Miami Beach Community Raises Money For Wounded Officer

MIAMI BEACH, FL — The Miami Beach community has stepped up to help the family of a police officer who was stabbed multiple times with a butcher knife on Jan. 11 while on duty in South Beach.

Residents, business owners and fellow officers had contributed more than $37,000 as of Friday following a public plea from the city's Fraternal Order of Police on behalf of the family of Officer Ricardo "Chip" Castillo.

"Although his salary is being paid, his wife who is eight months pregnant had to stop working to care for their 10-month-old baby, herself, and Officer Castillo," explained Ernesto Rodriguez of the Miami Beach Police Department.

The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 8 partnered with the 999 Police & Sheriff Foundation to request donations to help the Castillo family while the officer continues his recovery.

"Officer Castillo has now started physical therapy but has a long road to recovery ahead of him," Rodriguez said.

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Castillo, a three-year veteran of the force, was slashed multiple times on his left arm and leg with a butcher knife while trying to take a suspect into custody.

"As a result, Officer Castillo experienced significant blood loss as well as serious nerve damage," the Fraternal Order of Police said.