The seats of Hard Rock Stadium were filled Wednesday with family, friends and colleagues of fallen Miami Beach police Sgt. David Cajuso, who died last month in a motorcycle crash on the Interstate 75 extension near Hialeah, to mourn and celebrate his life.
The service opened with a live worship performance and prayer, followed by tributes from loved ones and city officials who remembered Cajuso as a devoted husband, father and officer whose warmth brightened every day.
Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, City Manager Eric Carpenter and Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones spoke of 33-year-old Cajuso’s dedication to public service. He was known as the “Kindergarten Cop” for his love of working with children in police after-school programs.
“David represented the very best of this profession,” said Executive Officer Ernesto Rodriguez. “He led with integrity and earned the respect of everyone who worked beside him. Service was at the core of who he was, both as an officer and as a man of faith.”
The procession, including the hearse, drives passed the street lined with honor guard for a funeral service for Miami Beach Police Sergeant David Cajuso on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
To most, he was Officer Cajuso — a proud Miami Beach motorman who wore his badge with honor. To his wife, Eileen, and their three children, he was simply “Papa.”
“He loved what he did,” Eileen said, “but David’s greatest calling wasn’t his badge — it was his family. His first ministry, his true purpose, was at home.”
Eileen described her husband as “loving, fun, playful, loyal, romantic, and the heart of our home.” Their deep faith, she said, was central to their lives. “He was also the spiritual leader of our home,” she added. “One of my greatest memories was when we were baptized together in front of our children.”
The casket is walked into the service for Miami Beach Police Sergeant David Cajuso on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Cajuso’s father, David Cajuso Sr., thanked the crowd for their support.
“We were looking forward to making so many more memories together, and losing that future feels unbearable,” Cajuso Sr. said.
Best friend Phillip Perez spoke of Cajuso as a brother and a man who lived life with passion — whether enjoying sports, cigars, fishing or time with friends.
“If someone burst into a room full of energy with a big smile on his face,” Perez said. “That was Dave.”
Officers from Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office attend a funeral service for Miami Beach Police Sergeant David Cajuso on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Fellow motorman Phillip Elmore remembered Cajuso for his contagious positivity and signature phrase, “It’s a beautiful day.” Even after long, rainy shifts, Elmore said, Cajuso’s laugh “was infectious.”
Elmore also spoke of Cajuso’s devotion to his wife and children — Kennedy, Kamryn and Konnor. “He just wanted to spend time with his family” Elmore said. “He was a family man through and through.”
Motorman Peter Carballo, another close friend, said, “Dave was my best friend. He’s the reason I wear this uniform today. He believed in me long before I believed in myself.”
Carballo said he watched Cajuso grow “more thankful, more forgiving” over the years. “That faith guided how he loved his family and how he lived his life.”
Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones greets Eileen Caruso, widow of Sergeant David Cajuso, during a funeral service for Cajuso on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
The officer in charge of the Honor Guard calls them to attention for the procession into a funeral service for Miami Beach Police Sergeant David Cajuso on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
City of Miami officers, along with honor guards from all over South Florida, line the streets for the procession into a funeral service for Miami Beach Police Sergeant David Cajuso on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.