Officer of the Year 2025

Detective Gedeus Frederick

Detective Frederick is hereby nominated for Officer of the Year in recognition of his exceptional investigative skill, leadership, and unwavering dedication to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community while relentlessly pursuing violent offenders. His actions during multiple complex and high-impact investigations in 2025, coupled with consistent recognition for superior performance throughout the year, exemplify the highest standards of law enforcement service and reflect great credit upon himself and the North Miami Police Departmen

On September 24, 2025, the North Miami Police Department received a missing juvenile report involving a 15-year-old female who had not returned home. The investigation revealed that the juvenile had been communicating with an individual known only by the alias “Prince,” who had systematically groomed both the 15-year-old and her 13-year-old sister, likely for human trafficking purposes. The suspect encouraged the juveniles to leave their home and facilitated the older sibling’s departure by purchasing an Amtrak ticket under a false name, arranging transportation to the train station, and directing her to board a northbound train.

Although initial information suggested the juvenile was traveling to New York, Detective Frederick’s investigative diligence uncovered critical intelligence revealing that her actual destination was Baltimore, Maryland. This discovery fundamentally altered the investigative strategy and underscored the urgency of realtime intelligence sharing. Recognizing the hallmarks of an evolving human trafficking scheme, Detective Frederick immediately mobilized a multi-jurisdictional response.

Through close coordination with the Amtrak Police Department, Detective Frederick worked with their personnel to track the train route and upcoming stops. He also engaged the Winter Park Police Department, facilitating their rapid response to intercept the train before it left the state of Florida. At approximately 1:50 p.m., Winter Park officers boarded the Amtrak train and safely recovered the missing juvenile in the Orlando area, preventing her from reaching Baltimore and averting a potentially tragic outcome. Detective Frederick’s swift assessment, leadership, and coordination directly resulted in the disruption of a human trafficking attempt and the safe recovery of a vulnerable minor.

The significance of this investigation extended beyond the successful recovery of the juvenile. Detective Frederick’s human trafficking case was honorably mentioned at the Annual SAO Forum on Human Trafficking, where it was recognized as a critical example of trafficking indicators involving rail travel. As a result of the case discussion and lessons learned, Amtrak implemented protocol changes requiring enhanced identification checks, a measure that will help safeguard vulnerable individuals and prevent future trafficking attempts. This outcome highlights Detective Frederick’s broader impact on public safety and his contribution to meaningful, systemic change.

In December 2025, Detective Frederick again demonstrated extraordinary investigative acumen during a series of armed robberies spanning multiple jurisdictions. On Sunday, December 7, 2025, he responded to an armed robbery at a CVS Pharmacy, where the suspect brandished a firearm and fled with cash. While conducting the on-scene investigation, Detective Frederick immediately identified similarities between this incident and a robbery under investigation by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, recognizing indicators of a serial offender.

Exercising exceptional initiative, Detective Frederick contacted the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Robbery Unit and confirmed a similar armed robbery at Walgreens two days earlier. Through effective interagency collaboration, he coordinated the exchange of photo stills and investigative intelligence, establishing a critical link between the incidents. On December 8, 2025, Detective Frederick responded to an additional armed robbery at a 7-Eleven involving the same method of operation and immediately shared updated intelligence with partnering agencies.

As additional robberies were reported in Miami-Dade County and the City of Hollywood, Detective Frederick continued to drive the investigation forward. On December 9, 2025, he personally returned to the 7-Eleven to obtain higher-quality surveillance footage, developed enhanced suspect imagery, prepared photo lineups for both North Miami cases, and secured positive identifications from the victims. He then authored a Probable Cause Message and Probable Cause to Arrest flyer, actions that were instrumental in elevating the case to the federal level under the Hobbs Act.

As a direct result of Detective Frederick’s diligence and seamless coordination with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Robbery Unit and the FBI Task Force, surveillance operations were initiated, leading to the suspect’s apprehension on December 10, 2025. The suspect was taken into custody after dropping a loaded magazine while exiting the vehicle used in the robberies. Subsequent search warrants resulted in the recovery of clothing worn during the offenses, and the suspect later confessed to five robberies. The suspect remains in custody without bond and will face federal charges, with Detective Frederick having developed the strongest case among all agencies involved.

Detective Frederick’s exemplary performance throughout 2025 has been consistently recognized by the Department and other law enforcement entities. He earned Officer of the Month honors in September and December 2025, named Officer of the Third Quarter, and was honored as Officer of the Month for the Miami- Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police in November of 2025, distinctions that reflect sustained excellence, reliability, and impact well beyond isolated incidents.

Detective Frederick’s professionalism, persistence, and leadership reflect the highest ideals of law enforcement. His ability to identify complex criminal patterns, recognize indicators of human trafficking, and mobilize interagency resources resulted not only in the protection of a vulnerable juvenile and the removal of a dangerous armed offender from the community, but also in meaningful procedural improvements that enhance public safety on a broader scale. These actions embody the Department’s Mission and Values and demonstrate the profound, life-changing impact of dedicated police work.

For these reasons, Detective Frederick is highly deserving of recognition as Officer of the Year for 2025.