ORLANDO, Fla. — As head of the Orlando Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division, Capt. Wanda Miglio oversees the homicide, sex crimes, financial and property crimes units.

“This is where they do all the investigation. So, they start working on leads and solving the cases,” said Miglio, pointing around a large room with cubicles filled with detectives.

According to the National Policing Institute, women make up about half of the United States' population but only about 12% of police officers.

Twenty years ago, Miglio served as a patrol officer for the city.

Over the years, she has moved up the ranks, proving herself as a woman in a profession still dominated by men.

Miglio has had no family members in law enforcement and got into crime fighting wanting to protect victims.

“Because I don't like for innocent people to be victims. And I think that all of us can relate to that because none of us wants someone to break into our home or have our car broken into, or our family members injured or hurt,” Miglio said.

Certain cases stand out from others, she said, like the one in which a 32-year-old man allegedly stole about $750,000 worth of diamonds from Tiffany & Co. at the Mall at Millenia recently.

The suspect later swallowed the evidence before being arrested.

“And this is a perfect example of where, for two days nonstop, they were working on the case. So, all of it is really, it just reminds me of why I got into this field,” said Miglio as she reviewed surveillance video of a man running off with the jewelry.  

Miglio said she looks forward to many more years of helping her teams catch the bad guys.