Russ Mager, Police Chief

Chief Russ Mager is a 27-year veteran of the Delray Beach Police Department. He was born in Tallahassee, but grew up in South Florida, mainly in Pompano Beach and Coconut Creek. Chief Mager returned to Tallahassee in 1987, where he attended Florida State University and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology, with a minor in Psychology. In 1996, he attended the Broward County Police Academy and then began his law enforcement career with the Delray Beach Police Department in June of 1996.

Chief Mager’s police career encompasses a wide array of experience. As an officer, he worked in the Community Patrol Division, was a member of the SWAT Team, a field training officer, a TACT Team officer, and an auto theft detective. Chief Mager was also a founding and active member of the Honor Guard Unit. In 2004, he was promoted to sergeant. While serving in this rank, he was a field training sergeant, a Clean & Safe Unit sergeant, and the Internal Affairs sergeant. Chief Mager was also assigned to the Investigative Division, where he served as the Crime Scene Unit sergeant, the Property Unit sergeant, and the Crimes Against Persons sergeant.

Chief Mager was promoted to lieutenant in 2015 and was assigned to the Community Patrol Division, first as the East Sector commander and then as an administrative lieutenant. He was then assigned to the Community Response Division as the Special Operations lieutenant. Chief Mager was promoted to captain in 2019 and served as the Investigative Division commander until December of 2020, when he was promoted to Assistant Chief of Police of the Field Operations Bureau.

Chief Mager was appointed as the Chief of Police for the Delray Beach Police Department as of August 31, 2022.

Chief Mager is a graduate of the University of Louisville Southern Police Institute Administrative Officers Course, 70th Session, University of Louisville Southern Police Institute Command Officer’s Development Course, 146th Session, and a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) 72nd Session. He is also a member of N.O.B.L.E., the Palm Beach County Association of Chiefs of Police, the Florida Police Chiefs Association, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.