044: How Does One Officer's Career Evolved Beyond Retirement - Milton Montes de Oca (Ret. City of Miami Police, Sweetwater PD)
Description
Officer Milton Montes de Oca shares his remarkable journey from Cuban immigrant to City of Miami Police veteran to mental health advocate at Sweetwater PD, revealing how life challenges transformed his purpose and mission.
• Born in Cuba and raised in Little Havana, Milton joined the military before beginning his 32-year career with Miami PD in 1986
• Served in various roles including neighborhood resource officer, school resource officer, gang unit, and intelligence/terrorism unit commander
• Rather than traditional retirement, pursued international security work followed by a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling
• Now works as both a police officer and mental health liaison at Sweetwater PD with a mission to destigmatize seeking mental health support in law enforcement
• Emphasizes the importance of positive support systems, continuous learning, and viewing challenges as opportunities for personal reinvention
• A health crisis in 2019 deepened his faith journey and redirected his professional path toward helping fellow officers
• Believes education is crucial: "Anything you have can be taken away from you, but what you've learned, no one can take away from you"
• Encourages officers to surround themselves with positive influences who genuinely care about their wellbeing
• Views life in 10-year reinvention cycles, embracing the opportunity to become "a different guy for the next generation"
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United States
