MIAMI – Stephanie Daniels made history at PortMiami Wednesday, formally becoming the first woman to ever lead the Miami-Dade Police Department.
County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava swore Daniels, who was born and raised in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood and joined MDPD in 1992, in as the department’s director in a morning ceremony at the port.
“I worked alongside you,” Levine Cava told Daniels. “I saw your love in action.”
After a stint as interim director, she became full-time director when Freddy Ramirez resigned in November.
“As I step into this role, my focus is steadfast dedicated to fostering an environment of growth, innovation, an excellent with upholding our values and enhancing capabilities,” Daniels told the audience of well-wishers.
While Daniels may be the first woman to hold the position, she may well be the last person to hold it in its current form, as policing in the county moves from appointed to elected leadership.
In 2024, Miami-Dade County voters will elect a sheriff for the first time in decades. Ramirez was widely considered to be the frontrunner for the position before he dropped out of the race in September
More than a dozen candidates are currently vying for the role.