FAQs / My Stance

---

I plan to re-engineer the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office into a modern, accountable, and forward-thinking agency. That starts with culture. For far too long, PBSO has operated reactively—putting out fires instead of building fireproof systems. We’ll begin by addressing leadership accountability, restoring pride in performance, and rebuilding trust between administration and the men and women on the line. My administration will focus on clear communication, measurable training goals, and community visibility. Change doesn’t come from slogans—it comes from daily leadership that sets the example.

Deputy wellness isn’t a side issue—it’s a readiness issue. A mentally or physically exhausted deputy can’t serve the community at their best. I will reinstate annual physical fitness standards and require periodic mental-health check-ins for all employees, not as punishment but as maintenance—just like maintaining your weapon or patrol car. Specialized units like Vehicular Homicide or Crimes Against Children will receive additional psychological resources, given the trauma they face. Healthy deputies lead to safer interactions, fewer mistakes, and longer careers.

Transparency must become part of the agency’s DNA. Citizens have the right to know how their sheriff’s office operates, spends money, and makes decisions. That means publishing simplified budget breakdowns, updating the public on use-of-force incidents, and holding leadership open forums for both deputies and residents. Internally, transparency also means telling our own people the truth—no more learning about agency issues from the news. When the truth is shared early and clearly, trust grows on both sides of the badge.

Our current promotion system rewards cramming, not careers. I’ll replace the one-time written test with a career-based evaluation model that tracks tactical performance, leadership, professionalism, and community impact year after year. Deputies who consistently perform, mentor, and contribute will rise—those who hide behind the calendar or favoritism won’t. We’ll make promotions about who you are daily, not how well you test once. Leadership must be earned, documented, and sustained.

Leadership isn’t about the stripes—it’s about the standard you set when no one’s watching. My philosophy is that leadership starts with ownership: own your decisions, your mistakes, and your people. I wrote Lead Ready to help develop leaders who guide through example, communication, and self-discipline. A good leader doesn’t build followers—they build more leaders. The Sheriff’s Office must become a place where initiative, ethics, and mentorship define rank more than time served.

Morale is directly tied to how leadership treats its people. When deputies feel invisible, overworked, or unappreciated, morale collapses. I plan to rebuild it through transparency, recognition, and inclusion in the decision-making process. Supervisors will be expected to lead by engagement, not intimidation. We’ll implement structured mentorship programs and expand opportunities for career advancement outside traditional paths. When people feel valued and heard, pride in the uniform returns naturally.

The training model we use today was built for the 1950s—not the realities of modern law enforcement. Under my administration, PBSO will transition to the Train Ready model—scenario-based, stress-tested, and focused on decision-making under pressure. We’ll combine psychology, behavioral analysis, and real-world simulation so deputies can think, adapt, and respond with discipline. Every incident, body-cam review, and citizen complaint can become a training opportunity. Our goal is to produce deputies who are mentally prepared, emotionally steady, and operationally sharp.

Accountability will be consistent, fair, and transparent. Every policy violation—whether intentional or accidental—will be reviewed for lessons learned. We can’t keep hiding mistakes and pretending they never happened. Each misstep should improve training, tighten procedures, and prevent recurrence. This doesn’t mean punishing every mistake; it means using them to grow a better agency. Deputies will respect leadership more when accountability is evenhanded and consistent, not politically selective.

Use of force must be guided by restraint, training, and outcome awareness. I want deputies who understand not only how to use force, but why, when, and what happens afterward. We’ll integrate body-cam analysis, peer reviews, and scenario playback into ongoing training to reinforce sound judgment and de-escalation. Every use of force is a reflection of the agency as a whole. By focusing on reasoning and outcomes, we strengthen both officer safety and community trust.

Community engagement can’t be limited to press releases or parades. I’ll bring back regular citizen academies, youth mentorship programs, and open forums where residents can ask questions directly. Deputies will have opportunities to volunteer and participate in community events on duty because service outside the badge strengthens trust inside the community. We’ll expand partnerships with schools, houses of worship, and civic groups—building a sense of shared responsibility for safety and understanding.

I’ve never been a politician—I’ve been a public servant. My career has been built on the street, in investigations, and inside classrooms training officers nationwide. I don’t owe political favors, and I don’t make decisions for convenience. I’m not seeking power; I’m seeking progress. This campaign isn’t about me—it’s about restoring professionalism and pride in a Sheriff’s Office that once led by example. My experience allows me to fix problems from within because I’ve lived them, not read about them.

Taxpayers deserve to see where every dollar goes. I’ll publish public-facing budget summaries that outline spending categories in plain language—so citizens can see what’s invested in training, equipment, community outreach, and administrative overhead. Independent audits will ensure spending aligns with public priorities, not private interests. Fiscal transparency isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of public trust. When money is managed openly, people regain faith in the institution.

Communication failures breed frustration, rumor, and division. I’ll reestablish internal communication systems that keep deputies informed, connected, and respected. Command staff must be present—not behind closed doors. I plan to hold quarterly town-hall meetings with all ranks, open policy reviews, and real-time updates on major changes. Good communication eliminates confusion and builds unity. The Sheriff’s Office should function like a team, not a rumor mill.

Retention isn’t fixed by signing bonuses—it’s fixed by culture. People leave when they feel leadership doesn’t care. I’ll focus on mentorship, career development, and fairness in opportunity. Deputies should see a future inside PBSO, not a reason to leave for another agency. Recruitment will focus on quality, not quotas, and on bringing in people who reflect professionalism, empathy, and courage. Our goal: attract the best, train them well, and keep them proud to serve.

The mental health of our deputies has been ignored for too long. Exposure to trauma, tragedy, and violence is routine—but support isn’t. I’ll make mental wellness part of our operational readiness plan. Annual mental-health screenings, confidential counseling access, and embedded psychologists in key units will be standard. We’ll eliminate the stigma of asking for help and treat mental health as maintenance, not weakness. Healthy minds create safer outcomes for everyone.

The Brady list should be a learning document, not a buried secret. Each case offers valuable lessons in ethics, oversight, and leadership. My administration will analyze patterns in misconduct to identify where supervision or training failed. The public has a right to know the system works, and deputies have the right to consistent standards. We can’t build integrity if we refuse to discuss where it’s been lost. Honest review is how professionalism grows.

Training is the heartbeat of public safety. When officers are poorly trained, citizens pay the price. My approach integrates psychology, body language, and decision-making science into every level of instruction. We’ll turn real-life incidents and body-cam footage into learning modules. Every mistake becomes a case study. When deputies are trained to think, anticipate, and regulate their emotions under stress, the community benefits through safer, smarter policing.

Partnerships are the multiplier of success. I’ll build stronger ties with municipal, state, and federal partners to share intelligence, streamline task forces, and coordinate training. Law enforcement shouldn’t operate in silos. When agencies collaborate, they reduce redundancy and improve crime prevention. My past experience with the DEA Task Force taught me the power of cooperation—it saves resources, strengthens cases, and keeps the focus on outcomes, not credit.

The same offenders cycle through our system repeatedly because accountability breaks down in the courts. During my narcotics years, it wasn’t uncommon to arrest someone with 10 or more felony cases who was still walking free. I’ll work with prosecutors, judges, and state attorneys to identify those breakdowns and push for consistency in sentencing. Law enforcement does its job every day; it’s time the system followed through. We owe victims and citizens better protection.

Technology should reinforce truth and accountability—not be hidden behind bureaucracy. Every body-worn and in-car video will be reviewed not only for compliance but also as a training opportunity. Technology can teach us more than it can punish us. We’ll ensure body-cam footage is properly archived, accessible for review, and used to strengthen both professionalism and transparency.

Some units carry emotional weight that most people never see. Vehicular Homicide, Crimes Against Children, and Narcotics teams face repeated exposure to trauma, tragedy, and death. I’ll ensure those deputies receive enhanced mental-health monitoring, dedicated downtime, and specialized support services. They will also receive recognition for the unseen cost of their work. Supporting these teams isn’t just compassionate—it’s operationally smart. Resilient investigators make stronger cases and healthier employees.

Professionalism starts with expectations and ends with accountability. Deputies will be evaluated not only on what they do, but on how they do it—demeanor, communication, and composure. Supervisors will set the tone daily. Every contact with the public is a reflection of the badge and of me as Sheriff. We’ll use real-world reviews, coaching, and positive reinforcement to make professionalism a living standard, not a slogan.

Success will be measured in more than crime stats. I’ll judge success by agency morale, public confidence, and the number of deputies who feel proud to wear their uniform again. A successful Sheriff’s Office is one that citizens trust, employees respect, and criminals fear for the right reasons. When deputies feel valued and citizens feel heard, everyone wins.

You deserve a Sheriff—not a politician with a badge. I’ve lived and served in this county since 1986. I’ve seen what works, what fails, and what must change. My promise is simple: to lead with honesty, restore pride in the badge, and create an agency that serves the people—not itself. Together, we can build a culture of professionalism, transparency, and readiness worthy of Palm Beach County’s citizens and the men and women who protect it.

Immigration enforcement must be guided by law—not politics. Under my administration, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office will cooperate fully with lawful federal requests from ICE when they pertain to criminal enforcement, detainers, or warrants authorized by law. Deputies will not, however, engage in independent immigration raids, street sweeps, or detentions outside the scope of our authority.

Our role is to uphold the law while protecting the rights and dignity of all residents. That means if ICE lawfully requests assistance in a criminal matter, PBSO will respond professionally and respectfully. But I will not allow our agency to become a political tool for immigration agendas. The Sheriff’s Office must operate with discipline, integrity, and focus—protecting citizens, enforcing valid law, and maintaining the trust of every community we serve.