Battle Of The Badges Flares Up Over Arrest
Michael Gauger, the son of PBSO Col. Mike Gauger
It’s a battle of the badges, West Palm Beach style.
A local police officer arrested the son of the second-highest ranking member of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office the other day.
And now Col. Mike Gauger, head of all of PBSO’s law enforcement operations, says the arresting cop really was out to embarrass him.
“The officer really has a personal issue against me, not my son,” Gauger said. He added his son suffered a broken clavicle when he was cuffed. “Two months ago, the same officer filed an Internal Affairs complaint against me.”
The younger Gauger, a 23-year-old who shares his dad’s moniker, was in line at a Clematis hot-dog stand at 3 a.m. Oct. 19 when he and West Palm officer Johnny Radziul, in uniform, had words.
According to his arrest report, Radziul said he heard a male voice say “f…… cops” as he walked past the hot dog line.
Things escalated, with Radziul and the younger Gauger (who smelled of booze, according to the police report) jawing at one another. Eventually, Junior allegedly chest-bumped Radziul and was arrested.
Radziul wrote in his report that he asked the young man if he was related to PBSO’s Gauger. The handcuffed suspect said yes, adding: “That’s why you’ll be flipping my burgers by next week, punk!”
The younger Gauger was charged with felony battery on a police officer and disorderly intoxication. He spent a night in the jail, administered by his dad’s department, and was sprung on $3,000 bail. There was also a post-arrest $2,000 hospital bill, says dad.
“A felony for chest-bumping,” wondered Col. Gauger sarcastically. “My son is a good boy. He’s working full time for the Palm Beach County Housing Authority and he’s going to Palm Beach Community College.
“My son disputes the officer’s recollection of the words exchanged. He doesn’t talk that way.”
So, what kind of history do the elder Gauger and Radziul have?
The way Gauger explains it, Radziul’s longtime girlfriend was referred to him by a fellow Rotarian last year. She wanted to swear out a theft complaint against Radziul in connection with a missing cell phone. While it’s unusual for a high-ranking PBSO official to get involved with petty disputes, Gauger said: “All I did was refer the complaint to the right people.”
Records show a lengthy custody battle was taking place between Radziul and the galpal over their daughter.
In time, according to PBSO records, Radziul filed the I.A. complaint claiming that Gauger was trying to have him arrested without cause, which Gauger denies.
I.A. brass found no reason to initiate a full-fledged investigation.
“It’s sad that this is the kind of incident that happens when your children drink,” Gauger said. “I’m a drug and alcohol counselor, and I’ve spoken about this stuff to my son and daughter. But all kids make mistakes. If he hadn’t been my son, this would already have been absolved.”
Neither Radziul nor WPBPD Chief Delsa Bush returned calls.
Despite the fact that Sheriff Ric Bradshaw once was West Palm’s chief, relations between the two agencies have remained chilly at best. In August, representatives of the West Palm department were noticeably absent from Bradshaw’s reelection party.
Are you suprized? I am NOT! WELCOME to Palm Beach County — The CORRUPT COUNTY — LOOK at all the jailed County Commissioners… Look at CORRUPT JUDGE MARTIN COLIN of the Family Court in PBC. A corrupt Judge, case fixing, ethical violations, criminal acts & ignores the higher court in BAEZ and other HIGHER court orders.
JAILED Gotti “adopted Son” LEWIS KASMAN without a order of the predessor court. ( Hon. Charles Burton) DENIED KASMAN of his due process rights, no hearing & Violated Mr. Kasman’s CIVIL RIGHTS!
Numerous complaints have been filed against MARTIN COLIN with the JQC and other Law enforcement agencies, Keep in mind the FEDS are investigating CORRUPTION in Palm Beach County. Hope the get Colin and his “PALS” at WEISS & HANDLER a Boca Raton law firm…..
Let’s see…get drunk, run your ignorant mouth to an on-duty police officer, AND make physical contact with the officer. Sounds like a recipe for an arrest to me. How unfortunate for the PBSO Colonel’s son. One would think he’d been raised to respect law enforcement. The Colonel should get back to counseling his children on the other dangers of alcohol abuse like humiliating yourself and your daddy in public.
Let’s step back and look at the situation. Anyone who has been down to Clematis Street at 3-4am knows that the hundreds of people down there for the most part are intoxicated. They also can observe that there are police officers standing on every corner (out of necessity).
Veteran officers who have been standing for hours are more than ready to go home by 3 am. If you watch, they will endure almost anything to avoid confrontation at that point. As mentioned they are probably tired and hungry.
On the other hand Col.Gauger is one of the most powerful officers in the county. I’m sure his son has dropped his fathers name on many cops in the past to manipulate/ intimidate those officers. He finally pushed the envelope too far.
The West Palm cop will endure the verbal taunt to avoid the confrotation. However, you can not make physical contact with a police officer and not expect big trouble. Judging by the picture, M Gauger looks to me like he escaped the situation better than 90% of the other drunks who have assaulted a West Palm Cop in the past.
This situation is far to fimiliar to any person who has spent many late nights on the clematis strip. City of West Palm Beach cops who are typically hired for off duty security and yes you are able to spot them on every corner to make sure downtown is secure. Nothing of course makes you feel safer then to have deputies flirting with young women or drooling of your girlfriends body as you pass by. Or the arrogance displayed by officers when an altercation does insue. I understand they are put in an area where yes 90% of the crowd is intoxicated and the rowdy patrons are in abundence. But you are still a uniformed officers who should carry a certain level of professionalism while you are supposedly upholding peace in the community.
If i was downtown and recieved a chest bump and heard jawing from a drunk patron downtown. Would i be arrested in charged for breaking his clavicle?
Sounds to me like this is another one of clematis finest off duty cops doing what everyone of us weekend warriors has witnessed far to many times.
In my opninion Officer Radziul needs to keep his personal problems at home and solve his altercations in a professional manor, instead of resulting to violence.
Wonder if Col. Gauger is a counselor for any anger managemnt courses?? just a thought.
Mike Gauger should stsy out of you ADULT son’s issues. He got and old fashion arse whooping, probably well deserved. Daddy quit using your influnce to advance your thug sons life style.
Mike Gauger’s son , gee, the only reason Col. Gauger is so pissed is because he is not use to having his way , and using his power to help out “friends, or family ” better known as the FOG group. Corruption runs rampid at PBSO , it would be best for Gauger just to keep his mouth shut before someone starts looking at his past . As far as a West Palm not getting along with PBSO , well of course not , don’t forget they were lucky enought to get rid of that idiot Bradshaw The Gauger Bradshaw team is comprised of two power hungry egos , self centered , and conceded jerks , and we the taxpayers are paing for this political BS.
Funny how everyone is ready to go for cop theory. Has anyone really looked at the article? Why were the two different agencies policemen at odds. And why was the son brought into it? And do we conclude it had to do over a women? Even better why did Officer Radzuil mess up in court, the judge was not happy with him at all. Charges were dropped? What is the real story?
Funny how no one has said a word about an officer who looses control. An officer who has 19 internal affairs and three domestic. oh and all charges were dropped? Who got away with what?
read this stuff posted on leo affairs. com , What the hell does all of this talk have to do with Captain AB going from CDO to BG and Captain SB going from BG to CDO? My sources out west and at PBA tell me that AB had a falling out with PBA, too busy running his private company at the expense of being a CDO, complained too much about everything from him going into the DROP this year to the color of his Chev Tahoe, to making extremely bad decisions as a CDO like not calling 100 when one of our own offs himself because the walls of justice were coming in on him.
My understanding is that this move for AB is a proverbial Cat’s ninth life. Funny how one minute the PBA thinks AB ( tony belidaro ) is the best thing since sliced bread, and then pressures the shizzat out of 100 to promote him over much more qualified lieutenants, the next minute the PBA wants to pull his PBA card. There’s our union for you. Aren’t you glad your dues card is up to date? The more I see what Kaz actual does on a day to day basis, the more I learn of the dirty special deals Kaz made, the more I know he is a hypocrite and makes me want to throw-up.Guest
Topjust shows how corrupt this agency is , listen up tax payers , Capt. frank demario , on his second pention and a political talking head that got his rank from kissing but and doing favors . Major dan smith , a bikecycle machanic who got his position as a return politacal favor .And , best yet , the PBA , pres. Kaz , a liar , cheater and political monkey , draining your tax dollars , hey Bradshaw , you moron , look into this stuff .
Hey gets better over there at P.B.S.O. central , how about the newest one , SEX SCANDLE , wow , looks like the new female Lt. will get the Gauger free pass as well . She must have plenty of dirt on the big staff , nothing is being done about her unethical affairs . She have violated the very same rules that she use to drop the axe on in her old position . Does not seem that female brass can make it work ? fist the female jail Lt. busted for embeselment , then the female Capt. busted for unethical lesbian acts at a FBI school , now yet another female Lt. that lets her sex urges run wild . Hey big Ric , you need a little shake up over there , and the post , FDLE and the intire army needs to investigate the infestation of corruption that goes on and on and on.
hey , just to keep you taxpayers and Bradshaw supporters up to date , the top brass drive luxuary gas guzzling Tahoes , used for comfort , personal use , oh , and yes , you are paying for that gas! To recap , you voted for that politacal motivated Ric Bradshaw , he sold you the story during election time and you baught it hook , line and sinker . So take a look at what your vote , your tax dollar got you , over paid upper staff , vehicles , sex scandles , corruption , and lies . While the rest of the job market and economy is going down the drain , he is sitting high with his power , cronies , and pention , mabey you will think twice when electing a Sheriff next time .
How did everyone stray so far from the main topic of the story? “Officer Radzuil” and his negligence. what ever happen withthe gauger kid. he seemed like a pretty cool dude when i met him. Why would such a horrible officer be allowed to continue on a force?