Southwest Miami Senior High School resource officer Ricky Cruz spends his days on far more than policing. He greets students each morning, helps with flat tires, returns lost belongings and talks with students about future careers, according to a new episode of The Blue Streak Podcast.
The episode, hosted by Jandro Suarez, executive officer of the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department, features Cruz and Principal Jorge Bulnes, known as “Mr. B.” Both men graduated from Southwest, and both have returned to the school as staff.
The conversation focuses on how a school resource officer fits into campus leadership. Bulnes said including Cruz on the school’s leadership team improves communication and emergency planning. He described Cruz’s response during a school lockdown as an example of why the two work so closely.
The discussion also covers student trust, mentorship and school funding and teacher retention. Cruz explains that small, everyday interactions are often what help students feel safe and supported.
The episode is available on the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department’s podcast channel and is aimed at families and staff across the district.
