Lieutenant Lee Athanasiou

Lieutenant Lee Athanasiou joined the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department on July 20, 1998, as one of its original officers. He began his law enforcement career with the Indian Creek Police Department in February 1997 after graduating from the police academy in Ocala, FL.

Throughout his 26-year career, Lt. Athanasiou has worked in and supervised various specialized units. He started as an officer assigned to Beach Patrol and Marine Patrol. After being promoted to Sergeant in 2003, he served as a midnight supervisor. In March 2012, he established the Community Policing Unit, overseeing beach/bike patrol, ocean rescue, school resource liaison, and the motor unit. He remained the Motor Unit Sergeant until 2021 when he returned to Road Patrol. In September 2022, he was promoted to Patrol Lieutenant, overseeing all daily patrol operations.

Lt. Athanasiou has been one of the department’s Honor Guard coordinators since 2001 and has served as a department instructor since 2000, teaching firearms, taser, and patrol carbine. He also attended Miami-Dade County Police Department's Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) #10.

Lt. Athanasiou holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Florida International University.