The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (COE) recently selected Jose J. Arrojo as the new executive director. Arrojo, a former Chief Assistant Miami-Dade State Attorney, assumed the post when Joseph Centorino stepped down at the end of August.
Arrojo will be the third director of the Ethics Commission since it was created by voters in 1996. Robert Meyers served prior to Centorino.
Arrojo has served as a Chief Assistant State Attorney since 2004.
Previously, he had served as an Assistant State Attorney in a variety of areas, including public corruption, racketeering and organized crime, voter fraud, narcotics and homicide.
The University of Miami graduate earned his Juris Doctor at Florida State University and currently serves as an instructor in Miami-Dade College’s School of Justice, Public Safety and Law Studies.
Centorino assumed the position of Executive Director on September 1, 2011, following his 25-year career at the Miami- Dade State Attorney’s Office – most of that time serving as the Chief of the Public Corruption Unit.
During his tenure, he has overseen the establishment of policies restricting the use of special event tickets for public facilities by elected officials, and recommendations for the limitation of use of Miami International’s Protocol Office by politicians traveling on personal business.
Centorino championed the creation and passage of an “Oath of Civility” for elected officials and public board appointees.