By Dessalines Ferdinand
NORTH MIAMI – A badge pinning and swearing-in ceremony was held on Wednesday, February 12, for the newest members of the City of North Miami Police Department. Eight new police officers (Anthony Cordoba, Rolando Batista, Julian Chavez, Dimitry Edouard, Alain Guerra, Jobans Jules, Bernard Marcellus, and Javier Revilla) were officially welcomed into the department by being sworn in at the Joe Celestin Center.
Major Diana Roman and Commander Michael Gaudio took and reaffirmed their oath of office during that pinning ceremony held as part of internal promotions.
The ceremony was cohosted by Assistant Chief John Riviera and other members of the command staff, including Major Belcher, Major Cardona, Major Blanchard, and Major Mesidor.
The officers stated during the ceremony, “I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Florida and faithfully discharge all of the duties of my position here at North Miami Police Department to the best of my ability, so help me God.”
“We are pleased to present our newest police officers that have joined our department,” said Chief Larry Juriga, a 26-year veteran of the North Miami Police Department.
After the introduction, each new member and the promoted officers were sworn in and their badges were presented to them for pinning by their family members.
A ceremony to award and pin the police badge on an individual who has earned it has been a long-standing law enforcement community tradition. There are two times a badge is presented to an officer. The first time is upon graduating from the police academy and the second is upon being promoted. Both times are significant career accomplishments.
The police force of the fifth largest municipality of Miami-Dade County is increasingly diverse. As of February 2020, NMPD has 123 sworn officers. At least three of the fourteen command staff members are Haitian-Americans: Assistant Chief Brenda, Major Mesidor, and Major Blanchard.
With the swearing-in of new hires Dimitry Edouard, Jobans Jules and Bernard Marcellus, a total of 30 Haitian-American officers are now part of the police force. This increased number makes the Haitian-Americans’ presence account for about twenty five percent (25%) of the police force.
There is incredible value in having a diverse police force, including these amazing Haitian-American officers. It provides several benefits, including the ability to better serve the Haitian community at large, helps to break down language barriers, and promotes a healthier relationship between the community and police force overall.
North Miami was reincorporated as a city in 1953. It is a “majority-minority” city with a population of 62,996 residents (as of July 2018). 62.2% are Black or African Americans. About 32 percent of the residents are Haitian. Three of five city council members are Haitian American.
The North Miami Police Department has gone through two Haitian-American chiefs in the past: Marc Elias and Gary C. Eugene.
The North Miami Police Department welcomes all qualified persons. The Department serves the North Miami community with multiple units, including Uniform Patrol, Canine, Marine Patrol, Motor Patrol, Mounted Patrol, S.W.A.T., Investigations, and Crime Suppression.