West Palm Beach mayor recommends Tony Araujo as permanent police chief

Mayor Keith James announced Monday that he's naming interim Police Chief Tony Araujo to take over the agency full-time.

At a West Palm Beach City Commission meeting, commissioners unanimously voted to approve Antonio "Tony Araujo, 65, as the West Palm Beach police chief. This comes after Mayor Keith James held a news conference on Monday morning at City Hall to announce leadership initiatives at the West Palm Beach Police Department.

The city has been without a permanent police chief since October, when the mayor fired Chief Frank Adderley, citing financial improprieties among the department's command leadership.

When Mayor Keith James brought on PBSO Col. Tony Araujo to fill in as police chief, he intended to conduct a national search but has decided he's found the man to continue leading the agency.

Sources confirm Mayor Keith James has chosen Interim Chief Tony Araujo to lead the city’s troubled police department. The official announcement is expected Monday, pending city commission approval.