The puzzle pieces to Roberto Gomez’ life are coming together quite fast.

Roberto Gomez

After four months of intense studying and almost paramilitary training at the Miami Police Academy, Gomez recently graduated and accepted a position as a police officer with the Pinecrest Police Department.

But that’s just the first big step. In November, he plans to marry his fiancé, Lourdes Gomez, a native Miamian and a Coral Gables High School graduate.

"We haven’t set a date yet, but we have agreed that sometime in November we’ll do it," he said. "And, we’re already looking for a house."

Looking back on his Police Academy experience, Gomez described it as intensive and extensive.

"The training and the academic level that you have to keep is really tough," he said. "You cannot get below an 80 on any test, the physical training is on a constant basis and it’s almost a paramilitary-type atmosphere, with squad leaders and class leaders."

Gomez, 32, said he went through the Academy with a City of Miami police recruit class that began with 40 cadets.

"We lost two to injury and one who, unfortunately, didn’t pass a written exam," he said. "So, we were fortunate to graduate with 37 class members. I was the only Pinecrest representative and I was just glad to make it through to the end."

Gomez is no stranger to the Pinecrest Police Department. He’s been working there since 1997, first as a community service aide and then in the records department. When an opportunity to become a police officer developed, he said he jumped at the chance.

Born in the Bronx, NY, Gomez came to Miami with his parents in 1972 when he was 6 years old. He graduated from Southwest High School in 1985 and attended Miami-Dade Community College on an art scholarship. He soon decided that an art career wasn’t for him and elected to pursue firefighting. He went to work for Carnival Cruise Lines as a shipboard firefighter, where he remained until late 1997.

"The job with Carnival required too much travel and I wanted to do something that didn’t require me to be on the go so much," he said. "The certification that I had in shipboard firefighting didn’t help as far as looking for something land-based. So, I applied with Pinecrest and started off as a community service aide."

Gomez said he loves law enforcement and intends to make it his life’s work.