MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL– In a press conference Wednesday morning, Miami Mayor Daniella Levine Cava reported that Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez offered to resign from his position before attempting to commit suicide.
Mayor Cava says Ramirez called her around 8:30 p.m. Sunday while traveling home to Miami from Tampa following a having a dispute with his wife.
The 52-year-old director told Ramirez that he made a mistake and offered to resign.
The mayor told reporters that she told the director to “get home safely and we’ll talk tomorrow,” however, authorities say Ramirez shot himself a short time later along Interstate 75, just south of Tampa.
According to the report, Ramirez was in Tampa to attend the Sheriff’s Summer Conference and Sunday evening was the first night of the four-day event.
Around 6:30 p.m., authorities say Ramirez and his wife stepped out of the JW Marriott where the event was taking place and started arguing.
During the argument, a witness says they saw Ramirez pull his firearm and point it at himself, so they called the police.
Authorities were said to have made contact with Ramirez and his wife around 6:50 p.m.
“After additional questioning, Ramirez stated he had no intention to harm himself or others,” the news release stated. “The known female corroborated that they had an argument and that she did not have any concerns about her safety being in danger.”
Police also reported that since the witness left the area and hotel surveillance did to catch the incident, they only had the statements of Ramirez and his wife.
Ramirez is said to be “alert, awake, and responsive” and getting stronger every day. Mayor Cava told the media that Ramirez is surrounded by family and loved ones at this time and reminded the public of the high stress and emotional taxation of law enforcement individuals.
Mayor Cava also expressed her “total trust” in Ramirez and praised him for being the “type of leader, the type of man that bears the burden of those around him.”
Deputy Director Stephanie Daniels has been named interim head of the police department, and Chief of Corrections and Forensics JD Patterson
have been named interim chief of public safety by the mayor.