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Incident
Police Officer Frank D'Azevedo, Police Officer Thomas Hodges, and Police Officer Clark Curlette were shot and killed at 6:45 pm while conducting an investigation into stolen driver's licenses. Officer Curlette and Officer Hodges were waiting in a motel parking lot at Harding Avenue and 86th Street while Officer D'Azevedo purchased the stolen licenses approximately one block away. While in the parking lot, Officer Hodges and Officer Curlette noticed a car they suspected of being stolen. The two officers went to the motel manager and asked about the car. The manager informed them that the car belonged to a guest and told them which room the guest was staying in. As the officers went to the room, the manager called the guest to warn him the officers were coming. When the officers knocked on the door, the suspect opened fire with a double-barrel 12 gauge shotgun. Officer Hodges was struck in the face, and Officer Curlette was struck in the abdomen. When Officer D'Azevedo heard the shots, he immediately ran back to the motel and found his partners' bodies. He saw the suspect running from the scene and began to chase him on foot. The suspect turned a corner, crouched down, and waited for Officer D'Azevedo. Officer D'Azevedo was shot when he came around the corner. The suspect fled the scene and committed suicide a short time later. Officer D'Azevedo was an Army veteran and had served with the Metro-Dade Police Department for 15 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his fiancee.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Frank is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer D'Azevedo gave the Metro-Dade Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Frank Kenneth D'Azevedo served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Metro-Dade Police Department has lost 25 officers; 14 of them killed feloniously.
Frank is one of 536 officers killed feloniously in FL, 53.2% of the 1,007 remembered there.
Frank is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Frank is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1976, 3 officers at Metro-Dade Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1976, 8 officers in FL were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 143 years on record. The heaviest was 1987, with 10.
In 1976, 137 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 30th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1976, 162 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 26th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Frank was 31. Of the 12 killed feloniously at Metro-Dade Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27.3 and 34; the middle age was 32. Frank had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Frank was 31. Of the 496 killed feloniously in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 44.3; the middle age was 36. Frank had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Frank was 31. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Frank had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Frank was 31. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Frank had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 28.6% of these deaths at Metro-Dade Police Department, more than any other month. Thursdays: 21.4%.
April holds 10.1% of these deaths in FL, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 56% of all 25 deaths at Metro-Dade Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 28.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.2% of all 1,007 deaths in FL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
His people
Metro-Dade Police Department has 25 officers remembered here, Frank among them.
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Edward Emile Fritz, Jr.
Feb 3, 1953
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Jerome R. Christman
Dec 3, 1960
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Earl Lee Johnson, Jr.
Feb 3, 1962
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Carlos S. Stuteville
Aug 22, 1964
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Paul G. Anderson, Jr.
May 7, 1967
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Johnny Edward Mitchell
Dec 31, 1971
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Harrison Crenshaw, Jr.
May 18, 1974
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Simmons Arrington
May 21, 1974
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Clark Hamilton Curlette
Apr 1, 1976
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Frank Kenneth D'Azevedo
Apr 1, 1976
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Thomas Allen Hodges, Jr.
Apr 1, 1976
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William Coleman Cook
May 16, 1979
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William Franklin Askew
Jul 24, 1979
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Edward Russell Young
Sep 23, 1981
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Cheryl W. Seiden
Jul 28, 1982
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Stephen Owen Corbett
May 28, 1983
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Robert L. Zore
Dec 25, 1983
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Richard Allen Boles
Nov 28, 1988
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David Henry Strzalkowski
Nov 28, 1988
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Jose Teodoro Gonzalez
Mar 28, 1989
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Joseph Preston Martin
Apr 27, 1990
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Thomas James Leis
Apr 29, 1990
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Evelyn Gort
Oct 30, 1993
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Robert Vargas
Feb 7, 1997
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Richard P. Wentlandt
Mar 15, 1997
Where
Military Service
Frank Kenneth D'Azevedo served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Frank Kenneth D'Azevedo’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
24 officers from Metro-Dade Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
