Miami Police Department held a memorable street naming ceremony Wednesday morning to honor South Florida native Sergeant Angel Calzadilla.
At 10 a.m. along Southwest 19th Avenue and Southwest 1st Street, Commissioner Frank Carollo officially unveiled “Angel Calzadilla Way” and celebrated Calzadilla’s 22- year career.
Calzadilla, who passed away in 2011 at 48 years old, was remembered for his numerous achievements.
According to police, Sergeant Angel Calzadilla began working with the Miami Police Department in 1988 patrolling the streets of Little Havana. Calzadilla later worked as a hostage negotiator, department spokesperson and senior executive assistant to the police chief.
Calzadilla was a four-time Gold Lifesaving Medal recipient and six-time Officer of the Month winner.
He also received the Rotary Club’s Officer of the Year award in 1998.
Calzadilla is remembered for organizing the Teddy Bear Patrol Project, a program that gives officers stuffed animals to keep in their patrol cars and hand out to distressed children at crime scenes.
