{"id":24185,"date":"2023-09-12T21:44:21","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T04:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/somimag.com\/?p=24185"},"modified":"2023-09-13T06:06:17","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T13:06:17","slug":"rank-and-file-retirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/somimag.com\/rank-and-file-retirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Rank And File Retirements"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/a>
Special Feature<\/span><\/div>
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Rank And File <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Retirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Chief Ren\u00e9 G. Landa<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Officer Rodney Napier<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Chief Ren\u00e9 G. Landa and Officer Rodney Napier, two of the City of South Miami Police Department\u2019s finest, are retiring from the force. Chief Landa after a long and distinguished career and Officer Napier as a new recruit to SMPD devoted to serving as the Community Affairs officer from 2018 to 2023.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chief Ren\u00e9 G. Landa <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat a great way to retire! It is exciting for me to wish him well in his next chapter,\u201d said South Miami City Manager, Genaro, \u201cChip\u201d Iglesias said of Chief Landa\u2019s retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief Landa\u2019s experience in law enforcement took place during some of Miami\u2019s most high-profile and chaotic events when he was with the City of Miami, beginning in 1980. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThose were some days in Miami–Cocaine Cowboys, Mariel boatlift, and a lot of civil unrest,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miami was once at the center of a number of events that garnered the attention of the entire country. Drugs were rampant as any episode of the old television show \u201cMiami Vice\u201d could tell you. Miami was awash with drugs, murders, and fear. The Medellin Cartel made monthly shipments of 70 to 80 tons of cocaine into the US from Colombia. In 1981 Miami was responsible for trafficking 70 percent of the country\u2019s cocaine and marijuana, earning it the \u201cDrug Capital of the World\u201d title with \u201cCocaine Cowboys\u201d running the operation on the streets of what was <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

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 then called Dade County.  In 1980 the Haitian migration and the Cuban migration (Mariel boatlift) served to strain the social\/governmental network needed to process and house 125,000 Cuban migrants and 25,000 Haitian migrants. More civil unrest was prompted by the murder of Arthur McDuffie, a black insurance salesman at the hands of six Dade County Public Safety officers who were acquitted at trial. Riots took place in Overtown, Brownsville, and Liberty City occasioning the <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Receiving the coveted state police accreditation at a Jacksonville, Florida ceremony are (L-R): Off. Napier, City Manager Genaro \u201cChip\u201d Iglesias, Mayor Javier Fernandez, Chief Landa, Capt. Larry Corbin and SMPD Communications Manager Lisa Corbin<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chief Landa speaks at the \u201cBlue Mass\u201d at the annual St. Michael\u2019s Day Celebration. Michael the Archangel is the patron saint of law enforcement<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Chief Landa with state Atty Gen. Ashley Moodey at the \u201cBack the Blue Award\u2019 event in recognition of the Florida Assoc. of Crime Stoppers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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governor\u2019s calling up of the National Guard in an attempt to maintain order. Three days of rioting saw 18 people killed, 370 injured, 787 arrests and property destruction exceeding $100 million. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ren\u00e9 G. Landa joined the SMPD in 2010 and was tapped for the position of Acting Chief in 2013. He was promoted to Chief and later sworn in on March 7, 2014. \u201cMy wife Maritza was the first to pin my badge on me, and today it\u2019s going to be my granddaughter,\u201d Chief Landa said at the swearing-in. The Chief\u2019s baby granddaughter, Brianna, a young baby, \u201cpinned\u201d his badge on him, with some help from her father (Dr. Ren\u00e9 Landa) and grandmother.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ren\u00e9 Landa\u2019s passion for law enforcement has been in his blood since he was a college junior and rode along with the police as part of his Criminal Justice studies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

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\u201cI was going to become an attorney, but after that one ride with Officer Delgado, I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,\u201d said Landa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A police officer for 43 years, Chief Landa\u2019s leadership abilities are a result of his continued educational training and on-the-job experience in the field. His education includes a master\u2019s degree from Florida International University; leadership classes at Harvard\u2019s Kennedy School of Government and FIU; and training with the F.B.I. at Quantico, Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief Landa believes in effective and efficient law enforcement achieved by maintaining public safety and providing excellent service to the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe goal of law enforcement is finally to be a person who helps others.
I expect that our officers will treat the public with the sincerest respect and the utmost professionalism,\u201d said Landa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Post-retirement plans include traveling and his continued work with the organization Boulder Crest and the Officer Wellness program, and his membership in the Miami-Dace County Association of Chiefs of Police. The Chief is keenly interested in and passionate about the Officer<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chief always enjoys time spend with the neighborhood children<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Wellness program and believes that the emotional needs of law enforcement officers and first responders require more attention from the public and solutions for those suffering from the rigors of the profession. He will continue to work with SMPD officers on this program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Officer Rodney Napier<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Officer Rodney Napier<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Officer Rodney Napier served as South Miami\u2019s Community Affairs officer. His career with SMPD began in February 2018. Chief Landa was the keynote speaker at Napier\u2019s graduation from the Police Academy. Impressed by the cadet\u2019s achievements, the Chief invited him to consider joining the SMPD on graduation day. Napier earned the top honors in academics, physical agility, and the coveted Director\u2019s Award. This he accomplished at the age of 55. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Officer Napier hails from Ohio where he owned a very successful capital holdings company, that began with two employees and now has 1300. He still owns the company. Asked what prompted him to<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Officer Napier working with the homeless in the community<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Officer Napier community services photos by Douglas Higginbotham<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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become a police officer late in life, his comment was that like many 10-year-old boys, he had respect for the police and what they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community Affairs is exactly what Ofc. Napier wanted to do. As a police officer, he took what he learned about dispute resolution in his business and applied it directly to the South Miami community. In his capacity with the SMPD, Napier was able to make a difference in the daily life of the community and its people. He was there to ensure the safety and welfare of all residents, including the vulnerable, elderly, homeless, those with mental health crises, addiction, or someone whose luck had just run out. His ability<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

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to resolve issues with South Miami business owners and work with local service providers and hospitals has done much to assist those in need who need it the most. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe synergy Chief Landa and I have developed over the past years has blossomed because of his genuine care and concern for others, resulting <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a recent city commission meeting, Officer Napier\u2019s service to the community and his retirement was recognized with a presentation. Pictured are: Chief Landa, city commissioners Steve Calle and Brian Corey, Napier\u2019s husband Kyle Hyatt, Napier, Mayor Javier Fernandez and Vice Mayor Lisa Bonich<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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in what I envision will be a lifelong friendship,\u201d wrote Ofc. Napier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rodney Napier will remain in his home in Miami Beach where he lives with his husband Kyle Hyett, a business owner (Habitat Hyett) on Lincoln Road.   He will return to managing his Ohio business. Ofc. Napier has three adult children from his first marriage and a brand-new grandson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been an honor to be a part of this community and I plan to stay on as a reserve police officer to SMPD,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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As a farewell, he wrote to Chef Landa, \u201cEagles are meant to soar and Chief Landa\u2019s passion has never waned even after 43 years. And now, that Eagle will be set free to achieve greatness again as he marches on with the Officer Wellness Program. With that, I cannot stress enough what a brilliant law enforcement leader and role model Chief Landa has been for me during my service with the South Miami Police Department. My time here will remain one of the most memorable beacons of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Article by Donna Shelley<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Special Feature<\/span><\/div>
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Rank And File Retirements Chief Ren\u00e9 G. Landa and Officer Rodney Napier, two of the City of South Miami Police Department\u2019s finest, are retiring from the force. Chief Landa after a long and distinguished career and Officer Napier as a new recruit to SMPD devoted to serving as the Community Affairs officer from 2018 to<\/p>\n

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