Improvement of the Law Enforcement Profession Through Ethical Behavior

John Mammino

John Mammino has 34 years of law enforcement experience and is a retired Captain from the Riviera Beach Police Department.

John has served in the in the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) Multi-Agency Narcotics Unit (MAN Unit), investigator for the Riviera Beach Detective Bureau as a Violent Crime and Homicide Detective, a Task Force Officer with the West Palm Beach Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and as an Investigator with the Internal Affairs Division of the Riviera Beach Police Department.

In 1993, while assigned to the PBSO MAN Unit, John was recognized as Narcotics Agent of the Month for the successful investigation of a heroin distribution ring which was initiated with direct purchases of heroin capsules on Tamarind Avenue in West Palm Beach and ended with the arrest of the supplier with a search warrant execution in Palm Springs Florida.

In 1996, while assigned to the Riviera Beach Detective Bureau, John earned Officer of the Year for the investigation and arrest of a subject who placed a pipe bomb underneath his wife’s car.

In 1999, John earned a Life Saving Medal when he swam to assist in the rescue of 3 children and 3 adults from a capsized boat during Hurricane Irene off the coast of Florida.

In 2009, John earned the Exceptional Police Duty Award for initiation of a vehicle pursuit which resulted in the apprehension of Bank Robbery suspects in West Palm Beach FL.

Serving in a Lieutenant capacity as a Watch Commander in road patrol on the night shift, John was recognized by the police administration for his leadership in numerous gun arrests utilizing the Shot Spotter Technology (Audio recording system with microphones strategically placed in certain areas to accurately identify gunfire at specific locations).

During his tenure with the Internal Affairs Division, John was responsible for implementing a training curriculum titled Off-Duty Survival based on several administrative investigations involving off duty officers reacting to misdemeanors or felonies in progress.

As a Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain, John supervised and managed the Road Patrol Division, Detective Division, Crime Scene Unit, K-9 Unit, Traffic Unit, Narcotics Unit and Marine Unit. John was also a member of the Riviera Beach Special Response Team (SWAT) for 21 years and occasionally acted in the capacity of the SRT Commander.

In 2016, after retiring from the Riviera Beach Police Department, John was hired as a Police Lieutenant at the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Police Department. During his tenure with FAU, John investigated narcotics activity and subsequently supervised and managed the first “buy bust” ever recorded with the FAU Police Department resulting in a felony arrest.

John was also instrumental in implementing the “first ever” K-9 Unit for the agency consisting of one narcotics detection K-9 and one explosive detection K-9.

John is currently employed with the Palm Beach County School District Police Department where he was nominated for Officer of the Year in 2021 for his management and apprehension of a shooting suspect that occurred at an elementary school in Boca Raton where he was assigned. John achieved his Bachelor’s Degree from Barry University in Public Administration in Miami Florida.

John is currently a member of the Palm Beach County Threat Assessment Team and is also certified in Youth Mental Health Awareness for the School District. John is passionate about mentoring and guiding young officers to successful and effective careers exclusive of incorrect and unethical practices.