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Off-Duty Cop Dies After Plunging From I-95 Ramp

November 9, 2005

Jose Diaz died doing exactly what his police colleagues expected of him early Saturday morning: He tried to help a fellow officer.

Diaz was on his way home to Dania Beach from an off-duty detail about 4 a.m. when he saw two police cars making a traffic stop on southbound Interstate 95. He pulled up behind marked cars from Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors police, who had pulled over a man they believed was impersonating an officer. Turns out, it wasn't true.

But the stop was fatal for Diaz, 38, a former New York City officer hired by Fort Lauderdale two years ago. He pulled up behind the flashing lights on the interstate, at the point where it crosses the New River, snug up against a ramp leading to Interstate 595. Diaz got out of his car, crouched down and crept along the retaining wall toward the other officers and the suspect. Possibly looking for cover, Diaz went over the retaining wall, plunging 70 feet through the predawn blackness. If he screamed, no one heard it over the sound of traffic rumbling past on the elevated roadway.

A few seconds passed before the other officers realized Diaz was missing. A quick search revealed his crumpled body on the hard-packed limestone and rock base of the giant highways, about 30 feet from the bank of the river. The call went out: ''Officer down!'' A Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue crew rushed Diaz to Broward General Medical Center, where dozens of police units showed up to wait for news. When it came, it was devastating.

''When I heard he was dead, I knew it was somehow related to him helping someone out,'' said New York City detective Owen Clifford. ''It always seems to be those type guys that get killed, the ones who are always there to offer their help.'' The traffic stop stemmed from a security guard's tip about a man flashing a badge, posing as an officer. In fact, he was private investigator Max Caufield, who'd been working a case. No charges were filed against Caufield, police said.

Diaz's wife, Sylvia, flew back to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday from New York, where she had been visiting relatives. Several Fort Lauderdale police officers greeted her as she stepped off the plane. And they were there to pick up a former partner of Diaz, Robert Ernest, who worked with him at the 44th Precinct in the Bronx. ''He was our brother and our hearts go out to his family,'' said Mike Tucker, vice president of Fort Lauderdale Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 31. ''He paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving his community and we honor that sacrifice.''

In New York, flags were lowered to half-staff at the 44th Precinct, and the traditional black and purple ribbon was displayed on the door of the station house in honor of their fallen colleague. Clifford worked with Diaz, a nine-year veteran of the NYPD, and said his former colleague served on the juvenile squad, gang intelligence, schools and community policing in the Bronx. The two men worked together about five years, including on 9/11. ''He showed his stuff during 9/11 and never faltered,'' Clifford said. ''He was a hero.''

Diaz moved to South Florida 2 1/2 years ago to make a better life for his children, Clifford said. He has an 18-year-old son, Jose Jr., and a 13-year-old daughter, Destiny. Diaz joined the department in 2003 as a patrolman. He was recently selected to serve with the newly formed Tactical Impact Unit, designed to target violent offenders. ''I selected him because of his strong work ethic and his interest in the job,'' said unit supervisor Capt. Bobby Carter. ''His reputation in New York was very good and he was highly thought of in this department.''

Diaz received five commendations during his short tenure with the department. He was one of four officers who braved rip currents off Fort Lauderdale beach in May 2004 to save three children caught in the undertow. The following month, he was given a Lifesaving Award and named Officer of the Month. He also received a commendation for his hurricane relief work in Punta Gorda and two others for outstanding work.

Diaz is at least the third Fort Lauderdale officer in the past 11 years to die from injuries suffered while on duty. David Brower, a 47-year-old motorcycle cop, died in 1994 after a crash chasing a stolen car. Bryant Peney, 27, was shot to death on Jan. 5, 1996 by a man who Peney had spotted in some bushes.