Candidate for 4th Vice President - Chief Robert Bage

Robert Bage is a husband, a father of four, and the Chief of Police for the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, with more than 25 years of law enforcement experience. He began his public service in the U.S. Navy, followed by service with the U.S. Border Patrol, before embarking on a two-decade career with the North Miami Police Department. There, he rose to the rank of Assistant Chief, with a focus on community policing, traffic safety, and organizational accountability.

Throughout his career, Robert has combined operational leadership with a commitment to service beyond his own agency. He participated in international deployments to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake and to Trinidad in 2012, experiences that strengthened his ability to lead in complex,
multi-jurisdictional environments. He also served as a Union Representative and as the elected chair of a Police Pension Board, shaping his approach to labor relations, fiscal stewardship, and officer wellness.

Robert holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Florida International University and a master’s
degree in public administration from Barry University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy
(Session 248), the Police Executive Research Forum’s (PERF) Senior Management Institute of Policing
(SMIP), the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute’s Chief Executive Seminar, and the Certified
Public Manager (CPM) program.

Since becoming Chief of Police in Fort Walton Beach in 2019, Robert has restored departmental
accreditation, expanded community policing initiatives, strengthened public health and community
partnerships, and supported the implementation of a co-response model addressing opioid
overdoses. That work earned him recognition with the Okaloosa Health Department’s Champion of
Champions Award.

Robert currently serves as President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida’s
representative to the State Association of Chiefs of Police (SACOP), and Vice Chair for SACOP’s
Southern Region. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
Board of Directors and a commissioner on the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training
Commission. At the state level, he has served the Domestic Security Oversight Council, participated
in critical infrastructure protection initiatives, and contributed to statewide efforts addressing
domestic violence and public safety policy. He also participates in two technology advisory boards
focused on public safety innovation and emerging technology.

Guided by his Listen, Learn, Lead philosophy, Robert remains committed to strengthening the
profession, elevating the voices of chiefs from agencies of all sizes, and advancing practical,
principled leadership at the national level.

Candidate Statement

My Fellow IACP Members,

You should care about this election because decisions made at the national level directly impact
your agency, your officers, and the communities you serve. Whether you lead a department of
20 or 2,000, the standards we set, the trust we build, and the priorities we elevate shape the
future of policing.

I am not running because it is easy. I am running because this profession deserves leaders
willing to do hard things and remain steady regardless of the pressure or climate.

After high school, searching for purpose, I enlisted in the United States Navy. I later served with
the U.S. Border Patrol before beginning a 20-year career with the North Miami Police
Department. Early in my career, I learned that leadership is less about authority and more about
responsibility. It requires discipline, resilience, and the willingness to make thoughtful decisions
when the stakes are high.

From the first day I put on the badge, I committed myself to growth. That meant extra training,
longer hours, difficult conversations, and accountability. Over time, that commitment led to
promotion to Sergeant at a young age, advancement through the ranks to Assistant Chief in
North Miami, and ultimately the opportunity to serve as Chief of Police for the City of Fort
Walton Beach, Florida.

In Fort Walton Beach, I worked alongside dedicated professionals to restore the department’s
accreditation after it had been lost years earlier. That effort required rebuilding standards,
strengthening internal systems, and reinforcing trust within the agency and the community. It
was not easy. It was necessary. It reaffirmed that meaningful progress demands disciplined
leadership.

That same commitment to discipline extends beyond the office. I am a two-time Gold Medalist
in the Florida Police Olympics “Tough Cop” competition, a demanding test of strength,
endurance, and mental focus. Preparing for that event required consistency, humility, and
pushing beyond comfort. Those lessons carry directly into how I lead.

Throughout my career, I have sought to understand our profession at every level. I have served
as President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association, Vice Chair of the Southeast Region for
SACOP, a member of the IACP Board of Directors, on the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and
Training Commission and the Florida Critical Infrastructure Protection Group. I have also
participated on two national technology advisory boards.

I am a graduate of the FBI National Academy session 248, the Senior Management Institute for
Policing, and the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute Chief Executive Seminar. I hold a
Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in public administration. I pursued these experiences not for titles, but to be prepared. Prepared to listen. Prepared to advocate. Prepared to lead when difficult decisions must be made.

If elected as your 4th Vice President, I will focus on four commitments.

First, ensuring every member is represented. Ninety percent of agencies in this country serve
communities with fewer than 50 officers. These departments are the backbone of American
policing. They deserve structural representation. I will advocate for the creation of a Small
Agency Division within IACP, so their voices will help shape policy, training, and national
priorities.

Second, protecting and strengthening the brand of our profession. Public perception influences
recruitment, retention, legislation, and morale. If we do not tell our story, others will tell it for
us. I will advocate for the most ambitious marketing and public awareness campaign in IACP
history to elevate the true narrative of policing: service, compassion, professionalism, and
courage.

Third, approaching technology boldly and responsibly. Artificial intelligence and emerging tools
are transforming public safety. Agencies of all sizes need practical guidance, ethical standards,
and access to training that enhances safety and transparency while maintaining public trust. We
must lead this conversation.

Finally, strengthening collaboration between public safety and public health. Through deflection
initiatives and co response partnerships, I have seen how collaboration improves outcomes and
builds legitimacy. When we move beyond traditional silos, we better serve our officers and our
communities.

This campaign is not about personal ambition. It is about stewardship and courage.
The future of our profession will not be shaped by comfort. It will be shaped by leaders willing
to act with integrity and resolve.

Throughout my career, I have tried to live by three principles: be authentic, be accountable, and
take action when it matters.

If you place your trust in me, I will stand firm when it matters, advocate boldly for you, and work
relentlessly to strengthen the profession we are proud to serve.

I respectfully ask for your vote for 4th Vice President of the International Association of Chiefs
of Police. To learn more about my vision and priorities, please visit www.robertbage.com.

With respect and determination,
Chief Robert Bage