Who is Edwin Lopez, Miami's new police chief from Doral?
On Friday, after weeks of speculation, Miami’s city manager named Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez as his pick to lead the Miami Police Department.
Lopez, 45, will succeed Manuel Morales, who is retiring after nearly five years as Miami’s police chief. A city spokesperson said an official start date hasn’t been set yet and that the city is “working on a transition period.”
Lopez’s starting salary as Miami police chief will be $325,000, according to a city spokesperson, who declined to provide Lopez’s total compensation. Morales’ yearly pay is $350,000, according to city records.
Lopez’s base salary in Doral is $199,000, according to his employment contract, with eligibility for annual cost-of-living increases and up to 10% merit raises, along with a city-issued unmarked vehicle.
Who is Lopez, and what can Miami residents expect from his leadership? Here’s what we know.
READ MORE: Doral police chief officially named as head of Miami Police Department
Law enforcement experience
Lopez has more than 28 years of law enforcement experience, spending more than 25 years with the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department — including as chief during his final four years there — before taking over in Doral in 2023.
He was named chief of the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department in the aftermath of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, which killed 17 students and staff. Lopez was the first Hispanic to hold the position of chief.
He also previously worked as a detached investigator for the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office gang strike force.
Though Lopez has spent more than 20 years in the South Florida law enforcement world, he is an outsider to the department he’s been tapped to lead.
The transition to Miami police chief could be noticeable for Lopez. He will go from a role in Doral where he led a department of 155 sworn officers in a city with 82,000 residents, to heading a police department with over 1,100 sworn officers in a city with nearly a half-million residents.
Personal background
Lopez has a master’s degree in public administration and an undergraduate degree in physical education — both from Florida International University, according to his resume.
A graduate of Southwest Miami Senior High School, Lopez is also a former physical education teacher. According to his Instagram bio, he is a father and is also married.
Lopez has a penchant for social media, frequently posting to his Instagram account, which boasts approximately 32,000 followers. Recently, he’s been posting several times a week to his page.
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What city leaders say
Lopez’s hiring was the first major appointment by Miami City Manager James Reyes.
In a statement Friday morning, Reyes said Lopez “brings an exceptional record of leadership, a deep commitment to transparency, and a proven approach to community policing that has earned the trust of the communities where he has served.”
Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins, who selected Reyes as city manager late last year, touted Reyes’ choice.
“Our City Manager, James Reyes, made a thoughtful decision in selecting Chief Lopez, a homegrown leader, dedicated public servant, and 28-year veteran who has spent his career serving our community with professionalism and integrity,” Higgins said.
Doral Mayor Christi Fraga said that Lopez has been “an exceptional leader” for Doral.
Lopez is “someone who has led with integrity, strengthened trust within our community, and elevated the Doral Police Department in meaningful ways,” Fraga said in a statement to the Herald. “We are incredibly proud of him and this next step in his career, even as we know we will truly miss him here in Doral.”
Fraga highlighted that during his time in the city, “he strengthened our department, supported our officers, and helped build a strong foundation that positions us well for the future. His impact will be felt long after his departure.”
But one of Fraga’s colleague says she was kept out of the loop.
“I am disappointed that the City administration did not inform me of his departure and did not keep me updated on this important information,” Doral Councilwoman Maureen Porras said. “While I feel sadness at his departure, I am genuinely happy for him as he takes on this exciting new opportunity. His leadership has greatly impacted our community, and he will be missed. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
Doral experience
Under Lopez’s leadership, the city of Doral reported a decline in crime, according to the city’s 2024-2025 budget. The document shows that overall crime decreased by 12% in fiscal year 2023 and was down 32% year-to-date in fiscal year 2024.
City officials credited the reduction to proactive enforcement strategies, daily police operations by uniformed and plain-clothes officers, and strong relationships with residents and business owners that support communication and crime prevention efforts.
But Lopez’s time in Doral hasn’t been without controversy. In a lawsuit filed by former Doral Police Maj. Jose Seiglie, Lopez was accused of playing a central role in efforts to reshape the department’s leadership by pushing out older officers in favor of younger personnel.
The complaint, filed in Miami-Dade County in June 2024 and later moved to federal court, alleges that Lopez attempted to “buy out” Seiglie to make room for younger promotions and was part of a broader pattern of internal pressure that, according to Seiglie, culminated in his demotion from deputy chief to major, and later termination in May 2024, after he raised concerns about what he described as “incompetence, malfeasance, and misfeasance“ within the department.
The city has denied those claims in court filings.
This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 1:22 PM.
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