By Coral Gables Gazette staff

The fatal shooting of Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Deputy Devin Jaramillo on Nov. 7 sent waves of grief through Coral Gables, where Jaramillo served as a police officer for nearly four years before joining the county agency earlier this year.

Jaramillo, 27, was responding to what was initially reported as a minor traffic crash in Southwest Miami-Dade when an altercation with one of the individuals involved escalated. The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Steven David Rustrian, wrestled away the deputy’s firearm and shot him. Jaramillo was takean to Kendall Hospital, where he died. Rustrian got back in his car and took his own life, officials said.

News of Jaramillo’s death hit especially hard in Coral Gables, where he built his foundation in law enforcement and earned the respect of colleagues and residents.

Community in mourning

“It is with great sadness that I share the tragic news of the murder of former Coral Gables Police Officer Devin Jaramillo,” said Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago in a statement posted Friday evening. “Jaramillo served our community with honor and dedication before joining the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office to follow in his father’s footsteps. Our hearts are broken. The City of Coral Gables stands united in grief and gratitude for Officer Jaramillo’s service and sacrifice.”

Lago said he would ask for a moment of silence in Jaramillo’s memory at the next City Commission meeting on Nov. 18.

Commissioner Ariel Fernandez also issued a statement expressing sorrow over Jaramillo’s death, calling it “a heartbreaking loss felt across the entire law enforcement family.” He reflected on the daily courage of those who serve, noting that Deputy Jaramillo “wore his badge with pride—first as a Coral Gables officer and then as a Miami-Dade deputy—before being struck down by a cowardly assailant.”

The Coral Gables Police Department also posted a tribute: “Chief (Ed) Hudak and the entire Coral Gables Police family are deeply  saddened by the tragic loss of former Coral Gables Police Officer Devin Jaramillo. (He) was a decorated police officer who honorably served the city for nearly four years… Our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Jaramillo’s family.”

City honors his memory

Inside the city’s Public Safety Building, a flower wreath, Jaramillo’s photograph, and a burning candle now stand in the lobby as a quiet tribute to his service.

City Hall was illuminated in blue over the weekend and will again be lit in blue on the day of Jaramillo’s service.

The day after his death, the department relieved Jaramillo of his watch.  “Rest easy my brother, we will take it from here… Coral Gables Officer Devin Jaramillo, #11495. E.O.W. 11/07/2025.”

In a statement issued on Nov. 10, the department said it was “devastated by the murder of Deputy Jaramillo” and would continue to work with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office “to honor his legacy, service, and commitment to the community.”

A rising young officer

Jaramillo joined the Coral Gables Police Department on March 30, 2020, and served until January 20, 2024, before transferring to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. He joined the department after graduating magna cum laude from the University of Central Florida with a degree in criminal justice. He was widely regarded in the department as hardworking, reliable, and steady. His father, a longtime Miami-Dade Police detective and leader in the Hispanic Police Officers Association, had served nearly three decades in law enforcement.

In July 2023, Jaramillo stood before the Coral Gables City Commission to be recognized as Officer of the Month for helping apprehend a burglary suspect. Police Chief Ed Hudak praised then-Officer Jaramillo’s attentiveness and dedication.

“Due to Officer Jaramillo’s keen observations and attention to detail, Coral Gables residents may sleep at ease,” Hudak told commissioners at the time.

Mayor Lago also spoke that day, thanking Jaramillo for his service.

“Every time you get dressed and come into Coral Gables, we are blessed to have you in the city,” Lago said. “You are a godsend for the community.”

Jaramillo left the Gables in early 2024 to join the newly restructured Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, working out of the Kendall district. Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz described him as a “legacy officer” and a “homegrown hero” who could have chosen any number of careers but chose public service.

“He was smart, strong, and young, and he could have done anything,” Cordero-Stutz said. “But he chose to serve.”