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egulars | city people<br />
by diane feen | Photo by melissa korman<br />
Here Comes the Chief<br />
Delray Beach’s New Chief of Police Russ Mager<br />
If you’re afraid of heights, you might not want to read Chief Russ Mager’s<br />
resume. The 26-year Delray Beach police department veteran has scaled<br />
the depth and width of the department as if he were spiderman.<br />
But unlike a superhero, Chief Mager is very down-to-earth<br />
and relatable. He’s the person officers and others in the Police<br />
department rely on to make sound judgment calls and<br />
keep justice scales on equal footing.<br />
He’s also the person everyone counts on to keep his hands on<br />
the wheel when reality may shift under his feet. After all, Chief<br />
Mager has held almost every position in the Delray Beach Police<br />
Department. He started out in the Community Patrol Division, was<br />
a member of the SWAT Team, a Field Training Officer, TACT Team<br />
Officer, and Auto Theft Detective. He was a founding member of<br />
the Honor Guard Unit and was promoted to Sergeant in 2014.<br />
As a sergeant, his goal was to experience as much diversity in<br />
the role as possible. He was a Field Training Sergeant, Clean &<br />
Safe Unit Sergeant, and the Internal Affairs Sergeant. Mager was<br />
also assigned to the Investigative Division, where he served as<br />
the Crime Scene Sergeant, Property Unit Sergeant, and Crimes<br />
Against Persons Sergeant.<br />
In 2015 he was promoted to Lieutenant in the Community Patrol<br />
Division and then Administrative Lieutenant. He was also a<br />
Special Operations Lieutenant and Captain in the Investigative Division.<br />
In 2020 Mager was promoted to Assistant Chief of Police.<br />
On August 31st of this year, he took the moniker (and responsibility)<br />
of Chief of Police of the Delray Beach Police Department.<br />
To say that Chief Mager is an overachiever is like saying the sun<br />
rises in the East. The Florida native has always been one to work<br />
hard and view learning as something to be imbibed voraciously.<br />
He is a by-product of his upbringing. His father was a judge in the<br />
Palm Beach County Fourth District Court of Appeal and later became<br />
a private mediator. Though his father spent 60 years in the<br />
legal profession (and his brother is a lawyer), the legal profession<br />
did not appeal to Mager.<br />
Instead, he found joy and success in the hospitality industry. He<br />
started as a front desk clerk (in a hotel) making $5.35 an hour nd<br />
was promoted to front desk supervisor. From there, he became a<br />
night manager. It wasn’t long before he was recruited as assistant<br />
general manager of a hotel in California, but after two years, he<br />
transferred to a hotel in Deerfield Beach.<br />
“I loved working with people. I was always a talker. I’m not shy;<br />
I engage in conversation with others. I am also a fixer and like to<br />
help people.”<br />
But after six jobs and eight years in the hotel industry, Mager<br />
was looking for a change. When his roommate suggested he work<br />
as a police officer in Delray Beach, Mager was non-plussed.<br />
“My roommate thought I would do well as a police officer, but I<br />
said no thanks. After a year, I did a ride along and got a front-row<br />
seat to ‘see a day in the life of a police officer.’”<br />
The rest is history – 26 years, to be exact. Mager filled out an<br />
application, was accepted, and was sent to the police academy. A<br />
year later, he became a road patrol officer.<br />
If you believe that destiny plays a strong role in life, you have<br />
to believe that Chief Mager was tailor-made for a career in law<br />
enforcement. Others tend to agree.<br />
“Chief Mager served in the trenches and knows what police<br />
work is all about. He is methodical about the decisions he makes<br />
and does what’s best for the organization and its people. He<br />
knows what needs to be done and how to implement it,” said lieutenant<br />
Vinnie Gray of the DBPD.<br />
Mager is a rare find in the stratosphere that he inhabits because<br />
of his humility and kind demeanor. He is also quick to unearth the<br />
history of his strong work ethic. At age 13, he woke up at 4:30<br />
am, swept clay tennis courts by hand, and re-lined them. He also<br />
worked at a pet store cleaning cages and, in high school, parked<br />
cars at a country club.<br />
His good nature and ability to absorb information like a sponge<br />
have set the stage for success in whatever capacity draws him<br />
near. He credits his good nature to his mother, who “always has a<br />
smile on her face.”<br />
Others see the golden hue that tinges his genial smile as well.<br />
“Chief Mager is a genuine, authentic guy. He speaks to you honestly<br />
and has sincere concern for your opinions on all matters,”<br />
said Captain Anthony Martinez.<br />
Mager may be high up in the ranks of the Delray Police Department,<br />
but his sights are always at ground level. He was recently<br />
the announcer (and cheerleader) for the 10th Annual Guns N’<br />
Hoses softball challenge between the DB police department and<br />
the DB fire rescue.<br />
As for the future of the DBPD, Chief Mager wants to reinforce<br />
the importance of treating people fairly and doing the right thing<br />
in the community.<br />
They will continue youth programs, such as high school baseball<br />
camps and criminal justice classes. “I like being in a position<br />
to effect positive change and Interact with people in the community.<br />
I want to be a great ambassador for law enforcement.”<br />
If you ask Perry DonFrancisco of Delray Citizens for Delray Police,<br />
he’ll tell you that Chief Mager’s mission is a slam dunk. “Chief<br />
Mager is a well-rounded, highly trained police professional. He is<br />
a great communicator and a believer in excellent service and will<br />
work hard to provide a safe community.”<br />
We agree.<br />
COPYRIGHTED<br />
** The DBPD is always looking for dedicated applicants to become<br />
police officers. Go to their website to apply.<br />
www.<strong>Atlantic</strong><strong>Ave</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.com | DECember <strong>2022</strong> | 89