BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The City of Boca Raton is seeking public input as it searches for its next police chief, asking residents to weigh in on leadership priorities, community safety concerns, and department goals through an online survey. The questionnaire asks participants to rank what they believe should be the incoming chief’s most important focus areas — with options ranging from rebuilding trust within the police department to transparency and accountability, stabilizing department operations, and a proven ability to reduce crime.
The survey also asks residents to rank community safety concerns in order of importance, presenting a broad list that includes violent crime, property crime, traffic safety, drug-related crime and overdoses, homelessness, mental health incidents, hate crimes including antisemitism, youth crime and school safety, cybercrime and fraud, and police accountability and use of force. Emergency preparedness for hurricanes and mass casualty events is also included among the options.
A separate section asks respondents to rate — on a scale from “not important” to “extremely important” — how much emphasis the next chief should place on specific areas, including officer morale and retention, community engagement, visible policing in neighborhoods and business districts, data-driven policing technology, and the department’s response to hate crimes. Residents are also asked to identify a single top priority for the chief’s first 12 to 18 months on the job, with choices including rebuilding internal trust, strengthening public transparency, stabilizing operations, improving emergency preparedness, reducing crime, and increasing officer visibility.
Police Chief Michele Miuccio was terminated last month — a few years after an internal survey revealed significant issues with morale inside the police department. Miuccio’s dismissal was part of a larger restructuring initiated by new City Manager Marc Sohaney.
The survey collects basic demographic information, including age group, ZIP code of residence, and how long respondents have lived or worked in Boca Raton. Residents living outside city limits are also given the option to participate. The city has not publicly announced a timeline for the selection process or identified any candidates.
