March 2025

Officer of the Month

Detective Osvald Salien

The North Miami Police Department’s “Officer of the Month” for March 2025 is Detective Osvald Salien. He is currently assigned to the Investigative Section. He is being recognized for his outstanding performance for the following incident:

During the month of November 2024, Detective Salien was assigned a sexual battery case involving a vulnerable elderly victim. Detective Salien conducted a quick and thorough investigation, leading to the arrest of a violent offender, and providing expeditious justice to our citizen. Crime Scene Technician Andrade carried out a thorough and comprehensive forensic investigation, uncovering crucial evidence that helped identify the subject and solidify the chances of a successful prosecution. 

On November 24, 2024, a sexual battery/ aggravated battery occurred at 12485 NW 7 Avenue. The victim is a vulnerable elderly female who lives in her vehicle. The victim was asleep in her vehicle when she was awakened by the subject who was saying vulgar things to her. The subject opened the door and punched the victim in the face several times. The subject attempted to force himself on the victim. The suspect repeatedly and violently struck her in the face causing a tooth to be dislodged from her mouth. In addition to battering her, he sexually assaulted her. The victim was hospitalized due to her injuries.

Detective Salien conducted a photographic lineup with potential suspects and canvassed the area for possible surveillance footage. He also followed up on several investigative leads. Crime Scene Technician Andrade photographed both the victim and the scene. Crime Scene Technician Andrade swabbed the victim’s fingernails for potential DNA, and sent the evidence to the Miami-Dade Crime lab. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Division later notified Detective Salien and Crime Scene Technician Andrade that a DNA match was found from the swab taken from the victim’s fingernails. This confirmed the identification of the subject. On February 21st, 2025, the subject, who already was in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on an unrelated crime, was charged by Detective Salien for this egregious incident. By arresting the subject, the immediate risk to the community was reduced, as it ensured the offender could no longer commit violent crimes, thus preventing potential victimization. Detective Salien was able to bring a sense of closure and a sense of justice to the victim when he informed her that her assailant had been apprehended. 

Detective Salien never wavered in his pursuit of this violent offender. His collaborative efforts yielded the identification and arrest of the subject after the case had come to a standstill.