dignitaries who attended

the event from FIU, like

President Rosenberg. and

others. Various police

agencies around Dade

County sent their chiefs,

majors and command

staff to the swearing in.

Prominent leaders of the

community were also in

attendance. Miami Dade

County Police Director

Loftus spoke about los-

ing a valuable person

Florida International

University has grown

from its beginning days,

back in the1970’s ,

when there was nothing

but airplane runways

and a few buildings.

With the growing pains

of starting a new univer-

sity, also came many

important staffing posi-

tions that the university

required.

One of the most im-

portant positions is the

Director/Chief of Police

of the university. Flori-

da International Univer-

sity has had six chiefs

of police since its

origin. Each chief has

left his mark on the way

the department was han-

dled and has been run

operationally.

On December 1, 2011

Florida International Uni-

versity swore in its sixth

police chief, Alexander D.

Casas. The swearing in

ceremony took place in-

side the new police sta-

tion. There were many

FIU’s Newest Chief of Police, Alexander D. Casas

Blue Line Newsletter F A L L I S S U E 2 0 1 2

Several promotions took place this year. Capt. Ianniello was promoted to Assistant

Chief. Sergeant Lowe was promoted to Lieutenant. Ofc. Gonzalez was promoted to

Sergeant. Congratulations to all !!

Sgt. Michael Gonzalez finished and completed Rapid Deployment Force Training, at Miami

Dade Police Department. This rigorous training is only completed by a few officers.

The department sent all officers through Field Force training, Crisis Intervention Training,

and several of the department staff attended technical training courses throughout the

Tips on Tips on Tips on

Staying Safe Staying Safe Staying Safe

This HolidayThis HolidayThis Holiday When shopping go with a friend.

Know where you park your car

and park in a well lighted space

Keep all packages inside of the

trunk, not in the back seat.

Keep all receipts of purchases.

Make sure that you get your credit

card back after purchasing items.

Consolidate packages. Women should wear their purses Women should wear their purses Women should wear their purses

across their body.across their body.across their body. Make sure to lock car doors.Make sure to lock car doors.Make sure to lock car doors.

Stay Safe this Holiday!Stay Safe this Holiday!Stay Safe this Holiday!

P A G E 4

FIU Police Highlights

FIU POLICE

DEPT.

Pictures of our Staff

and Police Officers

The FIU

Police Dept.

operates 24

hours each

day to en-

sure your

safety and

well being.

At anytime

you need

assistance,

call into our

dispatch

center at:

(305)

348-2626

On campus

dial phones:

MMC

7-5911

or

BBC

6-5911

P A G E 2

THINK PINK !THINK PINK ! In an effort to raise awareness and

show support for breast cancer victims,

some of the FIU police officers wore pink

badges throughout the month of October.

According to the United Nations World

Health Organization, around 500,000 people worldwide die from breast

cancer every year. 2,747,459 is the number of women diagnosed cur-

rently with breast cancer. Men are also affected by this malignancy.

Susan Goodman, later Susan Goodman Komen, was born in 1943 in

Peoria, Illinois. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33.

She died of the disease at age 36 in 1980 . Komen's younger sister,

Nancy Goodman Brinker, who believed that Susan's outcome might

have been better if patients knew more about cancer and its treatment,

promised her sister that she would do everything she could to end

breast cancer. To fulfill that promise, Brinker founded the Susan G.

Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in Komen's memory in 1982.

B L U E L I N E N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 1 2

P A G E 3

The duties of an honor guard are to professionally represent their

department during times usually associated with great mourning.

Florida International University uses these dedicated officers to as-

sist at police officer funerals and other dignitary events and parades.

The Florida International University honor guard is composed of

three officers from the department; Ofc. F. Torres, Ofc. Z. Servello,

and Ofc. Guzman.

FIU police train and qualify three times

a year with their weapons. They must

maintain a quality of proficiency with

each weapon the department issues.

The university police recently issued tasers to all its police

officers. This new non-lethal weapon is just another tool to

have to stop a disturbance from escalating.

Miami-Dade Police Department assisted with the training.

Officers were exposed to the effect of the taser by subjecting

themselves to the electrical shock of the taser.

TRAINING FIU POLICE OFFICERS