Curtain Calls For A Type-Cast Miami Police Officer
Filed Under Kitchen Curtain | Posted on March 27, 2008
Lt. Bill Schwartz strolled along Bayfront Park near downtown Miami, having turned in his badge and gun after nearly 29 years as a police officer, and one of the more prominent spokesman for the city’s police department. He’s calling it a wrap.
“I’m going to miss the excitement. I’m going to miss arriving on a crime scene and being the guy with the information,” he told CBS4 Gary Nelson.
He has been the “guy” with the information for nearly one and a half decades, recalling one crime scene incident with incredulity, “They said, well, actually, we’re robbers.”
He was the face of the Miami Police Department, and one may have noticed he was almost always seen only on the left side. He remarked, “Well, you know, it’s just pure vanity, it’s an actor’s vanity.”
Yes, actor. One might see the former lieutenant in powdered wig, performing in a stage play in the Gables.
Cameras caught him one day performing to school children who watched in amazement; he was performing with a dummy. “You don’t think so, huh? I don’t think. I know. I don’t think you know either.”
T he play was with moral issues between right and wrong.
As a very young man, Schwartz was a full-time professional actor but gave it up for the job security of the police department.
If Schwartz seemed dramatic on the evening news, it was because he meant to be. Here’s an example of a recent quote to the media from a crime scene, “It’s a very dangerous mission to find this vicious killer. This is one of the worst I’ve ever seen. This was torture.”
It’s a character Schwartz hoped he played well with honesty and compassion.
“Oh, it’s a total role. I refer to Lt. Schwartz in the third person all the time. I created him, like I would create any role,” he said.
He was asked what he thought was his most frightening real life scene, and he said it was the day the feds snatched a little Cuban boy named Elian Gonzalez in April 2000, with the help of the Miami Police.
Schwartz found himself surrounded, trying to reason with an angry mob.
“I had a big crowd that wasn’t too happy with the Miami Police Department that day. Any you were the face of the Miami Police Department. I was the face, and I took a few lumps that day. But it was exciting, too. Schwartz made a hastily staged exit, rescued by fellow officers.
All the while, TV made the lieutenant a celebrity of sorts, even at his local grocery store.
“People come up to me and they’re very nice. They talk about the stories we’ve done, and they thank me. Actually, they’re thanking all the police officers. I’m just the face.”
A familiar face who is not retiring, but going back to acting, full time.
“I’ve enjoyed being Lt. Schwartz, but I figure I’m a bit type-cast and I’m ready to play other roles,” he said with humble humor. “To all the theatre people out there, I’m free,” he laughed. “Have equity card, will travel.”
And so, while Lt. Bill Schwartz fades from the evening news, he’s not going away, but rather, coming soon to a theatre near you.
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