LTC 010-2004 Leo Foundation Awards CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. o 0-2004
To:
From:
SubJect:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez ~_~"~
City Manager
LEO FOUNDATION AWARDS
Date: JanuaryS, 2004
This Letter to the Commission is to provide information on the nomination of several
members of the Miami Beach Police Department for awards from the LEO Foundation.
Sgt. Peter Smolyanski has been nominated in the Investigative Services Award category
for his participation in the FBI's "Operation White Terror". This complex investigation
involved trading cash and drugs for Russian-made weapons and resulted in the arrest of
four individuals and a major step forward in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking.
Sgt. James Harley and Sgt. David De La Espriella were nominated in the Crime Prevention
/ Community Policing award category. Sgt. Harleywas nominated for his role in developing
and implementing a "Junior Police Academy". The Junior Police Academy lasted for three
informative weeks and truly fostered an atmosphere of trust and respect, promoting
positive relationships between the police and the younger members of our community.
Sgt. De La Espriella Sergeant was nominated for his role in the "Teen Job Corps". The
Teen Job Corps is a non- profit organization that employs Miami Beach youths aged 14
and older. The organization employs youths for up to 6 hours per week. The organization
was created to provide after school jobs involving community service work. It also
mandates that the youths who are employed must attend school each day and participants
must stay out of trouble.
Officer Eric Dominguez was nominated in the Uniform Services Division for his exemplary
effort in the crusade against drunk driving. Officer Dominguez has received recognition
from the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization for the volume of DUI arrests he has
made during the last year.
Please join me in congratulating these extraordinary individuals for their hard work and
dedication to both the Miami Beach Police Department and the City of Miami Beach.
JMG\I~D\tr
c: Sergeant Peter Smolyanski, Sergeant James Harley
Sergeant David De La Esperiella, Officer Eric Dominguez
F:\POLI~ADMI\$CHI~004\LTC Leo Awards.doc