Sonia Quiñones

Director, Center for Law Enforcement Safety and Wellness

Sonia Quiñones is the director of the Center for Law Enforcement Safety and Wellness (CLESW) for the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR). CLESW is composed of the VALOR Program—a national officer safety project developed at the direction of the U.S. Attorney General—as well as the National Suicide Awareness for Law Enforcement Officers Program, the National Law Enforcement Roadway Safety Program, and the Corrections Officer and Staff Safety and Wellness Center (CorWellness).

Ms. Quiñones served in law enforcement for more than 28 years, 21 of which were in management. Her career began in 1993, as a patrol officer for the Hallandale Beach, Florida, Police Department. She worked her way up through the ranks and was appointed chief of police in 2017.

Ms. Quiñones earned her master of public administration degree from Barry University. She is a graduate of the 248th Session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy. She retired from the Hallandale Beach Police Department in October 2021.

Ms. Quiñones is the past president of the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE) and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Human and Civil Rights Committee.