Miami officers award courageous teen with unexpected life‑altering gesture
Seventeen‑year‑old Rami Ouazza of Miami was awake at 10 a.m. on Nov. 1 when smoke filled his apartment building. An emergency fire had broken out in another unit, prompting Ouazza to begin evacuating neighbors.
He proceeded through the building, alerting residents and aiding a retired police officer who was unable to exit the flames. The officer was injured but was helped to safety by Ouazza’s intervention.
The Miami Police Department responded to the incident and later arranged for Ouazza to tour its headquarters. The visit, led by Chief Manny Morales, highlighted the agency’s various units and specialized teams. Ouazza expressed a desire to join the police force after graduation.
During the tour, the Aden Perry Good Samaritan and Scholarship Fund presented Ouazza with a scholarship that will cover the full cost of his future police academy training. The award was given by Sarah Perry in honor of her son.
Police officials stressed that Ouazza’s actions serve as a reminder that, when it is safe, anyone can help protect others in an emergency.