Carmen Castro
Carmen M. Castro was born and raised in Miami. She is the proud daughter of Cuban immigrants and the daughter of a father who was a political prisoner in Cuba and came to the United States seeking freedom and a better life for his family. Deeply connected to Miami-Dade County, she has dedicated the past 32 years to serving this community as a member of the Miami-Dade Police Department.
She retired from the Miami-Dade Police Department in January 2025 as the Chief of the Strategic Response Division, which includes overseeing the Special Patrol Bureau, Airport Operations Bureau, Seaport Operations Bureau, and the Police Operations Bureau. Her journey through the Department has been one of hard work and perseverance, having risen through every rank to reach her leadership position. She began her police career in 1993 as a uniformed officer in the Northside District and has held numerous assignments, including uniform patrol, field training officer, investigations, support services and police administration, human resources, and community service.
As a Police Major, she was responsible for overseeing the daily uniformed, investigative, administrative, and community functions at the Kendall District, Personnel Management Bureau, Economic Crimes Bureau, Community Affairs Bureau, and Robbery Bureau. One of the most fulfilling aspects of police work is the ability to collaborate with the community and create and expand programs that positively impact the lives of young people. She exemplified this commitment through her significant contributions. As a Police Major, she developed and implemented the Turn Around Police Academy, designed to support at-risk youth, as well as the Community Oriented Support Dog Program.
She had an illustrious career marked by numerous significant leadership roles in security and public safety. She has been entrusted with commanding, planning, and executing security operations during high-profile events, such as President Donald Trump’s rally at Trump National Doral in 2024, Trump’s 2023 indictment, and conferences with global leaders, including the Free Trade Area of the Americas Conference and the G20 Summit, as well as managing large-scale public safety concerns and crowds. In addition to these high-profile assignments, she has been a key figure in major sporting events at Hard Rock Stadium. She served as the Chairperson for the Visiting Public Safety Officials Committee during Super Bowl LIV, facilitating coordination and collaboration among different public safety agencies. Most recently, she served as the Incident Commander during three Copa América tournaments.
Her leadership was also pivotal during one of the most tragic events in recent history, serving as Logistics Commander during the Surfside Building Collapse. Additionally, she was the Commanding Officer during Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall in Miami-Dade County as a Category 1 hurricane, and Hurricane Irma as a Category 3 hurricane while assigned to the Kendall District.
Her career is a testament to her dedication to public safety, her ability to lead in high-pressure situations, and her unwavering commitment to protecting communities. In addition to her law enforcement career, she served as a mentor for the Big Brothers Big Sisters School-to-Work Program and has been a member of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Juvenile Justice Board, the Miami-Dade County Community Relations Task Force, and Past Vice President of the Miami-Dade Police Athletic League.
Chief Castro holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Sociology from Florida International University. She is also a graduate of the 94th Command Officer Development Course from the Southern Police Institute, Department of Criminal Justice, College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Louisville, and the Miami-Dade Police Department’s First Rapid Deployment Force Training, the Department’s specially trained civil disturbance and counterterrorism unit.