With all due respect and thoughts and prayers to former Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez, who shot himself in the head off the side of I-75 last weekend, the 2024 election for county sheriff has just become a real race.
Ramirez, who was still recovering at a Tampa Hospital after a self inflicted gunshot wound administered on the side of the road with his wife in the car, was the clear frontrunner by a long distance before this. Last weekend, while staying at a Tampa hotel for a state sheriff’s association event, there was some kind of domestic dispute. Ramirez was asked to leave after other guests reported he had been brandishing a gun outside.
Before he shot himself, Ramirez called Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava and offered his resignation, saying he had made a mistake. The event was apparently something he thought would hurt him professionally. La Alcaldesa said she told him to come home and they would talk about it.
But, by then, he must have known his political career was over. Or, at the very least, sidelined.
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This is no judgment on Ramirez. Mental health is not something to take lightly or discriminate against and people in his profession have an understandable super ratio of depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress (hats off also to nurses, doctors, firefighters and 911 dispatchers). Ramirez has been with Miami-Dade Police for nearly three decades, which means he has seen a lot of awful shit. Most recently, he was a constant figure at the Surfside Champlain Towers tragedy.
But his personal setback is a boon to the other candidates in the running and may even bring someone new to the race who had been unwilling to fight Ramirez’s almost certain victory.
Retired Miami-Dade Police Lt. Rickey Mitchell, another candidate, immediately sent out a statement extending his “heartfelt thoughts and prayers” to Ramirez and his family. “This incident is deeply saddening, and we hope for his full recovery and a return to good health,” Mitchell said in a statement.
“Upon learning about the tragic incident involving Director Ramirez, Rickey Mitchell expressed deep concern and a desire for the Director’s well-being and swift recovery,” the statement reads. “Director Ramirez’s commitment and service to our community throughout his career as a Miami-Dade Police lifer have not gone unnoticed, and his leadership has been crucial in maintaining public safety and upholding the law in our county.
“Director Ramirez’s dedication to protecting our community has been evident throughout his impressive tenure with the Miami-Dade Police Department. As a fellow law enforcement officer, Rickey Mitchell acknowledges the immense responsibility and challenges that come with this role. He commends Director Ramirez for his commitment and unwavering service, which have undoubtedly made a positive impact on the lives of countless residents in our county.”
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Of course, the statement also mentioned why Mitchell — who has loaned himself $275,000 for the campaign — is a good candidate for sheriff.
He “firmly believes in prioritizing public safety, fostering community collaboration, and implementing effective policing strategies to address the unique needs of Miami-Dade County. His 25-year career with the Miami-Dade County Police Department, coupled with his experience in running a funeral home business and a diverse educational background, have shaped his vision for a safer and stronger community.”
The other candidates who are not necessarily celebrating Freddy’s downfall as much as breathing a sigh of relief, are Miami Police Officer Ruamen de la Rua, the first to throw his hat in the ring, former Miami-Dade Police Officer Mario Knapp and Jaspen Bishop, who nobody seems to know.
So the race now is really between Mitchell and de la Rua, unless someone else steps in. Still in the wings, former Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez, who friends say is confident that the bribery charges against him will be dismissed or that he’ll be acquitted.
Freddy Ramirez suicide attempt leaves a real open race for Miami-Dade sheriff added by Ladra on
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