New chief brings changes to Hialeah Police: Good news for some officers, bad for others
Newly appointed Hialeah Police Chief George Fuente has ordered changes in ranks. The moves come after scandals that led to the departure of his predecessor, Sergio Velázquez, and have the goal of building trust in a community that doesn’t feel represented by its police officers.
Mayor Esteban Bovo Jr., during a promotion ceremony, highlighted the work of eight newly promoted officers and efforts to change the culture of the department.
“For me it has been an honor to have been able to designate Fuente as the chief of police that we want, who will help us create the changes for the Department, and to be able to be present today at the ceremony for these officers who have reached these ranks, thanks to their effort and that of their families,” he said.
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Edward Rodríguez, executive assistant to the chief of police, detailed the changes for el Nuevo Herald:
The highest-ranking new officer is Rodolfo Bello, who was promoted to police major after serving as commander of Patrol Sector V and VI.
The new commanders are:
- José Proveyer, who served as a lieutenant in the Homicide and Robbery Unit within the Criminal Investigations Division for the past two years. He has been with the department since 2002.
- Orlando Salvat was leading security efforts in Hialeah Police Sector V, which encompasses the neighborhoods west of the Palmetto Expressway. He previously served as a police instructor and former member of the SWAT team.
The new lieutenants are:
- Patricia Salgado, with more than 20 years in the Department, is a former sergeant and mental health counselor. She was recently the spokesperson for the Autism Awareness Month campaign.
- Marlon Espinoza, an eight-year veteran of the department, had served as a patrol sergeant and team leader on the Hostage Negotiation Team.
The three promoted sergeants are: Miguel A. García, Daniel Peláez and Eliecer Chavarría.
Last week, two officers also were demoted. Hubert Ruiz, who had been a major for the last three years, is now a sergeant. So is former commander Manuel Montalvo.
Hialeah mayor picks new chief from within — hoping to put scandal in rear view mirror
Fuente didn’t specify the reasons why Ruiz and Montalvo had been demoted from their positions, but he explained to el Nuevo Herald that he is promoting agents with his own “philosophy”, officers who believe in the community policing concept.
The new chief has a vision of a “police department close to the community,” where Hialeah residents feel represented and protected by their security forces, he said.
More than 300 officers attended the ceremony, including members of police forces from other Miami-Dade municipalities, such as Miami Beach.
This story was originally published April 15, 2022 at 8:20 AM.
