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The Miami-Dade Police Department is proud to announce that the following officers have been selected to share Distinguished Officer of the Year honors for 2007:
Officer Jose Somohano and Jodi Wright
On September 13, 2007, the Cutler Ridge District implemented a proactive crime reduction initiative designed to identify and arrest individuals responsible for committing burglaries, auto thefts, and robberies.
At approximately 11:10 a.m., Officer Jose Somohano and Officer Christopher Carlin, who were riding as a two-person unit, observed Mr. Shawn LaBeet driving his vehicle erratically through the Sea Pines community. They followed the subject and identified themselves as police officers, but Mr. LaBeet fled on foot with both officers in pursuit. Officers Somohano and Carlin then separated in an attempt to establish a perimeter around the complex.
In the meantime, Mr. LaBeet was able to enter a residence and subsequently dis-charged a firearm through the front window, striking Officer Somohano.
Officer Carlin advised over his radio that shots were being fired and other officers quickly responded to assist. As Officer Carlin responded to the front of the residence to aid Officer Somohano, Mr. LaBeet, who was wearing a bullet-proof vest, engaged Officer Carlin with an assault rifle. Officer Carlin was able to seek cover behind a vehicle as Mr. LaBeet fired his weapon toward him. Officer Carlin discharged his weapon in a defensive posture to stop the assault. During the exchange, Officer Carlin sustained a wound to his right leg and was pinned down behind the vehicle.
After being advised that the subject was armed with an assault rifle, several officers advanced into the area, placing themselves in the line of fire while trying to save Officers Somohano and Carlin. Sergeants Manuel Blanco, Anthony Warren, and Officer Darren McQueen, approached from the west and quickly concealed themselves behind vehicles as the subject continued to engage them.
Officers Jody Wright, Jairo Barosela, and Orlando Lopez advanced toward the residence as well, and were quickly met with a barrage of bullets. As a result, Officer Wright sustained a severe gunshot wound to her right leg, causing her to seek cover near an air conditioning unit.
Officers Barosela and Lopez were pinned down behind a vehicle as Mr. LaBeet continued to shoot. As requests for assistance and “officer down” notifications were being transmitted, Officer Tomas Tundidor drove into the complex and stopped his vehicle near Officer Somohano in an attempt to rescue him.
Unaware of Mr. LaBeet’s exact location, he also met with gunfire, which penetrated the police vehicle. Bullet fragments caused injuries to his leg and he was eventually transported to a hospital for treatment.
Officers Clifton Baldwin and Miguel Perez attempted to reach Officer Somohano while taking cover behind a building due to the gunfire. At the same time, Officer Angela Berry took a position within 50 yards from the shooting scene, where she concealed herself behind a tree. When Mr. LaBeet fled the scene, she was able to reach Officer Wright and render assistance.
Mr. LaBeet eventually entered his vehicle and drove it in the direction of Officers Barosela and Lopez, who discharged their weapons to protect themselves. Despite their efforts, Mr. LaBeet was able to escape the area. Not knowing if there was more than one assailant, Sergeants Blanco and Warren coordinated the rescue of all four downed officers, calling upon Officers Ronald Zapustas and Barosela to assist by transporting Officer Somohano to a safer location for emergency treatment by Fire Rescue. Unfortunately, he did not survive his injuries. Officer Wright was transported to Jackson Memorial Ryder Critical Care Center via air rescue with a severe leg wound, and she is still recovering. Officers Tundidor and Carlin sustained less serious injuries, and were released from the hospital that same day.
All of the officers involved in this incident faced personal danger to make the community a safer place. Clearly, their heroic actions saved additional lives.
At no time did any of them consider retreating, despite being outgunned by an assailant with deadly intentions. They each had only one thing in mind: to save the life of Officer Somohano by whatever means necessary. Despite the tragic outcome of this incident, they demonstrated unwavering courage.
The outpouring of community support, both locally and nationally, will continue to glorify Officer Somohano’s memory, and lift the spirit of his comrades. The injuries sustained during this tragic event are a grim reminder of the dangers police officers face on a daily basis. The entire community joined in wishing each of the injured officers a speedy recovery, and in bidding Officer Somohano a final farewell.
Officer Somohano’s sacrifice will not be forgotten. While we share grief over his loss, we have gathered strength from the knowledge his comrades survived this incident with inspirational courage. Collectively, they have set a fine example for others who dedicate their lives to public service.
Officers Christopher Carlin and Tomas Tundidor were awarded the Gold Medal of Valor, Purple Heart, and Lifesaving Awards and shared Distinguished Officer of the Month Honors for December 2007 with Officers Somohano and Wright. The remaining officers were also recognized by the Department for their actions.
Officer Raymond Robertson
On October 13, 2006, while working a Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) operation within the City of Opa-Locka, Detective Raymond Robertson and City of Opa-Locka Police Department Detective Miguel Galvez were acting as the “eyeball” team, which directs takedown units to the locations where narcotics activity is taking place.
Detectives Robertson and Galvez received information from a source that large quantities of narcotics and firearms were being stored in an abandoned apartment located at 13450 Aswan Road.
In an effort to infiltrate and obtain the best possible vantage point to locate the apartment, Detectives Robertson and Galvez utilized a derelict undercover vehicle. Once Detectives Robertson and Galvez arrived at the apartment complex’s parking lot, they observed a subject, holding a firearm, walking up to their vehicle.
In an effort to retreat from the area, Detective Robertson attempted to back out of the parking lot, but another vehicle blocked their route of escape by intentionally rear-ending their vehicle. The subject then opened the driver’s side door, where Detective Robertson was seated, and raised the firearm to eye level.
As soon as the subject realized the occupants of the vehicle were police officers, an exchange of gunfire began between the subject and the detectives at point blank range. The subject was hit once in abdomen and fell to the ground just a short distance from the driver’s side door of the detective’s vehicle. While lying on the ground, still armed, the subject continued firing shots in the direction of the detectives’ vehicle.
While the detectives were engaged in a fierce gun battle with the subject lying next to their vehicle, two additional subjects began shooting at them. Still trapped inside the vehicle, the detectives were now being fired at by three subjects simultaneously. In fear for their lives, Detectives Robertson and Galvez both had to return fire at the three subjects. During this exchange of gunshots, Detective Robertson was shot multiple times.
Detective Robertson was first shot in the right forearm, which made him switch his gun to his non-dominant hand. After switching hands, he was then shot in his left forearm. Even though he was losing strength in both of his hands, Detective Robertson was able to do a magazine exchange and keep on firing. Another shot grazed Detective Robertson’s right ear.
In addition, Detective Robertson was also shot three times in the chest area. His life was spared thanks to his bulletproof vest. With all the shots being fired, Detective Galvez miraculously was never struck.
In an effort to take cover outside of the vehicle, Detective Galvez exited the passenger side. As he opened the door, the subject vehicle rammed the passenger door striking Detective Galvez in the leg. This action caused Detective Galvez to drop his firearm, disarming him. Since shots were still being fired at the driver’s side of their vehicle, Detective Robertson attempted to exit by crawling through the vehicle to the passenger side where he was shot once more. This bullet entered the fleshy area of Detective Roberson’s buttocks and lodged in his groin area.
Detective Robertson, knowing that Detective Galvez was unarmed at this point, had him escape through a hole in the fence while he kept cover for him. Once Detective Roberson realized Detective Galvez had made it through the fence, he also made an attempt to run to safety. Although both Detectives sustained numerous injuries, they ran approximately 100 yards to a convenience store for help. As they were running to the store, they were still being followed by additional subjects who knew they were police officers.
When the detectives entered the store, Detective Robertson relinquished his fire-arm to Detective Galvez because he was losing consciousness. Detective Galvez used the firearm to keep the subjects who followed them at bay and from entering the store.
This gave Detective Galvez an opportunity to call 911 from the store phone and wait for back-up units and Fire Rescue. Detective Robertson was treated on the scene for his injuries and transported to the Ryder Trauma Center where he underwent several surgeries. Detective Galvez was treated for his wound and transported to Memorial Regional West.
The initial subject who had confronted the detectives was found deceased in the rear of the parking lot. After an extensive and in-depth investigation, the two other subjects who had shot at Detectives Robertson and Galvez were identified and arrested.
Detective Robertson, who was shot seven times, miraculously survived and has returned to full duty. These detectives experienced every police officer’s worst fear and survived. Their fighting spirit and unwillingness to give up are an inspiration to others.
Detective Robertson was selected Distinguished Officer of the Month for June 2007, and City of Opa-Locka Police Department Detective Miguel Galvez was awarded the departmental Silver Medal of Valor, the highest award we can bestow upon a non-employee.
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