MIAMI — The Miami Brickell Chamber of Commerce welcomed Edwin Lopez, the city’s new police chief, at an August 5 cocktail reception that brought business leaders, elected officials and members of law enforcement together at Delilah in Brickell Key.
The gathering offered an early public introduction to Chief Lopez, who was sworn in on June 16 as the 44th chief of the City of Miami Police Department. He now oversees roughly 1,400 sworn officers and 400 civilian employees serving a city shaped by rapid growth, international attention and sharply different neighborhood concerns.
Evelio Medina, founder of the Miami Brickell Chamber of Commerce, organized the reception as a meeting point between the city’s civic and commercial communities. The Chamber has sought to connect local businesses with the public officials whose decisions influence public safety, transportation, development and everyday life in Brickell.
Mayor Eileen Higgins attended and addressed the guests. City Manager James Reyes was also present, along with city commissioners, including Vicki Lopez, representatives of the Miami Police Department and members of Miami’s business community.
In her remarks, the mayor emphasized cooperation among City Hall, the Police Department, neighborhood leaders and the private sector. That relationship is particularly important in Brickell, where residential towers, financial institutions, hotels and restaurants share a dense and increasingly busy part of the city.
Chief Lopez thanked those gathered and spoke about the responsibility of serving Miami. His remarks focused on leadership and public service, as well as the trust required between police officers and the communities they protect.
During the event, Lune Tautou, the evening’s host for TENS Magazine, interviewed Chief Lopez about his immediate priorities and his relationship with the officers he now leads.
“Well, my priority right now is really continuing the declining crime and the community engagement. But the most important thing is to get to know the officers that protect our community—almost 1,400 of them—every single day. While we’re having a good time, while we’re waking up on Christmas, opening gifts with our kids, or celebrating the New Year, or partying on July 4th, they are protecting our community. So it’s important for us to show them the respect, the gratitude that they deserve, and for me as a chief to get to know them on a personal level so that I can really assist them. At the end of the day, I’m a cop just like them, so I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Chief Edwin Lopez
The reception was polished but relatively intimate, allowing guests to speak with the chief beyond the formality of an official ceremony. For Medina, the evening reflected a broader role for the Chamber: supporting commerce while also creating opportunities for direct civic engagement.
Chief Lopez assumes command as Miami continues to change with unusual modern speed. Population growth and development have expanded the demands placed on public institutions, while residents expect law enforcement to be both effective and accountable. The chief will have to manage the department’s daily operations while building confidence across communities with different experiences of policing.
“They are protecting our community, so it’s important for us to show them the respect—the gratitude—that they deserve.”
Chief Edwin Lopez
The presence of the mayor, city manager and commissioners signaled a shared interest in establishing that cooperation early. It also underscored the extent to which public safety depends on coordination across government, business and neighborhood institutions.
By the end of the evening, the event had moved beyond a ceremonial welcome. It had become the beginning of a working relationship between Chief Lopez and a cross-section of the city he now serves. The questions facing Miami will not be resolved at a reception. But on August 5, its leaders created space for the conversations that will shape the work ahead.
