Miami-Dade sheriff: 100 days since I was elected, here’s what I’ve done so far | Opinion

On Jan. 7, 2025, I was honored to be sworn in as the first elected sheriff of Miami-Dade in over 60 years — overseeing the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO), now a constitutional office independent of county government.

As we enter this new era, I’m proud to share how, in my first 100 days, we began laying a strong foundation built on four pillars: rooting out public corruption, crime reduction, transparency and accountability and reshaping the Office of the Sheriff.

From targeting public corruption and homeowners association/condo fraud to protecting our elderly residents and realigning resources for greater efficiency, these first steps are only the beginning of a larger commitment to serve and protect with excellence and professionalism.

I began my law enforcement career nearly 30 years ago with a passion for helping others — and that has remained my driving force. I will continue working each day to ensure everyone feels safe.

Murders fell

Between Jan. 7 and April 7, 2025, murders in unincorporated Miami-Dade dropped by 22% compared to the same period in 2024. The homicide bureau successfully closed 20 murder investigations, some of which were open investigations from previous years, a 66% percent increase compared to the same time frame in 2024.

Our Strategic Response Division conducted several traffic enforcement details, issuing 1,980 citations, 564 warnings and 22 arrests.

We’ve cracked down on the illegal use of handicap placards — our Kendall District spearheading this enforcement, issuing citations and confiscating fraudulent placards.

Since the savage attack in Israel in 2023, we’ve seen a disturbing rise in hate crimes.

We will not tolerate antisemitism or hate in any form. We increased police presence at houses of worship, held briefings on antisemitism and hate crime prevention and deployed additional security during holidays.

We’ve connected with hundreds of residents — from community leaders to retirees — gathering in cafes, churches and community centers to discuss public safety.

‘Ask Sheriff Rosie’

I’ve hosted multiple “Share with Sheriff Rosie” events to hear directly from the public.

These conversations are invaluable, and I remain committed to listening, learning and taking action. To be more accessible, I launched the “Ask Sheriff Rosie” tool on our website — a direct line for sharing your questions, concerns, or ideas. Your voice matters, and I will keep listening.

We’ve also made it easier to report suspected public corruption. A new hotline, dedicated email address and online complaint form are now available on our website.

Condo fraud

We have streamlined the HOA/condo fraud reporting process, making it easier to report these crimes directly to investigators. The new process received 81 complaints within two weeks of being launched on March 14.

Our Real Estate Fraud Squad is investigating numerous reports submitted through our new landing page, which provides citizens with additional resources and educational outreach.

I recently launched the “Senior Safety” public service campaign, which includes weekly videos educating the elderly on avoiding scams and targeted crimes.

One of my key priorities is increasing transparency and accountability — and that begins with giving the public better access to information. Our new online crime statistics dashboard provides year-by-year data across major crime categories and is available to all residents.

A smooth rebranding of MDSO is well under way, with all projects on time and within budget.

We’ve realigned our table of organization to strengthen our functions and street presence. Though we’re still working toward full staffing, strategic scheduling and smarter deployment of roles have allowed us to put more deputies on the streets, ensuring a stronger presence in our neighborhoods.

We’ve also ended the hybrid work policy for about 1,000 civilian employees. Working together fosters better responsiveness, stronger teamwork and greater success.

We’ve honored the proud legacy of the Miami-Dade Police Department, the foundation from which MDSO was built, by carrying forward its strengths while forging a new path as a modern, independent agency. Law enforcement is a constantly evolving profession, and we must evolve and improve, too.

Together, we will build a stronger, safer Miami-Dade for all.

Rosie Cordero-Stutz was elected Miami-Dade sheriff in November. She joined the department as an officer in 1996.

This story was originally published April 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM.