Miami-Dade police director hospitalized following self-inflicted gunshot wound

Diego Diaz | Interim Editor-in-Chief

Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III is ‘critical but in stable condition’ after reportedly shooting himself Sunday night while driving to Tampa.

According to NBC Miami, Ramirez had driven to Tampa to attend a Florida Sheriff Association conference. He would never arrive, instead being asked to leave his lodging by hotel staff following a domestic dispute, leading to Ramirez pulling to the shoulder of I-75 South and shooting himself.

“All that matters right now is Chief Ramirez’s wellbeing, and I join his family, his loved ones and all his Miami-Dade Police Department and Miami-Dade County family in praying for his swift recovery,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava in a press release.

Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement and Florida Highway Patrol released a statement Monday morning confirming reports of the shooting and announcing a joint investigation into the incident.

“FDLE Agents and Troopers were on scene and will continue conducting investigative interviews today.” 

A more than 27-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department, Ramirez has risen through the ranks of the department, promoted to police director in 2020 by former Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. Most recently, Cava announced Ramirez as Chief of Safety and Emergency responses, placing him in charge of MDPD and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

Ramirez had announced in May his interest in joining the ballot for the Miami-Dade Sheriff position, which is set to take over the county’s law enforcement responsibilities in 2025.

This is a breaking story and will be updated as more information becomes available.