Former NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire graduates police academy in Miami
Stoudemire, 43, will join the Miami-Dade school police department now that he has completed his training. Miami Dade College
Key Points(5)
- A former Miami Heat star is being recognized for his post-NBA career.
- Leer en español On Wednesday, former NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire graduated the police academy as to serve the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department.
- The ceremony was held at Miami Dade College’s North Campus.
- It’s a big summer for Stoudemire, who also was one of this year’s inductees into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Stoudemire played 14 years in the NBA, with his final season coming with the Heat in 2015-16.
Former NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire has graduated from the Miami Dade College School of Justice Basic Law Enforcement Academy and will join the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department, marking a new chapter in his career after 14 seasons in professional basketball.
The 43-year-old completed the programme on Wednesday during a ceremony at Miami Dade College’s North Campus, where he received special recognition for his contributions to the academy.
“Amar'e Stoudemire made his mark on the basketball court. A six-time NBA All-Star, 2003 Rookie of the Year and newly inducted Basketball Hall of Famer, he played for some of the league's biggest teams, including our very own Miami Heat,” Miami Dade College said in an Instagram post featuring photos of his graduation.
“Today, he's celebrating a very different milestone: graduating from the MDC School of Justice Basic Law Enforcement Academy after months of rigorous training,” the college added.
Stoudemire also received the Harry “Coach” Everett Award for his contributions to the success of the academy programme during his training.
“And he's graduating with special recognition, receiving the Harry 'Coach' Everett Award for his contributions to the success of the academy program throughout his training,” the college said.
The former basketball star told Sports Illustrated on Wednesday that becoming a police officer had been a lifelong ambition.
“It's something I always wanted to do since I was a kid,” Stoudemire said.
“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,” he added.
Stoudemire’s graduation comes during a milestone year, as he was also inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as part of its 2026 class.
A six-time NBA All-Star, Stoudemire was named the league’s Rookie of the Year in 2003 after beginning his professional career with the Phoenix Suns. He later played for the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat.
He spent five seasons with the Knicks from 2010 to 2015 before joining the Heat for his final NBA season in 2015-16.
Stoudemire played 846 regular-season NBA games, averaging 18.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 53.7% from the field.
His move into law enforcement marks a new professional chapter for the former NBA star, who is preparing to serve students and school communities across Miami-Dade County.
