Officer of the Year 2024

Officer Omar Quintero and Officer Carlos Madrid

The North Miami Police Department’s “Officer of the Year” for 2024 are Officer Omar Quintero and Officer Carlos Madrid. Officer Quintero and Officer Madrid are assigned to the Afternoon Shift Uniform Patrol Section. They are being recognized for their outstanding performance during the following incident:

On May 19th, 2024, at approximately 10:44PM, Officer Quintero and Officer Madrid were conducting a high visibility detail at RK Plaza, located at NE 123 Street and Biscayne Boulevard. While on patrol, Officer Quintero was flagged down by a concerned bystander who reported seeing a man slumped outside his vehicle in the parking lot. Officer Quintero promptly responded and observed a man on the ground, appearing to have fallen while exiting the driver’s seat of his vehicle.

Officer Madrid quickly provided backup to Officer Quintero as they assessed the situation. Officer Quintero soon realized it was an overdose situation, noting the medical signs of an overdose and a needle in the man’s arm. The incident was captured on the officers’ department-issued body-worn cameras, showing the man’s body was entirely limp and unresponsive. Officer Quintero promptly instructed Officer Madrid to retrieve his Narcan from the vehicle in an attempt to save the man from a possible overdose.

Officer Madrid quickly went to the vehicle, retrieved Narcan, and returned to the man, administering a nasal spray dose. When there was no response, Officer Madrid administered a second dose. Officer Quintero continuously monitored the man, checking for a pulse. Unable to detect a pulse, Officer Madrid began performing CPR chest compressions. In the video, Officer Quintero can be heard saying,” I don’t see any pulse; he is not breathing.” Officer Madrid continued performing additional compressions while Officer Quintero monitored for any signs of breathing or consciousness, and held the victim’s head in a safe position to prevent injury on the pavement.

During the incident, Officer Quintero verbally encouraged the man to wake up. The officers performed a sternal rub to elicit a response and continued CPR. Eventually, wheezing sounds could be heard from the man on the video, and Officer Quintero can be heard saying,” Come back, come back to life. He’s got a pulse now, he’s got a pulse.” Realizing the man had begun to breathe, the officers gently placed him in the recovery position and used a balled-up shirt to cushion his head for comfort. By the time Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived to transport the man to the hospital, Officers Quintero and Madrid had stabilized him.

Without a doubt, if Officer Quintero and Officer Madrid had not been on the scene and acted quickly, the man might not have survived the overdose. Their quick thinking and decisive actions made a “Positive Impact” on this man’s life and prevented a tragedy. I am proud to recognize Officers Quintero and Madrid for their actions in this case and for their exemplary display of our agency’s core values of Empathy and Professionalism. Officer Quintero and Officer Madrid are truly heroes.