Mayor James names Tony Araujo permanent West Palm Beach police chief

Mayor James announced that Tony Araujo will serve as the permanent police chief for the City of West Palm Beach, saying Araujo exceeded expectations after a top-to-bottom review of the department. Araujo had been serving as interim chief since October after Mayor James dismissed former Chief Frank Adderley over allegations of financial improprieties.

The mayor said he appointed Araujo "with a clear mission to conduct a top down review of the department and ensure we uphold the highest standards of public safety. Over the past several months, he has not only met that challenge, but he has exceeded it beyond my wildest expectations," attributing the comment to Mayor James.

Tony Araujo, 65, told reporters he left a 42-year career at the sheriff's office to take the post and is taking a pay cut to do so. "I've gone to neighborhood meetings where people say, Tony, is that you? Yeah. It's me, Angela," Araujo said, describing encounters with residents and his ties to the community. In the same interview he said he is "not close to being ready to retire, and is excited about the chance to continue his law enforcement career right in the area that holds so many good memories for him and his family."

Cheryl Kahn of WPB TV reported the appointment and summarized Araujo's background and remarks. The transcript of the announcement does not record a city commission vote or an effective start date for the permanent appointment.

The dismissal of former Chief Frank Adderley was reported in the transcript as occurring before Araujo's interim appointment and was described as involving "allegations of financial improprieties." No statutes, ordinances, or further investigatory details were specified in the recorded remarks.