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The mayor of Miami, Eileen Higgins, announced on Friday the appointment of Edwin López as the next chief of the city's Police Department, the largest municipal police force in Florida, reported Telemundo 51.
López, who has served as the Chief of Police in Doral since January 2023, will replace the current chief Manuel "Manny" Morales, who is retiring after 32 years of service, effective October of this year.
"I am pleased to welcome Edwin López as the new Chief of Police for Miami," stated Mayor Higgins, who described López as "a leader shaped in our city, a committed public servant and a 28-year veteran who has dedicated his career to serving our community with professionalism and integrity."
Higgins added that "Miami is one of the safest major cities in the United States, and we are going to keep it that way by supporting our officers, strengthening community trust, and staying focused on what matters most: keeping every neighborhood safe."
For his part, the municipal administrator, James Reyes, stated that López "brings an exceptional history of leadership, a deep commitment to transparency, and a proven approach to community policing that has earned the trust of the communities he has served."
The new chief has more than 28 years of experience in law enforcement in South Florida. Before leading the Doral Police Department, he served 25 years with the Miami-Dade School Police Department, where he held the position of chief for his last four years.
He is a Cuban-American born in Miami, with an academic background from Florida International University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and a master's degree in Public Administration.
The institutional leap is considerable: in Doral, he oversaw a department of 155 officers in a city with 82,000 residents; in Miami, he will take command of more than 1,100 officers in a city of nearly half a million inhabitants.
The mayor of Doral, Christi Fraga, expressed her sadness at López's departure. "During his time in the city, he strengthened our department, supported our officers, and helped build a solid foundation that positions us well for the future. His impact will be felt long after he is gone. We will truly miss him."
The appointment represents Reyes' first major decision as the municipal administrator under Higgins' management, who was elected in December 2025 as Miami's first woman mayor and the first Democrat in the position in 30 years.
Manny Morales, a prominent figure in the Cuban-American community, joined the Miami Police Department in 1994 after serving four years in the United States Army. He held positions as a patrol officer, detective, lieutenant, commander, and major until he was appointed chief of the department in February 2022.
In March of this year, he expressed his willingness to lead the police reform in Cuba in the event of a political transition on the Island, and months earlier, he had publicly warned after receiving threats during his tenure.
Lopez will formally assume the position later this year, as part of the transition following Morales' retirement, who described his 32 years of service as "magnificent" and an "absolute honor."
The city of Miami also plans to expand its police force by approximately 300 additional officers in the coming years, adding complexity to the challenge the new chief will face from day one.
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