Jamaican Dub Poet Malachi Smith Awarded Life Saving Award

On Tuesday, December 9, 2008, dub poet Malachi Smith received a Life Saving Award from the Miami-Dade Police Department.

On January 23, 2008, Officer Malachi Smith responded to an emergency call from a personal residence and upon arrival, he observed Mr. Clinton Hamilton clutching his throat and desperately gasping for air.

Malachi did a quick assessment and determined that Mr. Clinton was choking on a foreign object. Malachi quickly administered the Heimlich maneuver which effectively dislodged the food that was obstructing Mr. Clinton’s airway. Mr. Clinton rapidly recovered with no injuries.

The citation noted that Officer Smith’s quick response, incredible determination, and valiant efforts saved Mr. Clinton’s life. It also stated that Officer Smith is a credit to the Miami-Dade Police Department and the community he serves.

In addition to the life saving award, Malachi received a Certificate of Appreciation from Northside District for his professionalism, teamwork, and dedication to duty to the community and the Northside District. Malachi was also recommended for a departmental award for assisting in the tactical take-down of an armed robbery suspect who had barricaded himself inside an occupied residence.

Malachi has been with the Miami-Dade Police Department for 10 years and he works out of the Northside Station as a Field Training Officer (FTO). Prior to migrating to the US, Malachi served the Jamaica Constabulary Force for 12 years. He left at the rank of detective corporal.

A founding member of the critically acclaimed Jamaican dub poetry group Poets in Unity, Malachi was a James Michener Fellow at the University of Miami where he studied poetry under Lorna Goodison and playwriting under Fred D’Aguiar. He has recorded four albums. Malachi's latest Offering Luv Dub Fever was released this year.

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