Sheriff's Report:

Administrative Changes, Budget Hearings

Due to the impending retirement of our second-in-command at the Sheriff's Office, Colonel Bill McDonald, there have been some administrative changes made at the Sheriff's Office recently.

I'm pleased to announce that Rick Ramsay, formerly Captain of the Sector One Freeman Substation on Cudjoe Key, has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and will replace Colonel McDonald when he leaves at the end of the year.

Taking his place as the Captain in Sector One is Chad Scibilia, who was the Lieutenant of the Special Investigations Division, where he supervised detectives working general cases throughout the Keys, as well as supervising our Narcotics Investigators, Crimes Against Women and Children's Unit and our Homicide Investigation Squad.

Colonel Bill McDonald	Lt. Colonel Rick Ramsay

Colonel McDonald leaves us after 21 years with the Sheriff’s Office. Hired by Sheriff William “Billy” Freeman in 1982 as a deputy, Colonel McDonald was promoted to sergeant in January of 1985 and detective sergeant in November of the same year. He became the Lieutenant at the Marathon Substation in 1986, and a Captain at Marathon in 1989. He was appointed to the position of Colonel in January of 1990.

Taking his place in January, and temporarily holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel until then, is Rick Ramsay. Lt. Colonel Ramsay was hired in 1987 as a deputy. He became a sergeant in 1991, then a detective sergeant in 1998. He was promoted to lieutenant in January of 2000, then Captain of Operations in the Bureau of Corrections in 2001. He held that position for a year before transferring to Captain of the Cudjoe Substation in January of 2002.

Taking over as Captain of the Cudjoe Substation is Chad Scibilia, who is transferring from a position of Lieutenant of the Special Investigations Division. Captain Scibilia was hired as a Corrections Officer in November of 1985. He transferred to road patrol as a deputy in 1987, becoming a sergeant in 1989. In 1999, he was promoted to Lieutenant at the Marathon Substation. He transferred to the Special Investigations Division as Lieutenant in February of 2001.

“I’m sorry to see Bill leave the agency but I know he’s looking forward to his retirement,” said Sheriff Rick Roth. “He’s been with the Sheriff’s Office for a long time and has been with me as my second in command since I became Sheriff. I’m looking forward to working with Lt. Colonel Rick Ramsay. He’s young, dynamic and will be a tremendous asset to the agency as Colonel.”

Budget Hearings coming in September

The County Commission will be holding three budget hearings in September. I have asked for a modest 2.4% raise for our employees this year. It is possible that this amount could be reduced if the County Commission decides to use some of the money earmarked for the raise to keep the cost of health insurance benefits lower, another issue that is important to all of us here at the Sheriff's Office.

We already have a high employee turnover, and have trouble competing with other South Florida law enforcement agencies when it comes to rates of pay and benefit packages. Denying our employees this modest raise could make an already difficult situation even more so.

These issues, and other issues important to the budget process will be decided at the three hearings:

• September 3rd, Harvey Government Center, 5 p.m.

• September 10th, Key Largo Library, 5 p.m.

• September 17th, Marathon Government Center, 5 p.m.

The Sheriff's Office would appreciate any support you can give us at these meetings, or with the County Commissioner that represents your area of the Keys.

Take care, and stay safe.

   Sheriff, Monroe County

General News

Patrol and Operations

Sector 7: National Night Out a success, golf carts, boat motor thefts

By Captain Jennifer Bell-Thomson, Commander Sector 7

Sheriff’s Office members and our Upper Keys Neighborhood Crime Watch groups came together for a very successful National Night Out event on August 5 at Key  Largo Community Park.  This event was intended to draw all our crime watch groups together, to provide educational materials about crime prevention and other services the sheriff’s office offers, and to encourage others to learn more about the effectiveness of neighborhood crime watch.  In all ways the event was extremely successful. We estimated a turnout of about 300 people.

There are so many people to thank for this outcome – not the least of which are our own Sergeants Don Fanelli and Lou Caputo who worked hard all day long in preparation for the event.  Deputy Sean Heffron was our master chef and he, along with Sgt. Fanelli churned out a constant stream of hamburgers and hot dogs until we ran out.  Their able assistants, Beth Kohl and Bethany Fanelli were invaluable to this effort.  Deputy Andrew Leird helped Sgt. Caputo with the kids games – also a big hit. 

Records Supervisor Peggy Bryan and Clerk Carol Johnson, Crime Scene Detective Bobby Haynes, Detective Sergeant Corey Bryan, and juvenile programs member Craig Johnson all were on hand to provide information to the public. 

All deputies and supervisors assigned to the Upper Keys worked that night (on their time off) to provide additional police coverage in neighborhoods while residents were at the park.  There presence went a long way to making people feel more comfortable leaving their neighborhoods in droves to attend the event. 

Key Largo and Tavernier Fire Departments provided heat relief in the form of sprays of water over the fields.  Kids and adults took advantage of this quick way to beat the heat.  Key Largo Fire also delivered the chairs and tables and helped take them away after the event. 

Our crime watch groups were such a great help.  They suffered our planning meetings and were always ready with suggestions for the event.  The side dishes and baked goods, and the very popular popcorn machine were all donated by crime watch groups.   And our thanks go out once again to Winn Dixie and Publix who never fail to come through for us.  Mike Deckert at Winn Dixie and Tom Moore of Publix are two very special, very community-minded individuals. 

We are charged up for next years’ event and look forward to having even more participation from the new crime watch groups we’ll sign up this year. 

Many people may not know that Florida statutes prohibit the use of golf carts on any state or local roadway.  The number of golf carts being used to traverse neighborhoods and the bike path seems to be growing throughout the Keys and, while they may be a convenient mode of transportation, they are also dangerous when used where vehicles also travel.

We’ve seen children using golf carts increasingly in neighborhoods.  Parents should recognize the danger this presents to their children.  There is no protection when a golf cart overturns, which happens frequently, even at the low speeds they travel, and there’s no protection when they are struck by other vehicles.   

Sheriff’s deputies in the Upper Keys will be closely monitoring the use of golf carts and educating people about the restrictions on their use.  But after warnings have been given, citations will be issued if a second violation is observed. 

We continue to struggle with boat and boat motor thefts throughout the Keys.  Please keep your eyes and ears open for suspicious vehicles, boats, or people in your neighborhood and don’t hesitate to call to have a deputy come check it out.  We’d much rather have it turn out to be nothing than to discover a crime after the fact.

Note: Last week, detectives in the upper Keys were successful in arrested three men who were stealing a boat and outboard motor. Click here for details of the arrests.
 

The City of Marathon and Sector 5: New deputies, Lobster season, Handicapped parking
By Lt. Larry Kelley, Commander, Marathon District

Welcome to our newest deputies, Alice Cervantes, Lester Greenwood and Gregg Johnson. Alice has already succeeded in graduated from our 12 week field training officer program and Lester and Gregg are well on their way to the same distinction.

Another Lobster Mini-season has come and gone. Sergeant Suzanne Morgan headed up a special enforcement program of sting operations for three nights. The Special Investigations Division and the Marathon Detective Unit supported the effort. Also, Deputies Willie Guerra, Derrick Paul and Harry Boyden worked “lobster duty” and between them made 13 arrests (NTA’s) and countless boat inspections and cooler checks.

Reserve Sergeant Dave Campbell has some new enforcement partners to help him with his mission to rid the city of inconsiderate drivers who park in disabled spaces. Reserve Deputies Ken Groat and Lynn Faircloth are now out there finding the scofflaws and tagging their cars. I have received countless thank-yous from community members and the Monroe County Council for Persons with Disabilities for their efforts. If you did not know it, all of the time spent by these exemplary deputies is volunteer time, including any court time they may incur. That is what I call true commitment to our community.