BOCA RATON, FL — The City of Boca Raton has selected Jarad L. Phelps as its next chief of police and extended a conditional offer of employment after a national recruitment process, according to the city.
Phelps currently serves as police chief in Jacksonville, North Carolina. The selection marks the latest step in a leadership transition Boca Post has been following since March, including the city’s national search, a community survey asking residents what they wanted in the next chief, and the June 4 announcement that Boca Raton had narrowed the field to two finalists.
According to the city, Phelps leads a nationally accredited law enforcement agency in Jacksonville with 136 sworn officers and more than 40 professional staff members.
Before his role in Jacksonville, Phelps spent nearly three decades with the Prince William County Police Department in Virginia, where he rose through the ranks to serve as deputy chief and acting chief of police.
City Manager Mark Sohaney said the search was highly competitive and brought forward “an exceptional group of candidates.”
“Jarad Phelps stood out for his depth of experience, sound judgment, and commitment to public trust,” Sohaney said in the city’s announcement. “He understands the importance of supporting a high-performing police department and of continuing to build strong relationships with the community it serves.”
The city said it received 105 applications for the position, with 77 candidates meeting the job requirements. Boca Raton said the recruitment drew interest from across the country, reflecting the reputation of the Boca Raton Police Services Department and the city’s emphasis on public safety.
Phelps brings more than 30 years of law enforcement leadership experience, including work with nationally accredited agencies in North Carolina and Virginia, according to the city. His background includes police operations, strategic planning, crime reduction, officer recruitment and retention, community engagement, crisis response, and organizational accountability.
Phelps holds a Master of Public Administration from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Science in political science and criminal justice from James Madison University.
His executive leadership education includes the FBI National Academy, the FBI National Executive Institute, the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executives in State and Local Government program, the Senior Management Institute for Policing through the Police Executive Research Forum, and the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia.
“I am extremely honored to have been selected as the next Chief of Police for the City of Boca Raton,” Phelps said in the announcement. “To be chosen through such a competitive process is very humbling.”
Sohaney also thanked Acting Chief Seth Dubinsky, the department’s command staff, and the Boca Raton Police Services Department for their leadership during the transition.
The selection follows months of Boca Raton police leadership coverage by Boca Post, including the department’s leadership shakeup, the city’s national search, an April community survey on the qualities residents wanted in the next chief, and the June 4 announcement naming Phelps as one of two finalists.
The city said Phelps’ conditional offer is contingent on successful completion of Boca Raton’s pre-employment process. Additional details about his start date and formal introduction to the community will be announced later.
The announcement also drew immediate reaction from Boca Post readers on Facebook, with some residents saying an outside hire could help bring a fresh look at department culture, promotions, accountability, and leadership structure.
Others questioned why Boca Raton did not promote from within, saying the decision could raise concerns about morale among command staff and line supervisors who may have hoped for a path to the top job.
Another reader said the selection suggested the city may not have had a clear succession plan in place for police leadership.
The city has said the search drew 105 applications, with 77 candidates meeting the job requirements. Phelps was selected after Boca Raton narrowed the field to two finalists.
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