No matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. Our neighbor of the week is Key Largo resident Patty O’Keefe, a sergeant with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office assigned to Islamorada. She has spent most of her career in law enforcement, first as a civilian then making her way into the law enforcement academy. She has been married to MCSO Sgt. Vaugn O’Keefe since 2015 and she recently earned a master’s degree in forensic psychology from Nova Southeastern University.
How long have you lived in the Keys? While I have worked for MCSO since 1999, I have lived in the Keys since 2007.
What drew you to the Keys? Work, but growing up in Miami, I came down almost every weekend to Key Largo. I started out in Miami as an administrative assistant with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in money laundering and narcotics, then was promoted to an intelligence analyst tracking down the money trail in narco trafficking that led to Colombia. I was part of the HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force which covers eight South Florida counties, Monroe included). I supported myself through the academy in 2004 while serving in the reservist program. Then-Col. Rick Ramsay attended the graduation and that was very moving to me. I joined road patrol as a deputy the following year.
What do you enjoy most about your work? I really enjoy our community. It is just so supportive and so much of that has to do with our sheriff and our leadership. I love going to many events and meeting people during their routine activities, getting to know people when it is not in a stressful situation. I love being able to help in those stressful times too.
What led you to be in the occupation you’re in? When I started with FDLE, I saw the cool investigations my co-workers were involved in and thought, “I could do this.”
Weirdest experience you’ve had in the Keys? One of the cases I investigated had to do with hidden cameras found in three Upper Keys women’s public restrooms. The guy used coat hooks with home security devices. I figured out the time stamps were changed, looked at security footage and we identified the culprit as he was wearing a shirt with a business logo. I’m particularly proud of figuring this one out.
If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be? The person I would love to meet is Alice Stebbins Wells, the first female law enforcement officer in the U.S. This was Los Angeles in 1910. I want to know what motivated her to get into such a male-dominated profession and what obstacles she dealt with and overcame.
If you had a superpower, what would it be? The ability to mentally help calm people. We are trained in how, but I wish I could just flip a switch and people would be calm.
Favorite Food? Pizza, although I love a lot of different types of food.
Favorite movie? Vaughn and I just watched “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” with Sally Field. I highly recommend it!
Favorite book? Since I was a kid, my favorite book is “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls. I love the strong bond we can have with our dogs. We have a Frenchie named Shamus.
What are your hobbies? In recent years, my husband gifted me with a 3-D printer, then a laser-cutter/engraver. I’m hooked. I’ve created gifts like wall hangings, ornaments, nameplates and more, for friends and family. It is a talent I am developing.
What are you most proud of as you look back on your life this far? I’ve been very blessed in my life, despite the adversity we all deal with. I am proud of making it through the academy, all that I’ve accomplished with MCSO, and of course, earning my master’s degree.
Tell me more about that. Psychology is such a huge part of what we deal with in law enforcement and for many years I wanted to learn more about what makes people tick. Mental health issues have increased so much and I aim to be a better resource. It took me four years to complete, digging deep into gender violence, suicide prevention, school and workplace violence, and about learning to identify behaviors early on. Being a school resource supervisor and working in the many schools showed me a great need.
Do you have any regrets? I wish I hadn’t thought about it so long before pursuing my master’s degree. I should have started it sooner.
What is the biggest daily challenge you face? Obviously, being in law enforcement every day comes with challenges but living and working in the Keys with our supportive community makes it all worth it.
