Sworn into the City of Opa-locka Police Department (OLPD) in a ceremony conducted at the Municipal Complex building, 780 Fisherman Street, 2nd Floor, the new Assistant Chief of Police Antonio J. Sanchez, along with Reserve Officers Ruben Borrero, Albert Jackson and Kervens Norvil, took the oath to serve and protect the citizens of Opa-locka on Friday, January 6, 2012.
An experienced law enforcement professional and police instructor who is currently serving the OLPD in overseeing critical departmental functions such as Administrative Services, Internal Affairs, Criminal Investigations, Training and Patrol Operations, Sanchez previously served as the Assistant Chief of Police for the Village of Biscayne Park, Florida, where he received several awards for his service; including Investigator and supervisor of the year. Sanchez stated that he is most proud of, and is credited with, leading a Department-wide re-structuring and organizational climate-change that resulted in the highest productivity in that City’s history. This was accompanied by a record setting thirty (30) month period without a single complaint against any officer. The Assistant Chief is also the recipient of numerous service ribbons, including the Life Saving Award, the Silver Star for Bravery and the Distinguished Service Medal.
Prior to his service with the Village of Biscayne Park Police Department (BPPD), Sanchez served as the Regional Administrator for the Florida Department of Financial Service Bureau of Investigations, responsible for overseeing Department investigative operations in South Florida (the largest and busiest region in the state). In his role as Assistant Chief, Sanchez was the point person for Tallahassee, often representing the Treasurer of the State of Florida at various important events and functions throughout the State. His many contributions included participating in the overhaul of employee evaluations for the Department, improving technology and participation in various operations, including serving in every hurricane affected region in the State of Florida, for which he was honored with the Davis Productivity Award.
Prior to his service in State Government, Sanchez attained the rank of Captain with the Hialeah Gardens Police Department. He is currently an adjunct faculty member with St. Thomas University (Graduate and Under-Graduate Criminal Justice and Management programs); Miami-Dade College; F.D.L.E. Florida Leadership Academy; and he serves as a guest lecturer for the F.D.L.E. Instructor’s Conference. Sanchez has also taught law enforcement courses at numerous police agencies throughout the country.
A graduate of the F.D.L.E. Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute Class 2; the 55TH Session of the Command Officers Development Course, S.P.I. at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, Assistant Chief Sanchez earned a Master’s Degree from St. Thomas University with Graduate specializations in Justice Administration, Human Resource Management and Public Administration. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from Barry University; an Associate in Arts, in Pre- Law; and an Associate in Science, in Criminology from Miami-Dade College; Additionally, the Assistant Chief holds several professional certifications including Fraud Specialist, Financial Crimes Investigator and Mediator.
Assistant Chief Sanchez, along with Reserve Officers Borrero, Jackson and Norvil, look forward to the excitement and challenges of working with the Opa-locka Police Department as much as Chief Cheryl Cason and fellow officers look forward to working with them. All agreed that Public Safety for the City of Opa-locka is their number one concern!
