December 2024

Officer of the Month

Officer Patrick Smith

The North Miami Police Department’s “Officer of the Month” for December 2024 is Officer Patrick Smith. Officer Smith is currently assigned to the Dayshift Uniform Patrol Section. He is being recognized for his outstanding performance during the following incident:

On December 1st, 2024, at approximately 1:45 p.m., an Uber Eats driver, the victim, in this case, arrived at the Taco Bell located at 640 NE 124th Street to pick up an order. As he exited his vehicle, which was parked next to a white SUV, a male suspect suddenly violently attacked him, striking him in the head with closed fists. The victim was repeatedly punched until he fell to the ground, causing him to drop his iPhone. The suspect then grabbed the iPhone and fled the scene in the white SUV, heading westbound on Northeast 125th Street. The victim sustained injuries to his head, arms, and knees during the attack.

Upon arriving at the scene, Officer Smith promptly issued a BOLO via police radio and began canvassing the area for potential surveillance footage to aid the investigation. During this effort, the victim informed Officer Smith that he had received a delayed location update for his iPhone before it was powered off. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Officer Smith requested the assistance of back up officers. Together, they coordinated a plan to locate the suspect and recover the stolen property.

The officers quickly responded to the designated area, developed a plan, and executed it with precision. They engaged with residents to gather information, leading Officer Smith to uncover a critical lead about a suspicious male seen near the area of Northwest 12th Avenue and 130th Street. Acting on this information, officers began a foot search of the area and located the victim’s iPhone hidden in some bushes. The iPhone was confirmed as the victim’s by the photo on the screensaver. Meanwhile, Officer Smith spotted a male matching the description of the robbery suspect who was walking westbound on Northwest 131st Street.

The officers detained the individual and arranged a show-up with the victim, who positively identified him as the assailant. During a search conducted incident to the arrest, the officers discovered two iPhone cases in the suspect’s possession, one of which was confirmed to belong to the victim. The swift and decisive actions of Officer Smith not only led to the recovery of the victim’s property but also prevented further potential victimization, as the suspect appeared to be seeking another target. The dedication demonstrated by Officer Smith highlighted his commitment to solving the crime and apprehending a dangerous offender.