Stephanie V. Daniels, Director
Miami-Dade County Police Department
Stephanie V. Daniels has devoted the past 32 years in service to the community she was born and raised in. She joined the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) in 1992, after working for the State Attorney’s Office and the Miami Police Department. On March 28, 2016, Stephanie made history when she was appointed to the position of Assistant Director of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD); on February 18, 2022, appointed to Deputy Director by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, becoming the first woman to serve in this role; on July 24, 2023, appointed as MDPD Interim Director to lead the largest local law enforcement department in the Southeastern United States; and on November 13, 2023, she was appointed as the Director of MDPD, a historic milestone for our community as the first woman to lead the Department.
Director Daniels’ main priorities remain community safety, officer wellness, and investing in our youth. In her capacity as Director, Stephanie is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the MDPD, including the administration, operation, and internal management of the Department, providing sheriff services to all Miami-Dade County residents and its visitors. As Deputy Director, she acquired experience in oversight of various law enforcement services and was responsible for implementing appropriate organizational changes in policies, practices, and procedures to improve effectiveness of the various services. She was also responsible for overseeing all uniform patrol districts throughout unincorporated Miami-Dade County, including oversight of officers assigned to Miami International Airport, PortMiami, and all major investigative entities, including the Homicide, Robbery, Special Victims, and Organized Crimes Bureaus.
Director Daniels maintains the greatest pride in her efforts at community and professional development. She developed a 12-week workshop geared toward providing management competencies for first-line and mid-level supervisors. She seeks to combat gun violence in Miami-Dade County by introducing the community to the Computers for Guns Initiative, which provides computers and technical training to community members in exchange for the relinquishing of firearms. She initiated the Youth Outreach Unit, which has grown to include more than 50 Community Oriented Policing officers, providing one-on-one mentorship to youth throughout unincorporated Miami-Dade County.
Besides her law enforcement career, Director Daniels and her family have a non-profit organization that provides scholarships to graduating high school seniors. Director Daniels also served as the President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives – South Florida Chapter; served on the board of the Urban League of Greater Miami, Inc; and is an active member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Miami-Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police, Progressive Officers Club, National Black Police Association, and the Police Benevolent Association. Director Daniels holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership from St. Thomas University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Nova Southeastern University. She has attended the Florida Executive Development Seminar and International Association of Chiefs of Police Women’s Leadership Institute; and she’s a graduate of the Administrative Officers Management Program and the Florida International University’s Chapmanville Leadership Training Program.
