Port Richey Police Department

Today we received a visit from the junior explorers of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. The junior explorers are middle school aged students who have expressed interest in a career in law enforcement. The junior explorers were given hiring advice and were reminded the importance of responsible decision making by Chief Ruggiero.

Our guests were then given a tour of the Port Richey Police Department, where they were shown various equipment, patrol vehicles and different aspects of police work. The junior explorers were given real world examples of the topics discussed and how the items shown correlate to the path of public service they may join.

The Port Richey Police Department received recognition from the Florida Department of Transportation for their participation in the Enhanced Law Enforcement Engagement (E.L.E.E) program.

The E.L.E.E. program focuses on reducing traffic fatalities, serious injury crashes and raising public awareness about traffic safety through increased law enforcement presence on state roadways.

Amongst the Tampa Bay law enforcement agencies present, the Port Richey Police Department ranked the highest in Pasco County.

We would like to thank the Florida Department of Transportation for their partnership along with FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue and FDOT district seven Secretary Justin Hall who attended today's ceremony.

Earlier today we said hello to many of you at the City of New Port Richey's 2026 Hurricane Expo behind the New Port Richey Library. This free event offered educational information and materials, giveaways and touch a truck style offerings. During the event, officers met Meteorologist Greg Dee from WFTS-TV and several reptiles from a certified trapper with the F.W.C.

We appreciate our partnership with City of New Port Richey, the City of Port Richey Developmental Services, the Port Richey Fire Department, the New Port Richey Library and our other community partners who attended this resourceful event.

The Port Richey Police Department is hosting a multi law enforcement agency Memorial Day, driving under the Influence (D.U.I) traffic initiative tonight.

The operation which will primarily focus on U.S. Highway 19 is taking place as the holiday weekend begins and is simultaneously occurring during the Florida Department of Transportation's click it or ticket campaign.

This operation is apart of an on going quarterly effort amongst the agencies mentioned to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities through traffic enforcement. Law enforcement officers who participate in these initiatives have completed advanced specialized training in D.U.I's and include members from our law enforcement partners at the Florida Highway Patrol, the Pasco Sheriff's Office and the New Port Richey Police Department.

A special thanks to All Hours Towing and Smith Collision who cooked and provided meals to law enforcement officers present.

We would like to thank one of the newest businesses in City of Port Richey (Hole In One Donuts - Port Richey) for their donation of personalized donuts with our agency name and officers call signs on them.

Thank you to Coastal Kustoms who purchased and delivered several pizzas for officers for lunch on more than one occasion this week.

Thank you to Twelve Church who graciously dropped several cases of Celsius energy drinks,
which was especially helpful for our officers assigned to night shift.

We appreciate each of the above entities and the many others who have expressed their support and gratitude during Police week and Peace Officers Memorial Day.

The Port Richey Police Department honored Police week in several ways. Agency members attended numerous law enforcement memorial ceremonies dedicated to those who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting and serving their communities.

Officers came together to share a home cooked meal prepared by Chief Ruggiero's wife, Michelle. Golden Corral of Port Richey dropped off personalized cards and meal vouchers for members department wide.

Our agency was ecstatic to share these moments with members from other law enforcement agencies who stopped by to partake in the festivities.

As a small, family-oriented agency, moments like these are appreciated and cherished by all staff.

Please join us in showing support of law enforcement for their dedicated service and the challenges they face daily during 2026 Police week.

The Port Richey Police Department attended the 2026 Disaster Preparedness Expo at Safety Town hosted by the Pasco County Department of Emergency Management.

We would like to thank all those who stopped by to greet our community engagement officers and learn about disaster response and preparedness. This was the first year our police department attended this event with our partners at the Port Richey Fire Department and the City of Port Richey Developmental Services.

Our police department recently gathered to wish Sergeant Gary Lush, a well deserved retirement. After 17 years of service with our agency, Sgt. Lush, is set to retire this coming Friday.

During Sgt. Lush's retirement ceremony, Tom Dobies of Dobies Funeral Home spoke fondly of Sgt. Gary and provided him with a retirement gift. Chief Frank Ruggiero presented Sgt. Lush with a plaque for his years of service with the Port Richey Police Department.

Several members of our department have numerous Sgt. Lush stories as he was a fi****ms instructor with our department and was in charge of our vehicle maintenance and field training programs. Sgt. Lush was often the first patrol supervisor to greet new officers on their first day and he continued mentoring many of them through the remainder of their careers.

Sgt. Lush's impact reached well beyond the municipal border of our city as he previously spent 13 years at the Tarpon Springs Police Department and owns Five Fish on The Docks, a business located at the sponge docks in the City of Tarpon Springs. Sgt. Lush is also a United States Air Force Veteran who served his country for 5 years from 1982-1987

As Sgt. Lush is about to retire, please help us wish him a safe transition and enjoy photos of him taken throughout his career.