Pembroke Pines Police Department mourns officer killed in motorcycle accident

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – A police motorman has died after being involved in a crash Thursday in Pembroke Pines.

His death was confirmed on social media by the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police.

“Our deepest condolences to our fallen Pembroke Pines Police Department brother,” the FOP Florida State Lodge posted on Facebook. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and our LEO Family today!”

Local 10 News learned through police sources that the officer was Pembroke Pines PD Motorcycle Officer Charles Herring.

According to multiple sources, Herring was riding his motorcycle south on Northwest 184th Avenue when he was struck by a palm frond that had dislodged from a tree, causing the officer to lose control of the motorcycle and be subsequently ejected.

Police confirmed that all lanes of Northwest 184th Avenue, between Johnson Street and Northwest 23rd Street, were shut down after the crash.

Drivers were asked to avoid the area.

Sky 10 was above the scene shortly after 12:30 p.m. as the officer’s motorcycle was on its side in the roadway with debris scattered around the roadway.

A couple of cars could be seen parked along the side of the roadway as multiple drivers pulled over to help.

The motorman was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood suffering from traumatic injuries. He later died at the hospital.

Dozens of offers lined up to take part in a procession to bring the fallen motorman’s body from the hospital to the medical examiner’s office.

Herring was the first Pembroke Pines police officer to die in the line of duty in the department’s history, according to Police Chief Kipp Shimpeno.

He had been with the department since 2002.

“A beloved father, he was a personal friend of mine,” Shimpeno said. “Charlie’s touched pretty much every person in this agency and so many people in the community. It’s definitely going to take some time and a lot of togetherness to get through this.”

Shimpeno held a press conference Wednesday night, which can be seen below: