PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. -- Retired law enforcement officer Rick Sessa announced on his weekly radio show that he's running for Palm Beach County Sheriff.
Deputy-involved shootings with unarmed suspects like Dontrell Stevens and multi-million dollar payouts convinced the former Riviera Beach police commander to run.
"We're gonna have to work hard," Sessa said. "We're gonna have to train these officers and get them the best training. I mean we have a half billion dollar budget. I think we should also have the best training available out here."
Sessa grew up in North Palm Beach. After graduating from high school, he started his career with the Riviera Beach Police Department and worked for the department for 20 years.
"I was out on the street the majority of my career doing proactive street police work," Sessa explained.
Sessa said he believes in old-school policing, rolling down the patrol car windows and walking neighborhood streets. He also thinks it's important to evaluate spending in the department.
"We have a half billion almost, billion with a B, budget," Sessa detailed. "I think it's around $475 million dollars a year which goes up every year since Sheriff Bradshaw has been in office."
For the past five years he's been hosting 'Real Cop Talk Radio.'
"I was really hoping for somebody even more viable than I am to run for this office," Sessa said. "And was really asking weekly on my radio show for someone to run for sheriff. So far no one has. We just have to decide what type of leader we want here in Palm Beach County."
Sessa plans to file the necessary paperwork Monday. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw announced last year he's seeking a fourth term as Palm Beach County Sheriff.