Miami Police Graduate To Honor Brother's Dream

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Ever since his brother's unsolved murder nearly seven years ago, Ronald Page has dreamed of becoming a police officer.

He dreamt of becoming a cop because his old brother Evan had wanted to be a law enforcement officer. Evan died November 29th, 2005 at the age of 17; his brother Ron was just 14-years old.

Friday afternoon Page's dream will come true when he graduates from the City of Miami Police Academy at Miami Police College on NW 2nd Avenue.

Page's attendance at the police academy was made possible because of a scholarship from the Angel Calzadilla/Do The Right Thing Police Memorial Scholarship which was established last year in memory of Senior Executive Assistant Angel Calzadilla, a highly regarded police officer who died last year after a lifelong struggle with cystic fibrosis. Calzadilla was 48 years old.

Page is the first recipient of the police memorial scholarship.

Scholarship recipients will have two years to enter the academy upon their graduation from high school.

"We want to honor Angel's memory by making sure that we give deserving young people the opportunity to become police officers and serve our community the way Angel did," said Jodi Atkison, executive director of Do The Right Thing Program.

As the honorary first recipient of the scholarship, Page was a 2010 Do The Right Thing Top 10 Winner, nominated by his college assistance program advisor at Miami Central Senior High, for overcoming the adversity of his brother's murder among other obstacles. He went on to win a trip to London with the program, as well as the Do The Right Thing Student of the Year in which he received a laptop computer.

On the night he died Carol City High senior Evan Page and a friend gone to a Checker's drive-thru on NW 183rd St. in Miami Gardens. A man with a gun approached the friend, who was in the driver's seat, and demanded his money after he shoved a gun in his face. He did along with a cell phone and a ring. When the armed man moved around to the passenger side and stuck the gun through the window, Evan fought back. He shoved the door open, knocking the armed man back. As the two struggled, the gun went off. Evan was hit. He was taken to the hospital where he died.

"It's difficult, even now, for me to talk about it," Page said. "I was in eighth grade and I went through an anger phase for a long time. I almost flunked out."

Ronald Page said in high school his older brother was more like a father figure. In addition to going to high school, Evan also took classes at night to help his FCAT scores and worked part-time .  He also found time to be in his school's ROTC program and keep his brother on the 'straight and narrow'.

Page's murderer remains a mystery. Police have no witnesses other than the driver and they have no suspects.

Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers has increased the reward to up to $5000 for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).