Michael E. Gauger

MICHAEL E. GAUGER brings to Searcy Denney a unique combination of law enforcement, social service and education experience.  His work with the firm includes investigating potential cases and helping prepare cases that are proceeding to trial.

Mr. Gauger joined the firm after a career spanning five decades with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, most recently as Chief Deputy for Executive Oversight for Law Enforcement and Corrections.  He has handled homicide and cold case investigations for the Office of the State Attorney and supervised a unit of the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. He is licensed as a certified instructor for the U.S. Justice Department (Ethics and Integrity “Train the Trainer”) and the Florida Commission on Criminal Justice (Standards and Training).  

A well-known and highly respected community leader, Mr. Gauger is Chairman of the JFK Medical Center’s Board of Trustees, a Trustee of the South Florida Fair Board, and a member of the Board of Directors of United Way of Palm Beach County.  He is former a Chairman of the Board of the Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network and Families First of Palm Beach County.   

Since 2007 Mr. Gauger has served as a member of the Executive Board of the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission.  Recent honors include the Community Spirit Award from the Nonprofit Chamber of Palm Beach County, Trailblazer Award from the Urban League of Palm Beach County, and the Nettie Finkle Award for Community Service from the Palm Beach United Way. In 2010, the National Association of Social Workers named Mr. Gauger its Social Worker of the Year.

Mr. Gauger holds a master’s degree in social work from Barry University, where he also earned his bachelor’s degree. He has served as adjunct professor at St. Petersburg Junior College and Palm Beach Community College and is an alumnus of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.