Ric Bradshaw is a beloved, seasoned veteran who began his career with the West Palm Beach police, where he served for thirty-three years, eight of those years as Chief of Police. He has been the dynamic Sheriff of Palm Beach County since his first election in 2004. Since then, he has made considerable strides in law enforcement with his unwavering commitment to community engagement and crime reduction, and now he’s seeking re-election. However, many thought it would never happen when, a couple of years ago, he was hospitalized with a heart issue. Some thought he would never bounce back, but Bradshaw proved the naysayers wrong and returned more vital than ever. Democrat Bradshaw is running against Republican Mike Gauger, who worked with Bradshaw for many years and seems to believe it’s time for Palm Beach County to have a new sheriff in town. However, Bradshaw shows no signs of slowing down based on Bradshaw’s vast community support from both sides of the political spectrum and a tremendous campaign war chest at his disposal. He’s ready to keep on serving and catching the criminals.
Florida Jolt caught up with Bradshaw for this exclusive interview.
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Let’s get nostalgic. What inspired you to run for Sheriff when you first ran?
When I was the Police Chief in WPB, the State Attorney at the time and two judges asked me to run for Sheriff. They felt the Sheriff’s Office lacked leadership and professionalism and believed I could turn it around.
Times change. What are your top three priorities when Re-elected as Sheriff?
Mental Health, Community Policing, Advanced Technology, and Homeland security
Do you see specific law enforcement challenges facing Palm Beach County?
The challenges are mental issues that are prevalent in a lot of things we deal with, such as fighting the gangs responsible for narcotics distribution and violence and homeland security protecting our border.
Your opponent, Mike Gauger, used to be your right-hand man. What do you have to say about him today?
Mr. Gauger was not my right-hand man. He was only responsible for a certain area of the agency; it was not a true number two position. I supervised the most important areas of the agency: internal affairs, the budget office, media relations, and the legal department, all of which reported directly to me. His loyalty and dedication were questionable, which is why his areas of responsibility were limited.
Some communities have trouble building trust with law enforcement. Is this an issue in Palm Beach County? If so, how do you plan to build trust and improve relationships between law enforcement and the community?
We do not have any problems networking with our communities. Our community policing effort is very robust and fosters trust. Many mayors and city commissioners endorse me because they have seen our efforts firsthand in their communities and are very pleased.
We know that there has been a significant influx of illegal immigrants in Palm Beach County. Have you seen a rise in crime as a result?
The illegal immigrant influx is not directly related to an increase but has added to certain crimes, especially property crimes.
What is your approach to reducing crime rates in our area?
Strict enforcement of the law, enhanced community policing, and advanced technology.
What role does law enforcement have in mental health services?
Mental health plays a significant role in law enforcement; that’s why I started my own mental health unit, the first of its kind in the US; this model is now replicated throughout the entire country.
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How do you ensure accountability within your department?
We ensure accountability through our policies, our early warning system on the use of force, and supervision-supervised body cam reviews.
What policies do you support regarding the use of body cameras and other technologies?
We are the most technologically advanced agency in the state of the art, constantly adding the newest technology.
What role do you see for the Sheriff’s office in addressing regional issues such as human trafficking or gang violence?
We address these issues constantly with task forces working with the federal government and have successfully arrested several large gangs.
What legacy do you hope to leave as Sheriff?
He was a good man who took care of his employees and made a difference in the quality of life for people in the community.
You mentioned during a recent Governor DeSantis press conference that you’re spending 155K a day to protect former President Trump. That’s a million dollars a week. Is this sustainable?
Not unless federal funding kicks in. I will have to ask the county for contingency funds.
The last question is a fun one. What’s your favorite book or movie?
My favorite movie is Tombstone. It’s about Wyatt Earp.
Come November, voters will have a big decision to make, but there can be no doubt that Ric Bradshaw has proven himself to have the drive, experience, determination, and sheer grit to keep protecting and serving Palm Beach County.
For more information, go to Ric Bradshaw For Sheriff
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