Board
Carlos Arguelles, President
Carlos Arguelles is serving his second term as President of the Hispanic Police Association. As President, Carlos’ goal is to continue increasing the association’s membership and leave the association fiscally sound to continue assisting HPOA members.
Carlos is also working to build positive relationships within the community by developing relationships with businesses, local leaders, and community groups. As part of his initiatives, Carlos created the HPOA Advisory Board made up of community and business leaders who serve as ambassadors for the organization. Carlos has increased the number and scope of HPOA events and charitable giving.
Before he was elected president, Carlos served as Executive Vice President, Treasurer, and Sgt. at Arms. Carlos joined the HPOA in 1994 while he was in the academy because of the HPOA’s mission to help its members and serve the community.
Carlos joined the Miami-Dade Police Department in 1993 and is currently a sergeant assigned to Court Services. During his career, he’s also worked in Robbery, Kendall, Midwest, Hammocks, and Miami Lakes Districts.
Ranfys Butka, Executive Vice President
Ranfys Butka is serving his second term as Secretary of the HPOA. Randy became a member of the HPOA after learning about the association’s charitable work in the community, which aligned with his “philosophy of leaving something better than you found it.”
In addition to serving as Secretary, Ranfys is also the Co-Chair of the HPOA Advisory Board, whose mission is to think outside of the box to build stronger relationships with the business community and raise awareness and support for law enforcement.
Ranfys, who was born in Cuba and raised in North Miami Beach, is a Sergeant with the Miami-Dade Police Department. During his career with the Miami-Dade Police Department, Randys has been assigned to Intracoastal, Doral, Motors, and Court Services. He has served in both uniform patrol and investigative units.
Lindsay Diaz, Second Vice President
Lindsay Diaz is currently the Second Vice President of the HPOA and has also served as Executive Vice President and Sgt. At Arms. Lindsay joined the HPOA in 1983 at the urging of fellow officers while he was in the police academy. He became actively involved in the HPOA to give back and become a bigger part of the community.
Lindsay was born in Chicago and raised in Miami. As an officer with the Miami-Dade Police Department, Lindsay has been assigned to Central, Midwest, Miami Gardens, Northside, Airport, Northwest Districts, and Headquarters serving in uniform, investigative and specialized units.
Javier Soto, Second Vice President
Javier Soto, an officer with the Miami-Dade Police Department, is serving his first term as Treasurer of the HPOA.
Soto, who was born in Cuba, became involved with the HPOA to promote camaraderie and fellowship among law enforcement.
During his career with the Miami-Dade Police Department, Javier has been assigned to Domestic Crimes, Missing Persons, Midwest, and Evictions.
Martha Melcon, Treasurer
In 1993, Martha joined the Miami-Dade Police Department as a civilian. Seven years later, in 2000, she was a Miami-Dade Police Officer. As a civilian, she was assigned to the Personnel Management Bureau. Upon graduation from the police academy, she was an officer in Kendall and Hammocks Districts. She was promoted to Corporal and worked South District.
Martha was later promoted to Sergeant and worked in Court Services, Personnel Management Bureau, Professional Compliance Bureau, Public Information and Education Bureau, and is currently assigned to the Community Affairs Bureau.
In 2000, Martha joined the HPOA to build and maintain a sense of community among the Hispanics and preserve our culture, history, and heritage. She was elected in 2021.
Noel Rodriguez, Secretary
Noel Rodriguez graduated from Miami Springs High School in 1999 and joined the Miami Springs Police Department in February of 2000 as a Public Service Aide, where he served until 2002. He joined the Miami-Dade Police Department in 2002.
As an officer, Noel was assigned to the Midwest District, where he served as a road officer, a Field Training Officer, a gang detective, a member of the Crime Suppression Team, and a burglary detective.
In 2009, Noel was promoted to Sergeant. He served in Hammocks District in the General Investigations Unit until 2012, when he was transferred to the Narcotics Bureau and served in TNT and then in the Major Investigations platoon.
In 2016, Noel was promoted to Lieutenant, where he served in the Northside District, Economic Crimes Bureau, Organized Crime Bureau, and now the Special Victims Bureau’s Sexual Predator and Offender unit.
As a rookie officer, he learned of the HPOA’s rich history, which included fighting for the rights of all minority officers to upward mobility within the department and to have all officers have a voice in the future and direction of the MDPD. Furthermore, knowing that the HPOA participates in so many charitable events for the less fortunate in the community fortified his desire to be part of the HPOA.
Erick Guevara, Sergeant at arms
Erick Guevarra joined the HPOA and the Miami-Dade Police Department in 2009. Erick is serving his second term as the HPOA’s Sergeant at Arms.
Erick first joined the HPOA for the fraternal aspect, but after becoming active in the HPOA, he saw the HPOA’s commitment to giving back and supporting the law enforcement profession. Erick hopes to grow within the organization and give back.
During his career as an officer with the Miami-Dade Police Department, Erick has been assigned to Northside and Motors.
Carlos Vazquez, Chief Financial Officerz