Rosie Cordero-Stutz to be sworn in as new Miami-Dade sheriff

MIAMI – For the first time in more than 50 years, Miami-Dade’s law enforcement office will be led by a sheriff.

Tuesday morning, Rosie Cordero-Stutz will take the oath of office to become the county’s top cop for the next four years.

Last November, Cordero-Stutz defeated Democratic nominee James Reyes for the position. Before winning the election, she worked her way up from street cop serving in top positions in several divisions over a career spanning 28 years.

On the night of her landmark win, Cordero-Stutz spoke about one of her priorities when she leads the force.

“Reassigning more officers to patrol. We need to increase the presence of officers on the streets because the presence of uniformed officers reduces crime and it also helps with the traffic flow,” she said.

Along with a new sheriff, the name of the county’s law enforcement agency will change to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. The Miami-Dade Police Department will no longer exist.

In Florida, the elected sheriff oversees law enforcement, jail operations, court security and legal processes, and appoints deputies, acting as the county’s top law enforcement official.

The last elected sheriff in Miami-Dade, Talmadge A. Buchanan, was removed amid corruption allegations in the 1960s, leading voters to abolish the elected position. For nearly 60 years, the county has operated with an appointed police director.

The new sheriff will not answer to the mayor and will be independent while leading the county’s 3,200 sworn officers and managing a $1.2 billion budget.