For Miami Dade College alumnus Edwin Lopez, becoming Miami’s 44th police chief is not only a milestone in a nearly three-decade law enforcement career. It is also the latest chapter in a relationship with MDC built through mentorship, partnership and a visible commitment to education.
Lopez, an Alumni Hall of Fame inductee, has long stayed connected to the College. He has supported MDC programs, served as an instructor at MDC’s Law Enforcement Academy and encouraged officers under his command to continue their education—whether in criminal justice or another field that could help them grow personally and professionally.
Beverly Moore Garcia, president of MDC’s West Campus, said Lopez consistently showed up for the College while serving as police chief in Doral. He attended campus events, helped arrange opportunities for officers to learn about MDC programs and urged them to pursue additional credentials.
“He always talked to his officers about furthering their education and the importance of education,” Moore Garcia said, noting that Lopez emphasized that learning did not have to be limited to law enforcement. “It was just gaining further knowledge that was really important.”
That support was especially visible during I AM MDC Day celebrations in Doral. When the College sought to raise West Campus’ visibility through a community parade, Lopez helped make it happen, coordinating police support and expanding the department’s presence each year with officers, K-9 units, bicycles and motorcycles.
Moore Garcia said what stood out was the spirit behind his involvement. Lopez and his officers did more than manage logistics; they joined the celebration, came back to campus afterward and spent time talking with students.
“He just was a really open partner,” Moore Garcia said. “There was this genuineness of interest and support that sets him apart.”
As he takes on his new role leading the Miami Police Department, Lopez said his priorities include crime reduction, community engagement and leading from the front. For MDC, his rise is also a point of pride, proof of how education, service and community connection can shape a career with citywide impact.