Barry Staats is a law enforcement professional with over 22 years of service with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, beginning his career in 2003. A Palm Beach County resident since 1978, he brings a deep and practical understanding of the community he serves. Early in his career, he spent 12 years in Community Policing, including five years as a Community Policing Sergeant, where he worked closely with residents, addressed quality-of-life concerns, and built lasting partnerships with community stakeholders. During this time, he also created and coached the PAL wrestling program for over 15 years, mentoring youth and strengthening trust between law enforcement and the community. From 2007 to 2011, he served as an adjunct instructor at the Palm Beach State College Law Enforcement Academy, contributing to the development of future law enforcement professionals. Promoted to Sergeant in 2016, he served as both an Emergency Field Force Sergeant and Field Training Sergeant, where he trained and developed newly promoted supervisors, reinforcing leadership, accountability, and operational readiness.
In 2022, he was promoted to Lieutenant and served three and a half years as an operational Watch Commander in the Western Region, overseeing shift operations and critical incident response. He currently serves as Executive Officer in District 8, where he oversees administrative operations, supports personnel, and ensures organizational efficiency and accountability. He also serves on the PBSO Promotional Committee, contributing to the evaluation and selection of future leaders within the agency. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Northwood University (1997). He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, with a concentration in Critical Incident Management, at Saint Leo University.
