Sheriff Rick Wells
MANATEE COUNTY, FLORIDA
Sheriff Rick Wells was sworn in as Sheriff of Manatee County January 3, 2017. Sheriff Wells
was Palmetto Police Department’s Police Chief from 2010 to 2015; and also spent 21 years at
Florida Highway Patrol where he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Accumulatively Sheriff
Wells has spent over 31 years in law enforcement.
Sheriff Wells was born in Tampa, Florida, moving to Manatee County in 1978. He graduated
from Manatee High School in 1982; attended Manatee Junior College and has his Associate of
Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University. He is
also a graduate of Saint Leo University; Command Officer Management Program.
Sheriff Wells was named the Manatee County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 1991.
Received the Manatee County Whitey Knutsen Award in 1991; Unidos Now Visionary Award
in 2012; the NAACP Humanitarian Award in 2014 and the Edgar H. Price, Jr. Humanitarian
Award in 2016.
Sheriff Wells has taught law enforcement to governmental, educational and community
organization throughout Florida. He is currently the Executive Director of Manatee County
Police League, Chairperson of the Manatee County Law Enforcement Council, Law Enforcement
Advisory Board Council for the Manatee Technical College, Board member of the North
Manatee Kiwanis, Replay Advisory Council and Strength in Action. Sheriff Wells has served
with the Boy Scouts of America, Keep Manatee Beautiful, Manatee Substance Abuse Prevention
Coalition and North Manatee Storm Football.
Sheriff Wells is married to Lupita Wells and has three sons. They currently reside in Manatee
County.