HomeMy Public PortalAboutLTC 106-2022 - MDCCP Officer of the Month - WaismanBAL HARBOUR
- VILLAGE -
OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE MANAGER LETTER TO COUNCIL
NO. 106-2022
TO: Mayor Gabriel Groisman and Members of the Village Council
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, Village Manage
DATE: July 8, 2022
SUBJECT: Miami -Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police Officer of the Month
Award for June 2022 - Officer J. Waisman
The purpose of this Letter to Council (LTC) is to share with you that the Miami -Dade County
Association of Chiefs of Police selected Officer Jorge Waisman as the Officer of the Month for
June 2022.
On the afternoon of April 23, 2022, a frantic wife made a desperate call for help while boating
with her husband. A severe attack of vertigo left her husband unable to navigate their vessel,
and the wife feared a collision with the 96th Street bridge on the County's intercoastal
waterways. The couple radioed the Coast Guard and Sea Tow for help, but both were over an
hour away. Their next call was to Bal Harbour's Mayor Gabriel Groisman, who answered the
call despite vacationing with his own family. Mayor Groisman reached outto Bal Harbour Police
Officer Jorge Waisman. Officer Waisman was off -duty and out on the town with his wife.
Officer Waisman answered his phone, spoke to Mayor Groisman, and learned of a man
suffering a medical emergency, adrift with his wife on a vessel in the intercoastal waterways,
and in danger of colliding with a nearby bridge. Within five minutes of the initial call, Officer
Waisman was on the way to respond to the call.
Officer Waisman placed his night on hold and sought the assistance of the Indian Creek Police
Department and their patrol boat. Indian Creek transported Officer Waisman to the vessel in
distress, where he took charge of the vessel and rendered aid to those on board. Officer
Waisman skillfully navigated the vessel to the dock, where the victim could receive further
medical attention. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was diagnosed as
suffering from vertigo and severe dehydration. An enjoyable day on a boat could have ended
in tragedy had Officer Waisman simply ignored a telephone call.
Officer Jorge Waisman demonstrated what many fail to understand; try as they may, a police
officer is never really off -duty. The spirit of public service is engrained in the heart of police
officers and they cannot simply stand by while others are in danger. Officer Waisman's actions
were in keeping with the highest standards of the law enforcement community and the spirit
with which they serve. His selfless commitment to others merits gratitude and recognition.
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LTC No. 106-2022
Officer J. Waisman – Officer of the Month