In a fresh chapter of the ongoing institutional clash, Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz has declared the termination of the Sergeant-at-Arms program, which provided civil security and transportation for Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and the county's 13 commissioners.
According to reports from NBC Miami, Cordero-Stutz communicated this decision through a letter, stating that the program costs taxpayers approximately $4.1 million annually. She argued that discontinuing it would help offset a deficit purportedly caused by the county's approved budget for the fiscal year 2026-2027.
In response, Levine Cava issued her own letter just hours later, labeling the decision a "substantial security challenge." She highlighted recent assaults on elected officials in Minnesota—where, in June 2025, a man killed a state legislator and shot a senator—as justification for maintaining security services.
The mayor also criticized the deficit argument, pointing out that the county had approved a record-breaking $1.23 billion budget for the Sheriff's Office this year. She demanded a detailed transition plan from Cordero-Stutz before the program's termination next month.
The backdrop to this issue is a budgetary dispute that has been simmering since September. Sheriff Cordero-Stutz requested an additional $42 million above the mayor’s recommendation for her office, but the commissioners rejected this, opting instead to approve a late addition of $11.5 million from the county's surplus.
Cordero-Stutz clarified that police coverage at Board of Commissioners meetings would continue. However, the service of plainclothes officers using black police SUVs for the personal transport and protection of officials would be discontinued.
This announcement comes just two days after the Sheriff's Office faced criticism for purchasing 1,000 cowboy hats at $132 each—totaling $132,000—amid the ongoing budget dispute.
The Controversial Amendment 3
Just a day before announcing changes to the Sergeant-at-Arms program, Cordero-Stutz joined Governor Ron DeSantis to advocate for Amendment 3, a proposal to reduce property taxes. She emphasized that public spending should always be scrutinized and asserted her commitment to spending community funds "wisely."
The sheriff recently stated that tax cuts and public safety can coexist, urging agencies to review expenditures and cut unnecessary costs.
Conversely, Mayor Levine Cava warned that such measures threaten public safety and emergency services. She forecasted that the county might lose up to 19 fire stations and more than 600 firefighters.
This isn't the first public confrontation between the two officials. Back in September, a tense exchange followed an Amazon Air plane crash at Miami International Airport, which resulted in the deaths of five Cuban nationals. The dispute over who should speak first to the media led to a series of letters between the two.
Cordero-Stutz, a Republican, became the first elected sheriff of Miami-Dade in nearly 60 years in January 2025, while Levine Cava, a Democrat, had openly supported her opponent in the 2024 elections.
Key Questions About Miami-Dade's Security Controversy
Why did Sheriff Cordero-Stutz eliminate the Sergeant-at-Arms program?
Sheriff Cordero-Stutz claimed the program's $4.1 million annual cost was unsustainable and that its removal would help address a budget deficit. She believes that resources should be managed more efficiently.
What was Mayor Levine Cava's response to the program's termination?
Mayor Levine Cava expressed concerns over significant security risks, citing recent attacks on officials in Minnesota as a reason to continue security services.
How does the budget dispute between Cordero-Stutz and Levine Cava impact the county?
The disagreement over budget allocations affects public safety services, with potential reductions in fire stations and personnel if resources are not allocated as requested by the sheriff.