The head of Florida’s largest police department was in critical condition at one of the state’s hospitals on Monday after shooting himself on a busy interstate following a domestic dispute.
Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez, director of the Miami-Dade police department, and his wife, Jody, had earlier been asked to leave the JW Marriott hotel in Tampa’s downtown, where he was attending a sheriffs’ association conference.
According to the Tampa police department, officers were called to the hotel to investigate a report of a couple arguing and a man pointing a gun at himself. A statement provided to the Guardian said officers identified the man as Ramirez, but after talking to him and a woman with him, determined there was “no evidence of a crime or immediate danger” and left.
However, after leaving the hotel, the 52-year-old Ramirez pulled over on the side of interstate 75 and shot himself in the head. Chad Chronister, the sheriff of Hillsborough county, which includes Tampa, told reporters that Ramirez’s wife was with him in their car and called 911.
“From what we can tell processing the evidence [and] interviews that were conducted … it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Chronister said, adding that Ramirez was expected to survive.
“The sheriff’s office stands united with a profound sense of compassion and concern for our colleague who has experienced such a traumatic event. Mental health knows no boundaries and I hope that director Ramirez and anyone in crisis receives the help they deserve.”
The Florida highway patrol, in a statement, separately said that its troopers joined officers from the state department of law enforcement to conduct an investigation into the shooting.
“Director Ramirez suffered serious injuries and is hospitalized. No one else was injured. There is no threat to the community. Our investigation is active,” the statement said.
Ramirez underwent surgery early on Monday and was described as being in critical but stable condition, according to the mayor of Miami-Dade, Daniella Levine Cava.
“All that matters right now is Chief Ramirez’s wellbeing, and I join his family, his loved ones, and all his Miami-Dade police department and Miami-Dade county family in praying for his swift recovery,” she said in a tweet.
Cava’s office said she was traveling to Tampa to support Ramirez and his family. The Miami Herald reported that Ramirez called Cava on Sunday night after the episode at the hotel. A spokesperson for the mayor confirmed the call had taken place but did not divulge what they discussed.
The Herald saw an internal email from the Miami-Dade police department that urged officers not to make the 275-mile journey to show their own support. “Please continue to pray for his comfort and healing during these upcoming days,” the email said.
The shooting under investigation happened on the first day of the Florida Sheriffs Association’s four-day summer conference at Tampa’s JW Marriott hotel, which attracts more than 500 law enforcement leaders from around the country.
Ramirez was appointed to direct the Miami-Dade police department in January 2020, and he also acts as the county’s safety and emergency response chief. He has worked for the agency for 27 years.
He has filed paperwork to run for sheriff when the county shakes up its law enforcement system next year to comply with new legislation.
Miami-Dade has had no sheriff since a 1966 grand jury report found gross corruption and voters made the county’s top police job an appointed position rather than an elected one.
• In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 988 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org
