News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 2, 2004

DEA Dedicates New Panama City Office Building

DEA Special Agent Emir Benitez

JAN 2--On December 5, 2003, the Miami Field Division's new Panama City RO building was dedicated to the memory of Special Agent Emir Benitez. Special Agent in Charge Thomas W. Rafanello, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Randall S. Bohman and Resident Agent in Charge Larry W. Frye hosted SA's Bentiez' family. SA Benitez was assigned to the DEA Miami Task Force in 1973, after the creation of DEA. He was later assigned to the Miami Regional Office. On August 9, 1973, SA Benitez and two other DEA Miami Task Force officers traveled to Fort Lauderdale to conduct investigative activities. An undercover meeting led to complications and the subject fled the scene. A search for the subject ensued and when attempts were made to apprehend the subject a crowd gathered and gunshots were fired. SA Benitez was critically wounded and taken to Broward General Hospital, where he was pronouced deceased. The subject was eventually apprehended and successfully prosecuted. After SA Benitez' death, his only child, a daughter, was born on the same day in 1974 that the subject was found guilty of SA Benitez' murder.

ASAC Randall S. Bohman, RAC Larry W. Frye and SAC Thomas W. Raffanello with the building plaque honoring SA Benitez.