Last Miami-Dade Police Department Promotional Class Ceremony Filled With Nostalgia, Eye on Future

By Brian Ballou

In a ceremony tinged with historic significance, 13 members of the Miami-Dade Police Department  stepped into new roles of leadership, marking not only their personal achievements, but also the end of an era.

Among them, three Sergeants rose to the rank of Lieutenant, while ten officers donned gold badges for the first time, symbolizing their transition to supervisory roles.

This promotion class is more than a routine personal career milestone for the group, they represent the final cohort to ascend the ranks under the banner of the Miami-Dade Police Department, which will officially transition to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office on January 7, 2025. For these newly promoted leaders, the ceremony was a moment to reflect on their own journeys while standing at the crossroads of their Department’s history.

Change was the theme throughout the ceremony on Monday, October 28, 2024, echoed in the words of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s representative at the event, Dr. Carladenise Edwards, Chief Administrative Officer. 

“You know change is a huge part of our life, change can be hard and change can be scary, but as leaders you all will facilitate the change that we are about to embark upon, and I’m so glad that I get to do that with you,” Dr. Edwards said.

Promoted to Sergeant were; Dalton A. Clark, Matthew G. Crowe, Simeon R. Dawson, Rita G. Gonzalez, Christine Marte, Annanetha R. Mitchell, Gilbert Nau, Jose M. Navarro, Justin R. Pascual, and Jaime Richter.  Promoted to Lieutenant were; Aida M. Fina-Millian, Tania Solis, and Charles M. Stennett.

“Today marks a significant milestone, not just for you, but for all of us as we stand here together, in what will be the final promotional ceremony of the Miami-Dade Police Department,” said Director Stephanie V. Daniels. After a brief silence, she continued her speech, looking directly at the 13 supervisors seated together at the front of the large auditorium room  on the second floor of the Fred Taylor Headquarters Building in Doral. “I’m emotional . . . it’s the last one, the last one, you all are making history.”

The promotion ceremony will also be the last one that Director Daniels will preside over as the Department’s leader. On November 5, Assistant Director Rosanna “Rosie” Cordero-Stutz was elected Sheriff, and her term begins on January 7, 2025.

Director Daniels said, “As we prepare to transition into the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, it is important to reflect on the responsibilities that we all carry into this new chapter, this promotional ceremony, this promotion for you is not just a new badge, or title, it is a profound responsibility, you are now leaders, charged with upholding the standards of this Department and setting examples that others will follow. I trust that each of you has the skill, the integrity, and the commitment necessary to embrace this responsibility. As we move forward, remember that being the right leader starts with who you are, your core. Leadership isn’t about rank or authority, it is about your character, fairness, and ability to lead with empathy and compassion.”  

Later in her speech she said, “As we prepare to enter into the new era of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, I want to remind you that this is not just a rebranding, it is a continuation of who we are at our core, Miami-Dade. The Miami-Dade Police Department has always stood for excellence, integrity, and service to our community. Those values will carry forward with us, and it is up to us, all of us, to ensure they remain the cornerstone of our work.”

Among the promotion class was Northside District Uniformed Patrol Sergeant Gilbert Nau. Standing with his family after the end of the ceremony, he expressed his feelings.

“When Director Daniels mentioned it in her speech to us, at that moment, it kind of hit me hard, and it actually gives me a lot of motivation to keep moving up and setting a good example, acting on her words to become a good leader to guide the new officers to a greater future.” In referring to his own career as well as the Department’s transition, he added, “Change is good, and there are challenges from those changes that should be embraced.”