Michael Kessie Biography

Michael Kessie was born in Chicago Illinois and began his law enforcement career at the Schererville, Indiana Police Department retiring as Deputy Chief of Operations after 23 years of service. He served as Chair of the Police Pension Board and President of the Fraternal Order of Police. He worked as an outside assessor for promotions in police departments in Illinois and Indiana.

After moving to Florida in 2002, he worked as a Deputy for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and New College of Florida Police Department where he retired as Chief of Police. After retirement, he worked as an Internal Affairs Investigator and currently serves as a Reserve Police Officer for the Bradenton Police Department. He was a consultant for the Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA) STARS program aiding in the vetting of candidates for Florida police chief positions.

He is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s Command Officer Development Course, the Indiana University Institute for Innovative Leadership, and holds a degree from Indiana University.

He previously served as Chairperson of the Suncoast Technical College Law Enforcement Advisory Board. He also served as 1st Vice-President of the FPCA and Chairperson of the University/College Chief’s Committee.

He was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission and was later appointed to the State Retirement Commission where he served as Chairperson.

He is a husband, father, grandparent, and great-grandparent attending Bayside Community Church in Bradenton.