. He found Sanuago face do%%n on the concrete and unconsc;ous. He w g "sur- rounded by concrete cinder blocks. discan:ed clothing and emptc ptas[ic bag, of crac.l .o- caine." Miami Fire Rescue ++as called and upon arrival found Santiago) %+i[h no pure and +.t7 massive trauma and wi[h bleeding to the held. He was transported immediately to the R•.der Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospit.11. about three miles away. The fire rescue vehicle was escorted by se,,cral police can and mctor- c+cles "their blue lights Ila.hiag and sirens im_-" The p.ment +a, adrl•r. L�d at 10:: 1 P M t was "unrespon,.%C, w!t^ nr +eta! asyStole, (hamper to pC0'_'% • -all r_•u,c::_::. n efforts pm+ed [unle" an,: lC ,Dead a[ l I :t)oP NI. The eau•. each a a• nple blunt force injuries." THE PERPETR-ITOR There was no penetrator in chi, ease ll(ho:_-h one could am_wc that the who sole tae copper %4irin_g that "darkened" the bridge ,+:r respon,ible for Officer Sanr,ago's Beath. THE OFFICER Carlos Sawia•,o wag lora in Puerto Rico. on June 11, l947. til Mont•o,` ar:d Herminia Santiago. He was the ,ea nd o :-1 Children (his brother. Octa+ Eo. %+- brm In ! "s Carlos ,pent his early vears in Quebradiila ,:nd C,rnus- Puerto R,co. and mo~ed ,k ah hi. ramiI :. Miami around i9;y µhen he µas II years Upon arri+al in Miami. Carlos attended Buena lista Elementary School. Robes E. Lee H.S. and Miami Jackson Sr. H.S. As a � ouch. C.:ri •, enjoyed buiWin,_1 plasuc model :ar< and 'c:, and roll fru it. c:pecialls }n.s b\ El\ is - arwr 2raduatine rrom Jack,on N.S. in I96o. :omple(ed a is o -year program in air con- i:fionin, at Lindse; Hopkins T,thnical School :n !068 -.also in 1963, he joined the U.S. Arm% en ed a [our of duty in Viemam, seeing com- `+ai Buts in the infantry. .-liter discharcc from the ,firms. Santia,o turned to Miami in 1970 and corked for .c\ _ral .% ears selling,, pharmaceutical supplies. Hou - .r. ne had aluas; canted tee be a police or _:L.- and. in 1982. at the age of hejoined the `I!ami Police Dept. His brother. Oe[ayio. joined Miami Police Dept. the same year but com- pic:ted training in Jan. while Carlos completed he academy in April. Carlos worked on patrol during the midnight shift during his entire I=- ear career. Officer Carlos Santiago earned 64 commen- 4ations during his I ;-year career. His personnel file also included letters from eleven victims of .shoes -.ha[ he investigated. They %% rote to thank him. for his cork and professionalism. For the _,,i eight years his performance evaluations ere above average ro excellent. In his last eyaiu- ,E-:0n. Patrol Set. Jim Billbem,. said: Santiago is a veteran emplO.ee Aho has the initiative ol'a rookie officer. He is dauntless in his desire to be a professional orticer. i M€amL i Herald. 6/1/i995, F.:neral sen ices for Officer Carlos Santiago were arran,ed by Cabal leroAVood I aµ n Funeral Home. ; A61 SAV. 3-1 A%e..'.0ere a c icu ins "as held on Thursday. June I . A funeral ser,, ice and mass held on Fridas. June'. m St. Michael Cafhoiic Church at 2981 W. Flauler St. The cas- ket bear:n%z the bods orOtficer Santiaco entered the church through 4µo lines or uniformed of- ficer; �cho stood at attention. The euloo� was delisered by Father Michael Kish. ,Miami Chief Of Police Donald W'arsau also spoke at the ser- vice. .after the mass a procession of polite mo- torcyc€es and cruisers Aith lishis flashing led mourner south to Woodlawn Park Cemetery on S.W. Eighth St. and 12nd Ave. The police honor guard Mood at attention at the era%ccite as it had at the funeral service. The bagpipe played.-lmaz- ine Grace. The flag that had covered the casket µas folded and given to the widow. Police heli- copters "roared a final farewell above the cem- eten• and raded west." In 1995. Officer Santiago's grave is easily found in the mausoleum at Woodlawn Park Cem- etery in Little Havana. His vault is on the sec- ond floor of the mausoleum on [he west %all berween vaults for Perez and Rivas and jus[ to the left of the Familia Rodriguez gated s ault. As or Dec. or 1995 no inscription marked the Sant€ago tomb. 0Orncer Carlus SanfhN �� u a. ;uR l� ed bti his µate. Mercedes. 'S. and tuo children. Jessica. 6. and Carlos. Jr.. -1: by his mother. Hcrminia. 70. of Puerto Rico: and a brother. Octal io. 46. of Miami. Carlo,' father. DioniNio. died in 1994 at the age or 74 and uas burred in his pati%e Puerto Rico. The name of Ca. la, Santtd o %%ill be in- scribed on the National Lsµ Eniorceme;;t Sle- morwi in Washinetor.. D,C.. and on the .amen. can Police Hall or Faroe and Mu+tum at -,80 1 Biwa%ne Bl%1A.,in Miami. .a plaque bednnJ his name is displayed an the µall of the lobby at M.P.D. headquarters. Hi. name will be r:ad for the first time at the Miami Police Dept. \fertto- rial and at the Dade Counts Police Memorial Ser+ice in Tropical Park in Miami in \tdti of 1996. Carlos Sanfia,o's nickname dmon_ his fel- low officers was ' _Lcsct Profile'" ss he ,%as the kind or officer mho dict hisjob and µas tae ",:on - summate professional" but a%oided the linielk--ht. He u as quite and unassuming. Ironically, by his death, he became "High Profile.'- dnd he u ill noµ be remembered more in death than he a as in life b% his inclusion on the Roll of Officers Killed in the Line of Duty. As the 1fi.imi Herald sail. "in death. Sliami police oiticer Carlos Santiago tinalls received the recoenidon he neer sought in life." - SOURCES: Miami Herald. Ma% .0. J::ne 7,3. 1995: Medical Examiner records 1 --95-I,eD.a l: and interyieu µ ith Occas io Sdntid1.0. rat possession,oj Jerr;-ll Fequson 1962), officer William Williams September 9, 1957 - ,JulY 3. 2000 `tiami Police Officer William Williams was a true motorman. He was dedicated to the Miami PJlice Department, as cell as. his family - He would bring stories of the wonderful times that he spent with his family and shared them Asch his co- workers. Sill was a very spectal person, to his family at home and his family at work. Most of all. he was a friend to the citizens of Miami. He may have looked stout, but was eery caring and humorous. Everyone who :imz! in cot,tact with Sill left with a positive impression. He was always professional and very helpful. There are not many police officers who can say they Rot a standing ovation in a courtroom from the people he had written tickets too. Sill was one of them. That was the type of person h:! was. Officer William «•,!hams began his career with t;7e Miami Police Department in august 19?9. On Saturday. Jult ! . 2000. Officer Williams was escorting a funeral procession when a motorist, part of the funeral procession, decided to exit ,he procession. %k. e i that motorist tried to enter a:iotr.e' lar she struck the officer. He was transported to Jacksonlzmor: Hospital with multiple injuries. He e\pired on July from those Injuries. Officer %Vilhams is sur,,�ed by his wife. and i :hddren Officer Willtarn 11. Williams, reflecred great credit upon Himself. the Miami Police Department and the Enforcement Una CITY OF MIAMI 9EPARTMENT OF SIRE -RESCUE LINE OF DUTY DEATHS NAMES DATE OF DEATH I REASONIDESCRIPTION lJchnson,Johnny 19081 Died in Sleep at Fire Station after resp2oing to Fire ata Hotal Thomoscn, John Austin 11/7/19131 Injuries as a result of Vehicle Accideresponding-tot Faise Alar.^^ JStubble, Bon H. 1/2/1929 Injuries as a result of Vehicle Accident W.R. PEE 1949 Injuries as a result of Vehicle Accident _ G 0