They’re the first ones to the scene of an accident on the road or a health incident at home.
On water and land, the Florida Keys’ first responders are at the top of their game when called on to assist members of the public in a time of need.
The job of a first responder can bring long hours and work in the intense heat. They deal with people who are stressed or at their worst moment. A first responder’s job also carries the unknown over what kind of call will come in and when.
This Friday, Sept. 11, marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. More than 400 first responders lost their lives that morning as they rushed into a disastrous scene with the goal to save individuals. Thousands more who responded to the incident continue to struggle with mental and physical wounds.
This week, we honor their memory and show our appreciation to our local responders who serve the Keys communities. There are many things that make the Florida Keys a special place to live — a community of dedicated first responders is one of them.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Capt. Spenser Bryan followed in the footsteps of his father, retired MCSO Capt. Corey, and mother Peggy, who worked as a civilian at MCSO. “It’s kind of a family affair,” he said. In his 16th year with the sheriff’s office, serving the community and working in his hometown of Key Largo are among the best parts of the job for Bryan. He currently lives in Marathon with his wife and kids. Bryan said he was in eighth grade at the time of the 9/11 attacks. “I was walking into class and another student asked me if I heard what happened,” he said. “I didn’t really understand the impact at the time. But looking back now, it means a lot. It goes back to making the community safer; that aspect makes me want to keep the community safe.”
Her desire to serve and protect others led MCSO Capt. Lissette Quintero, of Marathon, into a law enforcement career. “I’ve always valued responsibility and helping people, and I wanted a career where I could make a meaningful difference in the community,” she said. The best part of the job for Quintero is knowing she has the opportunity to have a positive effect. “I also enjoy the variety of each day, and the sense of purpose that comes with the profession.” She said the events on 9/11, and seeing the courage and sacrifice the first responders gave that day, gave her a deeper appreciation for the responsibility that comes with protecting and serving others. “9/11 reminded me that law enforcement is more than a job — it is a commitment to service, courage and protecting others.”
MCSO Lt. Charlene Sprinkle always wanted to be in law enforcement. She can remember driving with her mom one day when she spotted a police officer writing a report in the parking lot. “I just said to myself, I either want to be a police officer or a nurse. Later in life, I grew fond of my dad who worked for MCSO. I started in high school as a cadet.” Sprinkle said the best part of the job is assisting members of the community long after a call. Sprinkle, who grew up in Marathon, said she was coming off the midnight shift on Sept. 11, 2001 when she remembered hearing the events on the radio. “I was new to road patrol at the time. I thought I was dreaming and thought they were talking about Pearl Harbor,” she said. “Then I woke up and realized, ‘no,’ they weren’t and immediately went to the TV. I think law enforcement-wise, it made us more aware of what to look for. See something, say something.”
MCSO detective Victor Morales, of Homestead, likes the fact every day is different. In his eighth year with MCSO, he said he wants to help the person who’s been taken advantage of by someone else. “Every day is something new,” he said. “You come to work and you never know what is going to happen.” Morales was very young on Sept. 11, 2001, but remembers learning about the events in school. He said it motivated him to be in law enforcement. “Just observing how the cops went inside to help people there. … At the end of the day when tragedies happen, they look for people in uniform to be that person to respond in a time of need.”
Key Largo’s Michael O’Connor has spent the past seven years as a reserve deputy and detective. He entered the profession to help people out in a time of need. “When you succeed in it, it’s a great feeling. When you don’t, it’s terribly frustrating.” A former pilot, O’Connor said he was in Raleigh, North Carolina on a layover during the Sept. 11 attacks. “We landed a couple hours before the attack happened.”
Deputy sheriff Andersen Harrill has spent the last eight years patrolling the roads and communities with MCSO. He said he wanted to be in a profession that was more spontaneous. “I wanted to wake up and have something new going on, and I wanted to have interactions with the community,” he said. Harrill said the best part of the job is working alongside his coworkers and being part of the squad. Harrill was 6 years old and in Germany at the time of the 9/11 attacks. “Everyone remembers where they were on that day,” he said. “I was at my mom’s friend’s (house).
MCSO detective Scott Costa said the best part of his job is the satisfaction of closing cases and bringing justice to crime victims. Costa, originally from Paramus, New Jersey, was a freshman in high school at the time of Sept. 11, 2001. “I was probably eight miles away from the World Trade Center,” he said. Costa said he worked with an ambulance corps beginning at the age of 16 before becoming a detective and working in the Keys.
Major crimes detective Amie Szymanski of Key Largo had her sights set on a law enforcement career from a young age. “I always wanted to do it,” she said. “My grandpa was a detective for 40 years in the homicide unit in Chicago.” In her seventh year with MCSO, she said the best part of the job is putting perpetrators in jail and bringing justice for victims. She was a sophomore in high school in Chicago at the time of the 9/11 attacks. She said the event motivated her decision to enter a law enforcement career even more to help people in a critical time of need.
Longtime deputy Nelson Sanchez of Key Largo said it was wrestling coach Dave Carpenter who propelled him into a law enforcement career. “He was like, ‘Are you in need of a job?’ I was like, ‘yeah.’” He said the best part of his job as a marine deputy is being the one to make a difference in somebody’s life. Sanchez said he was done with his night shift and in bed resting at the time of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. “I was woken up by the night sergeant who said to be on standby. We all were put on standby because we didn’t know what was going to happen next. I think it certainly changed things because you didn’t know who else to trust any more. If they went through that drastic of measures to hijack planes, we didn’t know what was next, what they were capable of, and who was the next target.”
Islamorada Fire Rescue’s Eric Rodriguez said he got into the profession after he lost his business in 2023. “I wanted to do something that was a change of pace and better for my future. It’s never too late to start.” From Miami Lakes, the firefighter and EMT of seven months said he enjoys the camaraderie within the department and the support from the community. He said he was a senior in high school at the time of the 9/11 attacks. “I was in my mom’s office getting a pass because I was late to class (my mom worked at school). I informed my class about 9/11 when I walked in late. The teacher pulled out the TVs so we could watch.”
A firefighter and paramedic, Daniel Self has been with the Islamorada Fire Rescue for nine years. “I had family friends in the fire service, and I honestly didn’t know what I wanted to do out of high school, so it seemed like a good job,” he said. From Key Largo, he’s been with IFR since 2017, and he said the best part of the job is doing things the average person doesn’t get to do or experience. Self was a 10th grader at Coral Shores High School on Sept. 11, 2001. “It was definitely a tragic day. It made me want to be a firefighter even more just seeing the heroism seen by the firefighters and EMTs responding.”
Michael Sloan has spent the past four-and-a-half years as a firefighter/EMT with Islamorada Fire Rescue. From Miami, he said he entered the profession to develop skills to help people and be a better man. He enjoys the brotherhood as a firefighter. He was in first grade on Sept. 11, 2001. “I always wanted to be a firefighter. My parents told me to go to school and get a degree. I did that first, and after college, I still wanted to pursue being a firefighter and EMT.” Sloan offered the following advice to those considering a career with fire rescue: “Definitely bear your cross and give it everything you got.”
Islamorada Fire Rescue lieutenant Filip Todorev has served the community as firefighter and paramedic for seven years. He’s originally from Bulgaria, and he said the fire rescue duties represented a combination of jobs he performed before entering the profession. He said the best part of the job is helping people and watching ordinary individuals come together to do extraordinary things. Todorev said he was delivering food with his catering company and was stuck in traffic on Sept. 11, 2001. “I wondered what was going on, so I turned on the radio,” he said. Todorev said the profession is a calling that requires a person to give up their comfort zones. “But the result is worth it,” he said.
Heidi Hungling has spent 20 years with Islamorada Fire Rescue. Her career began as an EMT in Ohio. She came to the Keys and witnessed an accident involving a fire rescuer. It was then and there when she decided she’d enter the profession. Hungling is now a fire inspector. She said the best part of the work is helping and teaching the public. She said she was at a hardware store in Ohio when the 9/11 attacks took place. “We all sat there watching it on TV,” she said.
MCSO sergeant Patty O’Keefe has served the community for 27 years. She worked with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on the civilian side before becoming a law enforcement officer. While the job can be stressful, she said, it’s the small wins that go a long way. “And it could be as simple as helping a family stranded on the side of the road in the middle of the night. They don’t know the area, and just being able to get them where they need to go feels rewarding.” The other rewarding part is solving a case that proved tough. O’Keefe was getting ready to go to work on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. “I remember seeing the news of the first plane hitting, and I’m like, ‘That’s odd.’ Then I saw the second one hit, and I knew it was no accident. It made me realize that we’re not as safe and protected as we think we are sometimes. We live in this great country, and you see things going on in other parts of the world, and you think it can’t happen here.”
Lt. John Hamburger has spent more than two decades with Monroe County Fire Rescue. It all began at a young age, when a buddy had the idea of becoming a firefighter. He graduated from the academy in late August of 2001. Days later, the 9/11 attacks would take place. “Careerwise, my mom was looking to send me to New York. Being that I just got out of the fire academy, I didn’t know too much about fire service just yet.” He said the events showed just how dangerous the job is. “You do have to put your life at risk to save somebody.” To be in fire rescue, Hamburger said you have to love what you do. “Get a lot of life experience first to make sure this is what you want.”
Firefighter and paramedic Andy Herrero is a year and three months in with Monroe County Fire Rescue in Tavernier. His affinity for fire trucks at a young age and his aspirations to help people propelled him into the career. From Miami, he said he enjoys the opportunity when he can put a smile on someone’s face on what’s been one of their worst days. “Even if they smile a little bit, I know I did my part.” He said the 9/11 attacks showed how first responders did all they could and didn’t look back. “If we get a call today for something, just know we’re going to do our best and keep you safe.”
Firefighter and EMT Michael Perez recently completed his first year with Monroe County Fire Rescue. From Miami, he said he entered the fire service after jumping careers. “I started at the academy and I loved it and didn’t turn back. It’s led me here.” Perez enjoys being around the many people in the community. “Everyone has a different story jumping from station to station and meeting new patients every day.” He said his uncle was on top of the World Trade Center before the 9/11 attacks. “I grew up thinking there’s this chance that if he decided to go the day after, he wouldn’t have been with me.” Growing up, Perez said he always looked up to firefighters, and it’s one of the reasons why he’s one today.
Firefighter and EMT Matthew Chavez has spent 22 years with Monroe County Fire Rescue, and before that, the Tavernier Fire Department. He’s lived in the Keys since 1982. Chavez said he joined his friends in the pursuit to be a firefighter. He enjoys working in the community where he lives. “For me, a lot of it is helping people I’ve known, like neighbors. Seeing them after calls and just checking in with them to see how they’re doing; it doesn’t end after we care for them.” Chavez was in Orlando for college on Sept. 11, 2001. “Since I wasn’t involved yet with the fire service, it was a shocking event. It made you question the world and what was happening at the time.” Chavez said those seeking a career with the fire service should know it’s not just a job, it’s basically your life. “And it’s not just you; it’s your family too.”
