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“Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid” President Ronald Reagan
Being a law enforcement professional is especially challenging these days. Although May 9 – 15 is National Police Week, originally dedicated in 1962 when President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices, our law enforcement community deserves our appreciation and recognition every day of every week of the year.
Anthony Damato, Director of VIP Sales and Community Engagement for Toyota of North Miami, has created a tradition of honoring law enforcement by donating a three-year lease to the recipient of the Miami-Dade Association of Chiefs of Police ‘Officer of the Year’ for the past five years. Damato said, “Our business community and our community stands in solidarity with law enforcement and recognizes the incredible sacrifices these brave men and women make each day that they leave their homes. It is Toyota of North Miami’s pleasure to be able to do this small gesture to show law enforcement how much they mean to us and how valued they are.” Partnering in this year’s donation was Barry Skolnick, Chairman of the Community-Police Relations Foundation, a charity dedicated to strengthening community and law enforcement relations.
The Miami Beach Police Honor Guard presented the colors, followed by the invocation given by Rev. Gary Johnson, Miami Beach Police Department Chaplain. Florida State Senator Jason Pizzo offered moving remarks about the extraordinary courage and dedication with which members of law enforcement act each day, putting their lives on the line to keep our communities safer, saying “Incredibly brave acts of law enforcement officers should be recognized, especially when they’re off-duty….there are selfless examples of heroism.”
Miami Beach Police Chief Richard Clements spoke proudly about the honoree, Miami Beach Police Officer Lavaniel Hicks. Major David De La Espriella, Past President of the Miami-Dade County Association of Police Chiefs, presented Officer Hicks with his organization’s “Officer of the Year” award. “The annual “Officer of the Year” award from our association is selected from amongst the Officers of the Month from the previous year. The Awards Committee reviews all those award winners and then makes the final selection. I always see all award winners as representative of the heroism and incredible work by our law enforcement officers that gets done every hour of every day of every year in Miami-Dade County. This one had special meaning to me because Officer Hicks works for our Miami Beach Police Department and I knew the story behind the award. Officer Hicks is definitely worthy of this recognition.”
The big moment arrived when Anthony Damato, Florida Senator Jason Pizzo and Barry Skolnick unveiled the 2021 Custom Toyota 4Runner Venture Special Edition, their gift to Officer Hicks.
But that wasn’t the end of Toyota of North Miami’s honoring law enforcement. Officer Hicks and his wife Ulanda were given the honor of unveiling a 2021 Toyota Venza with images honoring those who bravely gave their lives in the line of duty, including FBI Special Agents Laura Schwartzenberger and Daniel Alfin. Daniel’s brother David and FBI Special Agent in Charge, George Piro, joined Officer Hicks and Ulanda for the unveiling. This automobile will be driven by North Miami Beach Police Officer Quinones to different events throughout the year to honor our fallen heroes.
Toyota of North Miami is located at 16600 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami 33169. Anthony Damato, Director of VIP Sales & Community Engagement. 786.384.9505 anthony.damato@toyotaofnorthmiami.com
