Key West Police Department Recruiting

10/07/2026

Ready to do this and ALMOST on time. Thus, pushups in our Class A’s. Nothing wrong with legitimate time constraints but you have to tell me! Looking good guys. So proud of you!

10/07/2026

Rotary Reads Literacy Day! Our The Rotary Club of Key West Rotarians spent time with students at HOB, Poinciana Elementary School - Key West, and Gerald Adams Elementary.

Key West Police Department Chief Sean Brandenburg spent his time with our neighbors, Horace O'Bryant School Activities & Events.

A love of reading starts early and sometimes, it begins with something as simple as sitting down and reading together.

Thank you to our Rotarians who volunteered and to each school for welcoming us.

Monroe County School District

10/07/2026

Meet Property and Evidence Technician Zoe Elwell!

We have a lot to celebrate with Zoe. Not only is she marking five years with the Key West Police Department, but she was also recently honored as our Civilian of the 1st Half. Congratulations, Zoe!

Zoe joined Key West Police Department in May 2021. She grew up in England and spent much of her childhood moving with her family to different Air Force bases. She attended Department of Defense schools, including those at Aviano Air Base in Italy and Homestead Air Force Base in Florida.

Continuing her family’s tradition of military service, Zoe joined the Army National Guard in Michigan at just 19 years old.

Family is an important part of Zoe’s life. She has two children, Drew and Tristan; a Cocker Spaniel named Pepper; and a beautiful German Shepherd “grand-dog” named Mishka. In her free time, Zoe enjoys gardening, decorating, riding bikes, swimming, cooking, and spending time with the people she loves. She also loves to sing and fondly remembers her days performing in a jazz band!

Zoe and her significant other, Michael, a Key West resident of 22 years, have built a happy and fulfilling life together here in the Keys.

Please join us in congratulating Zoe on five years of dedicated service and on being named Civilian of the 1st Half! We’re proud to have her as part of the KWPD family.

10/07/2026

Congratulations to Key West Police Department Ofc. Esteban Andrade on being awarded Officer of the 1st Half!

Some fun facts about him from The Keys Weekly Newspapers: Officer Estaban Andrade, who works Bravo Night Patrol, says is the best shift in the department. Andrade has been with the KWPD since 2021. When he’s not protecting and serving the people of Key West, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and his teenage kids (when they let him).

What’s the dumbest question someone has asked you while on duty?

“Can you pretend to arrest me for my social media?”

Any brushes with death?

Thankfully, I have not had many; what a weird question. But mine was a tandem skydiving incident for my 40th birthday. The chute did not open properly, and I could hear, and feel, the instructor struggling. Thankfully the instructor was able to rectify the issue, although he did say he was “a second away from cutting the main and going to the reserve,” something he said he’d never done in all his years and was dreading. He was shaking and sweating profusely when we landed.

What’s something you absolutely refuse to learn how to do?

Social media.

How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here?

We have been in the Keys since December 2014. We’ve lived all over the Lower Keys, including Sunshine Key, Big Pine Key and then we moved to Key West in 2018. The brutal cold of Pennsylvania brought our family here.

What’s your funniest family vacation story?

When I was a kid, we went to my mom’s great aunt’s ranch, where they had horses. My older brother and I decided to go for a ride with our father, each on our own horse. Well, my brother didn’t tighten his saddle properly (despite telling our dad that he knew how to do it). When the saddle started sliding, he wound up riding on one side of the horse, then underneath the horse. I still don’t know how he managed to hang on. Our father was able to get the horse to stop.

If you had a time machine, would you travel to the future or to the past?

I’d travel to the future to get the Powerball numbers, duh.

By: JEN ALEXANDER
www.keysweekly.com

10/07/2026

Congratulations to Lt. JT Conaty and Officer Jesse Torrecillas on 10 years of dedicated service with the Key West Police Department!

Your commitment, hard work, and contributions to the department and our community are truly appreciated and do not go unnoticed. Thank you both for all you bring to the team each and every day.

Here’s to this incredible milestone and at least another 10 years! Congratulations!

10/07/2026

Tonight is the night! The College of the Florida Keys Police Academy graduation.

Months of training, sacrifice, blood, sweat, tears, and countless hours of hard work have all led to this moment.

Five MCSO - Florida Keys recruits, five Key West Police Department recruits, and five MCSO Corrections Crossovers will stand together as the graduating members of Basic Law Enforcement Class #98 and Crossover Class #38.

The long days, early mornings, late nights, challenges, and sacrifices have all been worth it. Tonight, they cross the finish line and begin the next chapter of their careers in law enforcement.

Congratulations to Basic Law Enforcement Class #98 and Crossover Class #38. You earned this moment!

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

When Seconds Count. We honor these Key West Police Department Officers with a lifesaving award:

Officers Daniel Wright, Randolph Ham, Michal Brablc, Jeremey Tellier and Sgt. Cynthia Williams were recognized for helping to save a man experiencing an opioid overdose.

Officer Corey Vanderhoof saved a man and his dog from drowning.

Their actions reflect what service looks like when it matters most.

Congratulations, and thank you for serving Key West.

10/06/2026

Dr. Jack Norris, one of our fantastic Mounted unit volunteers, made a special visit to one of our retirees!

From Ms. Katie Norris: Officer Rey is enjoying his retirement!! My dad was so happy to see him again!!

📷 Ms. Katie

10/06/2026

Do you know that ALL of our schools have a Resource Officer on site every single day? Our Officers are such a valuable resource and sometimes they literally save lives.

From Monroe County School District: We were well represented at the recent Lifesaver Ceremony hosted by the Key West Police Department, where several individuals were recognized by Chief Sean Brandenburg and City of Key West -- Government Mayor Sam Kauffman for their heroic actions and quick thinking in emergency situations.

Among those honored were Gerald Adams Elementary School Resource Officer Jenny Young and 5th-grade student Shelby Frederick, who received a Lifesaver Award for their response when a student began choking on a piece of candy. Shelby immediately recognized that her friend was in distress and quickly alerted Officer Young. Officer Young responded without hesitation, performing the Heimlich maneuver and successfully dislodging the candy. Their swift actions helped save a life.

Also recognized was Poinciana Elementary School - Key West Resource Officer Kenny Beerbower for his role in responding to a medical emergency involving a young student who collapsed on the field. Officer Beerbower was part of a team effort that included Nurse Dana Portillo and other Poinciana staff members, who provided lifesaving measures until emergency medical services arrived.

These moments serve as powerful reminders of the importance of training, teamwork, and remaining calm under pressure. We are proud of all those who were recognized, as well as the many individuals who worked together behind the scenes to help save lives and support students in times of need.