Delray Beach Police Chief Daryl Hunter talks PACE, outreach and youth engagement on Village Vibes

Delray Beach Police Chief Daryl Hunter told Village Vibes host Ted White that his path in law enforcement began in Delray Beach in 2007 and that leadership for him has always been about service rather than rank. "Becoming chief was never about the rank for me. It was about continuing to serve the city that gave me a start," Hunter said.

Hunter described the department's PACE values as a daily guide: "PACE is personal, being that it's professional, accountable, consistent, and engaged," he said, adding that those standards apply to how officers treat people both inside the department and in public interactions. He said those practices help "build trust and strengthen the bond between our officers and the community that we serve."

On outreach, Hunter highlighted hands-on programs designed to introduce officers to residents and young people. He described school partnerships, an explorers program and mentorship initiatives that aim to present law enforcement as "allies and mentors" rather than obstacles for youth. "You see young people who once viewed law enforcement with hesitation. Now you see that they look at us as allies and mentors to them," he said.

Hunter also outlined a recurring community event, "Run with the Chief" or "Walk with the Chief," held once a month. He said recruits and officers walk or run in selected neighborhoods for about an hour, introduce themselves to residents and conclude with informal fellowship so community members can ask questions and meet incoming officers.

The chief framed these efforts as preventative and relationship-building rather than purely enforcement-driven. "Those interactions are who we are," he said. "That's what makes us stronger as we move forward with PACE, as we continue to build trust and strengthen the bond between our officers and the community that we serve."