SOJ Alumna Sworn In As Miami-Dade County Sheriff
When she was five years old, Rosie Cordero-Stutz told her mother she wanted to be a police officer.
For the past 28 years, Cordero-Stutz has lived that dream, working her way up the ladder at the Miami-Dade Police Department.
On Nov. 5, the 55-year-old made history when voters made her the first elected sheriff of Miami-Dade County since 1966. Two months later, Cordero-Stutz was sworn in at her inauguration ceremony held at the North Campus School of Justice.
Approximately 1,600 people attended the Jan. 7 ceremony, including Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. The national anthem was performed by 16-year-old Melanie Gonzalez from the Miami Art Studio.
“I’m deeply humbled by the trust bestowed upon me to initiate this new chapter in our community. I’m also keenly aware of the significant responsibility and challenges,” Cordero-Stutz said at her inauguration. “I stand before you, ready to lead as Miami-Dade County’s sheriff.”
Prior to her current role, she served as the assistant director of the now defunct MDPD, overseeing investigative services.
Cordero-Stuz’s promotion to sheriff was made possible after voters approved a change in Florida’s Constitution in 2018 that forced Miami-Dade County to elect a sheriff.
“She’s breaking down that glass ceiling and showing women throughout the community you can do anything,” said SOJ Director Richard Clements.
During her tenure, she strives to expand investigation units for public corruption and homeowners associations, increase the number of uniformed officers in the community and better engage with public schools.
After graduating from John Browne High School in Queens, New York in 1987, Cordero-Stutz obtained her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Marist College in New York in 1991 and completed her masters in public administration at Florida International University in 2001.
In 1996, she completed the Police Academy at the School of Justice at North Campus where she was also the class leader for her graduating class.
At MDC, Cordero-Stutz said she learned to be patient, resolve conflict and manage different personalities.
“It’s just incredible to see the amount of impact that MDC has had and a legacy of great leaders in the community and throughout our nation and now to see one our very own BLE graduates being called to duty as the top cop position in our county,” said North Campus President Fermin Vazquez.
During her nearly three decade-long career at MDPD, Cordero-Stutz has served in various capacities including as a police officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant and police major. Her father-in-law and husband are both retired MDPD police officers.
“I look forward to being the ambassador to that new office, and really setting the tone for a professional office, one that holds itself up to very high standards,” Cordero-Stutz told The Reporter in an interview prior to her inauguration.
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