The Biscayne Bay Kiwanis Club has named City of Miami Police Det. Eutimio Cepero, who has been instrumental in the arrest of several of the city’s most violent criminal suspects, as its “Outstanding Police Officer.”
Cepero, a 16-year police department veteran, was honored at a recent Kiwanis Club luncheon.
“Detective Cepero conducted more than 30 death investigations, covering a wide range of natural, unclassified, suicides and accidental deaths in April alone,” said Albert A. A. Cartenuto III, a South Florida attorney and Biscayne Bay Kiwanis Board member. “The fact that he was able to use his dogged determination to solve three ‘who-done-it murders’ — thus identifying three very violent criminals and bringing closure to the families of the victims — has made our streets safer.”
Cepero will join three other “Outstanding Police Officer” recipients at the Kiwanis’ annual Biscayne Bay Gala, Oct. 25, at Jungle Island, for the announcement of the prestigious “2014 Outstanding Police Officer of the Year” award.
“Det. Cepero is a fine example of combining experience, knowledge and determination,” said Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa. “His unwavering diligence, persistence and commitment to his craft under difficult circumstances — including the unusual surge in homicides that month and the fact that he was training a new partner — is a testament to Det. Cepero. True to his nature, Det. Cepero not only embraced this challenge, but excelled during this month.”
“While we are not in this business for recognition, it is an honor to receive an award from an organization like the Biscayne Bay Kiwanis which is so involved in our community,” said Cepero, 50, who has been in the homicide division for six years. “Knowing that the community supports what we are doing is our greatest reward.”
In addition to honoring an “Outstanding Police Officer of the Year” at the Gala, Lauren Book, founder of Lauren’s Kids, will be honored as the club’s “2014 Michael Shores Citizen of the Year.” The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by a dinner and live auction at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets to the Gala — expected to be attended by more than 400 of South Florida’s business and community leaders — are $125 ($1,250 for a table of 10) until Aug. 31, and $150 ($1,500 for a table of 10) after that date.
For more information on table purchases, event sponsorship, or program advertising, contact the Biscayne Bay Kiwanis Club at 305-814-2225 or by email at gala@biscaynebaykiwanis.org.
