—I am authoring this letter in response to an article written by Steve Reid who unfairly misrepresented how the Longboat Key Police Department methodically works to protect its community and how we strive to provide first-class police services that everyone should expect and deserve. The safety of our town, its residents, business owners, and visitors remain the number one priority of the Longboat Key Police Department.
Our responsibility is to ensure that Longboat Key continues to be a safe place to live, work, and visit. There were comments made suggesting that increased police presence may translate into over-aggressive or unnecessary policing. I want to be very clear: high visibility patrols are not about aggressive enforcement. They are about prevention, reassurance, and accessibility. When officers are present and visible in the community, it sends a simple message; our community is protected and our police department is actively engaged in keeping it that way. Visible policing has long been recognized as one of the most effective ways to deter crime before it occurs. It allows officers to interact positively with residents and visitors, respond quickly to concerns, and maintain the sense of safety that makes Longboat Key such a special place.
Our officers are highly trained, polite, and professional public servants who understand the importance of respectful and reasonable policing. They exercise discretion and judgment in their daily duties, and our department places a strong emphasis on fairness and professionalism. In fact, our enforcement statistics reflect that philosophy. In 2025, Longboat Key police officers issued twice as many warnings as actual citations. This demonstrates our commitment to education, voluntary compliance, and reasonable enforcement rather than unnecessary penalties. I give our officers full discretion to make those decisions based on the circumstances they encounter. There are no quotas or numerical expectations placed on them, only the expectation that they address violations appropriately and professionally.
Questions were also raised about the size of our department and the investment in modern police technology. Our police department is made up of 12 officers, 1 detective, 4 sergeants, and 3 members of command staff who all serve this community with professionalism and pride. We are a 24/7 day a week operation who covers both land and water security. Maintaining a well-trained, properly equipped department is not an excess, it is a responsibility. Public safety agencies must keep pace with modern tools and technology to respond effectively to emergencies, communicate efficiently, and protect both our officers and the community. Investments in training, equipment, and technology are not about expansion or unnecessary spending; they are about ensuring that our residents benefit from officers who have the tools needed to perform their duties safely, efficiently, and professionally. These investments ultimately enhance our ability to prevent crime, respond quickly, and maintain the high quality of life our residents and visitors expect and deserve.
We are also committed to being visible and engaged beyond patrol. Our department regularly attends homeowners’ association meetings, and I personally attend all town commission meetings to stay connected with the community we serve. We believe in transparency, open communication, and being accessible to those we protect. As Chief, I have an open-door policy with anyone who’d like to talk about public safety on this island. We welcome community input, feedback, and engagement, as it strengthens our partnership and helps us better serve Longboat Key.
As part of our annual assessment, development and respect for community partnerships, the Town of Longboat Key sends out annual citizens surveys which allow us to gain input from our community and gauge our efforts. Over the past three years, the vast majority of our citizens have expressed they are satisfied or very satisfied with our police services, and this year specifically, a very small percentage expressed they were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied (2.1%). My goal would be to reduce that number.
Longboat Key remains a safe island because of a strong partnership between the police department and the community we serve. Our visible presence, proactive approach, and responsible use of resources are all part of that commitment. We will continue to serve this community with professionalism, fairness, and respect while doing everything possible to ensure Longboat Key remains one of the safest and most welcoming communities in Florida.
