Miami made history this week as Stephanie V. Daniels was sworn in as the first female director of the Miami Dade Police Department (MDPD). Her investiture ceremony was a landmark event, held at Port Miami, attended by colleagues and dignitaries, and marked her ascent after a 31-year tenure with the department. CBS News Miami reported her acknowledging the significance of her new role, as well as her priorities which include community safety and officer wellness.
Daniels, who is also the department's first-ever woman deputy director, succeeds Freddy Ramirez. Ramirez recently took on the role as Senior Advisor for Policing and Transition following a traumatic incident; as WSVN 7News noted, Ramirez attempted suicide while at a police conference in Tampa. During the ceremony, Daniels paid homage to her predecessor, saying, "I salute you, and I appreciate your friendship and your leadership."
Director Daniels is not just known for her stellar law enforcement career but also for her familial connections within the force. Her son, Captain De'Andre Daniels, described his mother as a positive influence both personally and professionally. "She still spends time with us, she still cooks for us, and it's really nice to have such a positive person in my life," he told CBS News Miami. An array of local officials praised Daniels' leadership and dedication to service including former Florida State Representative Cynthia Stafford, who joined in celebrating Daniels' commitment to steering the department forward.
The police community and city leaders share an optimistic outlook on Daniels' directorship. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava stated, "You have led this department with integrity, with faith, with true commitment to yourself and to your values, with humility but also with confidence," during the badge-pinning segment of the ceremony, as reported by WSVN 7News. Daniels' approach looking ahead is to prioritize engaging the community and ensuring officer safety, keen to maintain a low crime rate across Miami-Dade.
The milestone comes at a substantial moment for the MDPD. Director Daniels is set to lead the police force through 2024, after which a new sheriff is expected to take over, according to WSVN 7News. Her lengthy service and diverse experience within the force poise her to become a key figure in Miami's law enforcement landscape during her term.
