Sonia

Sonia Quiñones has 27 years of experience in law enforcement and over 17 years of experience in executive leadership that includes selecting, mentoring, placing, and training future law enforcement executives for success.

Sonia Quiñones was the Chief of Police for the City of Hallandale Beach, retiring in 2021.  Her career with the agency began in 1993; she has held the positions of officer, sergeant, captain, and major.

Chief Quiñones’ professional background includes time as a DEA Task Force Agent, conducting wiretap investigations, money laundering and narcotics investigations and undercover work. Her incident command experience spans from natural disasters to immigrant landings.  Her communications expertise includes hundreds of media interactions as her agency’s Public Information Officer (PIO).  She can advise on all stages of law enforcement operations, administration, training, accreditation, and grant management.   Chief Quiñones offers a 360° perspective of law enforcement agency management with expertise in investigative services, uniformed patrol, training, and administrative operations.

Chief Quiñones’ education and training include the prestigious Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy; a ten-week executive-level training offered to only 1% of law enforcement executives.  She is a graduate of the PERF Senior Management Institute for Police training, she has also graduated from the FDLE Senior Leadership and Executive Leadership Programs, the FBI/LEEDA Command Institute, and the FBI LEEDS training.  Chief Quiñones holds bachelor and masters degrees in public administration from Barry University; a portion of her master thesis on “Health and Wellness in Law Enforcement” is published with Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).  She remains professionally affiliated with the FBINAA, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA), the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association, the National Association of Women in Law Enforcement (NAWLEE), and the Police Unity Tour.

Chief Quiñones has been recognized as an inspiration to women by several South Florida organizations such as the South Florida Business Women’s Association, the Girls Scouts of South Florida, the American Society for Public Administrators, South Florida Chapter, and she is also the recipient of the NAWLEE/Motorola Woman Law Enforcement Executive of the Year award. Chief Quiñones shares her inspiration and knowledge to ensure future generations are inspired to lead.