The head of Florida’s largest police department, Miami-Dade County, is in stable condition after surgery following a self-inflicted gunshot wound
Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez was hospitalized in critical condition following a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident took place on Monday, July 24, subsequent to a verbal altercation between Ramirez and his wife, Jody, at a JW Marriott hotel in Tampa during a sheriffs’ association conference.
Responding to a call reporting a couple in dispute and a man with a firearm, later identified as Ramirez, Tampa police assessed the scene. Finding no immediate danger, they left the premises.
Ramirez, 52, later pulled his vehicle over on Interstate 75 after exiting the hotel and shot himself in the head. His wife promptly contacted 911, leading to Ramirez’s immediate hospitalization for urgent surgery.
The self-inflicted gunshot was confirmed by Chad Chronister, the Hillsborough County sheriff. He expressed his expectation for Ramirez’s survival, while saying he had a lot of surgeries ahead, and emphasized the critical need for mental health support and understanding for their fellow officer in distress.
According to Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Ramirez resigned before he shot himself. She announced that she spoke to him on Sunday and he told her he had made some “mistakes.”
Ramirez, a 27-year veteran of the agency currently serving as Miami-Dade police director and county safety and emergency response chief, took office in January 2020. He had recently submitted his candidacy for Miami-Dade County sheriff in 2024 amidst a shift in the county’s law enforcement structure to an elected role.
The incident occurred on the opening day of the Florida Sheriffs Association’s summer conference, attended by over 500 law enforcement leaders nationwide. Ramirez’s critical condition has deeply resonated within the law enforcement community.