Family, Friends To Gather For Officers' Viewing
MIAMI (CBS4) – A wake was held Sunday for two Miami-Dade police officers who died in the line of duty last week.
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. Doors opened to the public from 7 pm to midnight.
Castillo and Haworth were killed in a gunfight last Thursday when they tried to apprehend Johnny Simms on a fugitive warrant. Simms was also killed.
On Monday a joint memorial service for the officers will be held at 11 a.m. at the American Airlines Arena in downtown Miami. The service is open to the public. In a tribute to Castillo and Haworth, 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, 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."
To facilitate the funeral procession on Monday several major South Florida roads and highways will experience lane closures, or will be completely closed to traffic.
The procession will begin at 9 a.m.at Vista Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 14200 NW 57th Avenue in Miami Lakes.
The following is a schedule of road closures for the procession:
9 AM -- Beginning at NW 57th Avenue north to SR 826 (Palmetto Expressway) east. Connect to I-95 south onto I-395 east to Biscayne Boulevard exit. Biscayne Boulevard south to the arena entrance.
12:30 PM to 2 PM -- Beginning at the arena north on Biscayne Boulevards to I-395 west. Connect to I-95 north onto SR 826 east to NW 57th Avenue exit. South on NW 57th Avenue to the entrance to Vista Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.
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."
Castillo leaves a wife and three pre-teen children, while Officer Amanda Haworth, a single mother, leaves behind one child.
Speaking to the media Friday, Amanda's stepmother Diane Haworth was overcome with emotion.
"She was like a daughter to me. She meant the world to me. She had so much love and so much to give and she didn't waste one moment not sharing that and, I'm sorry." Haworth wept.
"This is what she wanted to do, she did it well and we are going to miss her quite a bit," said her father Robert Haworth. "She loved police work. She loved her son. She was a tremendous athlete a great mother, wonderful daughter and we're going to miss her terribly."
The community is coming together by offering donations to the Dade County Police Benevolent Association's Love Fund, which helps families of officers who either have been killed in the line of duty or have loved ones in crisis.
"We're all in mourning, we feel for the family," said PBA President Sgt. John Rivera. "It was their duty to serve and it's ours to remember."
If you would like to help, please make your 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.
