Hundreds Pay Respects To Families Of Fallen Heroes
MIAMI (CBS4) -- Hundreds of mourners poured into the funeral home which now houses the bodies of two fallen Miami-Dade heroes who lost their lives while serving a warrant.
Family, friends and fellow officers gathered Sunday evening for the viewing of officers Roger Castillo and Amanda Haworth at Vista Funeral Home, 14200 NW 57th Ave. in Miami Lakes.
Lt. Sergio Alvarez, a friend of slain Det. Roger Castillo, remembers his smiling face.
"His upbeat attitude, he was always joking, he was always laughing, cracking up, making jokes, making people feel good," Alvarez said.
Commander Nancy Perez somberly looked at two photos of the other detective killed, Amanda Haworth.
"I see a wonderful woman who gave her life for this community," said Haworth, still looking at the photos.
Castillo and Haworth were killed in a gunfight Thursday when they tried to arrest Johnny Simms on a fugitive warrant.
Simms also was killed.
A joint memorial service for the officers will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the American Airlines Arena in downtown Miami. The service is open to the public.
The United States Honor Flag will be on display during the memorial service.
"The Miami-Dade Police Department has been a partner to The Honor Network for many years, and this agency is considered home to the United States Honor Flag," said Tammy Heisler, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Honor Network.
"Any loss to the Miami-Dade Police Department is a deep heartfelt loss to The Honor Network. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the Detectives and the Miami-Dade Police Department," she said.
Gov. Rick Scott has asked that all government flags be flown at half-staff Monday in honor of the slain officers.
Mayor Thomas Regalado said everyone needs to support the police.
"We will support law enforcement in the fight against crime," he said. "The City of Miami is their partner, not their enemy."
If you would like to help, please make donations in lieu of flowers with checks payable to The Dade County PBA Love Fund, with officers Castillo and Haworth names written in the memo section of the check. Donations should be mailed to 10680 NW 25 Street, Miami, FL 33172.
