Chief Manuel A. Morales is the 43rd Commanding Officer of the Miami Police Department and oversees 1400 sworn and 400 civilian personnel. He joined the Miami Police Department in 1994 as an officer after serving nearly 4 years in the U.S. Army. Chief Morales worked as a patrolman and Field Training Officer in the Model City, Little Haiti, and Flagami Neighborhood areas.

In February 1999, he joined the Criminal Investigations Division as a detective in the Domestic Violence and the Violent Crimes Intervention Unit. In November 2001, he was promoted to Sergeant and served as a Field Training and Crisis Intervention Supervisor in the Field Operations Division. In July 2005, he was assigned to the Crime Suppression Unit as the Vice Detail supervisor, where his duties included the direct supervision of all undercover street narcotics detectives. He was promoted to Lieutenant in August 2007 and became the Commanding Officer of the Juvenile Investigations Unit, where he directed the Gang Unit, the Auto Theft Detail, and the Felony Apprehension Team.

In December 2009, he was promoted to Police Commander and served as the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Tactical Operations Section, where he directed the day-to-day operations and deployment of the Gang, the Crime Suppression, the Problem Solving, and the Tactical Robbery Units. In 2010, Chief Morales assumed responsibility of the Little Haiti and Upper Eastside neighborhood enhancement teams, where he focused on advancing the department’s community policing mission. In October 2016, he was promoted to Major assuming command of the Central District, there he oversaw four Neighborhood service areas, the Detention Officer Detail, the Crisis Intervention Team, and the Field Training Officer Program. In January 2018, Chief Morales assumed command of the Administration Division and oversaw the Budget, Communications, IT, Personnel, Records, Training, and Property Sections as the Assistant Chief. In May 2018, Chief Morales was assigned to lead the Field Operations Division. In October 2021, Chief Morales was sworn in as Interim Chief.

Chief Morales holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from St. Thomas University and a Master’s degree, with distinction, in Security Studies from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School. He aims to work along with our community, city administration, and members of the police department to make Miami a city we can live, work, and visit safely and without fear of crime. Chief Morales has prioritized the reduction of firearm violence, the restoration of community trust by fostering equality and employing constitutional policing, and the enhancement of officer morale, wellness, and professionalism by leading fairly and with transparency as he mitigates the challenges of our diverse city and moves the Miami Police Department to the forefront of American policing excellence.