Mario Knapp secures endorsement from Hispanic police union in race for Miami-Dade sheriff

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Mario Knapp, a Republican candidate for Miami-Dade County’s newly re-established sheriff position, secured the endorsement of the Hispanic Police Officers Association in the lead up to his Aug. 20 primary contest.

“The endorsement is much more meaningful for me, because it came from a vote, cast by the men and women that wear this uniform,” Knapp told Florida’s Voice. “Other organizations didn’t even allow me or others to speak to their members. HPOA was public and transparent and gave their members a voice.”

“The overwhelming support we received by the members of the department comes from people who know was this agency needs,” he said.

Knapp specifically referenced how the endorsement was democratically voted on by the union’s membership, rather than chosen by its leadership.

According to the organization, Knapp won 66 votes, coming in first place. Rosanna Cordero-Stutz came in second with 29 votes and John Rivera came in third with 23 votes. Several other candidates in the hotly contested race received scattered votes from other membership.

Carlos Arguelles, the president of the association congratulated Knapp on receiving the endorsement and wished all the candidates best of luck in the upcoming election.

Miami-Dade County abolished their Sheriff’s Department in 1966 and replaced it with the Miami-Dade Police Department that is run by an appointed police director and the mayor of the county, who holds the duties and responsibilities of a sheriff. Currently, Miami-Dade is the only county in the state not to have an elected sheriff.

Under Florida legislation passed and signed into law in 2023, every county is now required to have an elected sheriff position.

There are currently 17 active candidates for the newly required position in the county. 13 of the which are Republicans.