Republican Michael Gauger has a distinguished decades-long career in law enforcement. He was promoted from Deputy to Detective, then Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Major, and Colonel before being named Chief Deputy (second in command), a position he held for sixteen years under the current administration. He retired because he could no longer stand by and watch Ric Bradshaw make unethical decisions and squander taxpayer dollars.

As your next Sheriff, Gauger’s top priorities include:

1. Getting the burgeoning budget under control! Cut lavish spending on opulent office space, end million dollar bonuses and $100,000 luxury vehicles for executives, be frugal with taxpayer dollars, and return surplus budget money BACK to the county if unused – just like every Sheriff has done in the history of PBSO until Ric Bradshaw.
2. Restore key programs and units eliminated by Bradshaw! Some of the most successful programs and departments in PBSO history have been eliminated by Ric Bradshaw. He claims it is because he doesn’t have room in his almost $1 BILLION budget, but he had money to buy 4 more new helicopters and 2 fixed wing planes. PBSO doesn’t need 8 helicopters. Palm Beach County needs a focus on crime prevention. Gauger will restore the following programs, and more:
   1. Eagle Academy – a semester long, bootcamp style program for at risk youth 12-15 years of age
   2. Drug Farm – a nationally awarded therapeutic recovery program managed by military discipline for nonviolent, drug-dependent offenders. The Drug Farm was accredited by the American Correctional Association and had a success rate of more than 80%, meaning that 80+% of offenders who previously committed repeat offenses got clean and sober and became productive members of society again. They stayed out of jail, and each inmate that isn’t in our jail saves taxpayers $25,000+ per year.
   3. PAL Boxing Programs – Similar to Eagle Academy, keeping at risk youth busy and engaged with positive activities keeps them out of gangs and prevents crimes. Reinstating PAL programs reduces crime and keeps youth on track and out of trouble.
   4. Graffiti Unit – Law Enforcement Officers and Corrections Officers take low risk, non-violent offenders from the jail and supervise them while they repaint and restore property defaced by graffiti.
   5. Aggressive Driving Unit – A dedicated unit to prevent and crack down on dangerous aggressive driving.
   6. Animal Cruelty Prevention Unit – A dedicated unit to prevent animal abuse and cruelty.
   7. Behavioral Health Unit – 85% of offenders in the PBC jail have mental health and/or substance abuse issues. Gauger created and started this unit years ago, when Bradshaw was strongly opposed to it. Bradshaw said Gauger could work the project ONLY if it didn’t cost any money from Bradshaw’s budget. Because of Gauger’s relationships, he got two (2) for-profit rehab facilities to each donate licensed clinical social workers. Those LCSW’s were partnered with deputies who also held certifications in the field. They worked together on crime prevention and recovery efforts with incredible impacts and results. Bradshaw eliminated all of those certified professionals from the unit and put a SWAT Captain in charge. That SWAT Captain’s wife was just federally indicted on $25 MILLION Medicare fraud charges. Another member of the unit was just arrested for 10+ felony counts of video voyeurism on an out-of-county warrant issued by MCSO. The unit is in desperate need of overhaul and restoration to its previous structure.
3. End collusion between PBSO and PBA! For too long, Bradshaw and the PBA union have been far too cozy. He allows the PBA to dictate and control their own discipline – playing favorites and overlooking errors made by buddies, and scrutinizing every detail of those who aren’t in collusion. Gauger promises to restore fairness and equity to the process and hold all employees accountable – to the same standards – across the board.