KEY WEST POLICE DEPARTMENT SPONSORS ACADEMY RECRUITS

From left, Officers Alyson Burns, Kristina Antonova and Sean Davis; Capt. Jason Castillo; Chief Sean Brandenburg; Capt. Bradley Lariz; Officers Corey Vanderhoof, Michael Beerbower and Lamar Roman at the 2023 graduation of the Basic Law Enforcement Class No. 87 at the College of the Florida Keys. CONTRIBUTED

The Key West Police Department is looking for motivated candidates who want to become police officers. The City of Key West will hire and sponsor several academy recruits in the upcoming session of the Basic Law Enforcement Police Academy at the College of the Florida Keys Institute of Criminal Justice.

These sponsorships are a rare opportunity to be hired for the Key West Police Department and earn a salary while working toward becoming a sworn officer. In addition, these academy recruits will not have to worry about tuition, uniforms, fees, books, or supplies; they are all paid for as part of the sponsorship.

Candidates who are selected as an academy recruit will be paid while attending the academy full-time. Upon successful completion and passing the state exam, the academy recruit will then become a certified police officer, with a starting salary of over $65,767 per year. Benefits include paid health and dental insurance, paid vacations, a take-home car program and a retirement plan.

Applicants must be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma or the equivalent (GED). They must be of good moral character and must not be convicted of a felony or a domestic violence related offense. They must possess a valid Florida’s driver’s license, have a responsible driving record, must not have been convicted of a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement, and cannot be dishonorably discharged from any of the Armed Forces of the United States. Candidates must be able to pass a Florida Department of Law Enforcement record check, medical examination, drug screening, background investigation, psychological test, voice stress test, table of adult basic education test, physical agility test, and the criminal justice basic abilities test. The Key West Police Department is an equal opportunity employer and will consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, handicap, marital status, religion, or any other legally protected category.  The academy will begin in the late spring of 2024, but the selection and testing process begins immediately. For more information, contact recruiting officer Danyle Gray at 305-809-1087 or recruiting@cityofkeywest-fl.gov