Meet Sheriff
A Lifetime of Service for Palm Beach County
Ric L. Bradshaw was born and raised in Palm Beach County and graduated from Lake Worth High School. After graduation, Bradshaw enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served our country with honor.
After serving our nation, he returned home and attended Palm Beach Atlantic University where he graduated with a B.S. in Human Resources Management with honors and received his Master’s Degree in Administration with specialization in emergency management from Lynn University. Bradshaw his also a graduate of the Administrative Officers Course at the Southern Police Institute, University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky.
Sheriff Bradshaw has specialized training on Homeland Security, Mental Health, Field Operations and Community-Based Policing.
From a Patrolman to a Police Chief, Sheriff Bradshaw is a Career Law Enforcement Professional
Sheriff Bradshaw began his career in law enforcement as a patrolman with the West Palm Beach police department. He learned the ins and outs of proper and professional police work, earning the community’s trust as he worked his way up the force.
In 1996, the City Commission appointed him as Police Chief where he served for eight years as the top municipal law enforcement officer. Bradshaw’s experience working in nearly every position on the force made him the ideal choice to lead the department and bring about stability to the force and the community.
Sheriff Bradshaw has over 50-years of law enforcement experience.
A Sheriff who is Always on the Job and Works for our Safety
On January 4th, 2005 Sheriff Bradshaw was sworn in as Palm Beach County Sheriff. The voters elected Bradshaw to his first term in 2004 and have subsequently re-elected him because of his experience and commitment to service and community.
As our Sheriff, Bradshaw oversees six departments in the office – Legal Affairs, Law Enforcement Operations, Community Operations, Corrections, Support Services, and Administrative Services. The department has over 4,000 employees including, 2,000 officers and nearly 5,000 volunteers who are committed to the mission of keeping Palm Beach County safe.
Bradshaw’s extensive knowledge and training in all aspects of law enforcement including Domestic Security, Field Operations and community-based policing has made Palm Beach County one of the top law enforcement agencies in the entire country.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office is the nation’s most advanced, professional and effective law enforcement agencies and serves a model agency for training, programs and procedures.
With Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Palm Beach County is Safer
Bradshaw is using his experience to keep us safe.
Bradshaw serves as:
- Southeast Regional Domestic Security Task Force, Chair
- Florida Sheriffs Task Force for Region 7, Chair
- FBI’s Joint Terrorist Task Force, Executive Board Member
- Law Enforcement Planning Council of Palm Beach County, Member
These experiences provide Sheriff Bradshaw with the national security clearances, background and knowledge necessary to keep Palm Beach County safe, not only from gangs and violent criminals, but from potential terrorist and overseas threats.
Sheriff Bradshaw works with these agencies to ensure Palm Beach County best resources, funding and information in real time to keep us safe. Palm Beach County is the lead agency with the Southeast Florida Fusion Center that works use the latest technology to catch criminals.
Under Sheriff Bradshaw, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office has led the nation in addressing the pill mill and opioid crisis, addressing gang violence and violent crime and stopping sexual predators from harming our children or seniors.
Sheriff Bradshaw has directed millions of dollars that were seized from criminal organizations to support our kids, seniors and underserved communities. These programs provide on the ground resources to support those who need it most.
Our Safety. Our Community. Our Sheriff.
On Tuesday, August 18, Re-Elect Sheriff Ric Bradshaw
