“We must reform how we train if we want to reform how we perform. Real training isn’t checking boxes — it’s building judgment, discipline, and professionalism that last a career.”

 The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is filled with good deputies working inside a system that has forgotten how to lead them. The men and women on the road—the patrol deputies, detectives, field training officers, and supervisors—are the face of this agency. Yet for too long, they have been managed reactively instead of led proactively. The leadership culture has grown disconnected, promotional systems reward test performance over career performance, and morale across the ranks has quietly eroded.

PBSO doesn’t lack talent—it lacks direction. Deputies are trained to enforce the law, not to feel inspired by it. Too many have lost faith that their hard work or professionalism will ever be noticed or rewarded. Promotions are often determined by a single test or oral board rather than a lifetime of performance, discipline, and dedication. The result is a culture where leadership roles are earned through study sessions, not through consistent service.

As Sheriff, I will rebuild that culture from the ground up. Leadership must be earned through behavior, professionalism, and proven capability—not politics. We will implement a career-based promotional system that tracks each deputy’s performance record, training history, and ethical standing year after year. Supervisors will be selected based on leadership merit and held accountable for the teams they lead. Training will no longer be a check box—it will be a professional investment. Deputies will receive ongoing education in decision-making, emotional control, situational awareness, and behavioral analysis to prepare them for the realities of modern policing.

The mission is simple: restore pride in the badge. Deputies deserve to work for an agency that rewards excellence, values readiness, and leads with integrity. Under my administration, PBSO will once again become a professional standard-bearer for law enforcement in Florida—a place where deputies are proud to serve, proud to train, and proud to lead.

Q: How will you change the current promotion process?
We will replace the single-exam promotion model with a career-based scoring system that measures years of service, performance evaluations, disciplinary record, specialized training, community impact, and leadership readiness. Promotions will reflect a career—not a cram session.

Q: What are your plans to rebuild deputy morale?
Morale improves when leadership is visible, fair, and supportive. Supervisors will be required to engage regularly with their teams, address concerns, and recognize achievements. We’ll also strengthen wellness programs and ensure every deputy feels heard, valued, and protected from internal politics.

Q: Will there be new standards for readiness and fitness?
Yes. We will reintroduce annual physical and mental readiness checks for sworn personnel. Readiness isn’t about punishment—it’s about professionalism. Deputies who maintain fitness, training, and self-discipline perform better, make safer decisions, and represent the agency with pride.

Q: How will training evolve under your leadership?
Training will shift from passive instruction to immersive, scenario-based education. Programs will include advanced situational awareness, de-escalation, behavioral threat recognition, and leadership development at every rank. Deputies will be trained to think, not just react.

Q: What about accountability and ethics within the ranks?
Accountability starts at the top. Supervisors who fail to lead by example will be retrained or replaced. Every division will be subject to leadership audits, ensuring integrity, consistency, and adherence to agency values. Transparency in conduct reviews and internal discipline will restore trust both internally and externally.

• Career-Based Promotions: Replace outdated exams with performance-driven advancement systems.
   
• Leadership Accountability: Hold supervisors responsible for morale, ethics, and team performance.
   
• Readiness Standards: Reinstate annual physical and psychological readiness evaluations.
   
• Modern Training: Expand scenario-based instruction and behavioral analysis education.
   
• Morale and Trust: Rebuild confidence through, presence, fairness, recognition, and strong communication.
   
• Professional Excellence: Restore PBSO’s reputation as a leader in law enforcement standards statewide.