BRADENTON – The top job at the Manatee County Sheriff's Office has been a life long goal for Rick Wells. Tuesday morning, at 9:20 a.m. it became a reality when more than 400 law enforcement officers, firemen, EMS and citizens showed up at the Bradenton Area Convention Center to honor the new sheriff as he was sworn in by the Honorable Judge Gilbert Smith.
Wells brings more than 31 years of experience to the position, once working for Sheriff's office, then for Florida Highway Patrol and then on to Chief of Police for the City of Palmetto.
In 2014, Wells returned to the MCSO as second in command under Sheriff Brad Steube, who later announced he would retire at the end of his term; and to no-ones surprise, Wells announced he would run for the position.
New Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells is sworn in by Judge Gilbert Smith.
In his acceptance speech, Wells not only displayed a commitment of honesty and fairness to all but showed his humorous side as well. As he thanked his family first, calling out his wife, children, father, step-mom, brother and sisters, he hit a wall of emotion to take pause in remembrance of the sister he lost when she passed away in 1985. "She would of been proud to see me now," Sheriff Wells said.
Wells continued to thank his family and friends throughout his acceptance speech and gave a special tribute to his father, Charlie Wells, the longtime Sheriff of Manatee County. He spoke about all that his father brought to the department that has helped it become the praised organization it is today.
Unlike many of the sheriff and police departments that this reporter has dealt with over the years, both outgoing Sheriff Steube and incoming Sheriff Wells have been available with an open-door policy and always answered the questions I've asked frankly.
At Tuesday's ceremony, the new Sheriff, Rick Wells said, "All my life I grew-up wanting to be a policeman."
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