North Miami Police Department and North Miami Greater Chamber of Commerce awarded Officer Lazaro Miel the city’s 2006 Officer of the Year award.
BY CHRISTINA KENT
The Miami Herald
Sometimes good police work involves a little luck.
For North Miami police officer Lazaro Miel, it also means good timing and being in sight.
''There’s a lot of stuff going on and it’s just a matter of being in the right place at the right time,’' said Miel, 44. ``The biggest deterrent is visibility.’'
Miel has made a habit of being in the right place at the right time -- and for the second year in a row, he was named the North Miami police department’s Officer of the Year.
He was also named its Officer of the Month three times in 2006.
At a recent luncheon hosted by the Greater North Miami Chamber of Commerce, city staffers honored Miel for his efforts and retiring officers Christopher Hawley and Robert Baker for their years of service.
Miel, a 22-year veteran of the department, was honored for his role in apprehending suspects in crimes including burglaries, grand theft auto and drug confiscation.
One of the most-significant arrests Miel made took place on a February day last year when he was patrolling a local motel.
''I happened to pull into the parking lot to check out the area to see if anything was out of place,’' Miel said.
Two men who were walking out from one of the rooms noticed the patrol car, and one of them hid something under his shirt before running off.
Miel said he could hear screams from inside the room the men had just left.
''A woman ran out saying she’d been raped repeatedly at gunpoint and robbed,’' he recalled.
Meanwhile, backup officers arrived and took one of the suspects into custody.
The other suspect was caught in the stairwell of the motel, where police found a loaded .22-caliber handgun and the victim’s purse.
Both were arrested for armed robbery and sexual battery.
''Unfortunately, that is the stuff we have to deal with,’' Miel said. ``There is no regard for life. People will stick a gun in someone’s face for $15.’'
Assistant Chief Doug Brown said Miel’s ''exceptional performance’’ owes to his love for the job.
''He is an incredibly dedicated and tenacious officer. He really takes the initiative to seek out criminals and follow up on BOLOs,’' Brown said, refering to the police acronym for ``be on the lookout.’'
Miel said he knew from a young age that he wanted to serve the public.
Now married with three children and living in Hialeah, Miel said he takes pride in tackling North Miami crime.
''I’m very comfortable where I am,’' Miel says. ``I know the community and the community knows me.’'
Copyright 2007 The Miami Herald