Miami-Dade sheriff touts survey findings, says MDSO is short 150 deputies

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz sharing the findings of a countywide survey on Thursday.

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She said thousands of people across the county chimed in.

“Seventy percent of the community expressed a high or very high trust in the sheriff’s office,” she said. “Seventy-seven percent wants faster emergency response, 64% of our community wants to see more deputies in their communities”

Respondents added that they’re seeing too many traffic violations going unnoticed and stressed a need for more patrols in areas near Southwest Eighth Street and Northwest 12th Street.

“They’re absolutely correct people are driving aggressively,” said Cordero-Stutz. “Regards to the areas of patrol, yes those areas are proactively addressed.”

Cordero-Stutz highlighted the reduction in crime across the board and said it hasn’t been an easy job, adding that she’s been fighting for funding to get the job done and keep deputies from going to other higher paying agencies.

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She also commented on controversial Amendment 3, which if approved, would raise exemptions on property taxes. Some critics say it would come at the cost of public money for crucial services, like law enforcement.

“The amendment does not clearly identify how public safety will be funded,” she said.

The Florida Sheriffs Association has taken stance against the amendment and Cordero-Stutz was asked if her stance matches the association.

“The sheriffs association is its own place,” she said. “I am a member of the Florida Sheriffs Association. I absolutely work alongside them all the time, but that statement came from the organization.”

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Cordero-Stutz added that MDSO is currently short 150 deputies.

The starting annual salary for a deputy is just over $66,000.