Law enforcement pays tribute to fallen Miami-Dade Detective Cesar Echaverry
MIAMI - Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across South Florida, standing shoulder to shoulder, lined the path as the body of Miami-Dade Detective Cesar Echaverry was taken from Jackson Memorial Hospital to the Medical Examiner's Office.
There was a stillness in the air as a flag-draped casket was loaded into a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue ambulance. Many of the officers saluted as it passed, others held their hands over their hearts. The ambulance was escorted to the ME's office by an honor guard and members of the Miami-Dade police department on motorcycles.
The procession passed under an American flag, suspended in the air by a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue ladder truck, before arriving at its final destination.
Paulette Darow of Miami told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that she was compelled to go to Jackson Memorial Hospital to watch the procession.
"What I think is officers are hurting because we are together and we are one family," she said. "When one hurts, we all hurt. I stand with them because without the police officers who are we, because anyone in need, the first person you call is our police officers. We are standing together because we are here to stay and we are not going anywhere and that's why I have my cowbell and my cowbell is ringing for the officers. We might be crying right now but we are going to continue to stand forever."
Just before 2:30 p.m. the Miami-Dade Police motorcycle officers returned to the Medical Examiner's Office and were seen escorting a hearse back up Northwest 12th Ave. The final destination for Eschaverry's body was the Vior Funeral Home in Miami.
Echaverry, 29, was shot Monday night while trying to arrest a suspect tied to an armed robbery in Dania Beach. He was taken to Jackson Memorial where he died on Wednesday.
"Officer Echaverry died in the line of duty while serving & protecting our community," said Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez in a statement. "We'll never forget Officer Echaverry's bravery & sacrifice. Godspeed, brother."
Echaverry is the first officer to be shot and killed in the line of duty under both Mayor Daniela Levine Cava and Director Ramirez.
South Florida PBA President Steadman Stahl told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "It is heartbreaking and he now walks with angels. We pray for his family and will help them cope with what is going on right now. It is devastating. Anytime you lose an officer it is devastating what has happened. It is also gut wrenching and crushing to a lot of people right now. The honor guard is a way of showing our respect and it won't end here. It won't end with this procession today. It's going to be followed up with his funeral and he is not going to be forgotten for his sacrifice to this community."
Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Jose "Pepe" Diaz said he paid his respects to the officer's family and said, "Like everything this hurts. This person was out there defending us against the very worst in society. To see someone struck down like this. He was a warrior, a sentinel. This was not a good thing for anyone. It goes against society and our way of doing things. It hurts a lot."
Echaverry was with the department's Robbery Intervention Detail or RID, which works in some of the county's most crime-ridden neighborhoods.
According to police, RID detectives spotted a vehicle that was involved in the Dania Beach armed robbery in the area of NW 62 Street and NW 17 Avenue.
CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald reports they pulled the driver over, but he refused to get out of the vehicle.
In an attempt to escape, the driver sped off, striking the detectives' vehicles.
The officers gave chase before it came to an end near NW 62 Street and 10 Avenue. The suspects then bailed out of the vehicle.
"An altercation ensued and shots were fired resulting in both the officer and subject shot," according to a police press release.
Echaverry was shot in the head, while the suspect, Jimmie Horton, was killed.
Horton's alleged accomplice in the Dania Beach robbery was shot and killed by police at Miami Springs hotel on Tuesday evening when they went to take him into custody.
Echaverry is the 24th Miami-Dade officer in the department's history to die after a shootout. He is the first South Florida police officer killed since Hollywood police officer Yandy Chirino was shot to death on October 18, 2021.
The last Miami-Dade police officers to die in a shootout with a suspect were Detectives Amanda Haworth and Roger Castillo. They were shot and killed in 2011 while trying to arrest a fugitive. That shooting was about half a mile from where Echaverry was shot.
