Miami Lakes Mayor Josh Dieguez presented Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Maj. Jose Gonzalez with a Key to the Town.
Gonzalez leads his agency’s division in Miami Lakes. He received the key during Dieguez’s State of the Town address on Dec. 8.
Gonzalez plans to retire in a few months. He stepped down from his command post in December and his deputy, Lt. Eddy Ulloa, was named acting commander on Dec. 23.
“Even though we had given you a proclamation … I wanted to make sure you had something else you could go ahead and carry with you, as you go on to the next chapter of your life,” Dieguez said.
Dieguez called Gonzalez “the traffic whisperer” for how he worked with the county to synchronize lights on Miami Lakes Drive.
“Thank you for your service, thank you for your friendship and congratulations,” Dieguez said.
Gonzalez said receiving the key meant he has joined a club of VIPs, and that while he has received a lot of medals and commendations, “this one has to be the most special ... “I’m very humbled. I thank you very much and it was my honor to serve the town and I’m glad that I’m able to retire here,” Gonzalez said.