Public Safety

Fort Walton Beach Police Chief sworn in as Florida association president

Fort Walton Beach Police Chief Robert Bage was sworn in as President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association during the organization's 73rd Summer Conference in Miami Beach.

Jared Williams

Fort Walton Beach Police Chief Robert Bage was sworn in Tuesday as the new President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association during the organization’s 73rd Summer Conference held in Miami Beach. He was also awarded the Key to the City for North Miami.

The FPCA is one of the largest state police chief associations in the country, with more than 1,000 members representing municipal, airport, college, university, tribal, railroad, and port authority police departments, as well as private security firms and federal, state, and county law enforcement agencies. Its membership spans every region of Florida.

Bage was first elected as 3rd Vice President in 2022 and has since served in successive leadership roles on the FPCA Executive Board.

As President, Bage’s top priorities include investing in FPCA members, amplifying their collective voice, and preparing the profession for a rapidly changing future. His focus will include expanding wellness initiatives, enhancing leadership training, and strengthening the Association’s public image through positive statewide engagement.

He is also committed to continuing impactful programs such as the state-funded New Chiefs Training Program, which equips newly appointed police chiefs with essential tools for success.

Bage aims to lead the FPCA in embracing transparency, fostering public trust, and responsibly integrating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence into policing practices during what he calls the Era of Accountability and Innovation.

“Policing is more than laws and patrols,” Bage said. “It is the intricate relationships and interactions that determine whether our citizens feel secure or vulnerable, respected or disregarded. Through the FPCA’s strategic leadership, community engagement, and a bold vision for the future, we will elevate the profession and the people who serve.”

Bage graduated from North Miami Senior High School in 1994 and served in the United States Navy for two years before joining the U.S. Border Patrol for a year. He then began a 20-year career with the North Miami Police Department in 1999, rising through the ranks to become Assistant Chief.

In 2019, he was appointed Chief of Police for the City of Fort Walton Beach following a nationwide search. Under his leadership, the department regained its accreditation status and established a dedicated Traffic Safety and Community Policing Unit.

Bage actively participates in numerous community organizations, including the Okaloosa Health Department, Advanced Sacred Hope Academy, and the Fort Walton Beach Rotary. He serves as a Commissioner on the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, a member of the State of Florida’s Immigration Council, and a Board Member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Bage holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Florida International University and a master’s degree in public administration from Barry University. He is also a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy and the Police Executive Research Forums Senior Management Institute of Policing.

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