Miami-Dade County Mayor announces new leadership within her Senior Staff, Miami-Dade Police, and Corrections Departments

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced today new changes in leadership within the senior staff at the Office of the Mayor, as well as within the Miami-Dade Police Department and the Corrections Department.  
 
As Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s administration enters its second year, these personnel moves will build on the successes and lessons learned of the first year to enhance the County’s departments, provide the best quality of services to residents, and further ensure public safety in our communities.   

The leadership changes announced are as follows, effective March 1st:  
 

• JD Patterson, Chief Public Safety Officer, will serve on special assignment to the Corrections and Rehabilitation Department (MDCR). Patterson is the County’s first Chief Public Safety Officer, has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Previously he served as Miami-Dade Police Department director from 2013 to 2016 and most recently as Assistant Police Chief for the City of Miami Gardens. Patterson's extensive experience in public safety will ensure that we work on important reforms to our correctional facilities to ensure anyone under Miami-Dade custody receives the proper service.
• Daniel Junior, Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation Department (MDCR), will serve as Assistant Director of Safety and Security Enforcement at Miami-Dade's Seaport. Junior has over 21 years of management experience with Miami-Dade County government, and proven experience overseeing and managing civilian and sworn staff at a major County department, which will bring important leadership to the Port’s senior management team.
• Cassandra Jones, Deputy Director of Corrections, will serve as Interim Director of the Corrections and Rehabilitation Department (MDCR). Jones has been with the Corrections Department for approximately 30 years and has over 26 years of supervisory experience within a correctional organization. She has demonstrated dedication to the success of the Department and the professional development of its employees. Her appointment is effective immediately.
• Alfredo Ramirez III, Director of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), will serve as Interim Chief Public Safety Officer. Director Ramirez has dedicated the past 25 years to the law enforcement profession after joining MDPD in 1995 and was promoted through all civil service ranks attaining the position of Director in January 2020. During the last two years, Ramirez has led the agency with excellent results on gun violence prevention and homicide reduction.   
• George Perez, Assistant Director of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), will serve as Interim Police Director. Assistant Director George Perez has been a law enforcement officer for nearly 22 years and has served in a variety of sworn capacities. Assistant Director Perez has commanded the Town of Miami Lakes, Northside District, and the Professional Compliance Bureau. Presently, Assistant Director Perez is responsible for the command of Police Services, which is comprised of nearly 2,500 employees and includes three divisions: South Operations, North Operations, and the Strategic Response Division.
• Stephanie Daniels, Assistant Director of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), will serve as Deputy Director, becoming the first woman in this high-ranking position within the agency. Daniels has devoted the past 30 years of her life in service to her community. She joined MDPD in 1992, after working for the State Attorney’s Office and the Miami Police Department. In 2016 she made history when she was appointed to the position of Assistant Director of the MDPD as the first Black woman to serve in this role.
• Rahel Weldeyesus, Senior Advisor for Innovation and Performance in the Office of the Mayor, will serve as Senior Advisor for Public Safety on special assignment to the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) to assist with the Sheriff transition, and as liaison on interdepartmental and special initiatives. As Senior Advisor, she spearheaded the County’s Thrive305 initiative, the largest civic engagement effort in County government history. Rahel has over 15 years of experience in strategic planning, performance management, and public safety working with government agencies, nonprofit and community organizations. Before joining the mayor’s senior leadership team, she worked as Chief of Staff for then-Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava.  
• Jason Smith, Director of Equity and Inclusion, will serve as Interim Senior Advisor for Equity and Engagement in the Office of the Mayor. Jason is a public policy professional with nearly two decades of economic development and community engagement experience. He most recently served as legislative director for then-Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, where he managed the Commissioner’s economic development and affordable housing portfolio.