Amar'e Stoudemire Graduates from Miami-Dade Police Academy

Amar'e Stoudemire, the former New York Knicks and Miami Heat forward, has completed his training at the Miami-Dade Police Academy. The 43-year-old graduated on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, and will begin work as a police officer with the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department.

A Childhood Dream

Stoudemire, a six-time NBA All-Star and 2003 Rookie of the Year, described the career change as a fulfillment of a lifelong ambition. "It’s something I always wanted to do since I was a kid," Stoudemire told Sports Illustrated. "I remember back when I was in grade school, elementary school. They asked you on career day, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ And my initial response was a police officer."

The decision was also influenced by his family background. "It runs in the family. My uncle was a captain. His brother was a deputy. My cousin is a captain. My sister’s in the academy. So, it’s a family tradition, basically," he said.

Miami Dade College, which operates the academy, noted in an Instagram post that Stoudemire received the Harry ‘Coach’ Everett Award for his contributions to the success of the academy program throughout his training.

Rigorous Training

Stoudemire spent 10 1/2 months in the academy, a period he described as physically demanding in ways distinct from professional basketball. "Yeah, it was a little bit [more] challenging actually because now I’m running a lot more than I had before," he told Sports Illustrated. "Obviously, in the NBA you run short distances, right? And the police academy, you’re running more long-distance mileage."

The training included "prime military" drills, classroom sessions covering a 700-page law enforcement handbook, and physical exercises such as barracks crawls, squats, and lunges. Stoudemire also passed a state exam consisting of 200 questions, requiring a score of at least 80% to pass.

Next Steps

Following graduation, Stoudemire will undergo in-house training with the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department. He explained that new officers are typically paired with a field training officer (FTO) for approximately one or two months before patrolling independently.

Stoudemire acknowledged that his wife initially had concerns about the dangers associated with law enforcement. "My wife at first was a little bit concerned because obviously being a police officer, there’s some danger to it," he said. "But if you are well-trained and you understand your policies and procedures, you’re able to somewhat have officer safety, which is very important, and that’s the goal."

Why it matters

Stoudemire’s transition marks a significant shift for a high-profile athlete who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in August 2026. His move to law enforcement highlights a growing trend of athletes seeking second careers in public service, driven by a desire to influence younger generations and serve their communities. Stoudemire stated his goal is to "help steer the next generation in the proper way and catch them before they get in trouble."

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Sources

• nypost.com: Former Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire becomes Miami police officer: 'It's something I always wanted'
• bleacherreport.com: Amar'e Stoudemire Graduates from Police Academy, NBA Hall of Famer to Serve Miami-Dade Schools PD
• si.com: How Basketball Hall of Famer Amar’e Stoudemire Found a Second Act As a Police Officer
• suaragarut.id: Amar'e Stoudemire Joins Miami-Dade Schools Police Department

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.