Sheriff Ric Bradshaw is a career law enforcement professional responsible for leading the largest law enforcement agency in Palm Beach County. Sheriff Bradshaw has a successful track record of fifty (53) years in law enforcement. He rose through the ranks of the West Palm Beach Police Department and in 1996 was appointed Chief of Police. On January 4, 2005, Sheriff Bradshaw was sworn in as Sheriff of Palm Beach County. Sheriff Bradshaw is the sixteenth sheriff to serve as the county’s chief law enforcement officer since the agency’s origin in 1909. He is currently the longest reining Sheriff in Palm Beach County. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has ten departments – Employee Services, Operational Support, Professional Standards, Strategic Operations, Uniform Operations, Corrections Operations, Personnel Services, Financial Services, Information Technology and Logistical Services. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is comprised of 4,300 employees and approximately 1,600 volunteers. Sheriff Bradshaw has extensive knowledge and training in all aspects of law enforcement with special emphasis on Domestic Security, Field Operations and community based policing. His excellent inter-personal and communication skills demonstrate competence as a leader who “gets things done,” yet maintains a balance between assertiveness and diplomacy while always remembering that his first and foremost duty is to keep citizens safe.

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw is Chairman of the Florida Sheriffs Emergency Task Force for Region 7, a member of the Executive Board of the FBI’s Joint Terrorist Task Force, Chairman of Regional Domestic Security Task Force for Region 7, member of the Palm Beach County Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Planning Council, Police Executive Research Forum, Florida Sheriff’s Association, Major County Sheriffs of America and has been designated Who’s Who in Academic Excellence in America. Sheriff Bradshaw proudly and honorably served in the United States Marine Corps.  He is a Mason in good standing and a Shriner with Amara Shrine. Sheriff Bradshaw is the recipient of the 2024 President Lifetime Achievement Award, Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Leadership Award, United States Secret Service Presidential Protection Award and Hanley Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sheriff Bradshaw’s educational experience includes a Bachelor of Science Degree with honors in Human Resources Management and a Masters of Science in Administration with honors-with a specialization in Emergency Management, he also graduated from the Administrative Officers Course at the Southern Police Institute, University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky.