By Dessalines Ferdinand
The Miramar Police Department held a promotion and swearing-in ceremony last Thursday afternoon, July 7.
The two hour ceremony took place at the Multi-Service Complex Ballroom, located on the east side of the city. Seventeen new officers were sworn in and eight members of the police force received promotions. Among the promotees were two Haitian-Americans: Major Florinet Derac and Code Compliance Manager Duvard François.
The room was filled with special guests. Several elected officials, among them Miramar Vice Mayor Yvette Colbourne, Commissioner Maxwell B. Chambers and Commissioner Alexandra P. Davis attended the event. Florida State Representative Marie Paule Woodson (District 101 – Democrat) was also in attendance. City Manager Dr. Roy Virgin, Deputy City Manager Kelvin L. Baker, Sr., and all three Assistant City Managers (Adam L. Burden, II – Shaun D. Gayle – Stephen Johnson) were also in attendance for the ceremony. Family members and friends were also there to share in this special occasion.
City Manager Dr. Roy Virgin administered the oath of office before the new members were sworn in as police officers. He was joined by Chief of Police Leonard “Lenny” Burgess and other city officials to congratulate them as well as those who received promotions.
Major James Dunkelberger was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief; Captain Jose Sanchez was promoted to the rank of Major; Sergeant Shakera Bucknor-Ingram was promoted to the rank of Captain; Code Manager Ricardo Collings was promoted to the rank of Code Commander. Haitian-Americans Captain Florinet Derac was promoted to the rank of Major and Code Compliance Supervisor Duvard François was promoted to Code Manager.
Miramar has a population of 143,072 in 2022. According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Miramar was: Black or African American: 48.53%, White: 36.24%, two or more races: 7.63%, Asian: 5.11%, Other race: 2.27%. The Jamaican residents account for 15.4% of the black population, while Haitians account for 6%, which is second most among this demographic.
The promotions of Major Derac and Code Manager François are historic for the Haitian community in Miramar, since this is the first time in the 67 years that the city of Miramar Police force has had two Haitian-Americans become part of the Command and Executive staff.
Derac: A Man of Many “Firsts”
Florinet Derac – a 19 year veteran – has a record of being first in the 67 year history of the Miramar Police Department. He has been the first Haitian-American Sergeant, the first Haitian-American Captain and first Haitian-American Major. He is also the first black male to earn the rank of Major.
Born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Major Florinet Derac graduated high school at ‘Petit Seminaire College Saint Martial’ and later attended ‘L’ Institut National d’Administration, de Gestion et des Hautes Études Internationales (INAGHEI – Haiti’s State University)’ before relocating to Florida.
Derac began his career in public service in 1993 with the Florida Department of Corrections/Dade Correctional Institution where he served as an Accountant Supervisor. He also served as an Accountant with the Florida Department of Children and Family Services and later as a Senior Investigator for the Florida Office of the Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
In 2003, Florinet became a member of the Miramar Police Department. In 2013, Florinet was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He supervised the Road Patrol Division, Community Service Aide and the Community Resource Unit. In 2020, Florinet was promoted to the rank of Police Captain where he supervised the Road Patrol Division, Field Training, Community Service Aide and the Community Resource Unit.
Derac has both the academic and personal qualities to succeed at his new position. He has earned an Associate degree in Arts from Miami-Dade Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Florida International University (FIU). Along with many other departmental awards, in April 2017, Derac received the Miramar Police Chief’s Leadership Award.
Code Manager Duvard Francois, A Man of Faith
New Manager Duvard François joined the City of Miramar Police Department, Code Compliance Division in August 31, 2001. He navigated his way up to the ranks to become Manager after twenty-one years of service. This is a man who knows the Miramar Code Compliance Division, since he went through many steps (Code Officer, Code Officer I, Code Officer II, Code Compliance Supervisor) to become Code Compliance Manager. Thanks to this promotion, François becomes the first Haitian-American to be part of the executive command of the Miramar police force.
Just as with Major Derac, Manager François has a solid academic background. Born and raised in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, François holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and another bachelor’s in Public Administration with a minor in Criminal Justice from Florida International University (FIU). In addition to that, François also holds a master’s degree of Arts and Religion from Trinity International University (TIU). François is an Ordained and Licensed Pastor and also a licensed realtor. As an author, he has published two books: one in French, ‘L’aveuglement, le Cancer du Siècle’ and the other in English, Spiritual Blindness, the Costliest and Deadliest Cancer of the Century. Duvard Francois is the Founder and the Senior Pastor of Restoration Worship Center of the Christian Missionary Alliance CMA. François and his wife, Sara, have been married for thirty-four years and they have five beautiful children together (Rebecca, Caleb, Rachel, Esther and Nehemie), and three granddaughters (Amorah, Amya & Rileigh).
Among the speakers at the ceremony were Commissioner Maxwell B. Chambers, and Captain Ty Shaw-Williams who delivered an amazing closing remarks speech before Chaplain Don King ended the event with a prayer for all the new hires, the promotees and the city of Miramar community at large.
Several well-known personalities of the Haitian Community, such as Elizabeth Guerin and Farah Larrieux, who attended the ceremony, have expressed joy about the promotion of these two brothers. For them, Major Derac and Manager François are perfect examples for the youth who are looking for people to look up to. They are truly inspirational.
As the Haitian-American community grows and throughout South Florida, it becomes more important than ever to have these interests represented properly in government and law enforcement. These promotions are to be celebrated as they not only represent what’s possible for Haitian-Americans of all ages, but it also helps bridge the cultural gap that remains ingrained in too many regions of the state and nation.
Both of these inspiring leaders speak Creole, have been immersed in the Haitian culture much of their lives, and can connect and empathize with our community in ways other officers may not be able to.
And let us not overlook the value in academics. One of the major reasons these two men have excelled to where they are professionally is because of their strong academic pursuits. There was strong competition for these two promotions, and Derak and François earned them because of not only their experience, but also their dedication to furthering their education.
Our Haitian-American community should be proud of what these two men have accomplished and hold them up as role models for the next generation of young men and women to see that if you work hard and are dedicated to bettering yourself through effort and education, anything is truly possible.