Battle Of The Badges Flares Up Over Arrest

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.”


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.