BIO
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21-year veteran in law enforcement. A member of the Miami-Dade Police Department currently assigned to the Midwest District Station in the North Operations Division as the Police Major.
Major Jose L. Aragu is tasked with the oversight of all Police Operations at the Midwest District Station. Direction, coordination, and oversight of all Police Operations at the Midwest District Station. The district’s geographical area is approximately 25 square miles and has a population of approximately 230,000 residents. The district is comprised of 212 employees with an annual operating budget of $34,000,000 dollars. Midwest District emphasizes police services to the community by implementing programs and strategies that focus on combating crime. Through effective proactive enforcement activities, and a zero-tolerance approach towards criminals, the district focuses on reducing targeted crimes. As a result of these crime fighting strategies I have implemented, the Midwest District has seen a significant reduction in violent and targeted crimes, the largest such reduction in all of Miami-Dade County.
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On January 27, 2020, Miami-Dade Police Department Major Jose L. Aragu was tasked with the oversight of all Police Operations at PortMiami with an operational budget of $12,000,000 dollars. PortMiami Ranks No. 11 amongst America's busiest ports and is recognized across the globe with the dual distinction of being the "Cruise Capital of the World" and the "Cargo Gateway of the Americas". The port handled over 1.2 million TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) containers of cargo in the year 2021. PortMiami is the second largest economic engine in Miami-Dade County as it contributes more than $43 billion of total economic activity. In the year 2019, PortMiami handled passenger counts surpassing 6.5 million passengers. Most recently, he was tasked as the incident commander for the COVID-19 response at PortMiami, he received multiple letters of appreciation from the cruise lines for his compassionate leadership, support, and engagement to safely return guest and crew members home to their loved ones.
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Major Aragu was tasked to direct and oversee public safety and security for the 2019 Mayoral State of the County address at PortMiami. He was also appointed by the Homeland Security Bureau to plan and oversee the Emergency Operations Center for the 2020 Super Bowl in Miami-Dade County.
On October 23, 2017, Miami-Dade Police Department Major Jose L. Aragu, was assigned to PortMiami’s Seaport Operations Bureau as a platoon commander. In May 2018, he assumed additional duties as the Executive Officer for the Bureau. In this assignment Major Aragu was responsible for oversight of all Police Operations, and the direct supervision of Investigations, the Auto Theft Task Force, Administration Unit, Harbor Patrol, Incident Containment Team, Canine Unit, and the newly established Motorcycle Unit. He was also responsible for the preparation and execution of Port Security Grants. Since his arrival at PortMiami, Major Aragu secured more than four million dollars in grant funding from the Port Security Grant Program to enhance safety and security at PortMiami. He has played an important role in all the capital development projects at PortMiami in recent years. He worked closely with the PortMiami capital and planning team to provide guidance in relation to the safety and security of terminal and roadway designs. Major Aragu also began an initiative with Information and Technology Division Assistant Director Rosie Pérez to create a unified transportation control room to link Miami International Airport, PortMiami and the Rail.
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Major Aragu began his law enforcement career in the West Miami Police Department in January 2003. In the West Miami Police Department, he was assigned to uniform patrol in the community policing section and had an active role within the Multi-Agency Gang Taskforce in Miami-Dade County. On October 10, 2006, he lateraled to the Miami-Dade Police Department. He was assigned to the Midwest District Station to uniform patrol and later to investigations. Major Aragu has primarily held investigative assignments during his tenor as a law enforcement officer. These assignments include general investigations, cargo theft at Miami International Airport, strategic planning, and criminal intelligence. As a detective assigned to investigations at Miami International Airport, he worked criminal intelligence in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and Customs and Border Protection. He was promoted to Sergeant on September 30, 2013, and assigned to the Intracoastal District Station as a uniform patrol sergeant. He later assumed the responsibilities of the Crime Prevention and Community Policing Unit supervisor within the Neighborhood Resource Unit. On October 30, 2015, he was reassigned to Miami International Airport as a sergeant overseeing investigations. He also supervised assistance to the U.S. Secret Service on many dignitary visits through Miami International Airport to include several presidential visits. On June 6, 2017, as a newly promoted lieutenant he was assigned to the Intracoastal District Station as a platoon commander. During his command and leadership of the Intracoastal District, violent crime was at a record low.
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Major Aragu was also a part-time instructor in the Miami-Dade Public Safety Institute. He was involved in the training for The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), within the Department of State. INL plays an important role in the training of security forces of partner nations to the United States
Major Aragu has completed numerous investigative training courses and law enforcement continuing education courses during his tenure. He has been the recipient of many departmental and governmental awards and honors over his career. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Emergency Management and International Disaster Preparedness from Florida International University. Major Aragu is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute 81st Command Officers Course from the University of Louisville. Major Aragu is also a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, the Naval Postgraduate School’s Executive Leaders Program, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Leadership Program.