Monroe County Sheriff s Office Annual Report - 2013 Protecting and Serving the Florida Keys from Key Largo to Key West Rick Ramsay, Sheriff
Mission It is the mission of the Monroe County Sheriff s Office to suppress, prevent and deter crime with the relentless pursuit of all criminals as a top priority. We will operate safe and professional detention and court security services throughout the Keys. We are dedicated to keeping our communities and roadways safe while providing the highest quality of service to our residents and visitors. WE ARE committed to the Keys! Vision Our vision is to enhance the quality of life in the Florida Keys through strong community partnerships in a way that maintains the public trust. The men and women of the Monroe County Sheriff s Office will pursue the highest standards of Law Enforcement excellence in everything we do. Core Values Honesty Professionalism Commitment to Community
Table of Contents Letter from the Sheriff Page 4 Sheriff s Command Staff Page 5 Jurisdictional Area and Sheriff s Office Locations Page 6 MCSO - Commitment to Community Page 8 Sheriff s Office helps kids learn and grow Page 10 General News and Events, 2013 Page 12 Organizational Charts Page 18 Office of the Sheriff Page 20 Bureau of Law Enforcement Page 21 Bureau of Administration Page 35 Bureau of Corrections Page 40 Employee Awards Page 43 Employee Awards sponsors Page 46 Important Numbers Page 48 Annual Report Credits: Publication layout, design and editing: Media Relations Director Deputy Becky Herrin Statistics / charts: The MCSO Human Resources Division The MCSO Finance Division The Monroe County Bureau of Corrections Professional Photography: Rob O Neal, Photography Thanks to our Advertisers / Sponsors: Boyd s Campground Frank s Grill Lee Lapid Housekeeping Norstar Telecom, Inc. Todd s Garage Dot Palm, Inc. Waste Management Sunshine Printing The Porter Allen Insurance Company The Learning Center of Key West First State Bank The Monroe County Sheriff s Office is both state and nationally accredited.
As Sheriff of Monroe County, I have encouraged members of the Sheriff s Office to join me in my efforts to ensure our county is a cleaner, safer place for people to live, work and play. I try to set a clear example in my day-to-day actions. I don t ask anyone to do something I am not willing to do myself. From painting out graffiti to picking up trash alongside the highway; from pulling over a speeding motorist to backing up an officer at a crime in progress; you will see me out there actively protecting you, your family and your property. In the past year, we have continued our efforts to clean up the county. I have taken the well-known Broken Windows Theory of crime and criminal behavior to heart and so have the people who work for me. Sheriff Rick Ramsay The broken windows theory posits that the appearance of disorder including trash on the streets, graffiti and abandoned homes and vehicles leads to more disorder and criminal behavior. It theorizes that keeping neighborhoods clean and in good shape encourages people who live there to maintain order and discourages crime from taking place. Our office has both sponsored and assisted with numerous neighborhood clean ups. So far, the agency has participated in 65 clean ups in the county, both big and small. I have asked our members to paint out graffiti within 24 hours of finding it. I, myself, keep a box containing different colors of spray paint in my car and frequently stop to cover unsightly graffiti as I travel the length of the Keys. Our office has also overseen the installation of street lights in areas where they are needed to prevent crime. And all of these efforts are paying off. Florida Department of Law Enforcement reported major crime in Monroe County decreased by 12.5% in 2013. And we solved more crime as well - our clearance rate increased from 24.4% in 2012 to 29.7% in 2013. There are two ways to clear a case: by arrest, or cleared by exception, which means an offender has been identified but there is something beyond the agency s control which keeps that offender from being arrested. An example would be the offender is dead, extradition is denied, or the case involves a juvenile offender who cannot be charged for some reason. We have many community partners who have helped us over the course of the year and many individuals have joined our efforts as well, showing up at our clean up events and taking pride in their neighborhoods. It has to be a collective effort for it to work - we can t do it alone. I am proud of the men and women who work for the Sheriff s Office. They have shown true commitment to our community and it has made the difference. The work is rewarding and even fun - and the results are clear. Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 4
Left to right: Captain Corey Bryan, Captain Tim Age, Captain Penny Phelps, Captain Gene Thompson, Captain Don Hiller, Director Bill Martin, Major Lou Caputo, Lieutenant Colonel Tim Wagner, Sheriff Rick Ramsay, Colonel Bill Cameron, Major Tommy Taylor, Chief Joel Widell, Captain Don Fanelli, Captain Chad Scibilia, Captain Ted Migala, General Counsel Patrick McCullah, Bureau Chief Mike Rice. 1 Tavernier Plantation Key Largo Islamorada Stock Island Big Pine Key Marathon 1 Key Colony Beach Layton Islamorada Substation Key Largo storefront, Murray Nelson Building Roth Building, Plantation Key Plantation Key Detention Center Key West Freeman Substation Cudjoe Key Headquarters and Stock Island Detention Center Department of Juvenile Justice Marathon Substation Marathon Detention Center Aviation Division Special Investigations/HIDTA 5 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
Jurisdictional Area The Florida Keys are a chain of islands extending south and west from the southern tip of Florida. The Monroe County Sheriff s Office is the primary law enforcement agency providing service to the residents of the county. The agency s jurisdictional area extends from the Monroe County line at the 112 mile marker of U.S. One (including County Road 905 and a portion of Card Sound Road) to the island of Key West at the five mile marker of the same highway. The agency is also charged with operating county detention facilities and serving civil papers in the entire county. The Sheriff s Office has its main headquarters building, and its main detention center just outside of Key West on Stock Island. The county is broken up into districts, including the Lower Keys (District One), the Middle Keys (Districts Four and Five), Islamorada (District Six) and the Upper Keys (District Seven). While the Sheriff s Office is the primary law enforcement agency for Monroe County, other local, state and federal agencies also operate in the Florida Keys. The Florida Highway Patrol investigates most accidents on Keys roadways. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission takes care of most waterborne law enforcement activities. The Naval Air Station, located in the Lower Keys, has its own security force. The city of Key West has its own police force, as does the city of Key Colony Beach. The Sheriff s Office works closely with all law enforcement agencies in the Keys, and enjoys a good working relationship with all of them. General Information The Monroe County Sheriff s Office has 563 employees, including 193 road patrol deputies, 150 corrections officers, 165 support staff and 55 employees in our South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area office. Sheriff s Office Locations Headquarters: Located at 5525 College Road on Stock Island, the sheriff s headquarters building houses all the main administrative offices responsible for day-to-day operations, including the Finance Division, the Human Resources Division, Records and Warrants Divisions, the Civil Division, Internal Affairs, Information Systems, the Training Division, the Legal Division, the Media Relations Division and Professional Standards. Detectives working Lower Keys cases also have an office in the headquarters building. Housed separately at the courthouse complex in Key West at 500 Whitehead Street is the Sheriff s Property Division. Department of Juvenile Justice : The DJJ building is located adjoining the sheriff s main detention facility at 5503 College Road, Stock Island. The first floor is dedicated to a juvenile detention facility run by the Department of Juvenile Justice. The second floor houses the sheriff s main supply office, Juvenile Programs Unit, Victim s Advocates and an office for detectives with the Sheriff s Major Crimes Unit, as well as a fully equipped gymnasium used by sheriff s employees. Freeman Substation - Cudjoe Key: The Freeman Substation, at 20950 Overseas Highway, is at the 21 mile marker of U.S. One, on Cudjoe Key. It is home to Lower Keys road patrol and two detectives who work Lower Keys cases. District One runs from the city limits of Key West at the 4 mile marker to the 40 mile marker on the Seven Mile Bridge. Freeman Substation, Cudjoe Key Marathon Substation: The Marathon Substation, at 3103 Overseas Highway, mile marker 48.7 in the city of Marathon, houses Middle Keys road patrol, and detectives. There is a satellite records office and Property Division, as well as a civil deputy assigned to the substation. District Four includes the city of Marathon, from the 40 mile marker, on the Seven Mile Bridge to Tom s Harbor Cut Bridge at the 60.5 mile marker of Highway U.S. One; and District Five runs from Tom s Harbor Cut Bridge to the Islamorada city limits, at the 74 mile marker of Highway U.S. One. The sheriff s communications building is also in Marathon, housed separately, in the Florida state building at 2796 Overseas Highway at the 47.5 mile marker. Marathon Substation Headquarters Building, Stock Island Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 6 Aviation Division Headquarters: The aviation hanger, home to the sheriff s Aviation Division, is on the grounds of the Marathon Airport at 10100 Overseas Highway at the 52 mile marker. In addition to housing all Sheriff s Office aircraft,
it also provides a home to the sheriff s mobile command post and firearm s trailer. The building has a fully functional and equipped training classroom, and a gymnasium used by sheriff s employees. Aviation Headquarters, Marathon Special Operations Division and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area: This building, at the north end of Marathon, houses detectives assigned to work specific types of crimes. These include narcotics and major crimes including homicide, sexual battery and child abuse. Victim Advocates are housed here, as is the sheriff s intelligence officer. The Monroe High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area group (HIDTA) also works out of this building, coordinating long-term money laundering, racketeering and other types of investigations involving the cooperative involvement of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Islamorada at mile marker 90.2 (Tavernier Creek Bridge), to the county line at the 112 mile marker of Highway U.S. One. The District includes Ocean Reef, parts of Card Sound Road and County Road 905. Main Detention Center: The main detention center, at 5501 College Road, holds up to 596 inmates and includes a professional-grade kitchen, sick bay and medical offices, as well a video first-appearance room and an officers dining room. Inmates from the Lower Keys, as well as all inmates judged to be violent or high profile are housed here. The commander of the Detention Bureau has his office in the facility and the day-to-day operations are overseen by a captain, who is the facilities commander. Main Detention Center, Stock Island Marathon Detention Center: The Marathon detention center is a satellite facility housing 52 inmates judged to be low risk. Located at 3981 Overseas Highway at the 49 mile marker in Marathon, the facility is run by a lieutenant who reports to the facilities commander. Islamorada Substation Islamorada Substation: Servicing the law enforcement needs of the Village of Islamorada, the Islamorada substation is at 86800 Overseas Highway, mile marker 86. District Six road patrol is housed here. District Six runs from the 73 mile marker, at the south end of the Channel Two Bridge, to the 90.5 mile marker at the Tavernier Creek Bridge. The Roth Building - Plantation Key: The Roth Building, at 50 High Point Road in Tavernier, services Sheriff s Office District Seven, which runs from the northernmost city limits of Marathon Detention Center Plantation Key Detention Center: The Upper Keys detention facility houses 47 inmates judged to be low risk and is located at 53 High Point Road at the 89 mile marker of U.S. One in Tavernier. The facility is run by a lieutenant who reports to the facilities commander. Roth Building, Plantation Key Plantation Key Detention Center 7 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
MCSO - Commitment In 2013, Sheriff Rick Ramsay took over as leader of the Monroe County Sheriff s Office. Since then, the agency has risen to his challenge of Commitment to Community. This annual report gives an overview of 2013 activities in the agency, including a renewed dedication to the basics of law enforcement: taking pride in our community and keeping our community clean and crime free. Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 8
to Community 9 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
MCSO helps kids The Monroe County Sheriff s Office has a firm commitment to the youth of our community. Our members frequently attend youth-related events, including career days and other events at area schools, neighborhood get-togethers, bicycle rodeos and family events throughout the Keys. Our school resource officers work full time in Florida Keys schools to keep our kids safe and to interact in a non-threatening, friendly setting with kids of all ages. We have an active Sheriff s Office Explorer program which teaches members respect, honesty, integrity and the importance of teamwork and cooperation with others. Our Sheriff s Office animal farm is a delight for kids and adults alike; Farmer Jeanne Selander and her animals are always a favorite attraction at the community events they participate in. Kids are our tomorrow - and by helping to teach them how to be good citizens, we will make tomorrow a better place. Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 10
learn and grow 11 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
January School, aimed at keeping school aged kids safe, turned up 33 bags of marijuana in the possession of two teens, who were arrested on drug charges. The social media application Whisper disrupted Marathon High School. Kids The Sheriff s Office participated in an posting negative emergency drill at the Marathon airport. comments anonymously about each other caused numerous fights at the school. An illegal Stock Island pawnshop buying gold jewelry Rick Ramsay was sworn in as the 36th Sheriff of Monroe County. The Sheriff s Office held three Citizen Police Academies in the Lower, Middle and Upper Keys. Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 A Massachusetts man jumped from the hump of the Seven Mile Bridge after being stopped for reckless driving. He was recovered from the water and airlifted to Miami. Two boats caught on fire, closing Card Sound Road for over an hour because of heavy smoke. Two people were arrested after a search warrant at a Marathon home. A crack cocaine lab was found inside, along with 90 grams of cocaine powder, 50 crack rocks, various pills and paraphernalia. Routine vessel checks in Boot Key Harbor resulted in the recovery of a large amount of stolen property and one arrest. February A search warrant in Marathon resulted in two arrests. Special Investigations detectives found 60 grams of cocaine along with paraphernalia for cooking crack and over $3,000. A special party patrol detail at Marathon High Sheriff s Office helped with the Wounded Warrior Project s Soldier Ride, traveling from Key Largo to Key West. 12 The Sheriff s Juvenile Programs Unit held one of their regular Teen Court sessions in Key West. without a second hand dealer s license was shut down by detectives. The owner was arrested. A couple working at a Key Largo resort was arrested for having counterfeit Florida driver s licenses. The two turned out to be wanted for similar offenses in other states. The man was later charged with possession of child pornography after sexual photos depicting children were found on a computer in his possession. A 21 year old Tavernier man was arrested after attempting to defraud a bank of a large amount of money. He wrote checks on a false bank account for a total of $22,000. He also claimed to have accessed Airport deputies capture an injured bird and take it to the Wild Bird Rescue center in Key West. secure Sheriff s Office computers, but no evidence was found to support that claim. Two Upper Keys deputies were issued notices to appear in court by Florida Highway Patrol in connection with a road
rage incident that took place while they were off duty. March was treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation. The Sheriff s Office and the school district held another in a series of meetings to discuss school safety. A two year old boy left his Key Largo home in the middle of the night and was hit and killed on highway U.S. One. Three men were arrested for stealing bales of cardboard from a number of stores in Marathon. When they were caught, they had a trailer loaded with cardboard and had numerous receipts from recycling centers where they d sold stolen bales in the past. An Iowa man went missing after going on a solo boat trip. He was staying in Key Largo visiting with his family. His boat was found the following day. His body was found several days later, offshore of the Upper Keys. A California man was arrested after he stabbed three family members during a verbal dispute. Three children who were present at the time of the stabbing were not injured. April Sgt. Ronnie Roberts retired from the Sheriff s Office after 32 years. Roberts received an honorary promotion to lieutenant prior to his retirement in thanks for his years of service. Safeco Insurance Company recognized Captain Don Hiller as its Community Hero for his efforts and involvement with the Pigeon Key Foundation. The Sheriff s Office and Walgreens in Marathon partnered in a drug take-back day. Customers received coupons and discounts courtesy of the store. A Sheriff s deputy was arrested after he bought drugs from an undercover operative while on duty. The Sheriff s Animal Farm held its annual Easter on the Farm event. A restaurant at Hawk s Cay marina caught fire. A deputy working at the scene The Sheriff s Office Stars played basketball against the Key West Police Finest in a charity game to raise money for Relay for Life. A tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children task force resulted in the arrest of a Key Largo man for possessing child pornography. Plantation Key jail operations were temporarily interrupted when a woman with grenades in the trunk of her car drove them there to turn them in. She told deputies they belonged to a deceased friend. They turned out to be inert military smoke grenades. The Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run kicked off in Key West with a large group running through the streets of Key West with the Torch, visiting various schools along the way. Rifles, shotguns and handguns were stolen from a recreational vehicle on Stock Island. An intensive investigation by local, state and federal agencies resulted in the recovery of most of the stolen guns and the arrest of five people connected with the theft. A man was arrested after he threatened to blow up a child support enforcement office because his license was suspended for failure to pay child support. Deputies were called to a home at the 74 mile marker of the highway after a woman reported a female crocodile nesting in her front yard. A residential fire on Garden State Lane in Key Largo destroyed three homes and damaged others. No one was injured. Major Crimes Detective Manny Cuervo was named the state-wide Special Tribute Award Officer of the Year by Attorney General Pam Bondi during Victim s Rights week in Tallahassee. 13 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
May The Bomb Squad handled several calls including making a military flare safe. The flare was brought to shore by a dive boat (above). They also recovered a badly corroded World War II bomb at the end of Old Boca Chica Road. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement released its Major Crimes Index numbers, showing the crime rate in the Sheriff s Office jurisdictional area decreased by 3.4% during the previous year. A woman missing from Pennsylvania for the past 10 years turned herself in to a Sheriff s deputy. Ten years previously, she dropped her kids off for school and was never seen again. She was taken into protective custody and authorities in Pennsylvania were notified. The Sheriff s Honor Guard represented the agency during Police Week in Tallahassee. Three boats were damaged or destroyed by fire at Pancho s fuel dock at Burdine s Waterfront in Marathon. Authorities searched for a Vermont man spotted yelling for help as he floated under the Channel 2 Bridge in Lower Matecumbe Key. His body was recovered the next day, about a mile offshore. His death was believed to be accidental. An Alaskan man on a sailing trip from Key West to Fort Myers and back went missing. His boat and his body were later recovered by Cuban authorities offshore of that island nation. The owner of Oscar s Jewelry on Stock Island was cited for buying gold jewelry and not keeping the proper records of transactions as required by his second hand dealer s license. In preparation for high school graduations county-wide, the Sheriff s Office participated in a DUI prevention skit at Coral Shores High School. The skit s purpose is to help kids make safe choices about drinking and driving. June A 17 year old Stock Island boy was arrested for violently attacking and robbing a man on Maloney Avenue. The teen, who was on probation for similar offenses, was arrested and turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice. The victim was treated at the hospital for injuries. A man attempting to remove a hook from the mouth of a four foot long Lemon shark after catching it offshore was severely bitten on the hand. He was airlifted to Miami. Two were arrested after a traffic stop turned up methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, Xanax, LSD and hash in their car. A man was arrested for a Key Largo crime spree after deputies followed a trail of his blood to the various crime scenes. A Marathon Sheriff s detective received information from several sources which helped him to clear up a 2011 convenience store armed robbery. The community was outraged when a Key West man was arrested for causing the long term suffering and death of his dog, a Pomeranian named Snarf. Two sisters from Miami were arrested, both charged with drunk driving after they switched seats in the car as deputies were attempting to stop them. A deputy struggled with and arrested a man who d been acting strangely in Layton, jumping out into the road trying to stop cars. During the struggle, the man kept reaching for his waistband, where the deputy later found a concealed handgun. A Sheriff s deputy on Big Pine Key helped a Key Deer who had a Doritos bag stuck on its head. Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 14
A Plantation Key man arrested on multiple fraud and theft charges followed that crime by making threats to blow up Sheriff s substations and kill a detective sergeant. July An Islamorada doctor was arrested for defrauding a patient out of $60,000. Businesses in Islamorada began reporting phone calls attempting to defraud them. The caller claims to be from the electric company trying to collect late payments and threatening to turn off electric service. A Stock Island man was airlifted in critical condition after he was stabbed during a fight. The suspect was later arrested after he was found hiding under a nearby condo. A family of four and their dog were rescued from their home by a Sheriff s deputy after a fire in front of the only entrance to the home trapped them inside. Cuban migrants make it to shore in Marathon. A car with a man sleeping inside was intentionally set on fire by another man. The two had argued earlier in the evening in a bar. The victim was severely burned. The suspect was charged with attempted murder and arson. One man was airlifted for injuries and a second man was arrested after a fight involving a metal baseball bat on Big Pine Key. Fire suspected to have been caused by fireworks burned the roof of Gilbert s Resort in Key Largo. The Sheriff s Traffic Enforcement team was awarded first place overall in the Florida Law Enforcement Challenge, beating out 196 other participating agencies, including major metropolitan areas, such as Broward County and Miami-Dade County. August Four Sheriff s members graduated from the prestigious Southern Police Institute s Command Officers Development Course. Left to right, Det. Sgt. Linda Mixon, Lt. Patrick Major, Sgt. and Bomb Squad Leader Mike Digiovanni, Sgt. and SWAT Leader Joel Slough. Detention Sgt. Kevin Burgohy was promoted to Lieutenant as he prepared to retire from the Sheriff s Office after 25 years of service. The honorary promotion recognized his many years of service with the agency. A man was arrested for trafficking in fraudulent credit cards. The detective on the case learned he might be attempting to flee the country. He alerted immigration officials who caught the suspect in a New York airport as he waited for a flight to Russia. A Tavernier man was involved in an accident. He was arrested after responding deputies found he had 111 grams of marijuana and four cases of beer in his trunk. Cocaine and Ecstasy were also found in the vehicle. The Sheriff s Office Special Weapons and Tactics team was treated to a week of training in FBI SWAT tactics. A Trinity, Florida man went missing offshore of West Summerland Key after he jumped in the water from a boat to save a child in distress. The child was recovered alive and well, but the man disappeared during the rescue effort. His body was later recovered on the west side of Johnson Key. One man died and another went to jail for stabbing him after a fight in the mangroves between two homeless men in Marathon. 15 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
September Sheriff Rick Ramsay announced command staff changes, moving three captains to different positions. Captain Gene Thompson took the helm in Marathon; Captain Don Hiller took charge of the Lower Keys patrol division and Captain Chad Scibilia transferred to the Internal Affairs Division. A 26 foot boat, stolen from a Marathon residence was recovered after a chase with Customs and Border Enforcement. It was equipped for a migrant smuggling operation. Two Las Vegas men were arrested. A Key Deer was rescued by a sheriff s deputy after it became entangled in a soccer net on Big Pine Key. Members of the Monroe County Sheriff s Office Bomb Squad attended explosive recognition/military installation security training with members of the Navy. October Sheriff s detectives investigated the theft of a 31 foot Contender with twin 300 horsepower engines valued at $84,000. Someone backed in to Islamorada Boats, hooked up to the trailer it was stored on and drove away with it. A Layton man was arrested for pointing a laser at some fishermen, then firing a shotgun at them. He said he was trying to scare them away. Major Crimes detectives investigated a woman s death after her dinghy was found offshore followed by the recovery of her body. She was last seen by her boyfriend. He said she left their boat in the early morning hours after an argument. The body of a diver who went missing while diving inside the wreck of the Spiegel Grove was located deep in the wreck after an extensive search. An Islamorada man who shot at deputies was in turn shot and killed. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated the officer related shooting ruling the shooting justified. The Sheriff s Office participated in fund raising efforts for the MARC House, selling pumpkins during the Halloween season. A 33 foot Chris Craft cabin cruiser caught fire in Key Largo, injuring the owner. He said he was running the engines in preparation for selling the boat when a fire started on the battery. November A friendly bike race between a father and son turned tragic on Stock Island when their bikes collided causing an accident. The father was airlifted for severe head injuries. A Stock island man, found passed out in his car with the vehicle running, was arrested Tuesday after deputies found cocaine and a large amount of marijuana over 8 ounces - hidden in the wheel well of his car. Detectives investigated the theft of a 27 foot Contender with twin engines on a trailer. The $80,000 boat was taken from a storage lot in Islamorada. Just prior to her retirement, Edna Woody Woodberry was honored for her 24.5 years of service with an honorary promotion to sergeant in recognition of her years of service. A man and woman were found dead in their car on Big Pine Key, apparent victims of a murder-suicide. The couple had recently been found guilty of stealing a large amount of cash from customers of a restaurant they owned in Texas and had been ordered to pay back a large amount of the money. Sheriff s detectives worked hard investigating a series of occupied burglaries in the Upper Keys. An extensive operation involving a large number of investigators resulted in the arrest of a man in connection with the crimes. He was caught near the scene of two of the burglaries; he fled from deputies and was identified by one of the victims who had seen him inside his home. Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 16
A plane was seized and it s owner arrested after an FAA safety inspector on vacation in Islamorada saw him operating it recklessly. The man is also accused of illegally soliciting paying customers without having a proper license. A Broward County man kidnapped his girlfriend after accusing her of having an affair. He forced her into his car after he choked her and threatened to kill her dogs. She managed to call for help from his home in Pompano Beach. He was arrested on a Monroe County warrant for multiple charges. December The Sheriff s Office Animal Farm held its annual Christmas on the Farm event. Three semi trucks were involved in an accident at the 63 mile marker of the highway, closing the road for over seven hours. There was a fuel spill and one person was airlifted to Miami for injuries. The body of a man was found offshore of Summerland Key. He had been reported missing after he failed to show up for church and a friend went to check on him at his boat, moored offshore. There was no evidence of foul play. Two Lower Keys deputies were injured by a man who fled from them in his truck. The deputies used pepper spray and Tasers on him with no effect, finally having to fight with him to take him into custody. A Miami man wanted for questioning in a sexual battery case in Miami was reported missing. His vehicle was found near the Card Sound Bridge after he sent a text message to a relative saying he was going to jump from the bridge with a 40 pound weight tied to his leg. After an extensive search, neither he nor his body was found. Sheriff s Office members participated in a MARC House fund raiser, unloading and selling Christmas trees during the holiday season. A large contingent of Sheriff s Office members participated in the Key West Christmas parade, including 10 vehicles, Santa Claus, the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who. The Sheriff s Office participated in the annual Silverliner s flight to the north pole event at the Key West Airport. 17 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
Monroe Cou Organiz Sheriff's Aide Director Media Relations / PIO Un Juvenile Diversion Unit Animal Farm / Landscaping Chief Bureau of Administration Bureau o Executive Director Finance Grants Administration / Risk Management Director Information Management Director Communications Services & Programs District One Commander District Six Commander Director Property & Evidence Executive Director Human Resources Support Services Commander Director of Records Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 18
nty Sheriff s Office ational Chart Sheriff General Counsel dersheriff Commander, Professional Standards Airport Operations Internal Affairs SWAT Team Accreditation Hostage Negotiators Staff Inspections Major f Law Enforcement Major Bureau of Corrections District Four/Five Commander Captain Operations District Seven/Ocean Reef Commander Reserve Unit Key West Security Site Commander Plantation Key Accreditation Site Commander Key Vaca Director Programs Financial Assistant 19 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
Sheriff The Sheriff, by law, is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in Monroe County with the full authority and responsibility to uphold the law and preserve the peace. The Sheriff is charged with protecting the lives and property of the citizens and guests of the county. The Sheriff is ultimately responsible for every division and department in the Monroe County Sheriff s Office. He is in touch, day to day, with the activities of the Sheriff s Office through his command staff. Most divisions and departments report to him through his second in command, the colonel or undersheriff of the agency. His aide and the sheriff s general counsel report directly to the sheriff. Sheriff Rick Ramsay Colonel Bill Cameron Undersheriff The undersheriff holds the rank of colonel and is second in command of the Sheriff s Office, He is responsible for the day to day actions of personnel and for enforcement of general orders and policy within the Sheriff s Office. He also handles the disposition of disciplinary action. The colonel oversees all Sheriff s Office bureaus, including operations, corrections and administrative bureaus. General Counsel Patrick McCullah Legal Division The general counsel advises Sheriff Ramsay and senior command staff on a wide range of civil, criminal, and administrative matters. The general counsel serves as the chief labor and contract negotiator and liaison to outside counsel, the State Attorney s Office, and several federal task forces. The general counsel oversees litigation related to the forfeiture of seized assets, provides legal updates and training, and works with staff to monitor potential risk and develop policy. Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 20
Road Patrol and Criminal Investigations: Successfully fighting crime in the Florida Keys Bureau of Law Enforcement Chief Lou Caputo Fighting crime is the number one mission of a law enforcement agency. Our deputies on patrol in the community are there to keep people safe and secure and our detectives work to investigate more complex crimes. We cannot do our job well, however, without an partnership with the community we serve. The Sheriff s Office is proud crime has steadily decreased in Monroe County over the past 25 years. In 2013, crime continued this decrease with major index crime down 12.5% for the year (see chart on the next page). I believe the hard work of our deputies and detectives and the close working relationship we have with the community is responsible for making our county a safer place, said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. I think we are on the right track with the community initiatives we have been concentrating on since I took office. There is no reason why this downward trend in crime cannot continue if we all work hard together to improve our streets and neighborhoods. Reduction of crime is not the only positive aspect of these community initiatives. The Sheriff s Office saw crime clearance rates go up as well. The clearance rate for crime in Monroe County increased from 24.4% in 2012 to 29.7% in 2013. Sheriff Ramsay has pushed hard when it comes to his community initiatives, which are primarily aimed at cleanliness and quality of life in the Keys. He has taken the well-known Broken Windows theory of crime and criminal behavior to heart and so have the people who work for him. The Broken Windows theory posits that the appearance of disorder including trash on the streets, graffiti and abandoned homes and vehicles leads to more disorder and criminal behavior. It theorizes that keeping neighborhoods clean and in good shape encourages people who live there to maintain order and discourages crime from taking place. Sheriff Ramsay has set up numerous neighborhood clean ups; his deputies and detectives paint out graffiti within 24 hours of finding it; he has overseen the installation of street lights, and he is often seen himself picking up trash and painting out unsightly graffiti on the side of the road. He also encourages Sheriff s Office members to practice community-oriented policing (COP) to ensure the quality of life and the livability factors are at the highest levels possible. Through COP, the agency promotes safety and the protection of life and property; we also regulate safe and efficient motor vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic and assist in environmental and marine law enforcement. Deputies and detectives are encouraged to act in close collaboration with groups representing the needs of the residential and business communities. We participate in the Citizens Crime Watch program to enlist citizen cooperation in anti-crime efforts. Members regularly meet with neighborhood groups and partner with citizens for the enhancement of public safety and quality of life issues. Some of our COP efforts include watch orders on residential and business property when owners are away or the premises are unoccupied; regular business checks with our Night Eyes program; bicycle patrols, Citizens Crime Watch, Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys, water patrols utilizing boats and Wave Runners and routine neighborhood patrols. 21 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
4,500 Major Index Crimes - Total Crimes 4,000 3,500 3,000 4,089 4,005 3,092 Law enforcement agencies statewide are required to report specific crime statistics to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). That agency, in turn, issues yearly summaries and detailed reports on crime, with comparisons county by county, city by city and statewide. Here is a chart that shows the reduction of Major Crimes in Monroe County over the past 20 years. 2,500 2,160 2,189 2,000 1,700 1,500 1,000 500 0 1991 1995 2000 2005 2010 2013 35.00% Major Index Crimes - Clearance Rate 30.00% There are two ways to clear a case: by arrest, or "cleared by exception", which means an offender has been identified but there is something beyond the agency's control which keeps that offender from being arrested. An example would be the offender is dead, extradition is denied, or the case involves a juvenile offender who cannot be charged for some reason. Percentage Cleared 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% *Monroe County Sheriff Broward County Palm Beach County Miami-Dade County State of Florida 0.00% 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 *Note: Numbers for Monroe County excluding Key West. Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 22
Captain Don Hiller District One Road Patrol and Detectives District One - Lower Keys The Lower Keys District is Monroe County s largest district spanning from the 40 Mile Marker south to the City of Key West. The Sheriff s substation for the district, the Freeman Substation, is located at the 21 mile marker on Cudjoe Key. The Sheriff s headquarters building and main jail are also located within this district, on Stock Island. Station Commander Lieutenant Donato Elomina oversees the task of supervising deputies responding to calls for service in the district. Captain Gene Thompson headed up the district for most of the year, followed by Captain Don Hiller who transferred to the district from the Professional Standards Division. The captain of the district commands the entire district, overseeing all operations in the Lower Keys. The detective unit is headed up by Sgt. Donald Catala, a long time law enforcement veteran who also headed up the Special Weapons and Tactics team for many years. There are four road patrol squads, each made up of five deputies and led by a sergeant, providing customer service to county residents around-the-clock. The support staff at the Freeman Substation on Cudjoe Key is comprised of Administrative Assistants Brenda Winegarden and Colleen Carter who keep the district s records management flowing. District One holds a formal inspection of its members, vehicles and weapons. District road patrol deputies and detectives clean up an area of the Lower Keys where a group of homeless individuals were illegally camping. 23 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
Captain Gene Thompson and Key Colony Beach. In 2013, these districts were commanded by Captain Chad Scibilia, with Lieutenant Bruce Winegarden as the station commander. Captain Gene Thompson was appointed captain of the district late in the year when Captain Scibilia transferred to the Professional Standards Division. Districts Four and Five include two support staff, four sergeants, a civil officer, a marine officer, a K-9 officer, a detective sergeant, three detectives and 19 patrol officers, for a total of 34 employees. The men and women assigned to District Four and Five continue to provide the finest law enforcement services to be found anywhere. These law enforcement professionals who patrol the Middle Keys take a heartfelt sense of personal ownership in what happens in the community we all share. District Four and Five deputy sheriffs do not stop at simply responding to calls for service and criminal activity. They look for issues that concern all of us and, using community partnerships, they find ways to resolve problems before they escalate. District Four and Five - Middle Keys Districts Four and Five are located in the middle portion of the Florida Keys, between mile markers 47 at the south end and mile marker 72 to the north. This includes the cities of Marathon, Layton 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 11,886 District Four and Five road patrol, detectives and support staff 11,470 County wide offense reports 11,121 10,536 The Middle Keys District has held many cleanups and community projects as part of the Sheriff s community initiative. 9,998 9,915 9,710 9,669 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 24
Captain Corey Bryan The Village of Islamorada road patrol, detectives and support staff District Six - Islamorada The Village of Islamorada (District Six) contracts its law enforcement services from the Sheriff s Office. The substation is located 86800 Overseas Highway. The village consists of four main islands totaling 18 miles in length. Surrounded by water and several smaller, uninhabited islands, the village patrols the waters with three boats utilizing one part-time and two full-time marine deputies. With a permanent resident population of approximately 7 8,000 these officers respond to emergencies and calls for service from the community, as well as providing deterrence of criminal activity through highly visible patrol and other proactive enforcement means. The village s population easily doubles during the peak tourist season, holidays and many special events. While patrolling the streets and waters, deputies are devoted to providing the best professional service in order to make available a safe environment for everyone residing in and traveling through Islamorada. Islamorada deputies taking part in their yearly formal inspection. Captain Corey Bryan is the commanding officer for District Six, and in 2013 the second in command was Lieutenant Derek Paul. District Six comprises 18 sworn officers and one civilian administrative assistant; they are committed to the principles of Community Oriented Policing, building partnerships between the community and law enforcement. Assuring a safe community and a high quality of life for residents and Islamorada deputies are involved in many aspects of marine enforcement, and also spend time on marine-related environmental issues. Here they are taking part in a clean-up in the Village of Islamorada, hauling a mess of rope out of the ocean. visitors is the highest priority. Events, exhibitions and participation in the community are an essential part of successful community policing. Deputies in Islamorada participate in numerous events throughout the year including National Night Out, homeowners association and Crime Watch meetings, local holiday celebrations and other community functions. One of the biggest examples of community policing is an event sponsored by the Sheriff s Office in August of each year. National Night Out aims to increase awareness about police programs in the community, such as drug prevention, Crime Watch and other anti-crime efforts. During 2013, deputies in District Six handled 29,540 calls for service. Officers routinely and pro-actively identify and address areas of concern and quality-of-life issues within the community before they become a larger problem. High visibility and traffic enforcement along U.S. One is a priority in order to keep our highway as safe as possible; marine deputies enforce violations with a philosophy of compliance through education. Village deputies have also been very proactive with bicycle patrols in the community and subdivisions of the district, saving the agency on fuel costs and giving the community more personal contact with officers. Building partnerships, addressing quality-of-life issues and involvement in the community is what makes all of the Monroe County a satisfying place to work and a safe place to live and visit. 25 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
Captain Don Fanelli District Seven road patrol, detectives and support staff District Seven - Upper Keys District Seven begins at the county line at the 112 mile marker of U.S. One and ends at the Tavernier Creek Bridge, mile marker 90.2. The district also includes County Road 905, the Ocean Reef community, and parts of Card Sound Road. The District Seven substation is located in the Roth Building, 50 High Point Road in Tavernier. The Roth building was purchased through federally forfeited drug proceeds. It was opened in 2005 and named after now-retired Sheriff Richard Roth, who was responsible for its purchase and renovation. The commander of the district is Captain Don Fanelli and second in charge in 2013 was Station Commander Lieutenant Mitch Horn. District Seven is comprised of 20 patrol deputies and five sergeants. The district also houses a records unit headed by Supervisor Peggy Bryan which handles phone calls, lobby issues, dissemination of reports, finger printing, data entry and a variety of related duties. Also assigned to the district is a civil deputy responsible for civil process. The Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU) is housed at the Roth Building and works both District Six and Seven cases. CIU is supervised by Detective Sergeant David Carey who oversees four detectives, a crime scene detective, and an administrative assistant. This unit is primarily responsible for following up and investigating felony crimes along with processing crime scenes. Patrol deputies not only handle day-to-day calls for service and traffic concerns, but are constantly looking for ways to deter crime and prevent citizens from becoming victims of crime. Command staff, deputies, and other community partners meet with approximately 21 Citizen Crime Watch groups regularly, where they discuss issues of concern and provide helpful tips on ways to deter crime. They also address quality of life issues affecting the well being of the community. The district utilizes two part time boats and bicycle officers to help patrol the community and surrounding waters. Partnering with members of the district, officers also assist with organizing community events such as the Wounded Warrior Project, annual Key Largo Bridge Run, the Key Largo Fourth of July parade, St. Patrick s Day parade, National Night Out and any other event where law enforcement input is wanted or needed. This allows us to interact with the community in a friendly and cooperative manner. Following the Community Oriented Policing philosophy is the driving force behind the professional and successful law enforcement our agency provides to citizens and tourists alike. District Seven has embraced the Sheriff s philosophy: a clean community is a safe community. They have held many cleanups, big and small throughout their large district. Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 26
Captain Gene Thompson Special Investigations Division The Special Investigations Division is comprised of highly trained and specialized investigators, deputies, advocates and support personnel. The specialized units operate throughout the county, responding to the needs of the agency and the public. The investigative cases worked by these units are sensitive and usually long-term and complex in nature. In 2013, Captain Chad Scibilia headed up the division, followed later in the year by Captain Gene Thompson when Captain Scibilia transferred to the Professional Standards Division. Lieutenant Lee Ann Holroyd oversees daily operations. The units under their command are as follows: Vice/Narcotics Major Crimes Homeland Security Crime Analysis Intelligence Vice and Narcotics The Vice and Narcotics unit is a specialized investigative unit which includes crime analysis and intelligence. The investigators assigned to the unit work closely with districts to address the needs of each area. They also analyze citizen tips and concerns, crime trends and other available data to determine where they can be most effective. In 2013, the detectives, intelligence analyst and support personnel worked for Detective Sergeant Al Ramirez. Most investigations are drugrelated but the unit is also involved in handling the following issues: Firearms violations Prostitution Illegal gambling Dignitary protection Major Crimes Unit The Major Crimes Unit investigates homicides, sex crimes, computer crimes, missing juveniles, child pornography and related crimes, and includes the agency s victim advocates. Major Crimes also maintains records on registered sex offenders and conducts quarterly address verifications on offenders living in Monroe County. This highly trained unit conducts investigations throughout Monroe County working closely with districts and with the public. The unit consists of five detectives, four victim advocates and one supervisor. The unit investigators are certified with Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC), the National Child Abduction Response Team (CART), Department of Children and Families, The Major Crimes Unit has been working to digitize cold cases in an effort to make them more accessible to detectives working the cases. Here are just some of the files that have been scanned and organized during the course of the year. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). They work closely with these and other agencies on many of their investigations. When they aren t working active investigations, Major Crimes investigators are involved with the homicide cold case squad. This squad also consists of retired law enforcement officers and FDLE investigators. The cold case squad continues to examine older homicide investigations, as new technology - and thus new information - becomes available. Victim Advocates There are four victim advocates working for the Monroe County Sheriff s Office. The advocates serve all of Monroe County and the city of Key West. The advocates assist victims of crimes committed in the county, in particular the victims of violent crimes. Advocates are available throughout the county at all times. Some of the funding for the advocates comes from a grant from the office of the In addition to helping victims, our Victim Advocates appear at many community events to promote the cause of victim s rights. Attorney General. Victim advocates are an integral part of the criminal justice process, especially where arrests have been made. They are responsible for contact with victims and they assist during the trial process help to gain successful prosecution of defendants. Homeland Security, Crime Analysis, Intelligence This unit coordinates with the Regional Domestic Security Task Force and assists in the coordination of the regional strategic plan as outlined by the State of Florida Domestic Task Force. It is a liaison with various local, state and federal agencies on areas of domestic security and natural disasters. The unit is also responsible for gathering, analyzing and disseminating information concerning known or suspected criminal activity including organized crime, gang members, terrorists, extremists, any dignitary-related activity, immigrant smuggling, homeland security, convicted felons, narcotic trends, Crime Stoppers tips, and general intelligence. 27 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
Professional Standards Division The Professional Standards Division handles internal investigations through the Internal Affairs Unit. It also assures the agency is following policies and procedures through it s Accreditation Unit. The division also oversees staff inspections. In 2013, Captain Don Captain Chad Scibilia Hiller headed up the division for most of the year, followed by Captain Scibilia who transferred from his command in District Four and Five. This captain also directs the agency s airport operations, Special Weapons and Tactics team and Hostage Negotiators. Internal Affairs Internal Affairs investigates complaints against Sheriff s Office employees. The Sheriff s Office has two types of investigations of employee misconduct. An internal affairs investigation is conducted when the allegation is criminal misconduct, corruption, brutality or breach of civil rights. All other complaints fall under the supervisory review category. The Internal Affairs Division will also investigate other complaints as directed by the sheriff. IA reviews lawsuits which name Sheriff s Office employees, and employee and citizen complaints resulting from law enforcement action including the use of force. Investigators also handle property seizures, work environment offenses and track union grievances. Captain Chad Scibilia is the inspector general for the Internal Affairs Division, which is staffed by two full-time investigators and an executive assistant. The unit also investigates, resolves and coordinates citizen complaints, and accepts and tracks commendations from the public and from supervisors citing employees for exemplary performance. Accreditation The Sheriff s Office is both state and federally accredited and has been for many years. Because the agency is accredited, citizens of the county can rest assured they are protected by a professional law enforcement agency that undergoes frequent inspections and is regularly reviewed by outside accreditors for compliance with required sets of standards. An accreditation program has long been recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism. Accreditation is the certification by an independent reviewing authority that an entity has met specific requirements and prescribed standards. Schools, universities and hospitals are some of the most well-known organizations that are required to maintain accreditation. Accreditation is only achieved after an assessment team of law enforcement or corrections professionals from other agencies around the state and nation conduct an on-site assessment. An on-site assessment entails a review of an agencies policies and procedures for compliance with established standards, along with a review of physical facilities and documentation proving an agency is doing what it says it is doing. For corrections, assessors also look at safety and emergency procedures, food services, rules and discipline and other subject areas that comprise good correctional practices. Under the direction of Lieutenant Cindy Peryam, the office of Professional Standards is in charge of managing processes required for accreditation by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) and Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies(CALEA). The office ensures all agency policies and procedures are in compliance with accreditation standards and the agency is following established policy. Members of the office of Professional Standards are Inspector Henry Hamilton, staff inspector; and Rachelle Gates and Tondra Davis, accreditation specialists. The office of Accreditation makes sure all divisions within the Sheriff s Office, and all members of those divisions, are aware of office policies and procedures and are in compliance with them at all times. They draft policy, at the direction of the sheriff and in compliance with CFA and CALEA requirements. These policies and procedures are the foundation of a modern, professional law enforcement agency, and are also the foundation to being state and federally accredited. Inspectors from the office ensure all policies and procedures are up to date and being complied with by all members of the Monroe County Sheriff s Office. They visit all offices on a regular basis, inspecting records and making sure all procedures are being followed appropriately. Airport Security The Airport Security Unit is assigned to the Key West International Airport and is responsible for patrolling over 250 acres of property 24 hours a day. Captain Chad Scibilia oversees the operation while Director of Security Lieutenant Mitch Snider heads up two law enforcement sergeants, six deputies and 16 airport security technicians. Airport Security The Accreditation Unit Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 28
Duties and responsibilities of the unit consist of maintaining security in and around the airport, checking vehicles and personnel in secure areas, maintaining smooth and consistent pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and processing new employees for commercial carriers and airport businesses through fingerprint and background checks. The division assists the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) with investigating weapons offenses or any crime occurring on the airport property. The members are proactive in their efforts to identify and address any security issue they may come across. Passenger loads continue to increase and now over three quarters of a million people a year move through the Key West International Airport. As the airport has grown, with the increased number of related employees and businesses and with greater passenger numbers, the security demands have increased in complexity. Special Weapons and Tactics The Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team is primarily used to serve high-risk search warrants where occupants are suspected of being armed and/or dangerous. They also respond, when required, to other situations such as barricaded subjects, wanted suspects who might be armed and dangerous, and any other time they are needed. Team members have all completed at least one two-week SWAT course, and they train together on a regular basis to maintain those skills and to ensure they can all work smoothly together. They are periodically required to participate in a The Special Weapons and Tactics team trains on a regular basis to be ready when a major case requiring their response takes place. They also regularly respond to high risk search warrants, and other cases where their equipment and skills are needed. timed military obstacle course to remain on the team, and must frequently qualify with a variety of weapons. To date, no Sheriff s Office SWAT member has been seriously injured or killed during the performance of their duties. The team frequently works with many other agencies, local, state and federal. Hostage Negotiation Team The Monroe County Sheriff s Office Hostage Negotiation team is a unit of specially trained people tasked to respond to crisis incidents. These incidents include but are not limited to: suicide attempts, hostage situations, sniper attacks and barricaded armed subjects with or without hostages or other victims. Each member of the unit must receive special training in crisis intervention, negotiation techniques, recognition of patterns and clusters of behavior and advanced active communication skills. These skills are used with the goal of a safer more controlled resolution to a volatile incident which poses high risk to the members of the Sheriff s Office, persons in crisis and the general public at large. All members of the team also hold other working positions in the Sheriff s Office and do not receive additional compensation for their presence on the team. Rapid Deployment Force The Sheriff s Office Rapid Deployment Force is under the direction of Lt. Jonathan Crane and, when it comes to this unit, he reports directly to Major Lou Caputo. The Rapid Deployment Force is designed to provide a rapid and organized response to crowd control and/ or civil disturbances in urban settings. It can be deployed to restore order, Major Lou Caputo move crowds, rescue victims and isolate problem areas. The keys to the successful use of a rapid deployment force are leadership, planning, training, and discipline. The Rapid Deployment Force is a quick strike team that can be mobilized to areas not easily accessed by a full field-force team. Their response is multi-tiered ranging from mere presence to offensive tactics including the use of riot control agents and less than lethal munitions. Court Services Unit In 2013, the Court Services Unit reported to the three separate road patrol district commanders. At the end of the year, they were brought together and they now report to Lt. Nancy Alvarez. She, in turn, reports directly to Major Lou Caputo. Under the supervision of Sergeants Gerald Fisher, Jennifer Torres and Amanda Coleman, Court Services provides security for judges and others entering Monroe County courthouses, located in Plantation Key, Marathon and in Key West. At each courthouse, they conduct scanning and searches of all people and property entering each building. Deputies also work closely with court staff and with the Corrections Bureau, ensuring safety for everyone participating in the criminal justice system. 29 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
Support Services Division The Support Services Division is a wide ranging division made up of various law enforcement support units including: Training Unit Aviation Unit Captain Penny Phelps School Resource Unit, including Explorers and School Crossing Guards Communications Unit Civil Unit Bomb Squad Dive Team Training Unit The Sheriff s Office Training Unit is charged with providing both in-service training and advanced and specialized training in all areas of law enforcement. The unit works closely with Florida Keys Community College to provide instructors for ongoing law enforcementrelated academies. Instructors from the Sheriff s Office also work with the college to teach advanced courses such as line Each year the Training Division puts on a four hour Annual Retraining Module (ARM) class for all road patrol and corrections deputies. The course makes sure all officers are up to date on re-training requirements. This year s ARM targeted school safety drills with simulated shooting events at area school facilities. supervision, field training officer, intoxilyzer operator, radar operator, middle management, and instructor techniques workshops. In-service courses are presented to personnel in order to maintain officer s certification requirements. Many of these requirements are set by the state of Florida and other regulatory bodies. These courses include instruction in firearms, blood borne pathogens, hazardous materials, defensive tactics, chemical weapons, use of force, legal updates, impact weapons, emergency vehicle operation, Verbal Judo (tactical communications), first response to medical emergencies, domestic violence, juvenile and sex crimes, suicide prevention and Baker s Act training, and drug and alcohol recognition. Support courses provided to all personnel in the Sheriff s Office include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), personal safety / self awareness, and computer courses. The records portion of the unit maintains all employee training records as well as salary incentive and tuition information to provide required documentation for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for their annual audits. In 2013, both law enforcement and corrections deputies participated in scenario-based training as part of their required Annual Retraining Module (ARM). School Resource Unit The Sheriff s Office has five school resource officers stationed at Sugarloaf School, Marathon High School / Middle School, Plantation Key School, Key Largo School and Coral Shores High School. They are supervised by Sergeant Glenn Test, who also acts as SRO at Sugarloaf School. The SROs provide day-to-day security at each school. They are also charged with maintaining positive relationships with the students, teachers and administrators. In 2013, SROs taught Project ALERT to all 7th graders, with a booster class taught in 8th grade. This program targets drug abuse, bullying, and many other issues which affect today s youth. Explorer / Cadet Program The SROs are charged with overseeing the Sheriff s Office Explorer/Cadet program. The Law Enforcement Exploring program in Monroe County was started over 30 years ago with the intention of providing the youth of our community the opportunity to explore a career in law enforcement and to develop a more positive relationship between youth and law enforcement officers. There are three explorer posts county wide; one at Sugarloaf School; one at Marathon Middle and High School and one in the Upper Keys, which includes students from Plantation Key School, Key Largo School and Coral Shores High School. Each post has younger members - designated as cadets ; and older, high school aged members - designated as explorers. The program introduces youth to the field of law enforcement, with the intention of building character, determination and life skills. The program also provides each explorer the tools he/she needs to make a decision about a career in law enforcement. Both cadets and explorers participate in a wide variety of community activities and service projects throughout Monroe County. They also travel outside of the county to state-wide events where they compete against other sheriff s office ex- Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 30
School Resource Officers work in area schools, closely coordinating with school officials to ensure the safety of both children and staff. They also serve as advisors in the Sheriff s Office Explorer program, traveling to state competitions several times a year and mentoring kids who are interested in the field of law enforcement. plorer posts in firearms, active shooter competitions, and take part in team building exercises. School-Crossing Guards The Sheriff s Office is responsible for school-crossing guards, and other school crossing duties, at several schools in Monroe County. There are crossing guards assigned to work the school zones at Stanley Switlik Elementary School in Marathon, and in front of Key Largo School. School resource officers perform crossing guard duties at other area schools, including the school zone in front of Sugarloaf School, and in front of Coral Shores High School / Plantation Key School in the Upper Keys. The crossing guards in the unincorporated areas are supervised by Sergeant Glenn Test. Aviation Unit The Aviation Unit consists of seven pilots and three mechanics. The aircraft they operate currently include a Sikorsky S-76 medical transport helicopter and a King Air B200 airplane. The hanger where the unit is located is on the northern end of the airport in Marathon. The King Air provides transport of county employees traveling for business. The medical transport helicopter - called Trauma Star - provides trauma flights from the scenes of accidents and incidents in Monroe County; it takes severely injured victims to major trauma centers in Miami because there is no such facility within Monroe County; it is also available for inter-facility The Sheriff s Office, in partnership with the county, operates the Monroe County Trauma Star helicopter, providing trauma transport in the Florida Keys. transports between hospitals as needed. The program involves a cooperative agreement between the Sheriff s Office, Monroe County Fire/Rescue, county commissioners, the county administrator, and our three local hospitals. Communications Unit The Communications Unit is located in the heart of the Florida Keys in Marathon. All of the 911 calls for Monroe County are answered in the center with the exception of calls for the city of Key West. The mission of the Communications Unit is to provide rapid public safety response to the citizens of our community, visitors or to other communities requesting our services. The unit strives to meet those needs without regard to age, race, sex, religion or disability. The Communications Unit dispatches sheriff s deputies, emergency medical services and fire/rescue personnel. Calls for service are received into the center by both administrative non-emergency lines as well as 911 lines. 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 126,804 129,482 Calls for Service 123,586 137,073 153,462 190,091 194,614 185,728 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 31 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
The unit has a total of 22 staff members, which includes a director, Lt. Charlene Sprinkle-Huff, four shift supervisors and 17 communications officers. The communications staff is made up of trained professionals. They are first responders who field hundreds of incoming calls each day. The ability to filter out the chaos, determine the best course of action, and move quickly is a true test of their skills. Communications officers must monitor multiple radio frequencies and dispatch multiple agencies in a calm and professional manner. They Sheriff s dispatchers must be highly skilled and able to multi-task as they monitor multiple computer screens and maintain contact with many officers, firefighters and paramedics in the field. Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 frequently are called upon to make split second decisions that can mean the difference between life and death. They can be a lifeline to deputies in the field and to callers on the phone. In addition to taking calls and dispatching public-safety agencies, communications officers are also tasked with providing life saving pre-arrival instructions to assist in medical and fire situations. Communications officers go through approximately five months of training with a training officer prior to being released to work on a shift. Training officers work tirelessly to make certain the communications officers are provided with the most up to date training possible so the public can receive the most efficient customer service possible. A 911 call should only be made in an emergency. Otherwise callers should use the other five non-emergency phone numbers available 24 hours a day. (305) 296-2424 Headquarters (305) 745-3184 Lower Keys (305) 289-2430 Middle Keys (305) 664-6480 Islamorada (305) 853-3211 Upper Keys Tip: If you accidentally call 9-1-1, don t hang up. Stay on the line and tell the dispatcher it was unintentional. That way they do not send resources that can be used if an actual emergency occurs. Teach your child to dial 9-1-1 for an emergency and make sure they know their address. Traffic Enforcement Unit The Traffic Enforcement Unit enforces the traffic laws of the state of Florida and all traffic related Monroe County ordinances. The efforts of this unit ensure people traveling on the roadways of Monroe County stay as safe as possible. The main highway U.S. One, stretches the entire length of Monroe County which makes the duties of the Traffic Enforcement Unit particularly crucial. Traffic accidents and other traffic issues can severely impact the flow of traffic in the Florida Keys and it is the duty of the unit to see such interruptions happen as infrequently as possible. All eight deputies in the Traffic Unit, under the direction of 32 Sergeant Kevin Mimosa, are trained breath-test operators, radar and laser certified. The unit supports one drug recognition expert and maintains five Intoxilyzer 8000 instruments and inspectors as well as two specifically trained DUI units. Some of the ancillary duties of the Traffic Enforcement Unit include high profile escorts, dignitary escorts, funeral details, special events, highway interdictions and sobriety checkpoints. Civil Unit The Civil Unit acts as the executive arm of the court system. The unit receives, processes and executes legal process including summonses, subpoenas, writs of executions, writs of possession, writs of attachment, writs of bodily attachment, injunctions and levies. The unit also handles the appointment of private process servers. The unit is headed up by Supervisor Rachelle Gates. Dive Team The Sheriff s Office Traffic Enforcement Unit The Monroe County Sheriff s Office Underwater Search and Recovery Team, also called the dive team, responds to any water-related operation and is trained to safely effect any type of waterborne recovery or rescue operation. The dive team s primary responsibility is underwater search and recovery of persons and/or evidence. The team consists of deputy sheriffs who are specially trained and equipped to conduct such operations. All members of the team also hold other working positions in the Sheriff s Office and do not receive additional compensation for their presence on the team. The dive team is headed up by team leader Sgt. Mark Coleman. Sheriff s Office dive team
Members of the Sheriff s Office dive team train on a regular basis to maintain the skills needed to perform their jobs in underwater search and recovery. Bomb Squad The Sheriff s Office Bomb Squad is the only fully equipped explosive handling team in the Florida Keys. Bomb squad members respond to calls involving found explosives, bomb threats, or suspicious packages. The Bomb Squad also handles the destruction of explosive devices, old outdated ammunition, flares, and other dangerous items, such as military munitions and other found items that float into the near shore waters of the Florida Keys. The Sheriff s Office Bomb Squad has state-of-the-art equipment to handle dangerous situations. In the past the squad had been called upon to dismantle homemade explosive devices, destroy old dynamite, clear buildings of dangerous explosives, and search buildings, boats, and other locations. The bomb squad is headed up by squad leader Sgt. Mike DiGiovanni. Honor Guard The Sheriff s Office Bomb Squad The Honor Guard is a specially trained group of Sheriff s Office employees who formally represent the Office during services and ceremonies by presenting the colors, or flags, usually at the beginning of the event. The primary objective for the Honor Guard is to provide honor, respect and dignity at the events where they offer their services. Officers in the Honor Guard escort the colors armed with rifles or shotguns to symbolize the flags are always protected. At funerals, the Sheriff s Office Honor Guard Honor Guard performs other special functions, including the 21-gun salute, casket watch, flag folding, flag presentation and the playing of Taps. The Sheriff s Office Honor Guard also offers the services of bagpipers. The Honor Guard is led by Deputy Andrew Leird. The members of the Honor Guard serve with no extra monetary compensation. Media Relations Division The Media Relations Division is a diverse division which includes the office of Public Information and Media Relations, the Juvenile Diversion Programs Unit, and the Sheriff s Animal Farm. The director serves as the agency s public information officer Director Becky Herrin and media relations liaison, designs and maintains the agency s web site, manages social media and publishes internal and external newsletters, brochures and other publications. Juvenile Programs Unit The goal of the Juvenile Programs Unit is to help prevent young people, arrested for relatively minor offenses, from engaging in further delinquent behavior. They also help to prevent youthful offenders from becoming adult offenders. The unit is headed up by Supervisor Sherwood Woody Hanford. The Juvenile Civil Citation program and Teen Court use restitution, community service, curfew, letters of apology and other methods to help re-direct youth in the program back onto the right path. The Intensive Delinquency Diversion Program (IDDS) is a longer-term program for more serious offenders. It targets education, job placement, youth and family counseling along with substance abuse and mental health counseling in its efforts to keep youth from committing further offenses. Teen Court is funded through Monroe County from fees attached to court cases. The Civil Citation program and IDDS are funded through a Department of Juvenile Justice contract 33 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
positive factor in their lives. The farm began as a haven for homeless animals and to date, most of the animals on the farm come from the SPCA, or from owners who can no longer care for their animals. Veterinarian services are primarily contributed by Dr. Doug Mader of the Marathon Veterinary Hospital. He regularly checks on the animals, administering medical care, vaccinations and other necessary services. The Juvenile Programs Unit providing 35 slots for juvenile offenders overseen by three highly trained case workers. It also receives money from a fees attached to court cases. Sheriff s Office Animal Farm The Sheriff s Office Animal Farm is a facility housing approximately 250 animals of all types - from common barnyard animals to exotic birds and species from the tropical rainforest. It is located underneath the main detention center on Stock Island. It is open to the public twice a month - on the second and fourth Sundays from 1-3 p.m. It affords Monroe County families the opportunity to see and interact with animals in a family-friendly atmosphere that is free of charge. Special group visits can also be scheduled. The farm is supported in large part by donations from visitors. This special place is a big hit with families and frequently sees visitors from local schools, nursing homes, and other programs such as the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA and local church groups. The farm and its operations are overseen by a paid employee - Jeanne Selander - who manages the animal farm, and oversees the maintenance of the detention center and Sheriff s Office headquarters grounds. The animals at the farm are cared for primarily by detention center inmates who benefit by learning to work closely with many creatures in need of the compassion and caring of a human being - an experience which cannot help but be a Res. Captain Ted Migala Reserve Division The mission of the Reserve Program is to support the operation of the Monroe County Sheriff s Office. The sheriff provides the reserve captain and reserve first lieutenant a position at all staff meetings for direct coordination with the rest of the office. Reserves contribute to the operation of all divisions within the Sheriff s Office. They are a functional part of the Honor Guard, Victim Advocates, Court Security, Aviation, Records, Special Investigations, HIDTA, the Dive Team, and Parking Enforcement. Sworn reserve deputies work road patrol both supplementing and covering shortages. Reserves can also be seen helping at special functions like New Year s Eve fireworks, the Pigeon Key Festival, the 7 Mile Bridge Run, 4th of July parades, and Fantasy Fest, just to name a few. The Reserve Command Staff consists of: Captain Ted Migala Lieutenant Robert Smith Lieutenant Don Prince Sergeant Danny Valdez Sergeant Paul Petek Sergeant Shane Suddreth The Reserve Division has 48 members that volunteered 13,271 hours in 2013 to the citizens of Monroe County. Farmer Jeanne Selander takes care of the farm, the animals and the grounds of the Sheriff s Headquarters complex. She also makes off-site trips to many schools and community events with her animals. Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 34 Reserve deputies work many different areas of the Sheriff s Office, including helping out with special work details, traffic enforcement and parking at special events. They meet many different people as they represent the Sheriff s Office at these events, including these two Buddhist monks during a Blessing of the Fleet ceremony.
Director Bill Martin, National HIDTA Assistance Center Lieutenant Colonel Tim Wagner Chief Joel Widell South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area The Monroe County Sheriff s Office is a major participant in the South Florida High Intensity Trafficking Area program. The office coordinates joint efforts, intelligence and resources in Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward & Palm Beach counties. HIDTA s goal is to disrupt illegal narcotics and money laundering organizations by working in joint partnerships with numerous law enforcement agencies including the IRS, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Coast Guard, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, US Secret Service, FBI, and Key West Police Department. These partnerships are vital as the criminal element travels across jurisdictional boundaries. Many drug trafficking organizations are also organizing human trafficking, money laundering, identity theft and combining multiple criminal enterprises to make their operations more profitable. Monroe HIDTA The Monroe HIDTA group is overseen by Captain Don Hiller, and members consist of Lt. Nancy Alvarez, Detective Mark Jones, Investigative Analysts Rachel Shelar and Shannon Weiner. Monroe HIDTA also serves as the fiscal fiduciary agent for the South Florida HIDTA and the Puerto-Rico-Virgin Islands HIDTA groups. National HIDTA Assistance Center The National HIDTA Assistance Center (NHAC) is located in Miami. Its mission is different from a traditional HIDTA. NHAC works with the office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to provide administrative assistance, financial controls, event coordination, media support and training to all 32 HIDTAs. Specifically, NHAC s 17 Monroe County Sheriff s Office employees and three contractors provide financial services to assist ONDCP in the administration of the HIDTA grant program. SFLHIDTA Intelligence Center (SFLHIC) The South Florida HIDTA Intelligence Center (SFLHIC) is a multi-agency investigative support center providing analytical assistance through specialized intelligence for law enforcement agencies in South Florida. The SFLHIC is located in Miramar, Florida in Broward County. The SFLHIC provides actionable intelligence though target research, organization analysis and development. Direct case support is available to state local, and federal law enforcement agencies in Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties. 35 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
The Sheriff s Office Bureau of Administration is responsible for all support services within the Sheriff s Office. It is headed up by Bureau Chief Mike Rice, who is a member of the Sheriff s command staff and is the sheriff s main advisor when it comes to the administrative functions of the Bureau Chief Mike Rice Sheriff s Office. The bureau includes the Finance Division, Judicial Services/Central Records/Warrants, Information Systems Division, Property and Evidence Division, Human Resources Division, Emergency Communications Division, Risk Management, and Grants Administration. Executive Director Lisa Knowles Finance Division The function of the Finance Division is to account for and manage the fiscal resources of the agency. The staff reconciles and balances all accounts, prepares a complete set of financial statements for all funds, prepares the annual budget and ensures the money received from grants and federal agencies are spent in accordance with their specific requirements. The division is responsible for maintaining records for one general operating fund, 11 special revenue funds and three agency funds. Other functions include calculating and disbursing checks to employees for payroll, as well as disbursing checks to vendors for supplies and services. All expenditures are reviewed monthly for compliance with the appropriate budget. Finance is proud to report for the eleventh consecutive year the Mon- Monroe County Sheriff's Office Public Safety Budget Comparison 45,000,000 40,000,000 35,000,000 30,000,000 25,000,000 20,000,000 15,000,000 10,000,000 5,000,000 - Law Enforcement Corrections Court Security TOTALS 9/30/2007 26,153,871 17,282,460 1,442,451 44,878,782 9/30/2008 23,118,288 16,579,798 1,384,901 41,082,987 9/30/2009 23,138,591 17,227,963 1,292,895 41,659,450 9/30/2010 22,815,439 16,796,013 1,262,799 40,874,251 9/30/2011 23,100,474 17,233,852 1,341,994 41,676,320 9/30/2012 22,973,398 17,049,711 1,335,952 41,359,061 9/30/2013 23,299,449 17,732,039 1,424,946 42,456,434 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 36
roe County Sheriff s Office received a perfect audit for fiscal year 2013. Given the agency had to account for approximately $71 million of budgeted expenses, this is quite an accomplishment! $1,800,000.00 $1,600,000.00 $1,400,000.00 $1,200,000.00 $1,000,000.00 $800,000.00 $600,000.00 $400,000.00 $200,000.00 $0.00 500,643 Director Jamie Denton Monroe County Sheriff's Office Forfeiture Receipts 1,555,961 265,190 227,364 236,005 184,742 155,641 156,229 126,134 88,608 65,536 Federal 9/30/2007 9/30/2008 9/30/2009 9/30/2010 9/30/2011 9/30/2012 9/30/2013 The Sheriff s Office Finance Division Judicial Services / Central Records / Warrants Division This division provides information to the public though it s Central Records Unit, while the Warrants Unit ensures warrants are properly entered/scanned into law enforcement databases then updated as law enforcement or court action is taken. Central Records Unit Under the direction of Supervisor Heather Bennett, Central Records is responsible for ensuring all offense reports have been completed and all associated paperwork digitally scanned. This unit also processes sealed and expunged records, performs monthly audits to ensure FCIC/NCIC records are accurate and updated as necessary. A Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) clerk in this unit provides FDLE with crime statistics for Monroe County. Central Records assists the public with records requests ranging from accident reports, offense reports or arrest reports. The unit continues to assist many offices in the Sheriff s Office with the goal of becoming paperless so documents may be provided in a digital format whenever possible. Having records in a digital format means record requests can be handled more quickly and reduces the cost of paper and postage. Warrants Unit Under the direction of Supervisor Tatyana Gordiyenko, the Warrants Unit is responsible for entry/scanning of all warrants and injunctions into the sheriff s centralized database and the National 109,509 77,66160,231 Crime Information Center (NCIC). Once entered into the database, warrants / injunctions are available anywhere to meet State agency needs. This also ensures warrants are available to be served at any of the three detention facilities county wide. Each warrants clerk is responsible for a specific task, including entry/scanning warrants, entry of injunctions, handling extraditions, conducting the FDLE audit to ensure warrant information entered into the database is accurate and doing an accurint search to locate subjects with active Monroe County warrants. Jail Records Unit Tiffany O Connell is the manager and second in command for the division. She directly oversees the Jail Records Unit. This unit works 24 hours a day and oversees all inmate records from the time of arrest to release from any of the three detention facilities. Inmate records include those from other agencies whose inmates are housed in Monroe County facilities, such as the U.S. Marshals Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. Jail Records is also striving to become paperless. All records are scanned into the centralized database at the time of arrest or hold, making them available county wide to meet agency needs. Jail Records scans sexual offender and convicted felon records / registrations to help other agencies better identify offenders. Information Systems Division Information Systems is charged with taking care of the computer and information technology needs of the Sheriff s Executive Director Jim Painter Office, including office computers, incar computers, system printers and all 37 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
system-related software. While the main office of Information Systems is in the headquarters building on Stock Island, the division is responsible for computer technology services county-wide. Two employees maintain officers in Marathon and in the Roth Building on Plantation Key. 250 200 2013 Budgeted Position Allocation 193 150 150 165 100 The Information Systems Division 50 55 Executive Director Donna Allen-Moore Human Resources Division The goal of the Human Resources Division (HRD) is to attract the most qualified applicants to the agency without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, disabilities or ethnic origin. In addition, the division is responsible for ensuring the Sheriff s Office is in compliance with all federal and state employment related laws, including Equal Employment Opportunity, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and many other applicable laws. The Monroe County Sheriff s Office is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Human Resources is responsible for coordinating the 0 Deputies Corrections Support HIDTA Staff agency s promotional process, managing the agency s random drug testing, annual physicals, Florida Department Law Enforcement (FDLE) registrations and resignations, personnel and payroll changes, and administering all optional/supplemental benefits programs to all employees. The division communicates all HRD policies to employees; provides employees with a formal process for grievance resolution; works with commanders, directors and supervisors to create a high performing and diverse workforce; and develops staff excellence through training and consultation with 18% 16% 14% 17.00% 16.32% 2013 Employee Turnover 14.54% 12.80% 12% 10% 10.58% 11.20% 9.62% 8% 6% 4% 2% The Human Resources Division visits many area schools and attends community events to talk about employment with the Sheriff s Office. Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 38 0% 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
employees, to encourage growth and opportunity and promote an overall positive work environment for all employees. 250 200 150 100 50 0 230 131 84 0-5 Years 6-10 Years 11-15 Years 2013 - Years of Service Emergency Communications Division Emergency Communications is centrally located in Marathon at the Monroe County Public Works yard. The department provides professional Director Laura White and high-quality communications via the MCSO 800 MHz radio system to approximately 32 agencies and 1,600 users. This allows for interagency cooperation and communications throughout the county. UHF paging services for fire/rescue is provided and maintained, as well as cellular phone services for county staff. Traffic radar for most county and state law enforcement agencies in Monroe and south Miami-Dade counties are certified through the department on a biannual basis. The 911 answering equipment is also purchased and maintained through the Emergency Communications department. The 911 address database is kept up to date, and caller information verified with the Sheriff s Office and Key West Police communications and vendors for accuracy. A complete replacement of the radio and 911 systems is in process, with implementation expected in fiscal year 2015. Focusing on safety, Emergency Communications strives for excellence. 65 16-20 Years 30 21-25 Years 24 26+ Years Property and Evidence Division The Property and Evidence Division consists of four employees. The headquarters for the division is at 500 Whitehead Street in Key West. We have satellite offices at the Marathon substation and Plantation Key substation. Director Diana O Dell The Key West office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Marathon Office is open Tuesday and Thursday. The Plantation Key Office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We also have overnight property lockers throughout the Keys. The major responsibilities of the Property and Evidence Division are to receive all incoming property and evidence, to fully document it, to store it systematically, to preserve it in the condition in which it is received, to maintain it securely, to lawfully release or dispose of it, and to maintain a complete chain of custody. In addition to handling property and evidence from the Sheriff s Office, we accept items from other law enforcement agencies throughout the Keys such as the Florida Highway Patrol, State Attorney s Office, the Key Colony Beach Police Department and any other law enforcement agencies that need to utilize our facilities. In 2013, the division received 8,294 items and destroyed 4,107 items. They had a total of 24,634 items in custody for the year. This year all members took turns becoming certified in property and evidence handling through the International Association for Property and Evidence, a non-profit organization founded to help establish recommended standards for all property and evidence departments. They provide education and training pertaining to all aspects of the handling, storage, maintenance and disposal of law enforcement held property and evidence. The division also was trained by the Property and Evidence Association of Florida in how to standardize evidence room management. 39 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
The Bureau of Corrections consists of three jail facilities the Key West detention center, housing up to 596 inmates; the Marathon detention center, housing up to 52 inmates; and the Plantation Key detention center, housing up to 47 inmates. The total daily average inmate population in 2013 was 521 inmates in all three facilities. Chief Tommy Taylor The overall mission of the corrections bureau is to provide for custody, control, care, and treatment of incarcerated inmates. The facility also offers a variety of programs to inmates who wish to make a positive change in their lives, including educational, work related and rehabilitative programs. These programs are aimed at changing behaviors so when an inmate is released, he or she has a chance at becoming a productive, Captain Tim Age contributing member of society. Since October 2000, the Bureau of Corrections has successfully passed five state accreditation inspections by meeting all 250 standards set forth by the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission (FCAC). The bureau is proud of its ability to meet the difficult and exacting standards required to be a professionally accredited detention bureau in the state of 8,000 7,000 6,000 Detention Center Bookings 7,500 7,230 6,328 6,118 5,798 6,456 6,101 The main control room at the Lower Keys Detention Center monitors cameras throughout the facility, operates doors and tracks inmates and officers movements. It is a demanding job requiring the ability to multi-task. Florida. The corrections bureau provides processing and detention services for all law enforcement agencies in Monroe County. In 2013, 5,509 arrestees were booked through the three jail facilities. Processing an inmate involves intake, medical screening, fingerprinting, photographing, and classification of each person. Technology plays a key role, particularly through video-imaging and electronic or inkless fingerprinting. The automated fingerprint identification system called Live Scan, offers real time positive identification on all arrestees. The facilities also use facial recognition technology which has been successful at identifying new in- 5,509 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Major Tommy Taylor during one of his frequent and extremely thorough facility inspections. Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 40
$3,000,000.00 Income from Contract Inmates $2,500,000.00 $2,593,755 $2,707,768 $2,522,511 $2,000,000.00 $1,842,376 $1,500,000.00 $1,000,000.00 $500,000.00 $0.00 $1,639,262 $843,044 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 takes giving false information. Monroe County detention facilities utilize the direct supervision model. This style of management uses correction deputies working directly within inmate living areas. The units and dorms house from 54 to 95 inmates each. The absence of barriers such as bars, steel doors and catwalks typically found in an old style jail allows deputies to control all areas in the jail including passageways and secure rooms. In this way, inmates activities and behavior are in direct control of correction deputies. In a continuing effort to save the taxpayers money, the Sheriff s Office leases unused bed space in the main detention facility to federal agencies such as the U.S. Marshals Service at a cost of $90 per day per inmate and to Immigration and Naturalization Service and U.S. Border Patrol at a cost of $87 per day per inmate. Money received from these contract beds goes into the Monroe County general fund to offset detention Bureau of Corrections cleaning up on College Road, Stock Island near the botanical gardens. The Bureau of Corrections participated in many community service projects throughout the county in 2013. operating costs. The agency collected $2,522,511 from contract beds during 2013. Incarceration should never be a free ride and the Sheriff s Office is always looking for ways to offset the cost to taxpayers of operating the detention facilities. Total jail related fees collected from inmates for 2013 were $264,886. Fees charged in our facilities include: a $20 booking fee, an inmate subsistence fee of $1 per day per inmate, the inmate commissary which sells extra items to inmates, indigent packs, mattress rentals, check writing fees, reading glasses, legal services and some medical services. The Corrections Bureau is also charged with transporting inmates into and out of the county, to and from court and to other required activities. The Jail Transportation Unit transported 8,889 inmates in 2013. Community Service Members of the Corrections Bureau participated in numerous community events throughout the year such as providing care packages to the homeless, assisting MARC House with their annual Christmas tree sale, Relay for Life fund-raising activities, Soldier Ride, Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run and joining in the Children s Day and National Night Out events throughout the Keys. An annual project is the collection of bikes for kids at Christmas. Inmate Programs Division The Inmate Programs and Services Division handles the daily needs of inmates including mail, laundry, accounting, commissary, religious and educational issues. Multiple volunteer programs donated over 1,500 hours Director Keena Allen in 2013 to assist in this division. A part-time facility chaplain is on staff to council the religious needs of inmates. Jail In-House Program The Jail In-House Program (JIP) provides substance abuse services for inmates. These services include assessment and treatment planning, individual and group counseling services, addiction and co-occurring education, relapse and recidivism prevention planning, employment and financial skills, trauma informed services, transition/discharge preparation and continued recovery planning. Recidivism rates for 2013 are based on those inmates who completed treatment 41 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
and were rearrested during 2013. Only 14% of men and 11% of women were rearrested after participating in the program. Behavior Modification Program The Behavior Modification program continues to help inmates modify their behavior and develop skills to assist their transition back into society. This program offers classes in life skills, anger management and parenting for both male and female inmates. A class is also offered for male batterers. Costs for this program are paid from inmate welfare funds, not by taxpayers. Inmate Work Release Program The Work Release program allows selected, low risk offenders to work in the community while completing the terms of their sentence. The program gives the offender a marketable trade or skill which reduces recidivism. The offender also has the opportunity to pay restitution for their crimes, support their families while incarcerated and experience a more positive transition back into the community. In conjunction, a basic bicycle maintenance course is offered. Used bicycles come from the Sheriff s Office Property Division. Inmates receive a certificate upon completion. Bikes that are repaired and refurbished are used by work release inmates to go to and from work and are also donated to community organizations. Trusty Work Program The Trusty Work program saves taxpayers significant money by assigning inmates to work details with County Public Works, municipalities and other public service agencies in Monroe County. The Trusty Work program saved taxpayers an estimated $534,860 in labor costs with hours figured at minimum wage. Trusties clean Sheriff s Office buildings, work in the main Detention Center kitchen preparing inmate meals, maintain all Sheriff s Office landscaping, work at the Sheriff s Animal Farm and perform many similar duties for Monroe County government buildings, public parks and roadways. The Classification Unit This unit determines custody and housing assignments for all inmates. It also processes court information and release documentation. Inmates are screened closely for suitability for work inside and outside the facility. Their talents are taken into consideration for work assignments. Special attention is required for high-profile inmates in need of special housing and other special care The computerized Smart Cop Jail Management System helps by identifying violent felons, escape risks, sexual predators and inmates who are required, for various reasons, to submit DNA samples to the state of Florida. Jail Health Services Armor Correctional Health Services handles inmate medical care under the direction of a medical health administrator, including medical, dental, and psychiatric services. Inmates are charged a fee for services but no inmate can be denied medical care due to the inability to pay. Jail Food Services Contract provider Aramark Correctional Services, provides three meals a day to inmates, serving over 615,500 meals in 2013. The commissary department has a TouchPay kiosk installed in the Key West jail lobby for self-release/bail payments and deposits to an inmate s commissary account. TouchPay via Aramark, is an efficient and convenient system for families and friends because it accepts cash, credit card or debit card payments in person, over the internet or over the phone. Employee Development The Sheriff s Office has a master deputy program to recognize deputies with exceptional work history and performance. Criteria includes, but is not limited to, three consecutive annual above standard performance ratings, 98% attendance in the past three years, at least 30 semester hours of college level education, and a minimum of 20 hours annual community service. Currently seven deputies hold this honor. This year the Corrections Academy, sponsored by MCSO, was proud to have all 19 local class members graduate and pass the state exam. Through a state grant, a CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) training program has been established to provide specialized training in mental health related issues. Individuals completing the training are specifically designated to address mental health crisis situations and learn to utilize community resources when dealing with persons exhibiting signs of a mental health crisis as an alternative to incarceration. Over 180 law enforcement officers in Monroe County and the City of Key West have taken advantage of this training. Corrections deputies participate in many community events, including ringing a bell for the Salvation Army at Christmas and unloading pumpkins at Halloween for the MARC House. Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 42
Employees of the Year - 2013 The people chosen to be Employees of the Year have shown they stand out from the rest in both their commitment to our agency and to our community, said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. The Employees of the Year are chosen from all of those who received one of the Sheriff s Employee of the Quarter awards throughout the past year. The yearly award winners received a special plaque from the sheriff in recognition of their exemplary work, and a badge to wear on their uniforms with the designation Officer [or Employee] of the Year. In addition, they each receive a check for $500 which, in 2013, was donated by Centennial Bank, and $1,000 from the Sheriff s Office. The Cadet of the Year receives $100 donated by Centennial Bank, with a matching amount from the Sheriff s Office. The Cormier Memorial Award, given to the Sheriff s Office Sworn Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, is named for Deputy David Cormier, a Sheriff s Reserve Officer killed in the line of duty in a traffic accident in November of 1989. Members of the Cormier family attend the ceremony each year in memory of their loved one who gave his life in service to the community. This year s recipients are pictured with Majors Tommy Taylor and Lou Caputo. In the photo, left to right: Major Taylor, Support employee Maintenance Supervisor Dempsey Ballard, Reserve Deputy Rosary Ponce (Ponce is now a certified road patrol deputy with MCSO), Corrections / Detention Deputy Angelina Lubin (Lubin is now a certified road patrol deputy with MCSO), Explorer Post Lieutenant Thomas Mirabella, Law Enforcement Detective Nicholis Whiteman and Major Caputo. Yearly Award Sponsor: 43 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
Employees of the Quarter - 2013 First Quarter Awards Left to right: Victim Advocate Debbie Shepherd, Sheriff Rick Ramsay, Detention Deputy Adelaide Killen and Explorer Kyle Cassidy. Not pictured: Deputy Vaughn O Keefe. Second Quarter Awards Left to right: Detective Nicholis Whiteman, Juvenile Programs Supervisor Sherwood Woody Hanford, Explorer Kayle Perez and Detention Deputy Kenson Jean Baptiste. Third Quarter Awards Left to right: Victim Advocate Carol Albury-Johnson, Detention Sergeant Mark Lindback, Traffic Sergeant Kevin Mimosa, Sheriff Rick Ramsay, Reserve Deputy Dan Zeig and Explorer Thomas Mirabella. Fourth Quarter Awards Left to right, Sheriff Rick Ramsay, Crime Scene Detective John Underwood, Detention Deputy Angelina Lubin, Reserve Deputy Rosary Ponce, Maintenance Supervisor Dempsey Ballard and Explorer Dianko Torres. 2013 Sheriff s Medal Awards 2013 Distinguished Service Awards The Sheriff s Medal is awarded to those members of the office who are involved in an incident where a meritorious act is performed. Deputy Anthony O Dea Deputy Garrett Bragg Deputy Patricia Garcia Deputy Thomas Amador Deputy Wilfredo Guerra Deputy David Campbell The Distinguished Service award is presented at the sole discretion of the Sheriff and is given in recognition of outstanding service by a member of the office. Deputy Christian Kellenberger Deputy Nancy Torrijos-Paskiewicz Deputy Wilfredo Guerra Captain Penny Phelps Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 44
2013 Years of Service Awards 5 years Kenson Baptiste Brooks Bateman Heather Bennett Leon Bourcier Jeanne Cajuste David Campbell Jose Costoya William Daniels Donniece Deihl Martin Digrius David Fernandez Marc Floyd Sally Francisco Thomas Fricke Clarice Garcia Pedro Garcia Quincy Joseph Brett Kip Matthew Krol Dara Lawrence Juan Martin-Reyes Charles Miles James O Neill Shantal Pettry Jon Riggs Robert Russo Barney Sajdak Ashley Sheriff Christopher Smith Julia Todd William Schlegelmilch Abraham Vallejo Tomas Venegas Alex Vorontsoff Natalka Whitehouse Nicholis Whiteman Ardie Woodward Winston Word 10 years Carol Albury-Johnson David Amoako Ester Anderson Edward Askins Alan Bouchard Debra Brown Evan Calhoun Adam Careaga Jeff Chandler Alejandro Dorta James Fitzgerald Susan Haberle Jennifer Hughes Raymond Jodlowski Gregg Johnson Jeanetta Joseph Rhonda Kahle Jason Keith Vicki Lockwood Dahlgren Marks Haydee Martinez Karen McCloud Elysia Reis Kelby Thomas Thomas Walker Geraldine Wallace 15 years Timothy Age Jonathan Crane Luis Gonzalez Matthew Dowling Beverly Harper Andrew Leird Michael Rice Debra Ritchason Sheila Seago Charles Slebodnick 20 years Candace Busald Peggy Carey Michael Grattan Linda Kohout John McGee Debra Tobin Thomas Tobin Eugene Thompson Nancy Uecker 25 years Jake Brady Peggy Bryan Kevin Burgohy Donald Catala David Chavka Manuel Cuervo Rebecca Herrin Matthew Koval 30 years Lee Ann Holroyd 2013 Retirements 2013 Life Saving Award Deputy Steven Barney Sergeant Harold Boyden Sergeant Kevin Burgohy Senior Analyst/Project Coord. James Campbell Sergeant James Keith Finance Assistant Terry Markham Deputy Suzanne Morgan Sergeant Bonnie Powell Lieutenant Ronald Roberts Sergeant Charles Visco Sergeant Edna Woodberry Deputy David Campbell 45 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
Quarterly Award Sponsors Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 46
Quarterly Award Sponsors 47 Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013
Important Numbers: In an Emergency, Dial 911 ww.keysso.net To report a non-emergency incident call Sheriff s Office Communications: (305)289-2351 To Contact the Sheriff s Office: Sheriff s Administrative Headquarters...(305) 296-2424 Central Records Division...(305) 292-7050 Community Relations Division...(305) 292-7116 Human Resources Division...(305) 292-7044 Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys....1-800-346-TIPS Patrol Divisions: Freeman Substation, Cudjoe Key...(305) 745-3184 Marathon Substation...(305) 289-2430 Islamorada Substation...(305) 664-6480 The Roth Building, Plantation Key...(305) 853-3211 Special Operations...(305) 289-2410 Detention Centers Main Detention Center, Stock Island...(305) 293-7300 Marathon Detention Center...(305) 289-2420 Plantation Key Detention Center...(305) 853-3266 Follow us on Facebook: MCSO - Florida Keys Follow us on Twitter: MCSOnews Visit our Blog: floridakeyssheriff.blogspot.com Our Website is: www.keysso.net Monroe County Sheriff s Office - Annual Report 2013 48
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Community Partners serving Monroe County