Two Miami-Dade police officers shot when responding to squatter call
MIAMI - Two police officers were recovering Thursday after they were wounded during a shooting in southwest Miami-Dade.
According to police, around 10:40 p.m. Wednesday officers were sent to 22291 SW 162nd Avenue in response to a call about squatters.
As the officers approached the front door, they were confronted by a man armed with a shotgun.
The man shot at the officers and they returned fire, according to investigators.
One officer, a 35-year-old who has been on the force for seven years, was struck in the arm. A second officer, a 57-year-old who has been with the department for 15 years, was struck in the arm and face, the department said.
The armed man was killed in the exchange of gunfire.
The injured officers were taken to Ryder Trauma Center Jackson South by fellow officers.
Miami-Dade Police Detective Angel Rodriguez said the 35-year-old and 40-year-old officers had been released from the hospital as of Thursday but the 57-year-old officer remained in the hospital, where the officer was in stable condition.
Miami-Dade police have not released the name of the man who died or the owner of the property. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the officer-involved shooting.
"This type of violence towards my officers will not be tolerated. By the grace of God, they are alive today," said Miami-Dade Police Director Stephanie V. Daniels. " I am so thankful that I did not have to go knock on the doors of the officers' families to tell them that their loved one was not coming home today. I had the opportunity to speak with the officers and they are in good spirits and they are in stable condition."
"We owe them a great debt of gratitude," said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. "We are all grateful that they came out of this one alive."
A third officer, a 40-year-old woman, was also taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation.
"The community is safer today as the result of the actions of these officers. I commend them, we pray for them, our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families," said James Reyes, the police department's chief of Public Safety.
Steadman Stahl, president of the South Florida PBA, said the officers from the South District had just started their shift and the first call was to the home.
"One of the squatters confronted the officers with a shotgun and the officers had no choice but to return fire. Two of our officers were struck, I am glad they were wearing their vests," Stahl said. "I think that made a big difference on what the outcome could have been.
"It is sickening. It's sickening that 18 days into the new year and we are dealing with something like this," Stahl said. "With everybody and with every different situation that these officers confront, something as simple as telling people to leave and we have squatters on properties now involved gun fights. It's dangerous times out there. There's no situation out there here you can't let your guard down."
Stahl said he had not heard of squatters getting this violent with police before.
At a Miami-Dade police graduation ceremony, Daniels said: "This just goes to show that the job that they are doing out there is very dangerous and we definitely need the support, not just of the community but of the family members, We just recognize and give God the praise and thank you that the officers will survive."
To applause, Daniels said: "We definitely thank them for being out there and serving our community and making sure each and everyone of us is safe."
Levine Cava also drew applause when she spoke about the officers and their commitment and dedication to their jobs.
"After being up half the night with some of the officers who demonstrated their proficiency, their commitment and the excellence of their training in this very unfortunate incident that happened, I thank God that they are alive and well," the mayor said.
A South Florida real estate attorney says squatters are common, not just here but all over the state.
He says you can't just call police to kick them out, you have to go through civil court and file a notice of eviction.
"When you do have to go to court it shouldn't be many many months of squatter remaining in position. It should go fairly quickly within around a month. The judges usually move these cases forward fairly quickly," said Kevin Fabrikant, with the Law Firm of Fabrikant & Associates.
Florida lawmakers have introduced House Bill 621, which would make it illegal for people to occupy homes if they don't present a notarized lease.
"A lot of them are breaking in and they will take a fake lease and go to the water department and get utilities out in their name. Other times the people are in possession because they thought they had some right to be there. Meaning it's their brother's place. 'My brother allowed me to stay. But their brother sold the property.' So the question is the new owner says but I'm not agreeing for you to be here," said Fabrikant.