​With the holiday shopping season, Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg wants to remind the community that there are some simple precautions that can keep you from becoming a victim of crime. Whether you’re out and about or shopping online, the following reminders may help keep your holidays happy.

If you decide to purchase online from a local market like Craig’s List or Facebook Marketplace, consider using the Key West Police Department lobby for the exchange of goods and money. Located at 1604 North Roosevelt Blvd, it’s open 24/7, there are cameras at all times, it’s well lit, and it keeps your home address unknown to a stranger.

This season also sees an increase in porch theft. If you order online for home delivery, try to arrange to have someone pick up the package, or have it delivered where you know you can receive it.

When shopping, always try to put packages in the trunk or hidden so they are not obvious to ill-intending criminals. And don’t give them a chance, lock your car doors and keep the windows up when you leave it.

Finally, scammers seem to enjoy the festive season, so be wary. Don’t share personal or financial information over an unsecured network. Be leery of communications that offer amazing deals that sound too good to be true or implore you to act immediately. Be cautious of links that are provided in emails, tweets posts and online advertising. 
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The Key West Police Department wants everyone to have a safe and happy holiday season!

The Key West Police Department is pleased to announce that Keys Talk Radio has selected Sgt. Cynthia Williams as their Back the Blue Officer of the Month for October.

Sgt. Williams recently completed the third and final FBI Command Leadership Course, successfully completing the esteemed trilogy program hosted by the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Sgt. Williams came to the Key West Police Department in 2014. She is a nationally published writer and an accomplished member of the department. She has served on the Special Response Team and is a gifted School Resource Officer. Currently, Sgt. Williams leads our Alpha Day Shift.
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“Her passion for her career,” said Chief Sean Brandenburg, “her commitment to the citizens of Key West, and the positive way she represents the department truly reflect the core values of the Key West Police Department.”

The City of Key West’s City Attorney Kendal Harden has issued a memo clarifying a recent court decision regarding the open carrying of firearms.

On September 10th, the First District Court of Appeal in McDaniels v. State struck down Florida Statute § 790.053(1), which had prohibited open carry of firearms. The Court held the ban unconstitutional under the Second Amendment in light of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions requiring firearm restrictions to be consistent with “historical tradition.” The McDaniels decision is binding throughout the State of Florida.

On September 15th, Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a statewide memorandum directing that:

• Law enforcement and prosecutors should no longer arrest or prosecute law-abiding citizens solely for carrying a firearm openly.
• The State will no longer defend convictions or prosecutions under the invalidated statute.
• The AG emphasized that existing restrictions still apply. For example, felons cannot possess firearms and threatening or reckless display of firearms is unlawful.

​Florida law and federal law continue to prohibit carrying firearms, open or concealed, in the following locations:

• Schools (K–12), school administration buildings.
• Courthouses / courtrooms.
• Polling places during elections.
• Meetings of government bodies (county, municipal, school boards, etc.).
• Detention facilities, jails, prisons.
• Law enforcement facilities (police, sheriff, highway patrol stations).
• Airport passenger terminals / sterile areas.
• Establishments licensed for alcohol consumption, in areas primarily devoted to serving alcohol.
• Any place prohibited by federal law (e.g., federal buildings).
• Private property where the owner expressly forbids firearms. A refusal to leave after such an order can be charged as armed trespassing. 

July 10, 2023 - The Key West Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office are teaming up for another National Night Out family event. On Tuesday, August 1st, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., we invite the community to come meet our first responders who keep us all safe. The Lower Keys event will be held at Bayview Park in Key West. Monroe County Sheriff’s Office will also host events at the Aviation Hangar in Marathon, Founder’s Park in Islamorada, and at the Key Largo Community Park.

This national annual event is aimed at increasing awareness about assets and resources in the community. There will be an exciting array of displays and equipment used by police, firefighters, as well as our military and community partners. There will be everything from special teams, fire trucks and boats to dogs, horses and more at this great family event. The kids will love the animals from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Farm! There will also be music, free food and beverages.
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The Bayview Park National Night Out is a convenient location for residents of all ages to come see what we do and meet your local first responders. It dovetails with events held across the nation, including those hosted by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in the Upper and Middle Keys.

On Friday, May 19th the community paid tribute to those brave men and women in law enforcement who have fallen in the line of duty. The annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service was held at Bayview Park in Key West.
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Hosted by the Key West Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the ceremony included a traditional laying of the wreath, Taps, and a 21-gun salute.

Bishop Derrick Anderson gave the invocation. Key West Vice Mayor Samuel Kaufman read the City of Key West proclamation recognizing both National Police Week, and the Memorial. County Commissioner Jim Scholl read the county’s proclamation. Then, MCSO Capt. David Smith and KWPD Capt. Randy Smith read the names of the officers lost in the line of duty in Monroe County.

Nationally, 246 officers died in the line of duty in 2022. In Florida, seven officers were killed in the line of duty. Monroe County did not lose an officer in the line of duty during 2022.

“Our community has been blessed for another year in not adding names to the national roster of lost lives,” said Key West Police Captain Randy Smith. “And we honor those members of the Key West Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office who, in years past, made the ultimate sacrifice so we could be here today.” 

The names of Keys officers who have died in the line of duty were read as a special remembrance during the ceremony:

• MCSO Deputy Frank Adams, shot in 1901 while attempting to arrest a disorderly man.
• KWPD Officer Clarence Till, killed in 1904 with his own gun while handling a disturbance call.
• MCSO Deputy Guy Bradley, a Game Warden shot in 1905 by a poacher.
• KWPD Officer Norman Drew, killed in 1975 in a motorcycle accident.
• MCSO Deputy David Cormier, killed in 1989 in an automobile accident.
• MCSO Deputy Michael Alexander, killed in 1998 in an automobile accident.
• KWPD Detective John Piskator, died in 2006 as a result of a heart attack.
• MCSO Deputy Robin Tanner, killed in 2007 in an automobile accident.
• MCSO Deputy Nick Pham, killed in 2008 in an automobile accident.
• MCSO Deputy Melissa Powers, killed in 2010 in an automobile accident.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Capt. David Smith praised the officers who put their lives on the line each and every day.

“We also pay a very special tribute to the surviving family members who are still with us today,” he added. “I want to encourage everyone to keep telling the stories of our fallen heroes so, their light will always shine.”

​The Gardens Hotel owner Kate Miano presented the Key West Police Mounted Unit with a check for over $3,000 -- funds raised in the May Derby Day fundraiser at the hotel.

Miano has hosted this annual fundraiser since 2017. Each year she has generously donated to the Mounted Unit after hosting the event that coincides with the Kentucky Derby.
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The Mounted Unit is one of the most popular units of the Key West Police Department. These equestrian officers provide a daily presence that is particularly beneficial downtown and with crowds. 

​The Ashbritt Foundation today made a generous donation to the K9 Relief Fund of Key West. County Commissioner Holly Raschein, on behalf of Ashbritt, presented Chief Sean Brandenburg with a check for $16,000.

The fund was founded by philanthropists Becca and Tom Ahrensfeld to support the working dogs of the Key West Police Department. Since there is no retirement plan for police dogs, this fund helps the officers with the expenses of owning a dog after it retires.

“We are thrilled to accept this generous donation on behalf of the K9 Relief Fund,” said Chief Brandenburg. “And we are grateful to the Ahrensfelds for their amazing support of our K9 Unit. As a former handler myself, I can attest to the importance of caring for these dogs when they retire.”

K-9 officers are a vital part of the department, assisting with suspect pursuits, narcotics investigations and more. A canine has the ability to smell over 100,000 times stronger than a human, so a properly trained police dog can save a department some 600 to 1000 man-hours every year. The dogs face dangers just like their human counterparts including potential gunshot risks or other injuries, and life-threatening exposure to fentanyl and other dangerous substances.

There is no retirement plan for police dogs although they can, in retirement, experience a variety of health issues including separation anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. A full 100 percent of a retired dog’s expenses fall on the handler. That includes all food, medication, and vet bills.

The current City of Key West dogs are Jigsaw, a German shepherd born in Slovakia on December 17, 2017 and handled by Officer Tommy Anglin; Mango, a yellow Labrador retriever born in Mexico and handled by Sgt. Jesse Hammers; and Dexter, a German shepherd born in Florida in 2014 and handled by Officer Matt Hansell.

The fund is managed by the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys. For more information, check out their website at cffk.org/K9.

May 4, 2022 - Mayor Teri Johnston and the Key West City Commission, during this week’s meeting, proclaimed May 19th as Police Officers’ Memorial Day and the week of May 15th as Key West Police Week.

“As a City we rely on law enforcement officers to keep our neighborhoods safe, enforce our laws, and respond in times of crisis,” reads the proclamation. “These men and women sustain peace and order in our community. They routinely put their lives on the line to defend ours, and the price of bravery may result in injury, disability, or death.”

During this week, the nation honors the extraordinary service and sacrifice by law enforcement officers and memorializes those fallen heroes whose selfless acts have left behind safer streets and stronger communities.

On Friday, May 19th the community will have the opportunity to pay tribute to those brave men and women who have fallen in the line of duty. The annual Law Enforcement Day Memorial Service begins at 5 p.m. at Bayview Park in Key West.

April 6, 2023 - For many people in our community, they’re nameless, faceless voices. Some of us are lucky enough to never have to talk to them. But when we need them, they're always there. These voices calmly extract information from people whose lives are suddenly turned upside down. These voices ensure that help arrives quickly. They are the unsung heroes behind all emergency responders: the telecommunicators.
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Next week – April 9th through the 15th -- is National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. These dedicated professionals are on hand 24 hours a day to ensure that any emergency or crisis is dispatched quickly. Every day they calmly and professionally ensure that help is on the way.

“This week is a chance for the community to thank these men and women who work tirelessly during emergencies,” said Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg. “Please take a moment to thank these important members of the community who deal with each crisis with dedicated professionalism.”

April 3, 2023 - The Key West Police Department is proud to support the Autism Society of the Keys (ASK) to help advocate, educate, and support their mission of helping families affected by autism.

The organization’s current campaign? Selling 250 stuffed toy replicas of our K9 Jigsaw, named for the puzzle pieces that represent autism. Jigsaw came to the department with the financial support of Tom and Becca Ahrensfeld approximately three years ago.

The community can also help support ASK by purchasing KWPD autism awareness patches and challenge coins. Hope Haley, the wife of Lt. Matt Haley, is leading this drive. Both the patches and coins are available on eBay.

“Our officers are all trained to understand the special needs of people with autism,” said Chief Sean Brandenburg. “Each vehicle carries a sensory box to help improve communications during a stressful situation. With this training and equipment, we are able to help in any number of scenarios, whether the individual is prone to run or even non-verbal. Our school resource officers’ cars are wrapped with the autism awareness puzzle pieces and, during April, our officers wear a blue badge and autism patches, all to improve community awareness.”