MIAMI – The Miami-Dade Police Department gave a special send-off to one of their own on Friday.

Detective Alvaro Zabaleta, the department’s longtime public information officer, is retiring.

Zabaleta was met with tears and smiles as members of the department stood in line to hug him on his final day on duty.

Zabaleta served the community for 26 years.

The department applauded Zabaleta during the big send off.