“We went out and got what I feel is America's best chief," said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez standing alongside Acevedo at a news conference Monday after describing him to The Miami Herald as the Tom Brady or Michael Jordan of police chiefs.
He is replacing Chief Jorge Colina, who retired in February, becoming Miami’s fifth chief the past decade.
Acevedo was born in Cuba but came to the U.S. as a refugee with his family when he was 4 years old.
AdOn Monday, Acevedo acknowledged the problem with bad policing and said he thought he brings a new perspective to the Miami police department.
In Miami, Colina led the department through federal oversight after a series of police shootings, the pandemic and last summer’s protests.