Snowfest Parade Has Two Injured North Miami Beach Officers As Grand Marshals

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

NORTH MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) -- At the annual Snowfest parade in North Miami Beach on Saturday the two grand marshals have had quite a year.  Police officers Lino Diaz and Nicole Mood were both seriously hurt on the job.

A man Officer Diaz was serving a federal arrest warrant is accused of shooting Diaz twice in February.  And, just last month a car with two men inside slammed into Officer Mood's patrol unit, wrapping it around a pole.

"We face lots of danger out here," explained Officer Diaz.  "Our lives are at risk.  Some of us make it and unfortunately some of us don't.  These are the dangers that we face trying to protect the citizens."

Hundreds of those very citizens lined the street just outside the police department for Snowfest, showing support for the officers.

"The beginning of the year was very hard, having Lino shot," Chief Bill Hernandez said.  "We went through a lot of trials and tribulations.   As you know Lino's back, he's strong and that's what we expect for Nicole."

"I would just like to thank the community for their support, their outreach from the letters I received and the donations," added Officer Mood.  "I'm so blessed to work for a community like this."

After their life-threatening experiences and a life-changing 2015 coming to an end, Officer Diaz told CBS4 Reporter Donna Rapado that he and Officer Mood have learned the importance of perspective.

"A lot of the miniscule problems don't seem like they're a lot.  There's bigger things to worry about," said Diaz.