NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – North Miami Beach has named William Hernandez its new police chief.
Hernandez was named interim chief of police in late September, after Chief Scott Dennis retired after serving three decades in law enforcement.
"Chief Hernandez embraces and understands this administration's philosophy of one Team with one Vision and One Mission!" City Manager Ana M. Garcia said in a statement Tuesday. "Chief Hernandez will lead by example and have the highest of expectations of our Police Department ensuring all adhere to the RISE principles of Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence!"
Hernandez has served the city of North Miami Beach since March of 2014 as the deputy chief. He also worked for the Miami-Dade Police Department for 26 years.
Hernandez, who is from Los Angeles, attended Nova Southeastern University, where he received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, and a master's in management and leadership.
Hernandez previously served as president of the Hispanic Police Officer's Association and founded the HPOA Foundation, a nonprofit established to help law enforcement officers and their families who were either injured or killed in the line of duty.