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The Cuban-American Edwin López was sworn in on Monday as the 44th chief of the Miami Police Department, at a ceremony held at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts that brought together hundreds of family members, colleagues, and officials from South Florida.
The official Miami PD account on X described the moment as "a defining moment of service," in which López took the oath and promised to lead with pride and integrity.
The day before, the outgoing chief Manuel «Manny» Morales had symbolically passed the command to López by transmitting his "last 06," the radio code that indicates the end of service, thus concluding 32 years of his career in the institution.
López, born in Miami to Cuban immigrant parents, described the appointment as the greatest honor of his life. “It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as Chief of Police for the Miami Police Department. I am grateful to God, my family, my mentors, and everyone who has helped me along the way,” he wrote on X after the ceremony.
Mayor Eileen Higgins, who announced the appointment of López on May 8, praised him for believing that "there is no difference between public safety and public trust."
Higgins, who is opposed to the local Police acting as immigration agents, recalled that about one in two residents of Miami was born abroad, and stated that, under López's leadership, "everyone in this city - regardless of their immigration status - will be treated with dignity, respect, and humanity."
López, for his part, stated that he wants to balance a “compassionate” police response with a “zero tolerance” approach to crime. “To anyone who takes advantage of any vulnerable member of our community, I promise that we will work tirelessly to put them behind bars,” he affirmed.
In statements to the Miami Herald, the official clarified that his philosophy of "zero tolerance" does not apply to immigration enforcement, but rather to "those who seek to harm children, those who break into homes, those who steal cars, those who are murderers."
Regarding whether he plans to collaborate with federal immigration enforcement officials, he responded that he needs to evaluate any existing agreements.
"But my priority is not to enforce anything related to immigration," he assured.
With over 28 years of experience in law enforcement in South Florida, López takes office after having led the Doral Police Department since January 2023, where he commanded 155 officers in a city of 82,000 residents.
The institutional leap is significant: in Miami, he will lead approximately 1,400 sworn officers and 400 civilian employees in a city of nearly 500,000 residents, with an annual salary of $325,000.
He is the second Cuban-American police chief in Miami: his predecessor Morales was also of Cuban descent and retired after three decades of service.
Another priority for his management is getting to know the department's officers personally, a challenge that is compounded by the city's plans to add approximately 300 additional officers in the coming years.
Miami's municipal administrator James Reyes emphasized that he "brings an exceptional track record 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."
Before Doral, López accumulated 25 years in the Miami-Dade School Police Department, where he served as chief during his last four years. He holds a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and a master's degree in Public Administration, both from Florida International University.
The mayor of Doral, Christi Fraga, expressed her sorrow at his departure with words of recognition: "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."
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