Welcome to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office District 12 – City of Pahokee website. My name is Lieutenant Josh Kushel and it is my pleasure to serve as the Commanding Officer of District 12, and the Law Enforcement Liaison with the City of Pahokee. My team and I are honored to collaborate with the city, working together to make our community a safe and enjoyable place to live, work, and visit.
I have been with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for eighteen years and have served in various capacities. Some assignments include; Road Patrol within the City of Pahokee, City of Belle Glade, District 1, District 3; Detective, Community Policing Officer, Violent Crimes Division, Multi-Agency Gang Task Force, Violent Crime Suppression Unit, Agent – Street Crimes Unit (4 Years), Sergeant – Road Patrol, Sergeant/Agent – Street Crimes Unit (5 years), Lieutenant Watch Commander, Lieutenant South Florida Fair Tactical Commander, Lieutenant Executive Officer for Belle Glade, Pahokee, and South Bay.
I have a Bachelor’s Degree with Honors in Criminal Justice, a Master’s Degree (Summa Cum Laude) in Business specializing in Human Resource Management, and received a Police Executive Certificate from the University of Louisville. I also graduated from several advanced Leadership courses, which include the following: Southern Police Institute 149th Administrative Officers Course in Louisville, Kentucky, 15th Florida Commanders Academy, the FBI LEEDA Leadership Courses (Trilogy), The Institute of Police Technology and Management Drug Unit Commander School, and the seventh Monmouth Law and Public Safety Program.
Having worked extensively in the Glades, I have developed a deep understanding of the unique needs and challenges of the Western communities. I am excited to collaborate with community leaders and the residents of the City of Pahokee to address these challenges together. The Sheriff’s Office has collaborated with the City of Pahokee to promote a community policing philosophy, emphasizing the review of crime statistics to identify trends and provide proactive responses to law enforcement activities on a daily basis.
The administrative offices of District 12 are located at 38840 State Road 80, Belle Glade, Florida. Our team includes 12 deputies and 1 clerical officer. As the Commanding Officer of District 12, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving this community. Please feel free to contact me at 561-681-7299 if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Lieutenant Josh Kushel