HomeMy Public PortalAboutLTC 011-2017 Officer Compliment – Ofc. Braxton McClams and Ofc. Ricardo Rodriguez in the Bal Harbour Village Police DepartmentBAL HARBOUR
- VILLAGE -
OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE MANAGER
LETTER TO COUNCIL
NO. 011-2017
To: Mayor Gabriel Groisman and Members of the Village Council
From: Jorge M. Gonzalez, Village Manager
Date: January 20, 2017
Subject: Officer Compliment - Ofc. Braxton McClams and Ofc. Ricardo
Rodriguez in the Bal Harbour Village Police Department
The purpose of this Letter to Council (LTC) is to transmit to you a positive compliment
received praising Officer Braxton McClams and Officer Ricardo Rodriguez in the Village's
Police Department for providing courteous community service.
The positive compliment letter has been attached for your review.
Join me in recognizing these Officers for their hard work in promoting a positive
community -oriented Police Department.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to contact
me or Captain Miguel de la Rosa.
JMG/MdIR/AC
Date: January 5th, 2017
TO: Captain De La Rosa, Officer McClams, Officer Rodriguez
CC: Lieutenant Flowers, Lieutenant Amago
RE: Bal Harbour Police Department- job well done
Dear Captain De La Rosa:
I want to thank the Bal Harbour Police Department, you and specifically Officers
McClams and Rodriguez for their tremendous kindness and assistance to my family
this past New Years Eve. Our 20 -year -old son had attended a party and sadly ended
up drinking too much. When I tried to take him back to where we were staying in
the village he became confrontational. He got out of my car and started to walk
down the sidewalk of Collins Avenue. I was following him in my car, which was not
safe to do, and then he ended up straying into the road a little and then back to the
sidewalk. At this point I realized I needed help keeping him safe and called your
department.
Officer McClams and Officer Rodriguez arrived quickly and immediately began
talking with our son. They treated him kindly, with no threats and knew that we
were just in a tough spot. I was incredibly shaken (I do not drink at all so I am not
skilled in any of this) and both officers took the time to settle my nerves as well. I
was so thankful that they understood the situation- this is a good kid who had made
bad choices that night and I was caught between having my son learn something but
not punishing him with something that would permanently affect him.
The officers never seemed rushed to be done with us- they counseled me and we
had an insightful, tremendously helpful conversation about teenage boys and the
fact that tonight was not the time for me to even attempt to communicate with my
son. They went on to allow me to explain some of
the mistakes he's made in the past and my fear of him "not catching on" etc. Again,
they listened so patiently, counseled, and shared advice all of which was wise and to
the point of helping our family move forward in the right direction with our son.
After helping get my son back in the car, Officer McClams offered to follow us home
to make sure we were set. Officer McClams walked us to our door and told my son
he had to go to bed and not to leave the apartment or mom would have to call again
so he could be kept safe.
I had asked both officers that night if they would consider talking with my son the
next day when he was of right mind so he could hear their perspective. Of course
being the dedicated people they are they agreed willingly and I told them I would
call.
Two days later Officer McClams met with my son and my husband and spent time
talking to them about the reality of what my son has to do now for himself. I do not
have words, nor can I describe how well Officer McClams handled this meeting- my
husband was blown away and we know our son was taking it all in. The officer was
kind enough to share personal experiences didn't lecture, and he didn't put our son
down or make him feel like a bad kid: he simply talked and shared his wisdom. Once
again both my husband and son never got the feeling that the Officer was rushed or
had somewhere better to be (in fact we know he did) but they felt they were his top
priority at that time which is in incredible in today's world when that unselfishness
seems all too rare. Our son told his grandfather that his meeting with officer
McClams had more of "an impact" on him than anything he can think of.
To go one step further, I called the station that night to thank Officer McClams once
again for going so far above and beyond the call of duty. After I thanked him we
began to talk and I told him I was still so upset and feel that we need to make sure
this was a huge wake up call for my son who is to return to Boston College in a few
weeks. In his wise, caring, heartfelt way Officer McClams then spent over an hour
and half (OFF DUTY time- I know his shift was over) going over everything with me
and how "mom and dad need a plan of action". He didn't feel we should pull our son
from college, but by the end of the phone call I had three pages of notes of pertinent
advice, suggestions and again personal experiences from Officer McClams. He
presented his thoughts and it was presented in a clearer more poignant way than
any doctor had for us in the past.
Thanks to officer McClams now we know our next moves. We now are in the works
of getting those things done and on paper with a contract with our son. Officer
McClams went on to share his email address and phone number with our son and
said to please feel free to touch base if anything isn't going well, if he needs help or
even better yet if it is going well.
I know this letter is too long but each time I tried to shorten it I felt I was leaving out
too many of the snippets that made our experience with the Bal Harbour Police
Department as incredible as it was. They kept my son safe and there's nothing more
important in life than that. I hope and pray we only see your officers for fun at the
Sea view or in town on our next yearly visit, but if we do need their assistance ever
again I cannot think of any finer people who we could rely or lean on for help.
I hope this letter is shared with any or all of the Police Department to help honor
these two (especially Officer McClams) and if you would like it shared anywhere else
please contact me so we could remove my identity/name.
Sincerely and All the Best
-:171
Jenn fer McDonough Albanesi
(860) 250-6411