Cuban American George Fuente appointed Hialeah Police Chief

George Fuente will be Hialeah's next police chief, Mayor Esteban Bovo announced on Monday at a press conference, putting an end to a four-month search to choose the person who would take command of the Police Department of Miami-Dade county's second most populous city.

"My commitment during the campaign was to ensure that the Hialeah City Police works to serve the interests of the people," Bovo said during the announcement of the outcome of what he considered a clean and transparent process.

Fuente, the husband of former Hialeah City Council member Katharine Cue-Fuente, has held the position as interim chief since November and has been an officer in the Police Department for 25 years, according to CBS Miami.

"I want an agency that is professional, transparent, and accountable. Accountable from the highest to the lowest position," Fuente said. "We want an agency that engages with our community on a daily basis. I want our officers in the parks, in the neighborhoods, interacting with our children, with our seniors."

Fuente thanked his family for their support and motivation, the elected officials, the selection committee, and the mayor for "the honor and trust," reported Diario Las Américas.

"I've been part of this police department since I was 14 years old. I started as a cadet. I became a police officer at 19 years old in Hialeah. Twenty-five years later, I thank God for giving me the opportunity," he added.

Bovo said they had more than 30 well-qualified candidates for the position, but he knew Fuente was the best choice.

"We had said from day one that we wanted to establish a process that was pure. I didn't put my finger on the scale. I wanted the committee to vet all applicants. We are fortunate to live in a city that supports law enforcement and we saw that by the number of people who applied," the mayor said.