Office Of The Chief

Chief Of Police - Gary Blocker

April 2021 - Present

Chief Blocker joined the Wilton Manors Police Department in October 1996 as a civilian employee where he worked as a Desk

Officer and Police Service Aide. In September 1998, Chief Blocker attended the 190th session of the Broward College Institute of Public Safety Police Academy. Chief Blocker has served in Road Patrol, Field Training Officer, Narcotics Detective, Multiple Agency Gang Task Force, Drug Detection Canine Handler, Detective Bureau, Marine Patrol, Patrol Sergeant, Code Compliance Supervisor, Detective Sergeant, and Assistant Chief of the Operations Division. In April 2021, Chief Blocker was selected as the Agency’s Chief of Police where he set a new vision of “The professionals of the Wilton Manors Police Department, through quality training initiatives, innovative techniques and proactive partnerships with our community, will endeavor to be the pinnacle of our law enforcement profession”.

Chief Blocker has been selected as the Agency's Officer of the Quarter four times, he has been the recipient of the Meritorious Service Award twice and he was selected as the Department's Officer of the Year in 2012.

Chief Blocker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Florida Atlantic University. He is a graduate of the 263rd Session of the FBI National Academy and is a member of the FBI National Academy Associates. Chief Blocker is a member of the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association and the Florida Police Chiefs Association.

Chief Blocker can be reached at 954-390-2158 or gblocker @wmpd.org

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Chief Of Police, Retired - Paul O'Connell
2011 - 2021 Retired

Chief O’Connell started his law enforcement career in 1977 when, after graduating from Northeastern University, Boston, he became a Campus Police Officer for the downtown urban campus of that same University.

In 1978 he was hired by the Pompano Beach Police Department where he served in a variety of assignments for the next 21 years.

In 1999, the Pompano Beach Police Department merged with the Broward Sheriff’s Office and then Sgt. O’Connell was assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force as its new supervisor. Over the next 11 years he rose through the ranks to eventually becoming the B.S.O. District Chief for the City of Parkland (2007 – 2011).

In 2011, District Chief O’Connell retired from the Broward Sheriff’s Office to accept a position as the Wilton Manors Police Department’s new Police Chief where he has served since. For his work in Wilton Manors he was selected by the Anti-Defamation League for its 2013 ADL Florida Excellence in Law Enforcement Award.

Chief O’Connell holds a BS in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University, MS in Public Administration from St. Thomas University, a J.D. from Nova Southeastern University and is a Graduate of the 251st Session of the FBI National Academy. He is a member of the Florida Bar and has practiced law in the areas of Labor Law and Insurance Defense.

Chief Paul O'Connell retired from the Wilton Manors Police in April of 2021, after 44 years of Police service.

Biased Based Profiling

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The Wilton Manors Police Department is charged with protecting the rights of all citizens and visitors, against intimidation, harassment and acts that are based on race, religion, ethnicity, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, homeless status, mental or physical disability and/or advanced age.

Investigative detentions, traffic stops, arrests, searches, and property seizures by officers will be based on a standard of reasonable suspicion or probable cause in accordance with the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Officers must be able to articulate specific facts and circumstances that support reasonable suspicion or probable cause for investigative detentions, traffic stops, arrests, non-consensual searches, and property seizures.

Citizens or visitors who feel they have been stopped or searched due to bias-based profiling are encouraged to file a complaint with the Police Department.

Complaints may be filed in person, by mail, electronic mail, telephone or online. To file a complaint, please include all the facts, names, dates, and places known. You may also click on this Commendation and Complaint form to open it now.

All complaints will be investigated.